A dog kennel and run is a great place for your pet to exercise and run around without having them wander off in the neighborhood or run around the house breaking things. It guarantees that the dog is safe and will always be where you left him. It also ensures the safety of others in case one owns an attack dog that may be a danger to people around the neighbourhood. But what do you need to know when buying a dog kennel and run?

What Size?
Dog kennel and runs should fit the dog’s breed, size, and personality. Bigger, more active dogs need larger spaces and thus big kennels and runs are needed. Also, bigger and stronger dogs need a more solid, sturdy, and long lasting kennel and run as otherwise you may find that they are able to escape by destroying the kennel and run. Dogs can also jump high, often as high as four feet, so their kennel should have high enough fences to impede the dog from jumping over it and escaping.

What Material?
When buying a kennel and run, you will encounter various kinds of makes and it can be confusing deciding on the right one for your dog. Kennels can be made of chain link, wire, and there are plastic fences available also. Take into consideration the size and strength of the dog, and make sure it can’t slip through the wire.  Plastic is not always the best choice, unless it’s very hard plastic and your dog is not a chewer. Plastic is better, usually, for the smaller breeds of dog.

Do you Need Roofing?
Kennel and runs meant for outdoors most likely need a roof as well. This is to protect the dog from rain, snow, or direct sunlight. The main thing to consider when buying a kennel is the welfare of the dog. If the dog is house trained and is not rowdy at all there probably is no need for a full scale kennel and run–you may be better off buying a mobile mesh dog pen (some also come with detachable roofing.)  But if a dogs need to be kept in check and needs a place of his own because you don’t want to leave them in the house when you’re working, or you don’t feel comfortable giving them free rein in the yard when you’re not there, then a dog kennel and run is a good choice.

Why the Dog Kennel and Run is Preferable Over Chaining a Dog Up
The dog kennel and run has many uses beside being a place to physically restrain your dog. It can serve as the dog’s resting place as well as a playpen. Tethers or chains often break, or rust over time, allowing your pet to escape and run around unchecked. A kennel keeps your pet safe from the elements both night and day, and protects him from other animals that may put him in peril.

Depending on your location, and the climate of the area you live in, you may find it’s needful to insulate your dog kennel and run. This holds true especially for dogs who live mainly outdoors. If your dog is primarily and indoor dog, who is only put outside occasionally for shorter periods of time then it may not be necessary to insulate your dog kennel.

There are two main reasons for insulating a dog kennel and run, one is to keep the heat in and the cold out, the other is to keep the heat out and to shade and protect your dog from excessive sun and heat.

One of the first things to look into when positioning your kennel is to make sure that it’s not located where it is in direct sunlight for the entire day. It’s great if your kennel can move, as that way you can position it to catch the sun during winter, and then remove it to a nice shady, breezy location during the hot summer months. During winter, position it also so that it is sheltered from any winds or where snow could blow in through the door.

Materials that can be used for insulation: Just as in insulating your home, there are several options for insulating your dog kennel and run. You can base your decisions on what is the most cost effective, easy to purchase, or what you are comfortable working with.

One of the more common materials used for insulating is fiberglass sheets. Fiberglass is an irritant if it comes in contact with your skin, and it can also irritate your dog’s eyes or exposed areas of skin, so you may or may not want to use this for the kennel, particularly if your dog is likely a “chewer”.

Other materials that can be used for insulation include cork board, other soft fibrous boards. In most cases, as with the fiberglass sheets, you will want to cover the insulation material with a second lining of hardboard or gypsum board. Although it is an extra step to line the kennel, it is needed to protect the dog from chewing on the insulation material and it adds yet another layer which also provides additional insulation.

Asbestos has been used for insulation, but that is not recommended for insulating a dog kennel and run.

If you would prefer, you could also consider adding external insulation. The advantage of this is that it doesn’t require re-building, or re-modeling, and it can be done pretty quickly and cheaply. Items that can be used for external insulation include foiled tar paper, or external insulation with pre-colored plaster. If you are interested in external insulation, it would be best for you to check out your local building supply store to see what’s available and cheap, in your area.

It is possible to purchase a kennel complete with insulation too, though these are often quite a bit more expensive than the non-insulated pre-built dog kennel and run.

If you are planning on installing a heater in your dog kennel it is essential to first insulate the kennel. Otherwise you will lose a lot of heat, and the heater will be far less effective.

Other pointers to consider:

• If insulating to keep the heat in, paint your kennel with a dark color, or use dark wood or paneling for the outside.
• If insulating to keep the heat out, paint your kennel with a light colored paint.
• Don’t use lead based paint for painting your kennel, it could poison your dog if he ingested it accidentally.
• Position your dog house so the wind and rain or snow can’t enter.
• Don’t make the door to the kennel too big, just make it big enough for the dog to get through. This will also help in insulating the kennel.
• Build a floor into the kennel to help keep it insulated and to keep your dog up off the cold or damp ground.

I’ve been asked many times what is best to use for the floor of the outdoor dog kennel and run.  There are as many different suggestions for this as there are types of flooring and over the course of many years I have used most of them.  Here’s a brief run down on the options you have for your dog kennel and run flooring, with some pro’s and con’s for each kind.

Dog Kennel Deck 2 x 4 Gray

The Kennel Deck is the perfect solution to providing a sanitary, yet comfortable surface for dogs in cages, runs, etc. Molded from high-density plastic…

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Price: $29.99

Above all, when deciding on your flooring, remember that the main thing–especially if your dog is going to be spending large amounts of time in the kennel, is to make sure it’s comfortable and hygienic.  It also should be easy to keep clean.

Having the kennel and run set directly on the grass, or other outdoor surface: This is sometimes your only option if you have a movable wire pen or kennel.  I wouldn’t recommend it as being the best though, for a number of options.  If the kennel is sitting on grass it’s fairly easy for your dog, especially if he’s a digger, to simply dig himself out underneath the pen.  There’s also problems with tearing up the grass or running it down if your dog spends a long time in the run.  Also, for sleeping, it’s best if there’s some type of raised platform for the dog to lay down on in his kennel.

Concrete flooring for both the dog kennel and run, or just for the kennel: This is also a very popular option, one which I think I have used the most often.  It’s very easy to hose off a cement run and to see if there’s any messes on it.  It can be cold to sleep on though, and is actually quite porous unless sealed properly.  Sealing an entire run sufficiently is a problem. Most of us have probably faced peeling paint, or have had the pen floor become smelly and stained.  There are some very good sealants available these days, though, and a little searching on line should show you some possibilities for sealing the cement run.

If you use a cement floor for your dog kennel, be sure to include something nice and soft for your dog to lay down on inside the kennel.

One con with using cement is that it’s rather permanent. So if you like to move your dog kennel and run around that may not be the best thing to use.

Wooden flooring: I haven’t had a lot of experience with wooden flooring. It’s fine for a kennel but I can’t imagine using it for an entire run. It would get very scratched and it also absorbs smells and stains.  Also, if your dog is a chewer (mine is) then I’d recommend that you stay away from using wood even for a kennel.  My retriever systematically chewed the edges of her kennel till it looked horrible and I had to replace it!

Instant kennel flooring:  Another option you may be interested in as flooring for your dog kennel and run is instant kennel flooring.  It’s fairly reasonably priced, easy to install and it’s portable which is nice if you move your pen around. I looked at one recently, a nice woven design that was water and sun resistant. It’s porous, so liquid goes straight through and easy to clean–just hose it off like you would a cement floor.

There are probably more options for your dog kennel and run flooring such as gravel, wood chips etc. and if you look around a bit you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.