Dog Kennel Guide

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.

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.

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.