I have entioned this problem before. My pups messing in their kennel. They won't sleep in their as we all know they won't sleep where they mess.
It was suggested taking out bedding and replacing it at night. Didn't work. They sit out in the pouring rain crying. Iv'e cleaned their bed put in fresh hey and took them in with me and stay with them but no use.
Last night my poor husband came straight home from work and spent an hour in very heavy rain making them a new kennel. They loved it but not for long. The 2 pups and mum sat there shivering in the rain all night whining.
They have been outside all their lives so I can't undestand their behaviour.
They are fine just now as it is bright outside so are laid out together in the pen, why won't they go inside when it rains. I'm at a loss of what to try next.

hiya Sharon
have you tried raising up the sleeping area -on a platform make that bit really cosy and leave treats in that bit hopefully they won't mess where they eat and that leaves space at the bottom for pooing etc .
sorry if thats no help
Liz:)

I would have pop holes on the kennel that can be shut, so that they are shut in the kennel for sleeping/rest periods. I am assuming the kennel is of sufficient size.

I have a double kennel (semi detached house for the girls :D). the whole is 10 feet by five feet, by five feet high at the front, and 4 feet 6 inches at the rear. This gives two kennels of five x five floor area, half of which has a raised bench with bedding on, and two baskets under the benches. I lay paper down on the remaining floor area, mainly to absorb wet from the feet so their beds stay dry, but also this will soak up any accident, such as being sick, or a puppy messing.

If you shut them in the kennel when it is raining and at night, they will learn that this is their sleeping area.

Doesn't seem too bad as tonight they have been in their new kennel ok. Thanks for the tip of putting treats in there. I put some chews in and I think it worked.
I did actually think of locking them in the old kennel but only as a last resort. I would sooner let them get out if need be. They are with the mother and she needs her space. That seems a good idea raising the sleeping area. Height is no problem, it's 6ft tall.
It's a good size it's an old coal house, obviously it's not been used for coal in a long time. Very dry built from solid stone. The whole pen was built around it.

have u tried locking them in there bed when it is raining that way they will get used to going in there. my pups where doing that so i shut them in for an hour and then opened the shead door, it took a few days for the pups to get used to this, my daughter sat with them for a while and this helped. good luck

My dogs will sit out in the rain rather than go in their kennel ( with heat lamp ! ), but that's because they're mainly house dogs - so they know which side their bread is buttered on ! I use my kennel and lamp for drying wet dogs after walks and they get shut in for an hour while they dry....otherwise they'd stand in the the dripping rain looking at me through the door ! After that it's a quick dash back indoors.

My cocker will sit outside in a howling gale/torrential rain as happy as larry but she won't go for a walk or to the toilet in the rain!!

Still, she's a spaniel so she's not expected to be sensible :D :D :D

Fiona
x x x

Just wondering.. do you ever worry that the dogs will catch a cold/chill?

Thanks for all your help. They go in the new kennel now when it rains. So alls OK.

my dogs dont come in the house because it is too warm for them they love being out doors, if it rains they go in there beds, which are out of the rain and nice and warm. what they like best is to lie in the snow (crazy dogs).

my late BC tubbs used to love the snow, he too would lay in it walk around in it for ages we think it helped his pain in his back legs. Dog's hey!!