Saucy Pet

Posts Tagged ‘dog kennel’

If you own a dog, chances are that at some time or another you have asked yourself whether you need a dog kennel and run.  Most dog owners have come to the conclusion that they are an important investment, especially pet owners who are working, as well as anyone who is specifically trying to train their pup.  Keeping your dog in a run during the day while you’re away permits the dog to run and play and expend energy and it’s far better than leaving him locked up inside all day.  It also keeps your dog safe from other dogs or other animals, especially if you’re able to lock the pen while you’re away.

Making the decision whether you’ll build or buy a kennel should be based first of all on if you can build it yourself and whether or not you have the time to build a kennel yourself.  If you aren’t much of a handyman, or you just don’t have the time for it then you’d probably be best buying a kennel instead.
Certainly if you are not practiced when it comes to building, you could actually put your dog in danger if you try to put together your own kennel. Even though a dog kennel seems to be simple to construct, care needs to be taken to make sure it is structurally sound and that it’s not constructed from supplies that would in any way hurt your pet, or harm them if gnawed on. 

Purchasing a dog kennel, especially if you are careful and thoughtful in your choice, will ensure that you have a safe, strong home for your pet. Even if your dog won’t be spending a lot of time in his dog kennel, it’s still important that it’s a safe haven for him. 

When it’s time to make the decision on what type of kennel you need, or build, you have to remember to fit the style of kennel to your dog’s breed and temperament. Big dogs naturally require bigger, stronger and more sturdy kennels than smaller breeds. The larger the dog, the more durable the kennel and run needs to be as it’s amazing how strong a dog can be. More than once a large dog attached to a flimsy kennel has taken off, dragging the kennel behind him! 

If you decide to build your own kennel then make sure you plan it carefully and get together all the materials you will need before starting the job. One pro to building your own kennel and run is that you can make it according to your dog’s needs, your home or back-yard, and the amount of money available to you. You can decide whether it’s to be purely practical or if you want to add little details that make it just a bit different from other kennels. This is also especially useful if you have a couple of dogs, or dogs of different sizes and breeds; you can custom design your kennel so that it fits the needs for both dogs.

Breeds of dogs all differ, just as owners Differ. Housing your dog depends on many factors, such as your lifestyle, your dog breed and the amount of room you have to spare.

For those who dont know me, my name is Sue Walton, and I am a professionaly accredited Dog trainer and coach. This article shares with you some of my top dog housing tips, but for my best secrets and heaps more info, you need to visit my site on dog training tips, which has a huge section on choosing and siting a great kennel/dog house. 

We can start with looking at which breed of dog you own. Housing the dog depends on its requirements to remain safe warm and dry.

Toy breeds by virtue of their petite size, make great house dogs. Many owners of small dogs like terriers, maltese or bichon are happy all the time, provided they are trained well!

These small breeds respond well to the house environment, providing they know their place in the home! You’ll probly find that a matt or a doggy bed aroun the size of a cat bed will suffice for these small breeds.

Keeping them in garage or washhouse could be ideal, given that the dog feels safe and it has a little area of its own. Dogs are, after all, well known for being territorial.

As for larger dogs, such as mid size spaniels, boxers and terriers you will find that keeping them inside gets fustrating and irritating. Not just for you but for your dog also.

They relish the space that an outside environment provides them.

Also, you will have to consider the space and room that you can offer for housing your dog.

If your garage is dry, cosy and there is not to much junk, it may be a great place for your dog to be, if however its full of stuff and your pet has to live in a corner where it cant make its own space, it will become irritated.

For those of us that live in areas like apartments and duplex houses (or attatched units) you have to be very cautious of how your dog will be exposed to the neighours. Many dogs dont take to kindly to being housed where other people can annoy them and irritate them.

Youve also got to think what sort of breed requires what sort of housing type.

Your breeder will have sussed you out before selling a dog, to see if your lifestyle suits that breed, however people often come across dogs in other circumstances. Always do lots of reading and learning into what your breed needs to live. A lazy bulldog will surely be happy with a corner of the yard and little space, but you try and keep a livly species like a retreiver in a small back yard, and you will drive the poor dog crazy. Active breeds such as working dogs, needs space and roomy enclosures.

If your are in this circumstance, and have a yard space for your dog to be housed and run around in, please please please ensure that the fence you put up, is in good condition and is secure. Consider that your pet must not get out, but also consider if anything else can get in the yeard. Cats, other dogs & children are known for getting into places where they shouldnt be, and this can lead to trouble!

Housing a dog can also have situational requirements. Think about the climate you live in and where you will site your kennel. will the dog be cold? Windy? Directly sunny? Consider all these reasons when pacing a dog house in your chosen space. Kennel insulation will be required if the area is prone to frosts or snowfall.

Obviously, in this circumstance a saint bernard will be happier than a greyhound, so exercise common thought about the breed your dealing with. Pay attention to areas that get very hot, as this can affect the dog quickly.

Black paint on that kennel might suit you, but will it be to hot for your dog….? As far as getting a kennel goes, now days there are great off the shelf items that suit many lifestyles and designs. Plastic moulded ones are common, but if your dog is a chewer, watch out!

Avoid fibreglass kennels like the plague, as the glass can lead to pain and harm for your pet. Wooden ones look awesome and have lots of style and practicality. If your budget lets you, go for a nice looking wood kennel!
My best dog housing tips, and some great examples of kennels and enclosure designs can be found at my dog resource page on housing your dog. Check it out, and the rest of my site www.dog-hobbyist.com

If you plan on taking a vacation and you have a dog it is important to find a dog boarding facility for your dog.  There are many ways to look for the proper facility for your dog to ensure it is happy while you are away and they take proper care of your animal.The things you want to evaluate include how much excercise will your dog get, where will they sleep, is the facility clean and safe, do the dogs interact, and more.

When you take a vacation the best thing you can do for your dog is to put it up in a boarding facility.  You should never leave your pet home alone.  It is, unfortunately, all too common for people to leave their pet chained up in the backyard with a huge bowl of water and food.  What will your dog do when it steps on the bowl and dumps the water it has for the week or gets tangled in the chain on the tree and chokes?A pet needs to be taken care of on a daily basis.  The worst thing you can do is leave town and leave your dog at home alone.

When you are looking for a dog boarding facility you want to check out the type of facility your dog will be housed in. There are wonderful facilities for dog boarding in Ann Arbor.  Some people provide dog boarding in the home and they may have spaces in their backyard for your dog to run and sleep.  If you have an indoor animal you want to ensure your dog is going to be provided something it is comfortable in.  You don’t want your vacation to be a traumatic event for your pet.  This could be devastating to come home to a traumatized pet. 

It is also important to learn the area your dog will be expected to spend most of its time.  Learn how your dog will spend its days and its nights.Is your dog’s prospective sleep area safe?Is the space also comfortable and large enough for your pet?You want to make sure that your dog is just placed in a cage and forgotten.Some boarding facilities to not have enough room or staff to properly exercise dogs. Excercise is crucial for both their physical and psychological health.You’ll want to check out that your dog will have room to roam and run and play so that he’ll get the exercise he needs to stay healthy.

You’ll want to visit the prospecitve facility before leaving your dog their the first time.Just talking to the facility over the phone is not enough to ensure its a safe and healthy place for your pet.  Always verify what you are told over the phone. A good option is to test out the facility with a day or two of dog day care. You want to be sure the boarding facility you place your dog in while you are away is acceptable and they will take proper care of your animal.