I'm a first time puppy raiser (service dogs) in the States. I am getting a kennel (found they are despressingly expensive) but it will not be perminate. For the floor what would you guys/gals recommend? Concrete is out of the option. Pee gravil was recomended and also some plastic mesh often used at swimming pools (expensive too). So any advice on floors would be great. Oh ya, I live in Washington, lots of rain so need to think about mud!!!

Thanks.
Bryan

Hi, Although pea gravel is excellent for the feet, its not so good when it comes to picking up poo - as you end up with buckets full of gravelly poo very heavy and hard to dispose of. Also unless the gravel is really well washed first the dog will be quite grubby for a while - well this is my experience of pea gravel. Would you be able to use paving stones/flat slabs to lie on the ground - level the underneath with sand. You can "grout" in between with cement if you want to. Also best to seal the slabs with something so that the wee doesn't soak into them and get smelly.

I'm with Westie Lover on this one. Pea gravel is a pain in the butt :-) Not only for the reasons she has listed but also because puppies will eat it :rolleyes: I would go for either concrete or slabs but what you need to consider more is your *drainage* system. Where will the water go when you wash it down? Will you have main drains access or are you going to use a soak away?

Have also noticed from the house up the road that pea gravel has become the public loo for ALL the cats in the area :( ...doesn't seem to matter whether or not there are dogs in the house .

Melody

what about floor matting often used at swimming pools. It is a hard plastic mesh. Looks descent, don't know if it would be good on doggy feet. Any of you ever used it?

Thanks

Are you serious? - is this another wind up!!

What? That comment is unfamilure...

Apologies, but sometimes we have posters who ask questions just to annoy- to "get us going". I dont know the swimming pool stuff you mention but I suspect it would have lots of holes in it - I would think it would be very hard on the dogs feet and not very hygenic - how would you get the poo out of the holes? You really need an impervious scrubbable surface or the area will be bug ridden and get very smelly.

Wouldn't it cause toe injuries too or are we talking different material, stuff I am thinking of has holes to let water through and other things yucky!!!
Anne

WL, there is a rubber type matting on the market that has raised, flattened, anti-slip *studs* on it. I have seen this at swimming pools, so maybe Bryan means this? :-)

If you do mean that Bryan, I would have thought it would be hard to clean around the *raised* bits?

I guess a pressure washer would shift it Leigh! The only other thing I can think of would be the cow matting that dairy farmers use instead of straw. Its impervious, but maybe a bit soft? - dont know how it would affect joints etc. Megga expenseeve though!

I've seen something thats a bit like astroturf but i'd imagine that would hold on to bits and blobs ,Suppose it would be hard wearing though
Liz :)

Hi Bryan,

Is what you meant the matting which is tough rubber about 13 mm thick. It is commonly used in wet floor production areas. I have seen it at the pool also.

You get the same style in harder plastic but not as slip resistant as the rubber.

The ones I have seen are like grids, no bumps and would work well as they are soft. The would need lifted every other day just the same though for cleaning and they would also need a concrete floor underneath. The cost a small fortune to and I think they would be chew attracters.

Here are some pictures not 100% right but you'll get an idea.

http://www.mops-buckets.com/notrax/520.htm

http://www.mops-buckets.com/notrax/543.htm

BFN

Pam

PS As WL said you would need a power washer also.

Pam,
it sounds like you know what I am talking about....thanks everyone too

update: After looking at the links, that is EXECTLY what I am talking about!

Bryan,

I've used plastic matting, sort of like tiles that you could snap together in any shape, in a kennel with a concrete floor. (I probably ordered it from Cherrybrook.) Eventually my cairn found the tiles to rather nice to chew, so that was the end of the tiles for me.

I used to use wood shavings for an outdoor dog run on soil. (These are the shavings used for horse stalls, not wood chips sold for mulching your garden.) If you start off with a thick layer you will not have a problem with mud. I would pick up the poop every day and regularly get rid of the top layer of shavings and replace them with new. How often depended on the "conditions", but usually it was once a week. I am not sure shavings would be okay for puppies, although I knew many breeders who used them.

I would not use pea gravel either, I would hate to think of a puppy with a stomach full of the stuff. Not to mention it can wedge itself between the pads on sensitive paws.

Stacey

Stacey

Stacy thanks! And everyone thanks...! The wood chips sound good, sense I like in a "hick town" (farming industry) it would be cheap and easy to get. I will call my vet to ask if it would be hazordis (sp?) on a puppy.

Thanks,
Bryan