Dog Kennel Guide

If you are the owner of a large breed of dog such as an Irish Wolfhound or a Red Setter then you will be aware that simply leaving your pet to roam out in the garden is not always a viable option.  Not only is it possible that he could simply leap over the fence and escape to get lost or hurt on the roads, he is capable of causing untold damage by digging up flower beds or chewing on garden furniture should he start to get bored.  If you try to tie him to his dog kennel to restrict his movement he may well get tangled up or be strong enough to simply drag his kennel around the garden with him! By far the best solution to these problems will be found by looking at a range of large pet pens.

Pens for large dogs come in two main forms: chain link and modular.  How you use the pet play pen should help you decide which would best suit you.  Chain link pens are very easy to construct, light in weight and cheaper to buy.  However, they don’t have the longevity of modular pens, which are often powder coated, and are not quite so strong.  Having a galvanised dog run like this will ensure that it doesn’t rust.  If your dog is a bit of an escape artist then a modular version is pretty much guaranteed to keep him enclosed.  However, they are more expensive, more difficult to construct and, once built, are pretty much permanent structures.

Remember that for a dog to be happy in an enclosed space like this it will need to be large enough for your pet to be able to gather some speed while running and to play with his toys freely.  Don’t forget that if you are going to have a large dog kennel in one corner then the space will be quite reduced and so you may even need to look at an extra large pet pen.  As you see, you will need to have quite a large garden to start with before you even think about this purchase.

Of course not everyone is looking for outdoor pet playpens.  It may be that you need one for in the house to prevent your dog from chewing on the furniture while you are away from home.  As an indoor pet pen can often also double as a room divider or a gate for a doorway they are very versatile in their use.

Amidst the excitement of thinking about the arrival of a new puppy you will also be considering the puppy accessories that you will need to buy to make his new life as comfortable and fun as possible.  One of the accessories that is thoroughly recommended by dog experts is a puppy play pen.  Here we will discuss the different types which you could buy and the benefits of owning one.

There are three main construction materials used for making puppy play pens: metal, plastic and fabric.  The type of puppy pen that you decide to buy will depend on what you will mainly be using it for.  Most people use them to help keep their newest family member confined to one place so that he can’t get himself into dangerous situations, say by chewing wires, or inadvertently destroy household objects.  By using a pen he can be in the same room as everyone else, feeling like a member of the family, without getting into mischief.

A lot of people also put a dog kennel into their puppy pens so that their pet has somewhere comfortable to go for all the naps that a young dog needs.  A kennel will also help with house training as a dog will not want to soil an area that it considers its own territory and so will try his best to wait until you take him out of the pen and kennel.  Make sure that you take him outside frequently and give him lots of praise for going to the toilet in the right place.

If you will be taking your puppy to visit lots of friends and relatives then your best option is a fabric puppy play pen, which will weigh very little and can be collapsed down to fit into a car or when it’s not in use.

A plastic dog pen will probably suit someone who doesn’t have a lot of space or who only intends their puppy to be in it for short periods of time, say when they leave the room.  They tend to be a lot smaller than metal pens and to have special carpet protecting corners.

A metal puppy play pen is likely to be larger and more sturdy and you can also use it as a room divider or door gate to keep the puppy in a certain area.  They are still very light and easy to move from room to room but take up more space.  The advantage of a metal pen is that as the puppy grows older you will be able to put it in the garden to make a run for his outdoor dog kennel.

If you have to be away from home for any length of time each day then one of your main considerations should be the comfort and happiness of your dog while you’re not there.  There are numerous things that you can do to keep him entertained, safe and exercised from employing a dog walker to investing in a dog exercise pen.  Here we will discuss the uses of a dog pen to stop boredom.

Dogs are energetic animals which need plenty of exercise each day.  If they are cooped up all the time then they will start to display unwanted behaviour such as whining and barking or damaging furniture and other belongings.

Dog exercise pens are large, generally metal, structures which safely keep your dog in one place while allowing him to run around and play.  They will also protect your garden from being dug up and save you from having to block every hole and gap in your fence.  If your dog is a bit of an escape artist then you may want to invest in a pen with a roof and many people also put a dog kennel within the pen so that their dog has somewhere comfortable to sleep or just relax.

You can train a dog to use one of these from a very young age and many people invest in a puppy exercise pen so that their dog becomes accustomed to playing in it right from day one.

There are several important dog accessories which you will need to add to your dog exercise pen to ensure that your dog enjoys his time there.  One is a large water bowl which can’t easily be knocked over.  This way he will always remain well hydrated even in hot weather.  The other is a range of dog toys.  These should include toys that can exercise his jaws, such as hard, chewy toys, toys for running around with, such as balls and interactive toys.

Do remember though that a dog exercise pen is not supposed to replace proper exercise such as a long daily walk. So if you find that you are working such long hours that you can’t take him out daily then you might want to employ a dog walker or alternatively look into doggie day care.  This way your dog won’t come to view his pen as a cage as he can look forward to going out for a walk.

When you first start to think about buying equipment for the time when your puppy is ready to come home you should seriously consider a dog pen.  Dog pens are versatile and extremely useful for a variety of reasons and you will still find use for it once your dog is fully grown.

When your puppy is young you will use it mainly as a dog play pen.  A place where your puppy can run, play and be part of the family.  You can move it to whichever room the family is in so that the puppy feels like he’s joining in while not actually having access to things which he could damage, such as wires.  The pens are made of very lightweight metal so that they are easy to move around without risking hurting your back.

Another use is for house training your puppy.  If you place a small dog kennel within the dog pen then your puppy will consider all this area to be his ‘patch’.  He will, therefore, do his best not to do his business in the pen or kennel.  You will need to take him outside very regularly and give him lots of praise whenever he goes to the toilet in an appropriate place.  Always make sure that he is taken out of his pen about half an hour after a meal or else you’re just asking for trouble!

Dog play pens can also be used in slightly different ways.  Some people use them as a gateway across a door opening so that the dog is kept within a certain room but has free access to the room itself.  Once your dog gets bigger the pens can double up as outdoor dog exercise pens.  This will allow your pet to enjoy the sounds and sights of the outdoors without risk of escaping or digging up the garden.  Of course, unless it is a galvanised dog run it will need bringing indoors during bad weather or overnight as otherwise it could rust.  The galvanising process helps to protect metal from corrosion and so if the metal has been treated then the pen is safe to leave outside in all weathers.

If your dog is to spend any length of time in his pen then it is best to keep a dog kennel in it.  This way he can escape bad weather and also has somewhere to go when he just wants to lie down and relax.

Buying a new puppy is an exciting time for a family.  They are cute, cuddly and lots of fun.  However, as part of all the fun and games you need to make sure that you start to train your puppy from the moment you bring him home.  Jumping up, getting under your feet and chewing your slippers may seem sweet when he’s tiny.  It’ll be less amusing once visitors are being knocked down by a full grown dog and all your soft furnishings are in tatters.  Start as you mean to go on as it’s much harder to break bad habits once your dog has got set in his ways.

First ensure that you have all the equipment needed to train your dog.  A dog kennel, collar and lead, lots of toys and a dog play pen.

A kennel will become his own little dog house where he will feel relaxed and happy.  Kennel training starts by putting a comfortable bed and some nice toys inside and encouraging him to go in for gradually longer periods.  Once he is happy in there then you can use his outdoor dog kennel as a place to put him when you have visitors nervous of dogs or you want some space to get jobs done.

A dog play pen can be used in the early days to allow a puppy to be in the same room as the family without being able to get into mischief.  He will be able to run around and play and have a good look at what is going on without being able to destroy anything.

Another useful feature is that by putting their dog kennel inside it you will also be helping to house train them.  This is because dogs don’t like to soil an area that they consider to be their den and so they will hold on until you take them outside to do their business.   Just make sure that you take them outside regularly or otherwise you are setting yourself up for little accidents.

A final use of a dog play pen is to take it out into the garden so that it acts like a dog run.  The pens are usually lightweight and easy to fold up, making moving it from place to place an easy job.  Your puppy will be able to experience the outdoors, before he’s even had his jabs, without risk of escaping the garden.  He will love all the new smells and sounds and everything won’t seem so strange when you take him on his first walk.

When you start to consider purchasing a dog kennel with attached run for your dog you will have to think carefully about which type of construction material would best suit your dog.  Dog crates can usually be divided into those made from plastic, wood or metal with the runs nearly always being made from metal.  A galvanised dog run is by far the most sensible option thanks to its longevity.

Galvanised metal is basically steel which has been specially coated with a thin layer of zinc.  This zinc layer helps to stop the oxidisation of the steel which would eventually lead to the killer of all metal – rust!  The zinc forms a barrier on the steel so that any corroding elements act on the zinc rather than the steel itself.  By adding this coat you extend the life of the metal immensely and it is used for all metal structures that are expected to stand exposed to the elements for any length of time, such as bridges and oil rigs.  By buying a galvanised dog run you will be ensuring that your dog has a safe place to exercise for his whole lifetime.

A dog kennel and run is the ideal way to let your dog get some exercise during the day while you are out at work while also giving him somewhere to rest and sleep when he feels like it.  The dog pen will prevent him from escaping the garden, where he could get in to trouble or hurt, and will also stop him from digging up the flower beds!  He will also appreciate not being cooped up in the house all day while you are out at work and you will save your furniture from being chewed out of boredom.

Don’t assume that every run you see is a galvanised dog run as many companies try to save money by using untreated metal.  Though they will all look very similar when new and shiny don’t be tempted to go for the cheaper option.  Once the dog cage has been outside for a while the difference will soon become obvious and you will actually be putting your dog at risk if his run is allowed to rust.  The corrosion will weaken the metal and all it will take is for the dog to barge against it for a strut to snap and potentially stab him.  There is no point buying a dog kennel to make him feel safe and secure if his run doesn’t offer him the same level of protection.

Before you buy a dog there are various things that you need to consider.  One of the most important is how you are going to exercise your dog.  It may be that someone in your household is lucky enough not to have to go out to work and so is available for lots of dog walking.  If not then you might want to consider a dog kennel and run.  By attaching a dog run onto a kennel you can ensure that your dog can get plenty of exercise even when you are not around.

Dog runs are generally chain link or mesh as they need to be strong enough to keep a dog in and any predators out.  You can buy ready made ones from pet stores but, if you buy the panels then it’s not actually that hard to construct one yourself.  Start by thinking about the size of dog that you would like as this will determine how much space he will need.  The most ideal situation would be the largest possible space that you can practically hand over to accommodate a dog kennel and run.

Once you have marked out the area available take another look at it and consider whether it has a shady area for your dog to lie in on hot days and whether one of the corners would be suitable for a dog kennel.  Ideally this corner will be sheltered from severe weather conditions such as driving rain or wind and would also be shaded from direct sunlight.

The dog exercise pen itself needs to be high enough that your pet cannot simply jump out of it and sturdy enough that it can’t be knocked down.  Burying the posts deep into the ground will make it strong and some people burying the fencing itself a little so that their dog cannot dig underneath it.  The gate which gives entry to the run needs to be very secure and preferably lockable as not only do you want to prevent your dog from getting out but also anyone from getting in and taking him while you are at work.

If you decide that your garden is not large enough to house a dog kennel and run then there are other options which will still allow you to own a dog and give him the exercise that he requires while you are at work.  Some people employ dog walkers to take their pet out for a good long run every day while others put their pet into doggie day care.  This is a centre where dogs are taken during the day.  The owners will feed, exercise and care for your dog, sometimes even performing grooming duties or taking him on visits to the vets.