How To Set Up The Perfect Dog Kennel
High Sturdy Fencing: First and foremost, you want to find a fencing thats strong and tall. You can build this yourself with some sturdy metal steaks and chicken wire. Or you can purchase a pre-built dog kennel and assemble it on your own. Either way, there are a few key things you need to make sure are in order. The fencing should be about 3 times as tall as your dog. This will prevent them from being able to jump over the edge and escape. You also need to make sure the fencing is durable and suitable for your environment. Look for rust-free, stainless steel, and pet-safe fencing. It needs to be strong enough to prevent your dog from breaking through it. Make sure the fencing is securely fastened to the ground to prevent open crawl through spaces. Large Size: Your kennel should be as big as you can make it. For smaller breeds a 5 foot by 5 foot sizes kennel is the minimal acceptable size. For medium and large breeds a 15 foot by 15 foot kennel is the minimal acceptable size. But, the bigger the better! We cannot stress this enough. You want your pup to have plenty of room to move round, explore, and overall just run that energy off!
House: Within the kennel you should have some sort of shelter. A dog house works best. We recommend ones that are slightly elevated off the ground- this prevents them from getting wet or snowy in certain weather conditions. We also suggest ones with an off-set door- which allows your dog to completely get out of the way of the weather if need be. A house offers your dog a secure area that they can go to to escape the weather, feel safe, and simply rest in if theyd like.
Food and Water Areas: Every outdoor area should offer up a food and water area. Most importantly- water. Your dog should always have access to fresh water. This prevents dehydration and is vital for your dogs survival. Your dog should also have access to food while outside. This gives them much needed energy on colder days.
Shade: Every kennel needs at least one area of shade. This can be provided with a tree, dog house, porch, or even a pre-fabricated kennel cover. Dogs need shade to prevent from getting overheated in the sunlight. Shade allows them a place to escape the hot weather and to cool off if needed. Dogs with darker coats (like black or brown fur) need a shaded spot 24/7 while outside. If left in the sun they could easily face a heat stroke within just a matter of minutes on hot days.
Sunshine: Shade is the most important natural feature of a kennel, but there should also be a place where your dog can reach the sunshine as well. Sun brightens moods, warms them up, and gives them a nice place to bask for a while. Make sure there is at least one sunny spot in your pups kennel where they can fully enjoy the sunshine.
Toys: No pup should be left without entertainment. Make sure to have a good selection of about three or four toys for your dog in their kennel. A chew toy, a bone, and a squeak toy are the perfect array. Make sure not to give your dog a toy that they could choke on if left unsupervised. Ensure all the toys are durable and do not have small parts that could be easily swallowed.
