Dog Kennel and Run Research

Kennel Flooring

2009-11-15T03:09:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for something simple, fast and easy to lay down for your kennel flooring, you might want to look into some of the more portable kennel flooring that is readily available these days, such as kennel decking, or instant kennel flooring, or even heavy duty rubber matting.

The beauty of using this type of flooring for your kennel is that it is very easy to move around, as it is not attached to the ground, or cemented down thus it can very easily be picked up and moved to a new location. This is especially helpful if you regularly travel with your pets or if you find you have to switch the location of your kennel often due to seasonal weather changes etc.

Another plus with this type of dog kennel flooring is that it is also very easy to take out of the kennel and scrub down or hose down. This is particularly handy if you have had a sick dog, or if your kennel has become very soiled for any reason. It also allows you to actually scrub the flooring with a good cleaning substance such as bleach (though if you do use bleach, be sure to hose it down or wash it down with hot water afterwards to remove all traces of the bleach.)

Even if you don't travel around or need to move your kennel from time to time, it is still very handy to at least have some heavy duty rubber matting on hand in case you ever need it for any reason. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Taking your Dog Camping

2009-10-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Love to take your dog with you when you go camping? Well, you're not alone. Apparently statistics show that up to 75% of campers travel with their pets! It makes a lot of sense, when you think about it. For one, you don't have to try to find someone who will pet-sit your pet for you, or put your beloved best friend into a kennel while you're gone. Secondly, you get to enjoy each other's company even while traveling on the road!

It seems that at last, RVing is for the dogs. Check it out!

Cutsey Dog Cages

2009-10-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Are they practical? Maybe not. Just recently I went to visit with my aunt. She's a retired school teacher, as stern as anything when she was a teacher, recently widowed. I don't visit her often, mainly because she brings back memories of very dry history classes at school and raps on the knuckles at dinner if I inadvertently picked up something with my fingers!

Now, for her company, she has two tiny dogs -- little white, fluffy things, that run around your ankles and yap. She has also decided that they should live in little castle designed, soft dog cages. They are, or rather were, pink and white, with ribbons hanging off them everywhere. Well, you can imagine what they look like now.

They have been chased, dragged around the living room, chewed on, peed on (yes, it's disgusting!) and look terrible. And all the while this is going on my aunt looks on fondly and laughs at them. Well, she did give a stern no when little Toochy lifted up his leg and peed on the corner of the worst damaged one.

I suggested she invest in some other, more durable type of dog pens for them but she insisted that these were cute, and that they 'loved them to death and she couldn't deprive them of their playthings.' Well, can't say I didn't try!

Dog Kennel Insulation

2009-09-27T23:41:00.000-07:00

While it may not be essential to actually install installation inside of your dog kennel and run, there are some things you can do to make sure that the kennel itself remains at optimum temperature, particularly during months of extreme weather during the peak of summer or height of winter.

Some simple things you can do is to first of all plan carefully where you will place your kennel. If it's portable, then that's not a problem as you can move it around at will, and keep it in a desirable spot. But if it is going to be a more permanent kennel, then make sure that during summer it is out of the direct mid-day and early afternoon sun, and that there's plenty of shade.

If winters are a problem for you, have the kennel located so that wind, rain and snow can't easily come in the kennel door. This is best accomplished by having the door face the side of the house or a wall.

Building up a floor in your dog kennel also helps keep your dog off the cold floor, and making sure that cement floors are covered with mats (stable mats are great) will also help keep your dog warm and comfortable.

Remembering that white reflects heat and dark colors absorb heat may also help you to keep your dog cooler during summer, or warmer during winter. If you want to heat up your kennel during winter, it's a good idea to have it made from dark colored material so that heat is absorbed. If heat is a problem, paint the outside white, or another light color.

Making these simple adjustments when planning your kennel can make all the difference in the comfort of your dog.

Naughty Dogs?

2009-09-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

Having a problem getting your pooch to obey the house rules? Well, you're not alone. Considering that there are 75 million pet dogs in the US alone, there are bound to be some that cause chaos when left at home. Marni Jameson recently detailed some of the things that she is going to do to help her two pet dogs be more home-friendly, in this recent article,"At home: It may be a dog's life, but they have to behave". Take a look and take heart if you have a less than obedient dog, all is not lost!

Sealing your Cement Dog Run Floor

2009-06-23T01:04:00.000-07:00

The best material for a dog run surface is cement, because it’s easy to disinfect. If you do choose to have a cement floor in your dog run then sealing your cement dog run floor is the next step. This will save you time and speed up cleaning, protect against mold and bacteria, and it will prevent moisture for getting into the cement.

Moisture the one thing you always want to avoid in a kennel, it causes all sorts of health problems and odors. A sealed cement floor will also help protect against skin, fur and paw irritations from lying and rubbing damp concrete.

Painting your Dog Kennel

2009-06-22T00:47:00.000-07:00

When it is time to paint your dog kennel or dog house, do not flip through the paint color chips looking for your favorite color without considering your dogs happiness first. Painting your dog kennel requires thought towards color and your dog’s predisposition towards chewing on painted surfaces that might not be good for them.

Paint colors have the ability to help in regulating the temperature inside of the dog kennel or doghouse. Dark colors will increase the heat inside of the structure, and light colors will decrease the heat inside of the small building.

An idea that that works well in cold or snowy areas is to make the bottom half of the structure a dark color so that the dog has a nice warm wall to cuddle up to if he wishes during the cold months while having a nice heat reflecting color on top to keep the sun out during the hotter months of the year.

Why you Need a Dog Run

2009-06-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

Dogs need exercise. It's true. Eating, drinking and then just sitting around the house all day is not good for you or your dog. Your dog can't just take off to the park and run whenever he or she wants to. If you are having an especially busy week at work or school, you may not be able to take your dog for walks and runs as much as you would like.

Hiring a dog-walker is expensive. This is why you need a dog run. It is safe, convenient and your dog will love it. They are easy to make and take up little space.