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My 2 male Huskies live outside. They have a kennel but I cant get them to use bedding. Ive tried quilts they rip them up sheets the same. Tried straw they just take it out and throw it around. When it rains I have to actually lock them in the pen to go in the kennel otherwise they just sit in the garden.
I feel so guilty but I dont know what to try to keep them warm. I cannot have them in the house after a short while they cant stand it. Any ideas thanks

Surely huskies are perfectly designed to keep themselves warm? Wouldn't they sleep curled up in the snow if they were working sled dogs?
I would just put some vet bed or something down for them and maybe provide some sort of raised platform so that they can sleep up out of any draught. Although, if they're anything like my Newfoundland, they'll actively seek out the draughtiest, coldest spot to lie in anyway.

What about rubber matting that is used in stables? I know when we had spare sheets of it at the yard the yard owners cats and dogs slept on it, so it was maybe warm and certainly tough.

Well, the huskies we saw in Finland were peacefully curled in the snow in minus 20 Celsius temperatures - but I can see why you feel the need to give them bedding! Sounds like they want to be au naturel!
Thanks I do feel better from replies. My mind is more at rest that can keep themselves warm. Ive had Huskies for some time but still do worry about them when it gets really cold. What is vet bed and where would I get it from also the rubber matting. A long story but my husband left us for a neighbour 4 years ago and she tries everything to get at me. Including reporting me to RSPCA, after an inspection and the not believing the age of my 13 year old dog was really satisfied.
That was in the summer and Im worried she may complain again about them being outside. Will any inspectors have the same view as others with knowledge of the breed.
Take photographs of your attempts at giving them bedding. You can then at least prove that you tried :)
I have a dog that rips vet bed to shreds :( Kuranda do raised beds and they are really good quality. Dogs also find them difficult to chew as well which is a bonus if you have a insatiable chewer
By Celli
Date 04.12.11 13:34 UTC

Friend of a friend has racing Huskys who are kennelled, she has six dogs and uses those of the floor hammock style beds which they all use.
I wouldn't worry too much about them getting cold. My dads elkhounds [in Finland] have always lived outside all year around. Even when it was -25c, and we felt they could do with some straw to keep them warm, they would pull the straw out
Sometimes when it went below -35c and we'd bring them in, they would go and curl up by the front door and first chance they got, they'd be out again curled up in a snow.
Because your dogs live outside they will have a lot thicker coat they would if they lived indoors. Plus what I've seen with Huskies in Finland their coats are pretty water proof as well.
I have the Coolaroo raised beds for my lot, they all seem to love them and they stay dry and aired. would be warmer than sleeping on concrete. I can't see the ops message ATM but if they are just sleeping on concrete by choice then they will get rubbed calloused patches on their hocks which doesn't look too good so the raised beds would help with that.

Im a fellow husky owner (although mine live inside) and yours will be absolutely fine without bedding. Don't worry about being reported. I'm sure they are used to dealing with unjust complaints and provided your dogs have shelter outside I can't see it being a problem they don't have bedding, particularly when its there choice!
If u do find something they don't destroy please let me know. In our house vet beds only last a day or 2 and our boy completely destroyed in extreme kong in the space of an hour! X
By jelly
Date 04.12.11 20:39 UTC
You should be able to buy stable mats in an agricultural supplier or horse feed supplier or even ebay.
Try vet bed but most huskies will chew and eat it. Otherwise get shredded paper bedding (from horse suppliers and horsey people use it for horses with dust allergies). Its can be dug around to make a nest as huskies like to make a den to sleep in and if they eat it wont do them any harm. A lot of husky people use shredded paper bedding in the van cages as its also absorbant for wet muddy dogs after a run.

I use it for puppies too. Great for travel sickness.
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