Hi all,
wow what a reaction about a dog house!
I've posted on other boards too the exact same question and without a doubt the reaction has been just as cool and assumption based. This was the only place where someone had something positive to say about it, even if it was off topic.
I understand that the type of people who keep dogs inside all of the time believe that that's where their dog belongs and anywhere else is just plain wrong. I respect their choices totally and would expect to have the same respect in return for my choices.
As everyone knows about the history of dogs and where they came from, you will know that dogs and particularly boxers were first bred in warm, centrally heated houses. No they weren't, were they? dogs have a coat for a reason. Boxers having a thin coat means they can't handle extreme cold, having a short jaw means they can't handle extreme heat. They would manage in our climate in a warm draft free outdoor shed where it is free to get up and move about without needing us to get up in the morning and do it for them. Chances are our dog will get far more attention than those dogs who are crated for a few hours a day while the owner is at work.
Someone asked what sort of a job would a home worker have that would allow me to play with their dog all day. A bit of an unreasonable question I thought, but I would be in a position where I could take a break every 30 mins or so to spend some play time with the dog and interact with it so as it's not stuck at my feet all day waiting for it's master to come alive and play.
I was very discouraged by what some people said here and on other boards about how keeping a boxer outside to sleep at night is such an awful thing. I began wondering if I should get the pup at all. But I had done the research and had talked to many breeders who breed top show dogs and all of them said that keeping a boxer outside to sleep at night is totally acceptable and that in fact, as some of you have pointed out earlier, the dog can thrive on the freedom. So I'm happy enough with my own decision now again. It may be the case that we will allow the dog to sleep indoors eventually. We'll see how she gets on. She'll start in a crate to help toilet train her but slowly we'll train her out of the crate.
Thanks for the support and actually for answering my original query.
And so back to the dogloo. Some have said that it's a bit thin and not insulated enough. Yet the manufacturer states that it is insulated. Good point about the doors though. Definitely something that would be pulled off though I think. However, we have a good sheltered spot in our garden which would suit perfectly. Add in plenty of warm blankets and bedding and she'll be happy I'd say.
Kind Regards,
Alan.
. I love first thing in the morning kidney beans! Her tags jingling makes such a racket that i wake up and let her in to snuggle in bed for another sleep. Though i get no sleep cause she has a whistle in her nose 
