Dog Kennel Guide

There are a large range of accessories available for your dog crate and some of the most useful are dog crate covers.  These covers are made from nylon which makes them hardwearing and waterproof.  As one of the great disadvantages of a chain link dog kennel is that it doesn’t stop wind, rain or sun from getting to your pet you will find that a dog cage cover helps to solve the problem.

The covers are very adaptable and allow you to roll up one, two or three of the side panels at any one time.  People who show their dogs find this a particularly useful feature as it allows their dog to be observed from all angles.  It also allows the dog to see out of the crate as much as possible.  Alternatively you can put all the panels down if you have a dog who barks at everything that he sees when you transport him in his cage.

One of the main aims of a dog kennel is to keep your dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  With this in mind it is possible to buy reversible dog crate covers which have one silver side.  By putting the silver on the outside you will be reflecting the sun away on hot days, keeping the interior cool and by putting it on the inside the heat will be kept in during the cold winter months.

When looking to buy one of these covers you should ensure that it has adequate ventilation for your pet, even when all sides are rolled down.  Some of them also come with pockets in which you can store things such as dog brushes and leads.

By adding a cover to your crate you also help to create the feeling of being in a den which is so important when trying to make your dog feel comfortable in a new place.  This way the walls help him feel secure and reduce anxiety.

If you have a large dog exercise pen then you will be unlikely to find a cover which will cover the whole pen but will instead be looking at dog crate covers which simply cover the roof.  They have ties at each corner for fixing the cover to the top of the pen and stopping it from simply blowing away.  These covers will keep off the worst of the rain or give shelter from the heat of the sun but won’t be much use in stormy conditions.

There are so many varieties of dog kennel that when you first start to look for one you could start to feel totally overwhelmed.  There are dog homes for a huge variety of uses from a collapsible travel kennels to a chain link dog kennel which you would keep in the garden.  To help you decide which type of home to buy for your dog you will first need to consider the main uses that you need the kennel for.  It may be that you even decide that you will need more than one.  If your dog is to be kept outside during the day but you will bring him in at night time then some form of metal dog cage would probably be most suited to you.

These can be subdivided into modular or chain link dog kennels.  Here we will discuss the merits of a chain link dog kennel.

Firstly, they are incredibly easy to assemble yourself even if you are relatively unskilled at building things.  They come flat packed in a box for ease of transportation and you start by putting posts where you would like the four corners of the cage to be.  These can either be set into concrete or hammered securely into the ground.  Make sure that the dog kennel has enough space for the dog to be able to run a short distance and that it is at least partly shaded so that your dog doesn’t boil in the heat.  If there is no shade available then you can purchase run covers relatively cheaply.

Once the posts are securely in place then you simply unroll the chain link dog run and wrap it from post to post, attaching it firmly to each post.  Just remember to leave space for the gate, which will come ready made.  If your dog is likely to try and escape then you may wish to add a roof.

Many people decide to build a dog kennel and run combination so that their dog can play and exercise in the run but also has access to a place to rest or sleep.  The kennel should be built into one corner of the run so that it doesn’t prevent the dog from picking up speed when he runs around.

As well as being easy to construct and relatively cheap a chain link dog kennel is also quite lightweight and so if you find that you do need to move it you will be able to do so with little trouble.