This winter(1997 & 1998) was one of the weirdest for weather. When it was suppose to snow it rained, when it was suppose to rain it snowed. The dogs were having an awful time with the weather. They were spending allot of time in their doghouses and with the amount of rain the straw was wet. I felt so sorry for them. That's when a brain wave hit me, "Why not use the tipi poles and cover them with a tarp or two." This way they would have plenty of room to stretch out and not be cramped in the doghouses.
In the back of the dog yard I had left several of the poles (about 14 feet tall) in the shape of a tipi. So through the fence they came, this the dogs found intriguing, something new to mark. Gee thanks guys! The first three poles I tied together then stood them up, I placed them over one of their favorite spots to lay. Next I laid the other poles against these and formed the tipi. It was looking good, the entrance faces east like all tipi entrances are suppose too, next I dragged out a very large blue tarp. I needed a step ladder to get the tarp up to the top of the tipi. So off I went to get the step ladder. Now to find a level piece of ground. No problem, all done. I had enough tarp to do one side of the tipi. I found another tarp, not quite as big this time and finished the other side. It looked really good. By punching small holes in the tarp I could tie the tarp to the poles using string. Next I needed to secure the tipi as they make excellent flying machines when not anchored. This I did by tying the poles to large rocks and the center line I attached to one of my fence poles, off to one side.
Once the tipi was set up I put fresh straw down for the dogs and watched them make their nests. The door could wait until morning. That night it snowed and the temperature dropped drastically, when I woke up the next morning I couldn't't see any of the dogs in the doghouses. Oh, oh, I wondered if a branch had fallen on the the fence and they were out. I opened the back door and just as I went to call them they all peeked out from the tipi.
Once I had my boots and jacket on I went inside and found it to be quite warm, there were nests all over inside where they had snuggles up for the night. Now I knew it was worth all the cold fingers putting it up. I rushed into the house and soon came out with a sheet of clear plastic and bamboo skewers. I placed the plastic over the entrance and skewered it to the tarp. Then I cut a hole in the middle of the plastic and folded it back. it looked like it could work. At least I could get in and out and so could the dogs. Well that lasted a few hours. It only took one good play session and bingo the door was tattered and torn. Back to the drawing board. I came up with the idea of just a double piece of plastic and safety pins to hold it so far this has worked well, I also left a flap instead of a slit in the plastic. They go in and out with no problem and it keeps the rain, wind and snow out.
When the weather dropped down really far in January the dogs were either huddled in the tipi together or any one of the doghouses. It was their choice and most of the time all thirteen of them were in the tipi. It has survived heavy snowfalls, freezing temperatures, winds, rain and boisterous puppies and dogs. this summer the tarps will be changed from blue to green and this winter it will be there waiting for the cold and the snow.
So if you want to give your dogs a roomy place to sleep in your back yard or you need a quick place to bed them down try a tipi it is fast and cheap to put up. I know it has made life allot nicer for my siberians. They now have a choice when it comes to sleeping arrangements.
UPDATE: This year I set up a seperate tipis for my litter of puppies (born November 11,1998). At 10 days they were placed inside a tipis in the puppy pen. Inside the puppy tipis was a doghouse filled with straw. The pups lived confortably in the doghouse then began exploring the tipis. I had no fear of them getting cold or wandering too far from the warmth of the doghouse. Next year I will build a bigger tipis using 25 foot poles.
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