Hi can anyone recomend something other than wood chippings to put down in large run area????This is what we have at present but its proving to be quite messy what with the rain and with the winter coming would like to try something less messy????Thanks in advance!!

Hi can you not slab it ? if not why not shingle it i have done this in my exercise area.

I would slab it. Its easier to clean and its still quite cheap. Like you said, winter is coming and it may be a bad one after the summer we've had. Nothing worse than muddy dog!

Depends on how much money you want to spend? slabbing is cheap but concrete and slabs are not ideal as they both hold moisture and bacteria and when wet they become abrasive this can lead to sore pads and elbows.I use Hexageine flooring it is a high density plastic with a none slip slatted surface that is free draining so even urine runs away through the slats so the dogs don't tread in it.The plastic flooring sits on top of corrugated sheeting that has a run off into guttering at the front of the run.

Well all my kennel runs have been slabbed and have been for the last 10 years and i have had no problems with feet or elbows and it is easy to clean and no smells.

Must depend on the breed of dog as my spaniels when I used slabs always had sore feet, perhaps they are just more excitable

our kennels at work have concrete floors with a rubber type floor paint, they then have a bench 2ft up from the floor to sleep on to prevent sore elbows, to soak up the urine they have woodchippings which are cleared out daily before disinfecting and woodchips are then relaid for the night time, the outdoor runs are concreted which are hosed down each day, if the dogs that are in the kennels get wet the are toweled down if soaking or heat lamps put on if just slightly wet (in the winter that is) the dogs that live in the house have turtle mats to walk over to dry feet before coming in
my three at home have concrete in their part of the garden and when wet they are toweled down, and when raining an old towel is put by the back door to stop footprints going right thru the house.
woodchips are ok as long as they dont get wet so are best if the kennels are in door kennels/runs, outside kennels/runs are best just left as concrete and/or slabs

Hi,

My kennel run was concreted and has a drainage channel all the way round that ends in a corner drain (dog proof)The concrete was sealed with a clear varnish and was painted with international floor paint so it was easy to brush any excess water off after hosing.
However I'm not entirely happy still takes quite a time to dry we are now block paving the area .We also use jeyes fluid to claean the run down with.We also using block paving in the internal kennel which also has channel which leads to drain in the corner.We did look into tiles for this area could not find anything suitable .In the winter the indoor part has snowflake wood shavings helps keep dogs clean and smelling sweet.Spring and Summer they have raised beds .You have to find what works for you but I think in the long run plain concrete,slabs or paving are best my opinion.For us its essential the floor is none slippy
because of any young Goldens we have .Although all puppies are in the house intially with access to a large Croft discovery pen which is on paving.In the evening all the dogs come into the house.Weve not experienced any problems otherwise .:-)

Briony :-)

Hi thanks for all the replys,which have been really helpful.My husband suggested slabbing but i did wonder whether this would be okay for the dogs as it would obviously be cold and hard,but then again i leave the kennel door open so they could come and go as they wish,back into their snuggly beds if they want!!I think i will go for this or concrete,(just extend the concrete base that kennels on)(mind you will need some extending lol) as it will be easy to keep clean too!!Also do those of you that keep dogs out side in kennels in the winter have some sort of heating??This is the first time i've had kennels and as this was okay in the summer i now wonder if i should bring them in of a night or get some sort of heating although they do have beds with their own quilts in and also have each other for warmth,but as it will obviously start to get alot colder soon i am a bit worried,the 4 month pup is indoors all the time and i feel a bit guilty sometimes!!The floor of the kennels has been reinforced with thick chip board and then covered in vinyl tiles so i wondered whether i could perhaps get some under floor heating,would this be safe????Husband says im worrying over nothing and they will be fine but im not so sure,what do you think????

Hi,

My kennels are made of brize block with 2 pop holes it has a double glaze window and a
upc double glazed door on the outside.We have thought about underfloor heating and if we were going ahead with it we would use www.enerfoil.co.uk.

However weve decided not to bother being Goldens with their thick coats theyre seem very cosy.We will install a heat lamp used only when its very damp and cold.
We have also fitted an extractor fan for extra ventilation.The 2 pop holes can be operated from the outside, inside a lockable cupboard.Weve also got smoke detectors fitted
and cctv covering the kennels and our show Koi on which the dogs look out over the pond and waterfall and we can see them from our kitchen window and conservatory.

Check out the enerfoil.

Good luck

Briony :-)

Depends on your breed whether you need heating or not. My breed is a "hardy" double coated one, they have no heating and unless it's well below freezing, their kennels are open all night. I worry about fires & wires etc. with any form of kennel heating, so they just get hardened off! They seem perfectly happy, as long as they are not wet they don't seem to care how cold it is. Conversely, they are really miserable if too hot.

We have a paved kennel area. It just makes it easier to use the powerwash on. I have ordered some stuff from the vets which is supposed to neutralise all the nasties that may lurk. We have raised beds in the run and plenty of blankets. Dogs usually drag out a blanket to sleep on if they want to sleep on the slabs!

We don`t have heating yet as we have huskies. However it depends on how soppy I am feeling as to whether I make them stay outside in the cold. They are in at night and out during the day. They don`t think much of my heating atm and usually toddle outside anyway!

I would never use woodchippings as my recent pup came from a home where they did and he just smelt like a hamster. Had to give him a bath to get the smell and sawdust out of his coat!

Regards

Liz