Hi I'm buliding a kennel for a Golden retriever with a generous size block paved run
complete with drainage channel.The inside of the shed will be lined with polystyrene,then covered with plyboard to make it all smooth to prevent any unwanted chewing.There will be pop hole into the run and access into the shed will be from out side the run,although the run also has separate access.Eventually there will be two retrievers,so how do I go about heating it?Are heat lamps the product to use?Do I only put them on when it's damp and cold, does anyone recommend any particular sort .

Thanks in advance,

Alison

I wouldn't have thought that you would nee one. as goldies are a coated breed and you have Insulated the kennel. I have a double Kennel for my elkhounds to sleep in at night that is 10 feet by 5 feet, and it isn't insulated. they have Benches across each compartment with Vet bed on, and two baskets under each bench, so they have a choice of where to sleep. I have found when occupied, even with outside temp just below freezing the temp in the kennels is about 10 to 12 degrees C. When I have puppies they also sleep out there after 5 weeks old without heat. I do live in the south though!

Hi you can get somehing called a black heater that you can install under the sleeping quaters I used one years ago for my Weimaraners who feel the cold they are perfectly safe an electrician installed it with all wiring channeld into the walls and the heater fitted under their slatted wooden bed and although all their hais & dust fell on it it never smelt it was on a thermostat & came on when cold enough the dogs loved it because their beds were warm &cosy it might not be suitable for you but you could ask an electrician if you know one Pawla

Hi Alison
I use heat lamps for when it is either VERY cold, or, more commonly, when the hounds come back very wet/tired..they are excellent! The type I use are pig lamps, you buy them in their component parts of ceramic holder/bulb/flex/chain. A few tips.......always suspend them by the chain & not the flex, and always do a safety wrap around a 2nd hook in the ceiling. Also,watch the height, I tend to hang them so they are about 2' above head height. Had a bitch burn top of her head once 'cos it wasn't high enough!!!
You can get these lamps at any agricultural merchants.......I go for the ruby red bulb but you can get white ones.

I use the same as Sam. They are very effective so I only use them when it is very cold or the dogs are tired and wet. I also have *smoke alarms* fitted in my kennels.

Leigh

in my kennel i use shedded paper which you buy in bulk,the type of paper i have looks like tea bag paper which absorbs water if the dogs are wet, which i have four flatcoats which love swimmming in the cannel, and it kepts them warm, then its moved once a week,in the dustbin or burned,the heat lamps are to hot for my dogs,we do not but the central heating on down stairs beacuse they find it to hot,but they love the gas fire.so do i.

Another method for background heating are the tubular heaters - in various lenghts from about 18" to 3' or so - if you do use these make sure the dogs cannot "sit" on them or they come off the wall!!

Christine

That's really good to know about the heat lamps as I am just about to install one in my garage - just for that drying out wet dogs oafter walks befoer they come into the house. My ' kennel ' is in my garage _ I built it myself ( round of applause please ! )...it is raised off the floor two inches and it will also have another raised bed inside...the two sides are the garage wall - the other two are wooden ( tongue and groove on the outside ), which comes to about three or foot high....then it's just open after that up to the ceiling of the garage ( with wire to stop the GSD scrabbling over, just in case. Would the heat lamp still work like this...I mean with such a big gap round the top of the kennel - I suppose it's not like convected heat - more directional? I don't want them to be too hot - but then I do want them to get the benefit of it too. I'm too much of a woos to leave them out without heating, although as they are all working dogs - I wouldn't admit it !!

It is directional heat norm. Should be fine :-) If anything you might find that it gets to hot. Hence, why we only use it when the dogs are wet and tired or it is very cold outside. I have a sleeping area but also another bed area within that space, so that they can get away from the heat if they wish to do so.

Leigh