Building the Dog Kennel and Run

BEST DOG HOUSES	BEST DOG KENNELS
Suncast DH250 Dog House $51.58	Suncast DH350 Dog House $77.74
Merry Pet MPS002 Wood Room with a View Pet House $69.66	Our Pets Cozy Cottage Dog House $97.36
Precision Pet Outback Log Cabin Dog House, Large, 45 1/2x33x33-Inches $149.97	Pet House Indigo Igloo (Medium – White) $79.99
Our Pets Tuff-N-Rugged Dog House $150.33	Merry Pet The Mansion Wood Pet House, Large $364.75
PetSafe 7126 7-By-12-By-6-Foot DIY Box Kennel $247.92	Shady Dog – 10′ x 10′ Black $46.95
Lucky Dog 4-by-10-by-5 Foot CL41098 Easy Ship Chain-Link Box Kennel $213.74	ShelterLogic Dog Kennel, 66- Inch Peak Height, Wall Dimensions 4 x 8 x 45- Feet $248.85

You will need to take a couple of things into consideration when deciding on the size of your dog kennel and run or when looking at dog runs for sale.

• The height and length of your dog.
• The size of your yard and the space available for a dog kennel and run.

Ideally, a kennel should be approximately high enough for your dog to stand up in without him having to lower his head below his shoulders, and long enough for your dog to lie down and stretch out, or to lie comfortably on his side. It should be wide enough for your dog to turn around easily in.

A kennel that is too small, especially if your dog is going to spend a fair amount of time in it, makes for an unhappy, anxious dog. They tend to look at being locked up in a too small kennel as being punished.

If your dog will be spending a considerable amount of time in their outdoor dog kennel, it is highly recommended that you make your outdoor dog kennels larger than the minimum size, and provide a decent sized run as well. Dogs penned up in a small space become bored. Bored dogs bark a lot, and exhibit other unwanted behaviour.  Dog kennels with runs are best for dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors in their kennel. Dogs also need a kennel large and deep enough that they are sheltered from rain and sun alike. Make sure too that the kennel flooring is comfortable, as uncomfortable or missing dog kennel flooring also makes for an unhappy dog. In short, the size of  your dog and kennel should determine how large your kennel should be.

Smaller kennels are fine for your smaller to medium sized dogs like the Shiba Inu or the Corgi for example, especially if they are only used upon occasion, while you’re at work, or away from the house for a time. Even so, the dogs kennel still needs to be large enough for your small dog to lie down comfortably and to stand up in.

A fairly typical height for dog kennel runs for a smaller dog is four feet high. Bigger breeds will need a kennel run six feet high. It’s unlikely that even the bigger breeds could jump out of a six foot dog kennel run and likewise predators wouldn’t be able to get into the kennel.

Think ahead when purchasing or making a dog kennel and run.
That cute little puppy is going to grow into a much bigger dog.  If you’re going to the trouble of investing in an outdoor kennel and run you should plan ahead and either purchase or build it large enough to house your full grown dog.   One idea, if you’re using it with a younger pup, is to divide the kennel in half. That way the puppy won’t soil the inside of the kennel, but will remember to go outside the kennel to do it’s business. If you are looking to save costs you may want to buy the kennel and look up how to build a dog run yourself.  If you are fairly good with handyman tasks you may find that learning how to build a dog kennel as well as a run will save you money in the long run.

Remember too, a kennel and run is just part of what is needed for your new puppy.  Make sure that your dogs wear their pet ID tags, and that they have plenty of toys to play with, and the right sized water and food bowls. Taking care of all of their needs will ensure you have happy, well adjusted pets.

Other Articles You May Be Interested In
If you want to buy dogs kennels check out Buying A Dog Kennel And Run for some good advice.

If you live in an area where your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and it gets very cold during winter, you will need to take into consideration insulating your dog kennel when it comes to buying dog kennels and runs. If you buy dog kennels runs you can also look into adding your own insulation.

Likewise, dog kennel flooring is also very important to keep in mind when researching ideas on how to build dog kennel.