I prefer to have my dogs live indoors with me as the pets they are, but sometimes circumstances aren't ideal. I have had one male entire dog kennelled outside for a few years now as sadly he is not at all safe around cats and my house is full of cats. He's got  an 8'x6' kennel with a 20'x20' run and seems perfectly happy.

I have a spayed bitch who for quite some time now has been picking on her mother as well as her younger half sister. Several months ago we went out for an hour, left the dogs in the kitchen, and came home to a blood bath -this bitch had been fighting with her half sister and there was literally blood up the walls. Thankfully it was not as bad as it looked -a small tear in one ear made it bleed a lot but that was it. However since then we have not risked leaving this bitch together with the others if we are not at home. Hence we figured the best option was to kennel her with the male dog. Plenty of space, they get on very well, and of course she is spayed. So for more than 6 months now we have kennelled the two together on a regular basis, at least twice a week. At first the odd hour here and there, then eventually an entire day if we went to a show. (I always have somebody here when we go to shows, but did not want to risk there being a fight for somebody ELSE to have to deal with.) It's worked well, she doesn't mind going in the kennel at all, in fact runs in tail wagging when the gate to the run is opened.

We have always assumed that sooner or later the split would end up being permanent (knowing what bitches can be like), and yesterday this happened. Luckily I happened to be in the bathroom close the window facing the back garden when I heard muffled noises, looked out and the mother and half sister must have finally had enough as the trouble making bitch was on her back on the ground with the other two beating her up. I ran outside and got them split up in no time, but I have no doubt that had they been left for longer, there could have been serious injuries. As it was now, just one small wound. Brought the dogs in and the half sister would not leave this bitch alone, threatened her all the time. So the day had come and I moved the bitch in with the dog in his kennel. Just no option -she isn't a dog that could easily be rehomed, for various reasons.

2.30 am we woke up hearing barking outside. A lot of it. Eventually she stopped, but then at 4 am my husband's alarm went off and when he got up to get ready for work she started barking again, and just did not stop. Barking and howling. I sincerely hope our only neighbours did not sleep with an open window as I did!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get her used to living outside without barking all night? Clearly night time was the problem.

You might find that within a few days she settles down. It must be strange for her at the moment. The only other option is to have her in the house at night in a cage or separate room and just have her outside during the day. It may be that if she is out for most of the day for a few weeks she will eventually be happy to sleep outside too. Maybe your OH could put her out as he leaves for work with the kennel open to the run and bring her in later and later each night. She could just be very reactive to sound and as she gets used to the new "Nightime" noises she settles. Once she realises they are not a threat.
Aileen

Thanks Aileen. That's a good idea -caging her indoors at night if needs be, did not even occur to me. I will give it a few days and see how she gets on. And yes, there could be all sorts of noises at night that she won't be used to, like foxes and other animals.

Could she be feeling the cold?  perhaps a coat on her ?

I don't think so Rachel, the kennel is lined and insulated and heated, but anything's worth a try.

ah a cosy kennel - guessing just different to what she's used to and may need a few nights to adjust to the change of bedtime location.

Think of it as being a new puppy type training, gradually building up to full nights outside. You may find if she sleeps well in a cage then after a while you can move the cage to the kennel and eventually leave the door open till one day removing the cage.
Aileen

If you crate her to sleep at night then you could take the crate out to the kennel and continue crating at night.

When I went to USA I was surprised to find that the outside kennelled dogs were crated at night as their kennels were a converted stable block, and they were large loose boxes, which have pop doors put in leading to dog runs.

The owner is happy to have them loose in their groups like that in the day but prefers each to be crated at night.

I've just given up and brought her in. As soon as the other dogs went indoors for the night (she could see but not mix with them) she started barking madly again. Very loud. It occurred to me maybe it's the usual littermate problem. Never been separated from her litterbrother at night ever in 5 years of life, only been apart for a few hours or full day here and there for shows etc. So we will try sleeping indoors at night and staying outdoors in the kennel/run during the day. Poor thing was so relieved to be back in. The male dog had gone to sleep inside the kennel but she was in the run going completely bonkers wanting to get out.

Bitches!!!!

Ah, part of the problem might be having them have free access to the run at night.  Mine that use it only sleep in the kennel at night but they are shut in, it's their bedroom.

> Ah, part of the problem might be having them have free access to the run at night.  Mine that use it only sleep in the kennel at night but they are shut in, it's their bedroom.

Yes definitely. My mum has a couple of dogs that are kennelled at times and sleep outside. They have access to the run during the day when left in the kennels but at night she shuts the door so they are shut in the sleeping compartment. Once this is done they settle down and sleep. It keeps the sleeping compartment warm on cold nights to and stops draughts.

Good point -be worth trying shutting them in. I've been so used to having free access as my boy just simply goes to bed when he feels ready!

Have you tried putting a radio in her kennel at night and close her in, mine always have a radio on at night when they are closed in for night,
never hear a peek out of them.