(Off-Topic) What way should doghouses face?

[Blazeorange]

What direction should the openings on my doghouses face? I have the barrel-style with the fancy swinging doors on them and was wondering what way I should face them for an Iowa Winter? Both doghouses/kennels have access to sunlight during the day and on the extremely cold days, the "boys" sleep in pet porters in the garage out of the wind. Heard so many schools of thought now, I'm confused.

THANKS.

Blaze.

[jim c]

I always try to face my doghouses to the south but facing the house door so they can see comings & goings everwachings and checking everythin out (thats their job & they know it)North is cold east is wet west is windy,south is best to chech the low winter sun.jim c dogs are some of the best people I know...

[muddog]

I face mine east, where we are less wind that way. you need to pay attention to the weather in your area and do accordingly. I agree some of the best people i know are dogs!

[Setter]

Blaze, I live in NW Iowa and mine face east. Just make sure that they have good houses and they'll fine. Ryan(setter)Hale

[Phil T.]

They should face the living room.
Seriously. Every decent bird dog I've had the pleasure of knowing (including my own) had the privilege of living with its "pack". Kennel dogs act like livestock that works because it has to, house dogs work because they want to please the "pack leader".
They're just wolves in disguise, after all.

[ScottL]

Facing straight towards the most used door on your house and a maximum of 10 feet away, that way when you have to spend a night in it it's close by. LOL :) . Seriously I would have to say South also,possibly SW because of the relationship to the sun in the wintertime, and the winter winds predominantly being out of the NW or SE. Most open sided animal shelters(cattle,horses, etc.)as well as farmstead groves are open to the south.

Regards,

Scott Lee

[Kevin B]

I agree with Phil. I have had bird dogs since I was 12. I found the dogs (and myself) to be happiest when they can see that I am home. Sounds like you already thought about weather extremes. BTW, my wife likes being able to open the kitchen window while doing dishes and talking to the dogs. I noticed much less unwanted behavior (digging, chewing on the dog house, etc.) when the dogs can see me through the window.

[rebs]

my doberman stays in my house where he can do his job and protect my valuables
plus he is a very respected family menber

rebs

[I guy]

I agree with Phil T. I have a lab and she is a house dog, part of the family, and spoiled rotten.... But I do believe she works harder because she wants to please me and have fun,,, rather than working because its her job.. I feel because she is a family dog and spend that little extra time together we develope a little more of a bond than what I see of other people and their dogs. my .02 cents.

[Shep]

.and
>protect my valuables


Rebs, does he sleep between your legs? Chin on your tummy?

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

I agree with south. My kennels consist of the insulated boxes inside the garage, with swinging doors thru the wall to the chainlink runs outside. I also believe in the dogs, Labs in my case, being in the house alot.


Tight Lines All,

Shep

[Wally World]

Ok I have a superinsulated dog house facing my main door/living space,..I also have good doors on it and a 110v thermostat hooked up to two light blubs,. (wires sheiled again chewing etc,.)keeps it around 60 degrees all winter,..she also has a "carport" type spot attached to get under for hot days or rainy days when she wants to be out,.. Spoiled? not for a best friend of mine,..PS. also has an alarm if temp goes below a set point and I bring her in most winter's nights. (no AC yet) but I do bring her in if it gets above 92 or so. I can't stnd guys who leave their dogs out in the freezing cold in an unsulated house with no doors. They tell me but he/she has a COAT! Yea,..ask them to sleep outside in winter with their coat on. Our vet here gets a number of with cold damage and finds out from the framily that get a "new dog" tht the old one "passed away" one winters night. (it froze)

[Jesse-WI]

My wife would agree with your way of thinking, since our doghouse has twin heat lamps for the winter and a small window AC unit for summer.

The dogs are happy. My wife is happy. So I'm happy.

[Wally World]

See?! Life isn't all that complicated is it! Re your wife, we might have to get into some type of competition,.piped in All Lassie TV?

[Brutus]

Put the entrance facing down to the ground. This way it will be windproof, rainproof, snowproof and dogproof.

[TP180]

I have a Golden Retriever and a Large Muensterlander. The front door of the dog's house faces north, however the patio doors face south.

[GLO]

Hey, questions about real dogs are much more interesting than the dogs in heat we have seen lately looking for some leg alternatives on the message board. If the door was open, I'd say south. If the doors are transparent, I'd also say south and hope you have the flexibility that south also means they can see where you come out of the house (their all-consuming interest). If the doors are not transparent, I'm guessing they are only in there when the weather's bad and if the doors close, they will be plenty warm, and the direction of the doors should not matter a bit in that type of house. I'm guessing they spend most of their time out of the houses, anyway, dreaming about hunting and looking hopefully towards your house.

[Thunderstick]

I prefer a doghouse that faces west to keep the morning sun from getting in my eyes.