Building the Dog Kennel and Run

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.

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.

Tags: Dog Kennel Building Materials, Dog Runs // Add Comment »