Since my holiday I'm now on a new mission to erect kennels in my garden. I need some help with the size etc; ideally as small as possible, remember they are simply for housing dogs and it's not a substitute for exercise. Saying all this I would like a kennel with a bit of a run attached. I looked on an animal housing site but I feel they're slightly too large (money probably) or at least they're larger than my breeder has them. For those who don't know Kassie is a German Shepherd Dog. So my question is how big should the sleeping compartment be and how big should the run be? Or how big are your for your dogs/what do you feel an acceptable size?

Stacey x x x

Hi Kash, Bearing in mind mine were built for the wolfounds, we have a 20ft by 20ft brick built block, divided inside so each "kennel" is 10ft x10t.
Each of these kennels then goes out on a approx. 10ft x 30 ft concrete run and then a very large grass run behind that. I shouldnt imagine a GSD would need anything quite as large as this though. Each kennel has a seperate door so I can shut them in if required, but ninety nine timesout of a hundred the gates are left open so the dogs can go in and out as they please, whatever the weather.

I have a double kennel which is 10feet x 5feet, with conecting door between. Attached is a run which is 10feet x 12 feet, but the door is tied back and only gets used when I have a litter.

Each of the kennels has two baskets under a bench. Two dogs sleep in each kennel, and they can choose their baskets or the bench.

When I have pups, in the day the door between the two kennels is opened giving a sleeping area and covered play area, and of course the whole run to play in. Pups go out there from about 4 1/2 weeks.

At night the girls get their bedroom back!!!

My dogs are only ever out at night, as in a suburban garden there would be too much stimulus to cause them top bark if left out. Do there is a very large crate and dog baskets stacked under kitchen table. When I go out the baskets are put out for them.

I thought about kennels that are 10ft long by 4ft wide with the sleeping compartment being 4ft by 4ft and the run 4ft by 6ft? I could go to 5 or 6 ft wide though? What do you all think of this? Bearing in mind that this space is per dog? I actually saw some that I like on an animal housing website- quite amazed at the price though they were all around £500 for one- this is about the lowest price I've seen. Looks like I'm going to be in for some overtime!

Stacey x x x

Stacey, that sounds OK, after all, it's not a substitute for exercise. Some people keep them inside the living part overnight, and allow them the use of the run as well during the day, but I let mine have all of it all the time. If you're lucky they won't bark, if they do you'll have to get your hose out.

You will also need to consider flooring, and ideally it will need to be concrete with a slope to a drain. And before you finalise the positioning, remember things like lighting in winter, hose, pathway etc. It all makes everything a whole lot easier when you have to go out on a winters night.

Thanks Dave:) I had thought about the best position for a pathway in winter, I would need a longer hose and lighting is something I hadn't thought about at all:rolleyes: Thanks for the insight:) It would be in quite a good position- not exposed to the elements etc so perhaps I could add lighting? A friend is an electrician so anything's possible I suppose and with the price of the kennels I could do with a cheap bit;) Looks like I'd better get the overtime in at work and start saving eh! I hadn't even thought about closing her in the sleeping compartment- I think I'd just let her have the whole area all the time?

For anyone wanting to look at what I liked here's a link;

[link]www.animalhousing.co.uk[/link]

Stacey x x x

Ok so my link hasn't worked- I have tried messing with it but still no luck- sorry folks. If you go to the specification and prices on there I like the 'County One'- I would also ask them to make the side on the right wire mesh too then I could place another alongside should I wish to in the future:)

Stacey x x x

Stacey - re your link -- you also need to incude the http:// bit - so http://www.animalhousing.co.uk in the brackets should work - let's see

hth

Pam n co

A few of points to consider in addition to those earlier.
As it is for a GSD I would go for the larger if at all possible. Also insulation particularly if only one dog is being housed there and some form of heating a pig-lamp is ideal. The other point is cleaning, with a low roof you are bent over whilst shovelling and hosing, BUT a low roof helps keep the warmth in in winter. Also consider wood treatment both initially and ongoing and raising the base off the ground so the wooden feet do not get quite as wet. Also shop around there are many shed / kennel producers around who can make one to your own design and at reasonable prices. I would prefer smaller mesh size than that advertised but that should be OK for a GSD but make sure any mesh is welded and not chain link which some firms use (not this one though looking at thier site).

http://www.kingstown.net/panels/runs.htm

I obtained some kennel panels from the above link. They were helpful, reasonably priced and delivered quickly whereas I found lots of other places had a 6wk delivery, not next day. We have used the panels to make a run infront of a shed/summer house. We have boarded one side of the summer house up with closeboard fencing leaving a door and one window. The inside has been insulated with normal domestic insulation sheets and covered with cheap basic cladding. The floor is wooden so we have used old vinyl on the floor and they have a box inside 4' x 2' x 2' that is raised off the ground, to sleep in or sit on and look out of the window! I use vetbed in the box but they kick it out at the moment as it is too warm. They come in and out through a hole cut into the door, covered with strips of vinyl to keep the draught out.

And of course the puppy will be staying out there overnight.....honestly she will......soon..........!

HI, a couple of years ago I decided I had had enough of mucking out on my knees and getting a wet bum, and looked around for full height kennel prices. I was horrified and decided to build our own. I dont know if planning laws differ from county to county but here, if you keep the structure under 3m high (which means a pent roof not apex) and it was not overlooked by anyone else (who may complain) we didn't need PP. We built out of concrete blocks with box profile roof (from architectural salvage-but they were new). We bought second had metal framed windows for £10 each and placed them high enough so there was no chance they could jump out. The foundations were 6" of rubble then a concrete base. On that we put 2"polystyrene insulation board, covered with chicken wire so that the final cement skim had something to grip on. This makes the floor much warmer. we lined the roof with polystyrene too, always meant to plasterboard over but haven't yet! We have one full size door and "pop" holes (holes in the wall just big enough for the dog to enter the run comfortably, as low as comfortably possible for the dog, so the rain doesn't blow in.) I would think you need a sleeping area at least 5x5 for a GS. We also made covered wooden sleepingboxes out of stirling board (more water resistant than mdf but no so expenive as ply) with a generous lip, maybe about 10" for a GS so the bedding doesn't easily get dragged about and helps keep any draughts at bay. They were built so they were only about 2" higher than the dogs back, to conserve warmth. The lids are hinged so if its really cold you can tip the lid up and suspend a heat lamp over. Monactser wire products sold the cheapest weld mesh at the time I think they have a web site-see DW or OD. It was quite a bit of work though, but worth it if you are going to stay living there a while.

Thanks for the link Pam:) Also thanks everyone else you've all certainly given me lots more to think about- keep the help coming:)

Stacey x x x

Hi Stacey

Whatever you decide make sure the walls and ceilings as well as floors are of a material that is easy to wash! Muddy dogs shake and they also put paws on walls to look outside :0

Christine
Edit Just being in the process of cleaning my floors walls and ceilings for the reason stated above I would recommend lining with white faced hardboard rather than white faced tentex (which we have just replaced a few damaged sections with). The tentex does not clean and holds the dust much more.

Hi Kash
Hope you had a nice holiday, got ya e mail and can't remember if I replied or not...head up a**e at the time.
We have kennels, built from blocks and painted a few times with masonry paint glossy stuff so it easy to washdown.The kennels inside are 6 foot by 5 foot and the runs are 12 foot by 6 foot, we have polystyrene under the tiles as a way of insulating.. and we have flourescent lights on the ceilings, the kennels are about 8 foot heigh.Hubby is a builder so ours were cheap to make.Have you thought about contacting a local builder and seeing if he could knock you something up...may be cheaper and also could be more to your specification.Also I know alot of people use a garden shed for the housing part, with a concrete base.
It's quite easy to make your own panels for the runs cheaply,just buy the wire and wood and knock the "U" shaped staples in, and screw the panels together.You don't have to be joiner or anything...:)
It all sound very simple doesn't it ha ha :)
Well just a few ideas for you.
Tracey