Underground dog house?

[breadtrk]

I've recently goat fenced in a couple acres of my property for my dogs to move into, they have previously been on 100ft runners. On the runners one had a porch and shelter, one had a garage side door to duck into, one had a regular dog house.

Part of this enclosure has a steep hill right out the back door of the house. I want to put the feeding stations and shelters there so they will still have interaction with all the family activities that go on much like they did before. I don't want to fence them up then isolate them.

I'm thinking about the large black plastic culverts to use as the shelters, set into the hill 5 to 6 ft and made to look like actual wild dog dens. Has anyone done or tried this? I've done a Google search and really don't find much.

 

[roadhunter]

Sounds like a pretty cool idea.

 

[boggen]

besides some sort of concrete / concrete block wall between pipe and dirt one the one end. sounds like a awesome idea!!

on second thought, i would most likely mortar in some rocks around the front edge opening. vs setting rocks and like around the one end.

i would most likely add a 2" or 1.5" shower drain. on end up in the dirt. and then run a hose down lower than the culvert. "from urine, to water, to wet dogs, to a leak, to other" heck from using garden hose to wash it out. i might go as far as a slight tilt. so front of it is lower vs portion in the dirt (rear).

a double wall culvert (ribbed outside, smooth inside) most likely easier on you and the dogs. both cleaning and for them laying in it.

 

[dusty3030]

How big are the dogs?
Cut the end out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. You can find those for free.

 

[Jstpssng]

I think it sounds like a great place for them to go on hot summer days. :thumbsup:

How big are the dogs?
Cut the end out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. You can find those for free.

Culverts are made to be buried though, and set properly can withstand substantial loads; would worry about a drum collapsing under the weight. He probably could find some pieces of used plastic culvert from a road contractor.

 

[Jstpssng]

I think it sounds like a great place for them to go on hot summer days. :thumbsup:

How big are the dogs?
Cut the end out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. You can find those for free.

Culverts are made to be buried though, and set properly can withstand substantial loads; I would worry about a drum collapsing under the weight. He probably could find some pieces of used plastic culvert from a road contractor for little or nothing; possibly put hay or a piece of plywood to give them a flat surface to lay on; or maybe even pour a little concretr.

 

[breadtrk]

I have double wall culverts from a road project nearby, after 5 years, I figured they were not going to ever pick them up and since my tax dollars paid for them I put them in storage for the state. If they want them back, after paying a reasonable storage fee, they can have them.

I was thinking of a block wall waterproofed and drained like a house would be and block along the front. this wall is also going to divert runoff away from the house. I planned on sealing the ends on the outside rim of the pipes with Great stuff foam. I won't bury them for a bit to make sure they don't leak. Tilting them was in the plan. I was going to clean them from the front with a pressure washer but I like the hose and sprinkler idea. I'll think on that one for a bit.

I've also contemplated some kind of walkway or roost above the covered pipes for when they want to sun. That will also get them up to see over the house and across the valley.

I'll try to remember pictures as I go but I'm more of a just start and go guy.

 

[breadtrk]

I have some good size pond liner pieces I can drape over the whole mess before covering too.


I'm struggling with the idea of putting all 4 dens in a row on the one wall I have to put in anyway for diverting the water or maybe a couple on the wall and the other 2 spread out farther apart or in total different parts of the yard. They have all grown up within sight of each other and got to play together sometimes but not very often. They all seem to be doing great together so far 3 days in the fence.

 

[charlz]

I would probably put a piece of PVC pipe or something in the rear wall for some ventilation. Moisture from the surrounding ground might make it too damp at certain times of the year, a little airflow would help.

 

[TCJatko]

Dogs are den animals; I bet they'll love it. Makes for a good place to cool off in hot weather, too.