When building a kennel, it is important to think about everything so that it is comfortable in summer and winter, safe, healthy, spacious enough and of course very resistant. Choice of materials, surface area, are among the points to be studied beforehand as well as the location of this enclosure. Review of details.
Composition of a kennel
The kennel is an enclosure intended to accommodate one or more dogs. It is composed of :
- A rectangular, square or octagonal structure that includes hinged tubes or posts and panels,
- One or more doors that can be closed with a lock,
- A floor ideally adapted to the exterior, knowing that concrete allows canines to have a healthy enclosure. A gutter or a draining grid must be added. It is also possible to opt for a floor covered with excellent quality pallets, without splinters, or even for grassland. This last solution, however, forces the dogs to evolve in a muddy space on rainy days.
- A shelter that protects from bad weather and sun.
The kennel must contain a space dedicated to movement and an elevated resting place. It is possible to install, for example, a kennel in the kennel allowing the animal to isolate itself if it wishes.
There are kennels in kit form with good quality wire mesh panels that can be installed on a concrete base after some earthwork.
Materials of a kennel
For the construction of a kennel, you can use :
- Solid wood,
- Plywood or CRPS,
- Galvanized steel, this last solution is very solid and resistant to bad weather.
If you opt for steel mesh panels, it is essential that they are not more than 35 mm apart to prevent dogs from getting their paws caught in the gaps.
The larger the kennel, the more material is needed. If the kennel is located in the center of the property, it is necessary to build all four sides of the kennel. If possible, it is more economical to build the kennel next to a building or in the corner of a wall. This saves one or two partitions. It is also possible to install the kennel in an existing outbuilding, which can further reduce the budget.
Size of the kennel
The regulation size of a kennel is 5 m² minimum per dog. Three elements must be taken into account to define the surface of the kennel:
- The type of dog it must accommodate, namely that :
- A small dog requires an enclosure of about 3 x 2 m,
- A large dog needs a space measuring at least 4 x 2 m,
- A giant dog needs a minimum of 8 x 12 m.
- The number of dogs,
- The number of hours spent in the kennel on a daily basis, knowing that the more time the dogs spend in their kennel, the more space they need to exercise.
It is assumed that the kennel should be roughly the size of the dog x 10. If the kennel does not have a roof, it should be high enough that the animals cannot jump over it. A height of 2 meters is a good size.
Once the kennel is completed, it is imperative to check the finishing touches carefully. Nails and screws should not protrude or even splinters or, if you have opted for a mesh fence, you must ensure that the dogs do not hurt themselves. But before starting to build a kennel for your dogs, it is recommended to go to the town hall of your municipality to know your rights and obligations.
Location of the kennel
Ideally, the kennel should be located in a cool, shaded area, out of the wind. The location of the kennel should be chosen wisely so that the dogs are as comfortable as possible. But it should also be placed at a good distance from the neighbor's fence so as not to impose certain bad smells or disturb his peace. Dogs in kennels are likely to bark frequently. Let's not forget that noise is part of the neighbourhood disturbance.
Building a kennel with rigid fence panels: the procedure
Let's take the construction of a kennel made of wire mesh panels as an example. Here are the main steps to follow.
- Lay out the ground,
- Earth the ground to obtain a flat surface,
- Drill the ground with an auger or a pickaxe and shovel in order to dig the holes that will receive the panel posts,
- Put the posts in place and check that they are well anchored,
- Seal the posts by placing concrete at their base, dosed at 340 or 360 kg/m3 and make sure to respect the plumb line,
- Allow the concrete to set properly,
- Install the rigid mesh panels, making sure they are level and securely fastened to the posts with clips,
- Install the kennel doors and adjust them properly,
- Place a geotextile on the raw kennel floor,
- Cover the geotextile with a bed of sand,
- Install welded mesh,
- Install a drainage grate or gutter,
- Pour a slab of cleanliness at least 10 cm thick, respecting a sufficient slope to allow the water to drain.
Once the work is completed and the slab is dry, all that is left to do is to clean it up to welcome the dogs. Thereafter, it will be essential to maintain the kennel daily so that the dogs evolve in a healthy and pleasant universe. In this field, regularity is a sine qua non condition. If you are not a DIY pro, you can build a kennel without too much difficulty - preferably with the help of one or two people - as long as you opt for a kit model made of mesh panels or galvanized steel bars. The starting price is 250 $. It increases, of course, in proportion to its dimensions.
