Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘dog kennel’

If you own a dog, it’s likely that at some time or another you have asked yourself whether you need a dog kennel and run.  Most dog owners have come to the conclusion that they are definitely worth any investment made, especially dog owners whose dog stays at home while they go off to work, as well as anyone who is training their puppy.  Keeping your dog in a run during the day while you’re away allows the dog to run and play and use up their energy and it’s far better than leaving him confined to the house all day.  It also keeps your dog safe from other dogs or other animals, especially if the dog can be securely confined to it’s pen

Deciding whether to build or buy a kennel is a decision you’ll make based at first on if you can build it yourself and whether or not you have the time to invest in this task.  If you aren’t much of a handyman, or you just don’t have the time for it then you’d probably be best buying a kennel instead.
Especially if you are not skilled when it comes to carpentry, you could actually cause damage to your pet if you try to build your own structure. Even though a dog kennel appears to be easy to make, it’s important to make sure it is well built and that it’s not built from materials that could in any way hurt your pet, or harm them if chewed on. 

Buying a dog kennel, especially if you are careful and thoughtful in your choice, will make sure that you have a safe, sturdy house for your pet. Even if your pet won’t spend all his time in his dog kennel, it’s still important that it’s a safe haven for him. 

When deciding on the type of kennel to buy, or build, you have to remember to choose the type of kennel that matches your dog’s breed and temperament. Larger breed dogs naturally require bigger, stronger and more sturdy kennels than the toy breeds. The larger the dog, the more heavy duty the kennel and run needs to be as it’s remarkable how strong a dog can be. More than once a large dog attached to a flimsy kennel has taken off, dragging the kennel behind him! 

If you decide to go the route of building your own kennel then be sure to plan it carefully and assemble all the materials you will need before starting the job. One pro to building your own kennel and run is that you can make it according to your dog’s needs, your home or back-yard, and the amount of money available to you. You can decide whether it’s to be purely practical or if you want to add little details that make it just a bit different from other kennels. This is also especially helpful if you have more than one dog, or dogs of different sizes and breeds; you can custom design your kennel so that it fits the needs for both dogs.

Dog breeds all differ, just as people differ. Housing your dog depends on many factors, such as your lifestyle, your dog breed and the amount of room you have to spare.

For those who dont know me, my name is Sue Walton, and I am a professionaly accredited Dog trainer and coach. This article shares with you some of my top dog housing tips, but for my best secrets and heaps more info, you need to visit my site on dog training tips, which has a huge section on choosing and siting a great kennel/dog house. 

We should start by assessing what breed you have. Housing your dog depends on its requirements to be warm safe and out of the weather.

Toy breeds, by virtue of their small size, make perfect house dogs. Many owners of pet breeds such as terriers, shitzu or maltese are happy all the time provided they are trained well!

These small breeds respond well to the house environment, providing they know their place in the home! You’ll find a matt or a dog bed around the size of a cat bed will do for these small breeds.

Keeping them in shed or laundry may be ideal provided that your pet dog feels safe and it feels like it has a little area of its own. Dogs after all, are very territorial by habit.

As for bigger dogs, such as medum sized pointers, boxers and terriers, you will learn that keeping them inside becomes tedious or irritating. Not only for you as owner, but for your dog too.

They relish the space that an outside environment provides them.

Also, you will have to consider the space and room that you can offer for housing your dog.

If your garage is well ventilated, cosy and there is not to much clutter, it might be a great area for your dog to live, if however its full of clutter and your dog has to live in a small area where it cannot make its own space, it will quickly become fustrated.

For those who live in small residential apartments or similar, you have to be very aware of how your dog will react with neighbours or strangers. Many dogs dont take to kindly to being housed where people can annoy them and interrupt them.

Youve also got to consider what sort of breed requires what sort of housing to live in.

Your breeder will have sussed you out before selling a dog, to see if your lifestyle suits that breed, however people often come across dogs in other circumstances. Always do lots of reading and learning into what your breed needs to live. A lazy bulldog will surely be happy with a corner of the yard and little space, but you try and keep a livly species like a retreiver in a small back yard, and you will drive the poor dog crazy. Working breeds are active and require room to run and spacious kennels.

If your are in this circumstance, and have a yard space for your dog to be housed and run around in, please please please ensure that the fence you put up, is in good condition and is secure. Consider your dog must not get out, but also consider if anything else can get in. Cats, other dogs & children are known for getting into places where they shouldnt be, and this can lead to trouble!

Housing a dog also has situational requirements. Think about your climate, and where your kennel will be. will the dog be cold? Windy? Directly sunny? Consider all these reasons when pacing a dog house in your chosen space. Insulation on the kennels walls and floor might be needed in snow prone or frosty areas.

Obviously, in this situation a saint bernard will be happier than a greyhound, so exercise common thought about the breed your dealing with. Pay attention to areas that get very hot, as this can affect the dog quickly.

Black colour on that kennel might suit your house, but will it harm your dog….? As far as getting a kennel goes, now days there are greatitems that suit many lifestyles and designs. Moulded plastic ones are popular but be warned if your dog is a chewer!

Avoid GRP kennels like the plague, as the glass can lead to harm and discomfort for your pet. Wood ones are hard wearing and look great also. If your budget allows, go for a wood kennel!
My best dog housing tips, and some great examples of kennels and enclosure designs can be found at my dog resource page on housing your dog. Check it out, and the rest of my site www.dog-hobbyist.com

If you plan on taking a vacation and you have a dog it is important to find a dog boarding facility for your dog.  There are many ways to look for the proper facility for your dog to ensure it is happy while you are away and they take proper care of your animal.The things you want to evaluate include how much excercise will your dog get, where will they sleep, is the facility clean and safe, do the dogs interact, and more.

When you take a vacation the best thing you can do for your dog is to put it up in a boarding facility.A pet should never be left alone for any extended time.  It is, unfortunately, all too common for people to leave their pet chained up in the backyard with a huge bowl of water and food.  What will your dog do when it steps on the bowl and dumps the water it has for the week or gets tangled in the chain on the tree and chokes?  Someone needs to take care of your animal.You never want to leave town and leave your dog on its own.

There are a wide variety of different types of facilities used for dog boarding. There are wonderful facilities for dog boarding in Ann Arbor.  Some people provide dog boarding in the home and they may have spaces in their backyard for your dog to run and sleep.A dog who spends most of his time indoors needs a boarding facility where he’ll do the same.An owner’s vacation shouldn’t end up being a traumatic experience for a dog.  This could be devastating to come home to a traumatized pet. 

You’ll want to check out the specific area where your dog will live and spend most of its time.  Learn how your dog will spend its days and its nights.  Is the area the dog is provided to sleep in a safe place for your animal?  Is it comfortable and fitting too?You want to make sure that your dog is just placed in a cage and forgotten.Some boarding facilities to not have enough room or staff to properly exercise dogs. Excercise is crucial for both their physical and psychological health.You’ll want to check out that your dog will have room to roam and run and play so that he’ll get the exercise he needs to stay healthy.

You’ll want to visit the prospecitve facility before leaving your dog their the first time.Just talking to the facility over the phone is not enough to ensure its a safe and healthy place for your pet.  Always verify what you are told over the phone. A good option is to test out the facility with a day or two of dog day care. You want to be sure the boarding facility you place your dog in while you are away is acceptable and they will take proper care of your animal.