Outdoor Kennel

TheWalrus

I'm going to be building an outdoor kennel at my new place. There's limited space, but just wondering if anyone's got any tips. Will probably throw something temporary up and then work on something a bit more solid.

I'd imagine most everyone keeps their dogs indoors. I always have as I like being close to my dogs, but it can be a bit harsh to have 3 dogs in the house full time especially during hunting season when we're going out almost every other day. I'm planning on dividing the dog's time between an outdoor kennel and the house.

Any feedback?

ayk

Think the dogs will respect an x-pen? I still remember Momo's bloody wire crate picture...

I've seen some pretty creative set-ups at dogshows made with 3-4 ft tall x-pens. Usually two panels x two panels with two panels on top, but also two panels by 4 panels with tarp secured on top with alligator clips. Most times the pens are lined up in a single row, but also possible to do L-shape configuration. Views to the outside (ie. neighborhood cat) are blocked with a screen like a bamboo screen/plastic weave floor mat.

dlroberts

I've been contemplating this as well. I don't want to move my dogs outside, but I'd like for them to be able to go in and out through a doggy door during the day when I'm at work. I think an x-pen would be a bit too flimsy for mine. When they are in drive mode they will go right through or over one. I'm not sure I want to spend the cash on a really nice setup like Brad's until I'm sure it will work out, so I'm considering building one with a wooden frame and some chicken wire or chain link that will attach to the house. Let me know if you come up with something good though, I'm still in the very early planning phases and don't have a design in mind that I'm happy with.

CrimsonO2

This doesn't look like it's 8'x8'x45" but something of this size for an outdoor kennel maybe? and it has a roof to provide some protection from the elements.

http://www.amazon.com/ShelterLogic-Kennel-Green-Height-Dimensions/dp/B001I0O04S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1282751226&sr=8-3

white_bear

I'm not sure this is what you want, but here's my boy's kennel, it's 2/2 (metres), very sturdy, it's designed to keep water off the interior of the kennel (the roof is larger, it provides shade too) and the back wall helps maintain a cool temperature. There's a drain incorporated in the floor (which is concrete, we were supposed to put some wood there but as it turns out we don't really use the kennel that much to need it) - you can hose it down for cleaning (we never needed to do that as Tenshi prefers grass) and when it's really hot during the summer you can throw some water and as it evaporates the dog can cool down).

We are just building Hinu's kennels, they'll be 4/2 and the roof is gonna be in two waves (i think that's the right term at least), it will have double walls made of wire between kennels and the back wall (north wall) will be made out of concrete. I'll take pictures when they're ready, in a couple of weeks)

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa105/patataj_bucket/13082008698.jpg

ShikokuSpirit

For a fairly "simplistic" kennel, I recommend durable wire or heavy chainlink fencing. Don't forget to put a durable wire or heavy chainlink for the roof as well. A weather proofed wood or metal covering for the top. "Roof" should provide protection from sun and rain. Depending on the location of your outdoor enclosure you may also want to put up bamboo shade or some kind of tarp on certain sides of the kennel so that the sun doesn't shine directly on your dog(s) during seasons of heat.

I'd have either tile (the outdoor/gardening kind) or concrete for the flooring. If possible, try to keep it a bit elevated from the ground so that should it rain, your kennel will not flood. While you do your best to give your dogs potty breaks throughout the day...should they have an "accident" in the run...the flooring will make it easy to bleach and hose out. Also, if possible, you should think about including some kind of drainage system. It can be as simple as creating a slope for the water to drain onto the ground.

Make sure to include a doggie house of some kind to provide warmth in cold weather and a place to cool off during the heat. Then obviously some kind of container or bucket to keep their water in =].

I like to keep my dogs mostly outside during the day and inside at night. They do not have free access "in and out"...it's just whenever I feel like having them inside that day, lol.
I eventually plan on making Shoushuu my "house dog" since I can trust him not to re-arrange or destroy things inside the house so I might provide "free access" for him someday. The girls need to be supervised though. I'm very inconsistent with how I arrange my dogs...depends on my mood and how well behaved or not behaved the dogs are. With this said...all my dogs were raised mostly as "indoor" dogs.

Good luck with building that kennel, I love projects such as these. I actually want to build something for my cats so that they can be outside during the day too!

shishiinu

Hey Shigeru I just started building a 4 dog kennel (1 empty one for a new pup) so I will let you know what I use. I started with making the foundation to pour the concrete and I'm going to be using basket weve style steel meshing. I'm budgeting my self to about $400 by doing it my self little bit at a time.

TheWalrus

Yeah I was planning something along the lines of your average outdoor kennel like white_bear posted. My only issue is that since the house is a rental I'm not sure pouring a cement floor will go over so well. Trying to figure that out. My dogs are all toilet trained, and I'm pretty sure they won't be doing their business in their kennels, but there have been accidents when they're not feeling well (or with new puppies). I need to figure out what to do about flooring without having them on the actual ground. I think it wouldn't be hygienic, and there could be issues with rain and digging.

shishiinu

You could put cinderblocks down and put thick ply boards on top of that. You can make a nice portable kennel system by doing that.