It's time to replace our kennels - we have insulated timber ones at the moment which are coated with a wipe clean lining but the dogs have chewed holes in the walls exposing the insulation and the lining is flaking off really badly ! ...so we were wondering about the plastic ones ( like these:  http://www.designer-kennels.com/ ) - has anyone got these ? - they are VERY expensive and I did read that they were prone to condensation plus I'm worried about just how warm they would be in the winter ? ...our dogs only go into the kennels if we are out for the day otherwise they are in the house with us but even so we want them to be comfortable - we need four kennels so it would be an expensive mistake if we got it wrong !! .

Yvonne

My next place getting some put up, been getting ideas and personally think if I'm allowed to get a purpose built structure I'll use a brick shell and make sure it has electricity and heating... Wood gets chewed and plastic has a shelf life too, so basically like an out house type kennel.. Could you do that for the long term?

Hmmm I'm not sure, but i think that would need planning permission

Yvonne

Im having these delivered and erected next week they are very good value for money ive had mine changed around and had fully roofed runs etc http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=170869048276&nma=true&rt=nc&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D170869048276%26_rdc%3D1&si=4wJth15zgbHVATODaNMeasl14Hg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Plus i have seen a block of designer kennels and maybe they just had the basic ones but they were very thin and flimsy and i couldnt see how they would be insulated

Have worked with fibreglass, plastic, brick and wooden kennels and would go for wood everytime.  Normal shed type construction with insulation and hardboard lined and opening window.  Works well summer and winter, easy to keep clean and maintain.

Those designer kennels look fabulous! 
What we used when we needed kennels was lined sheds.  OH covered the 'chewable' areas in a small chicken wire sort of thing.  This worked very well for us for many years and was fine winter and summer.  The cost of replacing that sort of kennel every 10 yrs or so would still be nothing near the price of the designer ones, I'd imagine.

Thanks folks - Santorna that's a really good price for a block of six kennels and runs - what are the kennels made from ? - I can't make it out from the photos

Yvonne

My double kennel is now 14 years old and the only damage has been done in the last year with Safi deciding to chew the exposed framing.

So we will sand down the chewed bits (nothing bad enough to impact on structural soundness.

Need to refelt roof as getting the odd weep, probably from a felt nail hole having deteriorated (only third time).

Also need to repaint the floor with waterproof bitumen paint, as there are areas that have worn to wood.

Even though we are sheltered am considering lining this time.  We have a fair bit of laminate flooring kicking about so might use that.

Hi there made from galvanised steel mine are being fitted and delivered on friday i had alterations made i had the outside run panels fully galvanised and the inner run panels 3 rd way up galvanised and the last quater mesh also i had the runs fully roofed and pop holes in each kennels and pulleys and its come to £3350.00 which includes delivers and erection my freind had a block they do look very good you can have any size block you want i had a quote on 2 and they said £1100 so though i may aswell just have the 6 although most are going to be empty there there if i need them

never heard  of the actual kennels being made of steel ( runs yes )  - won't they be hot in the summer and cold in Winter ?

Brainless - your kennel sounds really well made- mind you we've had ours for over 15 years and have had a fair few 'chewy' youngster in there - we're going to visit the Reeves show yard to have a look at what they've got http://www.reeveskennels.co.uk/ looking especially at the Blenheim range ( a run of 4 costs £3,500 which I don't think is too bad ) thought we'd go  with an onduline roof this time and perhaps black powder coated bars

Yvonne

I've thought of having outdoor kennels many times but am worried about security. There's many dodgy characters about who will do anything to make an extra bob or two.

What do you all do to make the kennels extra secure?

I keep thinking dogs outside are so vulnerable.

Mine are only used at night, and supervised in the day when I have pups for outside puppy shelter.  The only direct access to the back is a padlocked steel gate. 

It's also sited out of sight from the back gate.

I think if someone tried to break in to steal the girls the noise would wake half the street let alone me.

Had to get let them all (well the 4 who sleep out) out earlier than usual due to the horrendous thunder claps accompanying a huge thunderstorm.  Lexi (9) has to alert bark that the world is coming to an end!

I live in a suburban 3 bed, so no way could I have dogs out in it in the day without nuisance to neighbours.

I did read that they were prone to condensation plus I'm worried about just how warm they would be in the winter

I don't breed & don't have kennels, so its a detatched answer - wood & its joins can breath i.e. let air circulate to some extent, plastic cannot breath & would be prone to condensation because of lack of air circulation, that in turn would probably mean the condensation moisture would get quite cold or feel that way, my car is an example, it has 'climate control' which means in one mode air circulates through the car & is exiting & entering all the time. In that mode no matter how wet the day is the car is bone dry. The other mode is that it locks in the air already trapped inside the car and only circulates the same air...boy does it steam up all the windows in just a few seconds on a damp or wet day, so thats my thinking on it.

Our kennels and dog yard are sited at the back of the house with access only through two locked gates plus mine is a guarding breed and although we don't have any neighbours to alert -the sheer noise and fury they would generate would be enough to intimidate the most determined of dog thieves !!!.

Yvonne

I think it depends very much on what type of dog you have.  For example, the breed which I kept in outside kennels was a large, heavy, double-coated breed which does better outside than in.  Not particularly barkers so when they did make any noise, all the neighbours would look to see what it was.  Saved a few neighbours homes from burgularies!  I wasn't particularly worried about safety either as they were not the type of breed you approached.  We did, however, have padlocks on all the gates and the main back gate could only be opened from the inside.
The breeds I have now, none of them I would or could keep outside.  Smaller, friendlier breeds are easier to pinch.

I have designer kennels - a bespoke design i commissioned.  Phil was brilliant.
They have been up 2 years now and are THE BEST kennels i could wish for.
I have a fully enclosed and covered run, an indoor run and two kennel rooms and a grooming room.

The whole thing is super cool in the summer and toasty in the winter, everyone who sees them thinks they are brill.
My step son want to move in they are so great lol

The kennel rooms are insulated and really warm throughout the winter (though they are heated too)
Yes sometimes you get condensation, i dont find it a problem though and it certainly doest make it cold.

The dogs are unable to chew anything and it is all wipe clean, still looks like new.

When we have more space i will be ordering another one - also bespoke design, would never go back to wood or brick.

would never go back to wood or brick.

What material is it made from?

Polyethylene and aluminium edging. 

My worry would be how the plastic lasts re UV, as so often plastics become brittle with exposure to sun.