What is the best dog run flooring you can use? I get asked this question constantly, and it seems there are as many theories on what is the best flooring to use as there are types available. Having been a dog owner for about thirty years, I have had a bit of experience with this and I’m more than happy to add my two cents to the info-mix that’s available online when it comes to the dog kennel and run.
First of all, unless you live in the Sahara or someplace like it, letting your dog run for extended periods on grass or dirt is a big mistake. If you let your dog run on grass the grass will wear down and you’ll soon be left with what I like to call big bald spots of dirt. Add some rain to that, and you’ll soon be trekking mud into the kennel, or if your dog comes inside sometimes, into your house. Dog pee also kills grass, resulting in bald spots in the grass or dirt-plus-rain equals mud! So, no, I don’t recommend a grass run.
I’ve seen pea gravel used for a run quite successfully. It’s nice for the dogs to run on, and it’s fairly easy to keep clean. You have to scoop up the poops of course, but the dog’s urine goes straight through and doesn’t stain. You can clean the gravel fairly easily by spraying once a week with a fairly strong Clorox solution. That seems to keep it clean and eliminates any odor.
One caution with using gravel, pups will eat it so it’s not recommended for a run where you have pups. If they ingest it, it can kill them.
Also, know your dog. Some dogs, even full grown dogs, will eat the pea gravel. Maybe they think it looks like dry dog food? I don’t know. But before you invest time and money into laying out a pea gravel run you’d better make sure that your dog doesn’t eat it.
My favorite, and what I consider the best dog run flooring, is to lay a concrete dog run. Concrete is porous and it soaks up the dog urine which isn’t good as that leaves a bad smell. But it is easy to clean–just spray it off, disinfect it or spray it with bleach.
If you are prepared to invest a little more there are very good sealants available that make it easy to seal and clean your dog kennel and run floor.
Some people are concerned that a concrete run is uncomfortable for the dog to run on, or lay on, especially if it’s spending a good deal of time there. One very simple solution to that is to buy Equine mats to lay down for some of the run. These are comfortable for the dog and provide some relief from the concrete.
Another alternative which some people have found useful is to use high density plastic flooring. It’s definitely durable and lightweight, and the installation is a breeze but it may not be sturdy enough for your run. Again, you’d have to know your dog. Plastic is enticing to many dog breeds. They delight in chewing it, grabbing it and running the length of the yard (or run) with it in their teeth. For example, I wouldn’t recommend it for a Retriever.
Overall my recommendation would be to cement and seal first of all, or to use gravel. If your dog is going to spend a fair portion of each day in the dog kennel and run you owe it to him to make it as comfortable as you can. By the same token, if you’re the one doing the cleaning you owe it to yourself to make it as easy to do as you can.
That’s why I suggest cement, plus treatment for your dog kennel and run flooring. You can’t really go wrong with that.
Hi we use cement and in some areas wood flooring but ive had a problem with my heavier dogs getting marks on the elbows,so we use bedding , pine usually.We have to put it down for them really thick
Someone wrote a comment asking about the type of material to use for an Akita dog. Having had a few heavier set dogs myself, it is possible to find decent building materials to construct a kennel, perhaps you could log onto a forum where there are Akita dog’s and ask what they use. I’d also suggest building a kennel and enclosing it in a fenced in area, such as a dog run as your dog will get better exercise and will be less likely to damage his kennel.
which kind of strong Clorox solution would you suggest or recommend?
Normally we just use the regular Clorox, and follow the instructions on the back, for cleaning and disinfecting. You can get stronger Clorox solutions, but because we use it for a variety of things other than cleaning we’ve generally gone for the regular Clorox you can buy in the supermarket.
Hello Susan, I read your Dog Kennel and Run article and i was going to use that article for one of my research sources for my Senior Project, but for this part of my project the form i am working on asks for the author of the article for their first and last name. i was wondering if you could help me with that part of my project. if you can email me at the email address above. thank you very much.
We used to raise dogs until a fire destroyed our kennels. We still have some outdoor flooring that we would love to sell. It is raised off the ground about a foot with steel framework and plastic “snap-together” flooring pieces. in your opinion, what would be the best way to sell this?
Thanks!
Karen, people are often looking for this type of thing. I’d probably advertise locally, and I’d also put something up on Craig’s list too. Your best bet would be to find someone who is building a kennel and looking for flooring.