Dog kennel and run designs

Juggler · May 1, 2019

Looking for ideas for dog kennels and runs, thinking of a block built building to house the dogs with an attached concrete floored mesh run built on, 4 'outside dogs' to house, 3 Labs & a Collie (all bitches), all currently live together and sleep in a shed but I've no run for them, they are normally out on the yard all day and have the run of the place but if no one is home for a period during the day they are shut inside which I'm not keen on, currently not a problem as my father is home most of the time..

I'd like to see what set up's people have and what sort of bedding etc would be used, what's best for the construction and easiest to keep clean etc.
TIA.

JP1 · May 1, 2019

I'm thinking New Zealand raised run and I'm thinking security from some thieving scrote

Juggler · May 1, 2019

Doesn't have to be raised runs, in fact one of the Labs is getting on a bit so probably better to have runs at floor level, but yes security fencing of some sort to keep dogs in and scrotes out!

A1an · May 1, 2019

Dry Rot · May 1, 2019

Just a few observations.

Start with your drains. Where is urine and washing down water going to go? (Probably illegal, but mine went into the septic tank!).
Put a decent fall on the concrete yard to an open gulley, it will make cleaning out easier.
Have a stand pipe nearby for water -- and a good hose pipe, of course.
Build south facing to get the sun, hopefully where the dogs can see what is going on.
Make sure there is an outside sleeping/resting area with and without protection from sun and rain so they have a choice.
Put a false ceiling over the bed. Dogs like to lift their heads when pissing so this helps prevent them soiling the beds.
Keep sleeping areas small, with a small entrance, to keep them warm and cut down on draughts.
You can make a very good 'dog flap' door with a piece of quarry belting hinged at the top.
I used concrete floors for the bed, like a piggery. Put a 15mm cement skim over insulation, like Kingspan. It will retain the heat and prevent condensation. Lay it to a slight fall so you can also wash this area out.
Self fill water bowls are good.
Don't hinge the yard gate at the corner. If it closes at the corner and opens inwards, you can push a barrow in without letting the dogs out.

The above comes from cleaning hound kennels in my teens and my own dogs ever since.

Juggler · May 1, 2019

A1an said:
View attachment 793818 View attachment 793820 View attachment 793822

That's the sort of thing, what do you bed them on?

Juggler · May 1, 2019

Dry Rot said:
Just a few observations.

Start with your drains. Where is urine and washing down water going to go? (Probably illegal, but mine went into the septic tank!).
Put a decent fall on the concrete yard to an open gulley, it will make cleaning out easier.
Have a stand pipe nearby for water -- and a good hose pipe, of course.
Build south facing to get the sun, hopefully where the dogs can see what is going on.
Make sure there is an outside sleeping/resting area with and without protection from sun and rain so they have a choice.
Put a false ceiling over the bed. Dogs like to lift their heads when pissing so this helps prevent them soiling the beds.
Keep sleeping areas small, with a small entrance, to keep them warm and cut down on draughts.
You can make a very good 'dog flap' door with a piece of quarry belting hinged at the top.
I used concrete floors for the bed, like a piggery. Put a 15mm cement skim over insulation, like Kingspan. It will retain the heat and prevent condensation. Lay it to a slight fall so you can also wash this area out.
Self fill water bowls are good.
Don't hinge the yard gate at the corner. If it closes at the corner and opens inwards, you can push a barrow in without letting the dogs out.

The above comes from cleaning hound kennels in my teens and my own dogs ever since.

That's a huge help, thank you. I'm not sure as yet where to site it so will have to scratch my head a bit as to where the washings etc go.
My 3 Lab bitches are mother and two daughters and have always shared a bed, not sure how they will take to sleeping in individual kennels, they are inseparable and basically lie on top of each other when they are on the yard... but I like the ability to pen them separately too.. how do others get on with that?
Would saw dust / straw as bedding be ok or a proper dog bed?

Pieces_of_Eight · May 1, 2019

Dry Rot said:
I used concrete floors for the bed, like a piggery. Put a 15mm cement skim over insulation, like Kingspan. It will retain the heat and prevent condensation.

I once built up a raised hound bed using a double layer of old wine bottles, with wet concrete poured round in the gaps.

Juggler said:
Would saw dust / straw as bedding be ok or a proper dog bed?

Sawdust tends to dry the natural oils out of the coat and any bedding provides a top habitat for lice, fleas, mites etc.

I just use a proper plastic dog bed, with a blanket which can go through the wash.

A1an · May 1, 2019

Juggler said:
That's the sort of thing, what do you bed them on?

Usually old sheets/towels but it depends on the dog, 1 dog will sleep on them quite happily, another will drag them off on to the floor and sleep on the wood. The wood is a sandwich of sterling board and kingspan.

Dry Rot · May 1, 2019

I found saw dust tended to clog the drains. But a sprinkling is good for collecting muck! When I kennelled dogs in a group, they didn't really need bedding as the insulated concrete heated up like an electric blanket. But I do use straw in the small kennels.

matty · May 1, 2019

I always bed the dogs down with straw in the winter.
When they're all shitted up and wet , I don't think you can beat a deep bed of straw.
Always put Hydrophane farmyard louse powder on it to get rid of all the little creepy crawlies , plus it smells great too.

Juggler · May 1, 2019

Thanks everyone, food for thought, anyone got dimensions for kenneling and run?

Pieces_of_Eight · May 2, 2019

Juggler said:
Thanks everyone, food for thought, anyone got dimensions for kenneling and run?

My kennels are 4ft square, with a 6ft run.

All depends how much time the dogs are out & about during daylight hours.

Juggler · May 2, 2019

Pieces_of_Eight said:
My kennels are 4ft square, with a 6ft run.

All depends how much time the dogs are out & about during daylight hours.

Currently they are out on the yard all day as my father is home, it just hit me recently that we won't have that luxury forever so I'd like to get kennels and run's sorted so at least the dogs can be safe, see what's going on and get fresh air when I'm at work.
I suppose I could make the runs as big as I want, but taking @Dry Rot 's point about Kennel size I'll aim to keep them small to retain heat.
Does anyone have any more photo's of their kennel internal layouts? Thanks for all the replies so far.

Pieces_of_Eight · May 2, 2019

Mine is just a plain wooden 4ft square, with a plastic bed. If he's too hot in Summer he will sleep out on the flags.

With drinkers and water pipes etc I'd be wary about it all freezing up in Winter. Mine are only 30 yds from the house and I have an hose that will reach for washing down from an outside tap. If the outside tap freezes up, I can just get water from the house (which has only frozen up once!).

If your dogs are shut in through the day, you could always give them an exercise pen/grass yard?

oakleaf · May 2, 2019

Juggler said:
That's a huge help, thank you. I'm not sure as yet where to site it so will have to scratch my head a bit as to where the washings etc go.
My 3 Lab bitches are mother and two daughters and have always shared a bed, not sure how they will take to sleeping in individual kennels, they are inseparable and basically lie on top of each other when they are on the yard... but I like the ability to pen them separately too.. how do others get on with that?
Would saw dust / straw as bedding be ok or a proper dog bed?

I would just have one big run and let em all in together as theyre all bitches. Dogs are pack animals and are best in a group rather than being indivdually housed to suit our needs.

unlacedgecko · May 2, 2019

200l plastic barrels make great sleeping areas.

Juggler · May 2, 2019

Pieces_of_Eight said:
Mine is just a plain wooden 4ft square, with a plastic bed. If he's too hot in Summer he will sleep out on the flags.

With drinkers and water pipes etc I'd be wary about it all freezing up in Winter. Mine are only 30 yds from the house and I have an hose that will reach for washing down from an outside tap. If the outside tap freezes up, I can just get water from the house (which has only frozen up once!).

If your dogs are shut in through the day, you could always give them an exercise pen/grass yard?

They aren't shut in through the day, they are out all day as my father is home, it's having to shut them up in the day I want to avoid doing in the future.

Juggler · May 2, 2019

oakleaf said:
I would just have one big run and let em all in together as theyre all bitches. Dogs are pack animals and are best in a group rather than being indivdually housed to suit our needs.

Yes maybe that's better especially as they all live together at the minute, build one large kennel/shed with a large run off it.

oakleaf · May 2, 2019

My 4 are just shut into the stableyard if l need to contain them for a period. There they have accesss to a yard , sun or shade or can go into the shed where the hay and straw is stored. Most of the time though they are just loose about the place.
All sleep in the house at night.

Dog kennel and run designs

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page