Brenna will not use her plastic crate as a dog house when outside and I've held off getting a real dog house for outside use until she was full grown...now she's 14 months nearly and it's starting to get cooler so I need to think about this.

It usually doesn't get cold enough here in Houston to really bother with a dog house for thick-coated dogs as long as it's not wet...but 99% of the time she never stays outside at night anyway.

So what would you do if it were you...do you think she would use it after awhile or continue just to lay outside?

She loves mud, btw

I buy all our handlers Dogloos. They are easy to keep clean, durable, insulated and inexpensive. They won't absorb urine or any form of moisture.

DFrost

I just about bought her one tonight, David, but I don't want to buy it and her never use it...she'd rather lay out in the rain than get in her plastic crate when I've put it outside in the past.

I think the Dogloos are pretty cool, just don't want to spend money on something that she'll never use.

I like the Dogloo. I had one with the plastic door flap to keep the rain out and more heat in.

If she won't use the crate she probably won't use a dog house, especially if she likes mud and rain.
Is there anyplace where she can get out of the rain if she wants to?
You could try putting her crate outside just before the next big storm and see if she goes in when it's raining, or if she begs at the door to come in.
If she's not worried about it neither should you.

Debbie,

That's exactly what I did before...big rain storm, put her plastic crate outside...she didn't even try to get in it

she did try to get under the edge of the roof, but she wasn't really bothered by the rain, at least from what i could tell.

I'm not sure she's sees the crate or a house as protection, anyway. When I've put old blankets or my old tshirts in her crates as bedding she just chews them to pieces or she pushes them away from her. lol

Do any of your dogs change their behavior when it starts getting colder outside? That's what it comes down to, I think.

I have little short haired dogs and it gets into the twenties and teens here quite often. They voluntarily stay out in the wind and snow rather than go into the barn or a cozy dog house during the day. They sleep in the barn at night. They are way tougher than I am. Brrrr.

We have a Coolaroo, but Starbuck doesn't ever seem to use it.

This would at least keep your dog off the wet ground.

http://www.coolaroo.com/northernupdate/html/proCatPetBeds.asp?FT=True&LL=True&CatNum=10979&page=1

My two past Dogs of 31 years lived outside from nine weeks old Pups, all there lives, There kennels were double skinned and insulated between layers including the Floors each had a Run Area
4+3 Meters to walk around in.
They were taken for a walk twice a day and came into the house for 30 minutes each morning and evening
Now our Two G.S Pups live outside just the same there run is made of steel 7 ft high with a roof over the top to stop the rain, otherwise all four sides is steel fencing
There kennela are double skinned as per the old Past Dogs was, and the Floors of the Pens is Concrete so it can be washed and disinfected, They too come indoors once a day for 30 minutes each at separate times, they too are excersised twice a day separatly and they go to the Dog club for training at least three times a week, i think they do not have a bad life, as there needs come before our own, One thing though inside the Kennels they have a Plastic Basket to lie in, we do not put anything in the basket to lie on We did have a Thick towel but the bring it ourside as as pus do proceed to tear it so now they have just the basket

Texas State Penal Code says you must provide necessary shelter for your dog. I havent read the definition terms but "shelter" for domesticated pets is usually three sides a roof and a floor to be resistant to weather and structurally sound. A dog crate is not shelter. You must provide, the key is provide, it doesnt matter if the dog uses it or not It must have the opportunity to use it if it chooses.I dont know what your local ordinance is but Im sure it requires dog owners with dogs living out doors to have doghouses. And leaving the dog out while your at work is considered living outside.
Save a buck somewhere else and get your dog a doghouse. It deserves one.