Dog Kennel Guide

There are a variety of situations when you might need a dog kennel and they come in several types to suit their purpose.  The most common type is the traditional outdoor dog house, then there are indoor and portable dog kennels and, finally kennels for several dogs.

Outdoor dog kennel

These dog houses need to be weather resistant and able to withstand extremes of high and low temperatures.  They also need to be strong, both to endure daily rough use by your pet and to protect him from any animals that live in your vicinity which could cause him harm.  Most of these dog kennels are made from wood as it retains warmth in the winter and remains cool in the summer months.  Sometimes they have 2 rooms so that the dog has a completely isolated place to go and sometimes they are combined with a pen to make a dog kennel and run.

Indoor dog kennel

This type of dog house is often used when people want to isolate their dog in their home.  Sometimes this is because a dog is nervous or aggressive around strangers or because you want to keep them from under your feet.  Some dogs also just like a safe bolthole!  What you should always remember is that dog should never be shut in for more than 2 hours and, if you are shutting your dog in because of behavioural problems then you should seek proper help instead of locking him away.  These kennels are often made from plastic, as this makes them light, portable and easy to clean.

Portable dog kennel

For most dog owners, their pet is one of the family.  This means that when they go visiting or on holiday that they want to take him too.  However, some dogs have a tendency to roam in the car, giving the seats a nice, hairy cover!  Also, the person that you are visiting may not actually want a dog wandering round their home.  For these situations, a portable dog kennel solves the problem.  They are often in a cage like form, to give the dog good visibility or are constructed from fabric, so that they are easy to fold away.

Multiple dog kennels

This type of dog kennel is used by people who own several dogs.  They are always made for keeping outdoors and have panels to separate the dogs.  If the dogs get on then a wire panel is sufficient, but if they have a tendency to ‘argue’ then a solid wooden panel is the best option.

Owning a dog is becoming more and more popular and dogs make fantastic pets.  However, the disadvantage over owning a cat is that they need more care and attention and can pine and get anxious when they aren’t with their owner.  While many dogs are happy to wait in their dog kennel for their owner’s return from work others bark and cause damage to the house or garden.

The answer to this is to put your pet into doggie day care while you are at work, or even if you are just going for a daytrip out where dogs can’t be taken.  This way they will be getting both company and exercise, two of the things closest to a dog’s heart!

Many doggie day care centres will collect your pet before you leave for work and take him to the centre.  Here the dog will be fed according to your wishes, regularly exercised by people employed especially for dog walking and washed if they get muddy when out walking.  If you are lucky they will even perform some of your weekly dog grooming chores such as brushing or clipping nails.

Your dog will be in safe hands as most centres have rules about not admitting violent dogs, though they may run obedience classes so that your dog can learn to behave well and then be admitted for day care.

One of the big advantages of doggy day care is that your pet will become very socialised after spending his days with dogs of every different size and breed.  They will also learn to respond to people, other than yourself, in an appropriate and trusting way.

When looking into the best centre for your dog, ensure that they have access to a vet at any time for emergencies and that they have facilities such a dog kennel and run for those that might want to spend a bit of time alone to chill out or sleep.  Some centres will even attend veterinary appointments with your pet if you can’t manage it due to work commitments.

If you are away on holiday then you may want to use a doggie day care centre which allows overnight stays or you may decide that dog sitting would be a better, where someone comes and stays in your house to look after your pet while you are away.  This way your pet can remain in the comfort of his own dog kennel while you are enjoying your break without worrying about him.

Dog owners love their pets and, most of the time, are happy to have them in the house with them.  However, there are times when a sheltered outdoor space for your pet can come in very useful.  You may have guests who are nervous of dogs, your dog might not like young children who are visiting or you may just have things to do and not want your beloved pet beneath your feet.  In these situations you need a dog kennel.

If your dog has to stay outside for a period of time then you will want to ensure that he is safe and comfortable, protected from the elements.  This way he is much less likely to get stressed and start howling and making a fuss about being left outside.

Luckily for us, building dog kennels is not too difficult a procedure if you have the time and inclination.  First you need to decide on the style of dog kennel that you would like.  Will it have one room or two?  Will the roof be pitched or sloping?  Will it just be a kennel or a dog kennel and run? Then you need to ensure that your dog house is an adequate size by carefully measuring your pet.  In height it will need to be high enough for Rover to sit up straight and it will need to be long enough for him to lie down with his paws stretched out in front and behind.  The width should be gauged by seeing how much space is taken up when your dog is lying on his side.  Dog houses need to be large enough to be comfortable and by considering all these measurements you will make sure that it is.  Make sure that the entrance to the kennel is not too large as you don’t want to lose heat from it, shoulder height is about right.

The next part of the procedure is to gather together supplies that you will need: a tape measure, saw, nails, roofing felt and, of course, wood!  Remember that an outdoor dog kennel is constantly in the weather and so needs to be able to withstand heat, cold and rain.  It is therefore important that you use a good quality, treated wood. Shiplap is a popular option.

The final stage of your dog kennel build is the construction.  First build a frame and fix it to your base, then add the side and back panels and the front entrance.  It is a good idea to have a hinged roof so that it can be opened for easy cleaning.  Cover it with bituminous felt or some other covering that will be rain proof.

When you have decided to acquire a new dog you then need to consider all the different aspects of dog care that will make your new pet come to love his new home.  One thing that is recommended by all dog behaviour experts is to have a dog kennel.  This is because dogs need to have a place that they consider a safe haven to go to if they are ever feeling anxious, stressed or just tired.  By having this little bolt hole you will help to prevent any unwanted behaviour, such as barking, jumping up or shows of aggression.

Where possible it is best to start dog training when your dog is still a puppy.  This way he has never known anything other than his kennel.    You need to make the training as low key as possible.  It is probably best to start the training in the evening, as your dog will be tired and, hopefully, quite relaxed (it is no good trying to get him to try the house when all he wants to do is run around!)  Start by putting the dog home into the room with your pet and putting some items that you know he enjoys, such as a favourite toy or a bone, or even an item of your clothing so that it smells of you, into it.  Leave the dog alone and hopefully he will venture into it and realise that it is a nice, peaceful place to be.  You can then encourage him to go there whenever he wants to rest or sleep.

Dog kennels should then be used for various occasions so that your pet does not think that it is only for ‘going in the car’ or ‘when nervous guests arrive’.  Otherwise you may have trouble getting him in at other times.

If your dog shows no signs of wanting to investigate his new dog kennel then you need to be firm and insist that he enters.  Leave him there only for a couple of minutes on the first occasion and then gradually begin to increase this, giving him praise for trying it out.

It is important that you make the dog training fun and enjoyable and never use it as a form of punishment.  If you shut your dog up in his crate for a misdemeanour then he will come to associate it with bad things.

Once your dog is completely comfortable with his new home you can move him to an outdoor dog kennel or a portable kennel with a minimum of fuss.

Dogs love to spend time outdoors and, in fact, many like to be outside more than inside.   For a lot of dogs the temperature outside isn’t an issue and they will happily spend long hours in the freezing cold.   For others, just like humans, they start to feel the cold after a while, especially during the winter months.  Also remember that a fur coat isn’t always a good defence against biting winds.  Luckily outdoor dog kennels can be insulated.

Start by buying some insulation felt from any DIY store.  You will need to cut pieces to fit exactly the floor, walls and roof.  Then cut out some plywood to exactly the same measurements – you need to be very accurate as otherwise there will be space for the heat to escape.  First tack the insulation to the inside of your dog kennel and then carefully place the plywood over the top.  Nail the plywood securely in place so that there is no chance for your dog to scratch or dig it off.  The final step is to caulk all the joins to make sure that there is not a single crack for the cold to seep in.

If you live in a particularly cold region, or your dog is very short haired and so feels the cold then it may be necessary to have a heated dog house.  There are several methods to achieve this but you need to think carefully about the amount of electricity that will be consumed.  A convection heater would probably cost more to heat a dog kennel than it costs to heat your own house!

The answer is a heated pet bed.  These are specially designed to use very little power and to heat your dog to just the right temperature.  You don’t want him to cook after all!  Another problem with overheating is that when your pet gets off his heated dog bed and goes outside the difference in temperature would be too great and he might catch a chill.

Heated dog beds can help to ease certain doggy conditions, such as arthritis and sore muscles and joints.  The warmth will also help to relax your pet and stop him from feeling anxious about not being with you.

A dog kennel needs to be a welcoming place, winter and summer, and the best way to ensure that your pet feels comfortable is to make sure that the temperature in it is always at an optimum for the time of year.