Winter dog entrance

Question

we have a blind poodle, 11 lbs, mutt 16 lbs and a collie ( newly acquired 2 yrs old. ) So I am asking if anyone has ever built a snow entrance with ramp inside for dogs?  The pitch of the roof is such that the snow will be coming down where we want them to go in and out. So would like one side to slope to keep snow from roof blocking entrance.  Any ideas?  In the photo, showing home made ramp for blind Mollie.  A storage top with carpet glued on it and large rock to keep in place.  Great since April, when she went blind.  But winter is around the corner...And you can see, it will be covered with snow from the roof, not to mention from the sky!  Thanks!

KMS Woodworks · Answer

With a shingled roof that that your should not be getting much if any 'shedding' from the roof. Your snow pile are more likely due to wind drifting and direct falling. There are 'dog door' kits that can be installed in sliders but they tend to not seal so well were the non-jamb side of the door is. Ideally a through the wall doggie door would be a better option. To the left of the slider perhaps? Getting a automated electric one would be better than the swing style as these are more 'weather tight' We get plenty of snow here in CO...and our winds can be pretty intense. My sweetie has been asking for a doggie door for us but due to the slope of our land the only side of the house where is would work is our windward side. http://kmswoodworks.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/seven-years-ago-seven-feet/

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Why not simply kill two birds with one stone. Put a small shed roof over the sliding door area not only to protect the ramp, but to keep the snow from blocking the sliding door track itself so you can come and go without being dumped on? If you put two poles on each corner to hold the roof, you can inclose it with a plastic panel that can be removed in the summer to allow air to come in. We have something like this as well. It goes out about eight feet off of the side of our house and its about 12 foot wide. In the winter I place some pre-made wood frames covered with plastic on two sides and leave one open so our pooch can come and go as he pleases. We keep the side where the wind does not blow as much so we do not get any drifting into the area from snow. Works like a charm.

Susan Cryor · Answer

yes, understand about snow and wind, lived in Colorado many years! Your video was very interesting! And accurate! Need to address the blind dog and ramp, her needs, and might as well have it work for all three!
Agree to the left, as that is where their 'potty' area is. We tell them to get into the 'run' which is an area with straw defining the borders. The wall door, will not work, heat duct and fireplace there. But an idea that we discussed! And yes the glass doors are not air tight. Next?

Susan Cryor · Answer

nice idea, much better than some half tee pee with ramp inside! At least to figure how to build it! How would you suggest we attach it to the house? It is vinyl siding and has a gutter as well. Metal posts, how would we secure them to the patio (poured cement/stamped) what thickness of plastic do you use??
Now you have me thinking of pull out awnings .....which are very pricy.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

pull out awnings are fine but do not hold up to the weight of snow. 
You would simply install a ledger board just under the gutter on the wall. That small section of siding would be removed and then flashed to prevent water from running behind the board. You then simply cut a six or eight inch hole into the patio and dig down for a footing for each corner of the roof. Place two 4x4 posts or larger, with a cross beam to support the roof joists that would run from the new ledger to the top of the cross beam. Then simply plywood and roof with a ice and water shield and shingle. You can then install a gutter on the end if you like, or simply let the rain and snow run off. You can always construct it with an open concept such as an arbor would be. Then in the winter tie a tarp over the top to keep the snow out. Then remove to give an open look in the summer. They also make plastic panels that come in clear that can be used on the same joists to provide more light into the door while keeping the rain and snow out as well. Lots of options. 
We use a 6 mil plastic. Bit more expensive and normally lasts for about two seasons before it begins to crack and look bad. I simply made a small wooden frame that fitted between the corners and I have one in the middle so each one is only six foot wide by 7 foot high. A few screws holds them in place. I toyed with the idea of using a lattice on the bottom to keep my dog from running into or jumping up on the plastic but he never did it so I did not bother.

If you do not want to cut into the patio you can bolt the corners on to it. But a patio is not considered structural and any weight that is concentrated on each corner could cause the cement slab to crack. You simply need to cut out enough of the cement to dig down deep enough for footings to support each post.

Lori Choman · Answer

I have to agree with @Woodbridge EnvironmentalI would extend the roof or put a shed roof over the door. Check to see which way the wind blows from most and put up some kind of barrier there as well to protect the ramp and the pups from the bitter cold.

Christine C. · Answer

I had a contractor offer to build a wooden tunnel ramp for my poodles to exist, or perhaps a PVC tunnel frame work that you could assemble, covered with a tarp.

Teresa R · Answer

Pergula that you could put canvas on in the winter ??

Michelle E · Answer

I have had a blind dog before... they will adjust and adapt. I had very deep snows and it did not deter the blind dog from going out- especially since they follow the other dogs. I would shovel a path on the deck to the dog potty area and the steps down into it (did this long before she came for the other dogs just to keep snow from being tracked in)....and she did fine. Actually she enjoyed playing in the snow just as any other dog does.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Some polycarbonate panels are another option to the plastic sheeting. We have two 'one eyed' dogs and most likely will have a fully blind dog sometime next year. (Glaucoma is progressing). Since two of our dogs are small and puppy mill rescues they are not too keen on the whole inside outside potty thing. We have a tiled area that we set up with Medical 'underpads' they tend to 'use' this area when the weather is crappy. (wind rain and snow )

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Susan Cryor We have a dog that has mobility issues and is blind in one eye, and the other has a cataract. We shovel our deck and a potty area for him. This seems to work and he finds his way easily. You could consider an all season metal shelter, similar to the ones they have for babeques.

Wanda B · Answer

We did not have a blind dog but we built a small staircase leading to a window in our basement and a large dog kennel just outside the window. We put a dog door so they could excit and enter at will. We had a wind and snow problem with the window so constructed a dog house and attached it to the window outside. It not only provided a dry and secure way for the dogs to excit but my little one could never figure out the dog door so she could wait inside the house for me until I came back and helped her in. You could do the same with your little ramp and just coax them out onto a littel enclosed covered bridge. I am afraid with just building an overhanging roof you may still get snow blowing in onto your ramp. Also a dog house is a fraction of the price of adding a roof if you are not ready to do that yet. Best wishes. Your dogs are blessed to have such a concerned and consciensious owner

Gaild · Answer

try making a mini patio using pvc pipe n canvs u can probably find plans on www. send pix

Susan Cryor · Answer

I tried www.sendpix, all I pulled up was ' send sex pictures' do not think that is what I need!

Susan Cryor · Answer

good thinking, do you think a pergola would work? With covering it with plastic in the winter?

Susan Cryor · Answer

thank you all, I put your ideas to husband. He will review them soon!

Susan Cryor · Answer

just a thought....

Susan Cryor · Answer

wow! Beautiful collie! Mollie, blind dog wears ' halo collar' as she is struggling! Slammed her head into a chair, husband even said surprised she did not have concussion ! We moved I
Here in Sept. she went blind in April. Not as if she has had time to adjust. Very Hard for her, as well sad to see.

Susan Cryor · Answer

just checked out the polycarbonate panels, will hubby check them out as well, certainly beats painting wood....

Susan Cryor · Answer

Gail, will investigate those with husband! Might be pricy??
Glad to know Mollie is not along, as well as many replys. We do love our dogs!

Susan Cryor · Answer

thought about the basement window...one that needs replaced anyhow...but issue is I would have to take her downstairs, as vet said do not allow her to do steps...I coax her to go up at night, on carpeted stairs, with me with her. Sometimes she gets confused and turns around, glad to be with her, as it scares me that she might go tumbling. And the other issue is the wind is very bad there...the window is behind the chimney to the left, and too small for collie. Such a challenge! But with winter just around the corner, want to get it addressed

Chris aka monkey · Answer

how about a child's play tunnel?? xx

Susan Cryor · Answer

you sent me on a chase! Child's play tunnels are cloth/ fabric, but then I went searching for tunnels and tubing...what I found wasn't right, except for the drainage tubing...seems triangular only comes shipped China. :(

Tabby · Answer

search for hoop house, hoop greenhouse, row covers, I use cinder blocks and PVC pipes to make rows of hoops and cover with blue tarps. Lay out two rows of cinder blocks in a path, bend the PVC pipes and set into the holes of the cinder blocks to hold them into an upside down U shape, run and knot rope along sides of pipe to hold them straight upright and 'tie' them together, then cover with tarp and shove edges of tarp under cinder block to hold down. Depending on how much snow you get, you may need a pipe for every other block, or every three blocks... it would all be removable/easily storable in the spring. Just an idea.

Susan Cryor · Answer

we tried buttons, sewing different ones on elastic string, one for husband, myself and her son..each bracelet, although worn on our ankles (.all family members back in April, collie joined family Sept. 5th this year. ). We have always used bells on ribbon, over door knob for them to let us know they wanted out. ( talk about dogs training humans). So bells are in any other aspect confusing to her. Yes, everything is exactly as it was when she went blind. Sometimes she is really confused is all. I put the halo collar back on her after her slamming I to chair. I read where it should be worn in places she is not familiar with. She needs to adapt to her home environment. I want her protected so she is wearing it until we go to bed. The small dogs have always worn 'onesies' the ones for babies. I just took the snaps off, relocated them for their tails. What ever the saying that is on the babies front, as it turned out, is on their backs. It helps them to know that it is bedtime, for everyone. Know this sounds redicilous but how we love our pets!

Susan Cryor · Answer

I get the concept, I made my own raised beds, using plumbing brackets to anchor the PVC pipe and bought larger, softer pipe, cut it in 2 inch sections, cut each section out by about 1/4 inch. These clips lock over the PVC pipe and keep the plastic in place. I really need to talk to husband, get him reading all these wonderful ideas! Thanks!

Gaild · Answer

Holy sh**, Susan, I meant look up how to build small patio on the world wide web. It was not a site!!! hahah, my fault for not using correct punctuation(ex English teacher!!!) Try these pages http://blinddogs.net/ You could also get a very large pvc pipe or something similar, and attach it to outside the dog entrance. You would have to teach the dogs how to use it comfortably. I have 2 chihuahuas that cannot jump on the couch/bed. They wouldn't use 'dog steps' so I covered a board with rug and Viola- they walk the plank, so to speak to get up...once they understood how to use it-it was easy. They now run up the board. Good luck.

Gaild · Answer

Oh, you could also set up a canva overhang like we do when we cmp. Use those long poles, stake them down and put on tarp, OR buy one of the canopes from Walmart that campers use, and set it up during the winter. Let us know what you decide,
 please.

Heather Sheets · Answer

Another idea would be a piece of drip edge inverted and tucked between the shingles. total project cost is around $30. It's meant more for rain, but would keep snow and ice from coming down right outside the door! Check out http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1630881,00.html

Susan Cryor · Answer

too funny! I will check out blind dog site! Thanks

Winter dog entrance

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