Building A Dog Kennel

Your dog deserves the best as it is the best security system your home and family can have, The more secure your dog feels in its environment the more protective he will be or that home and family. Therefore, when you think of building a dog kennel take into consideration several necessary design features regarding the dog and the area. Think about how tall or how short your dog is. Is it highly energetic and loves to run, or somewhat sluggish and sleeps a lot? The area in which you plan to build the kennel, is it shady, sunny or a little of both? If it is an indoor and outdoor dog will it have easy access into and out of the house? When you have calculated all of this and anything else you may add to it about your dog and the area, you are now ready to build the dog kennel. In the event you are a novice at this, there is a difference between a dog kennel and a dog house in that the kennel is a fenced enclosure wherein the dog can be outside all day if he so chooses. Whereas, the dog house is just that, an unattached structure that gives the dog access to the entire area and can be built with some of the same convenience (heat, water, air conditioning, etc.) as the master’s house.

When you have found the perfect place for the kennel, with both sun and shade you can begin to build your kennel. The floor of the kennel should be in part cement and in part grass. This gives the dog the opportunity to either lay on the cement or on a softer area, the grass. The cement area will be easier to keep clean. The dog will have an option and will be able to alternate a comfort zone. Again, keep in mind when you are calculating how much grass and how much cement that the size of the dog should be primary.  After you have calculated and built this area the next consideration will be the type of enclosure and the material for the enclosure. Whether your dog is large or small the best material to use to build the enclosure is a hardy chain link fence.  The recommended size for a large dog is usually about seven feet high. However, a St. Bernard has been known to negotiate a fence as high as eight feet. For a small dog a fence of six feet is a safe estimate. Will the fence be attached to the house or will it be free standing? If is going to be attached to the house or another structure be sure that it is securely attached and not allow the dog an opportunity to escape.

If your dog is highly energetic and needs to run, such as a Jack Russell, then a run should be built onto the kennel giving the dog the added accessibility needed to run. If the dog is rather sluggish and less energetic than the kennel should be built to allow it to run and play when it wants to and sleep when it decides to. The kennel should be built on to an area with easy access into the house when the dog wants to come in. If you prefer not to have the dog in the house than a dog house at one end of the kennel should be built.

If you are a novice do-it-yourselfer then kits and plans are available with instructions on building a dog kennel.