Generally speaking, you can hardly give a normally healthy, sound dog of almost any breed too much fresh air and outdoors. Some of the toy kinds, it is true, and many of those pampered pets that are bundled up in sweaters, boots and goggles before- being taken out for an airing, can probably exist in a hothouse atmosphere indefinitely, but they are hardly dogs within the present meaning of the word. The real dog craves the open air, and if you live in the country you will do well to provide him with suitable quarters outdoors where he may be left frequently if not habitually.
Briefly, the ideal outdoor quarters should consist of a dry, sheltered kennel surrounded by a yard of size proportionate to that of the dog. One of the best and warmest kennels consists of a barrel laid on its side, half filled with clean straw or hay, and provided with an adequate covering to keep out snow and rain. It is not picturesque, but inexpensive and comfortable. Its chief value lies in its warmth, for the shape is such that the dog unavoidably snuggles down in the center in the straw, and the heat of his body has to cover only a limited space. This principle can of course be applied in the making of a more pretentious kennel, but, especially in cases where it is advisable that the dog be kept in the stable or other outbuilding, the barrel pure and simple is quite satisfactory.
It is far preferable that a dog be kept in a yard than that he be chained, especially when he must be confined for considerable periods. A collar and chain are bound to be more or less of a drag on him, but if for any reason a yard cannot be supplied, the chain may be fastened to a sliding ring slipped over a long, strong wire attached to two stakes in the ground, thus making a sort of “trolley” whereby the dog can get considerable exercise. If a yard is feasible, it should be not less than twenty by twenty feet-larger if possible-and so built that there is no possibility of the dog escaping from it. A good method of construction is to set in two-by-four posts every ten feet, connect their bases with ten-inch boards placed on edge and sunk flush with the ground to prevent the dog digging under them, and surround the whole with the heaviest grade of poultry wire, five feet high, stapling it firmly to boards as well as posts. Make provision for a gate at one corner of the yard, and at the top of each post place a bracket in such a way that a strip of eighteen-inch poultry wire may be run entirely around the top of the yard, projecting inward horizontally or with a slight upward slant, so as to form an efficient barrier against the dog climbing up the side of the yard as if on a ladder and escaping over the top. For large, powerful dogs, one of the many makes of woven animal fencing should be used in place of the poultry wire.
Although, as I have said, outdoor quarters are the best for the majority of hardy dogs even during quite severe weather, there are very many cases where, for good and sufficient reasons, it is desirable that the dog be kept in the house. Here a regular sleeping place should always be provided for him, such as a straw-filled box or an old, soft rug in some out-of-the-way corner. Be careful not to have it in a drafty place, for dogs that have become 00customed to spending a large part of their time indoors are more susceptible to catching, cold than are their open-air brothers. Take care, too, not to require your dog to spend some of his nights indoors and some outside; the change from warmth to cold would be too radical a one for him to undergo without risk.
The straw or hay in kennel or box should be renewed once a week, and especially during cold weather be sure that the supply is abundant so that the dog may make a sort of nest in it. In spring, summer and early fall at least a few fleas are almost sure to be present, but their numbers can be kept within bounds by changing the bedding, sifting naphthaline flakes into it, and washing the dog once or twice a week with a good carbolic soap,
Finally, remember that dampness, drafts (a real wind does little harmit’s the drafts that are dangerous) and dirt are the three prime things that must not be tolerated in a dog’s quarters.
