Virtually all owners of dogs, sooner or later, but the idea comes that the animal also needs its own housing. Of course, except when the dog lives year-round in the comfortable conditions of a city apartment or a private house. A kennel for a dog is an important aspect in her life. This building serves not only as a place for rest - it is a shelter from the windy and rainy weather and from the scorching, hot sun.
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Kennel for a dog own hands
Possessing certain skills, the kennel structure can be built by hand. Such work is not at all complicated, it will take a little time, it will not require significant financial costs. For the construction of kennels are suitable for a variety of materials - timber, plywood, boards, OSB. Provided that the selected building material is susceptible to deformation from the influence of moisture, its external part will have to be protected. As a protection is quite suitable linoleum or any kind of not the most thin polyethylene.
Kennel Sizes
As well as at the beginning of any other construction process, at the beginning of the construction of the booth, it is necessary to draw a drawing-scheme. Data for the design of the project will depend on several factors: the age of the animal, its height at the withers and width of the chest, the characteristics of the climatic conditions of residence.
Climatic conditions play an important role in the construction of canine housing. If the booth is designed for a year-round living dog on the street, and the region is northern, then do not make the construction too large or multi-room. An animal will be cold in such a house. Constant finding in uncomfortable, cold conditions will lead to chronic diseases of the pet.
If the region is southern and the climate is warm, then you can add to the standard size another 10 centimeters in height, length and width. This will increase the air circulation in the box and will save the animal from overheating. The standard size of the booth is calculated as follows: for an adult, already fully grown dog, the length of the booth will be equal to the length of the animal from the nose to the tip of the tail +5 cm; the width of the booth will be equal to the height of the animal (from the floor to the tip of the ears) + 5 cm; the width of the entrance to the booth is equal to the width of the chest + 5 cm; height of the entrance - height at the withers +5 cm.
To determine the size of a kennel intended for a puppy, special literature will be needed, which will make it possible to find out exactly which dimensions the animal will grow.
Based on these data and adhering to the above standards, construction can begin.
The location of the dog shelter must be thought out in advance. The chosen place should not be blown from all sides by the wind and should not be on under direct sunlight.
Almost ideal is the location of the booth in the enclosure. This option will be convenient for the animal and its owner.
How to build a kennel for a dog
The first steps of construction begin with the formation of the floor. If necessary, it is insulated and made immediately, until the rest of the components are fastened. All metal fastening torches are reliably drowned in a wooden surface. Such camouflage will save the paws of the animal from trauma. Now you can collect and attach the remaining parts of the frame to the floor. The corner pieces of the booth are secured from the outside with metal corners. They, in turn, will add durability and strength to the structure.
If the roof of the kennel is planned to be flat, then the front part of the structure needs to be done a little higher. In this embodiment, thus, the desired slope for a good drain of water will be provided. The upper moments of the side parts of the kennel must be beveled and ideally match the dimensions of the rear and front parts.
How to make a kennel with a gable roof
When constructing a warmed version of the kennel with a gable roof, the front and rear walls are initially made with a triangular top. All the vertical parts are attached to the floor. Outside, the lateral corners are more closely fixed. Now fixing the roof. It can be made both removable and capital. Both the roof and the side parts of the structure can, if necessary or desired, be covered with a material that does not penetrate the moisture. Such material will also be an additional protection against gusts of strong wind.
Kennel Sizes for German Shepherd Dog
Quite often breeders of German shepherds have a kennel in the enclosure. The enclosure itself is mounted away from living quarters and buildings intended for breeding domestic animals. Smells from the stables, poultry house and so on, will adversely affect the smell of the dog and accordingly irritate it.
The location of the enclosure should be as convenient as possible for the dog. Being in his "apartment", the dog should not be too hot or cold, and there should not be a permanent draft there either. Therefore, the owner, choosing the location, must necessarily take into account all the above factors. When building housing for such a breed as a German shepherd, the most important thing is to correctly measure all the necessary dimensions of the animal and draw a drawing of the kennel. The booth should not be small or big. It should be just the size of the animal.
One-room will be housing or two-room, depends on the region of residence. If the weather rages for most of the year (rain, snow, wind, etc.), it is better to make a two-room booth. The partition dividing the structure into two parts will best protect the animal from drafts, penetration of cold air and heat leakage. While engaging in the construction of a kennel for a shepherd, it should be done in a thorough manner.
To achieve maximum strength of the structure, the following building materials will be needed:
- bars or thick boards
- plywood
- nails or other fasteners
- material that does not penetrate moisture (strong polyethylene or linoleum).
In regions with particularly severe climatic conditions, it is possible to warm the dog shelter with polystyrene foam (outside) and at the entrance hang a not too long cloth tight canopy. In such a house, the shepherd will be warm in the winter cold and cool in the summer heat. To calculate the minimum size of the booth, you need to measure the dog in length.
It is better to do this when the dog is asleep and her body is in a relaxed state. It will also need its height at the withers. Dog owners-professionals recommend adhering to the following parameters when producing a booth for an adult animal:
- depth - 1 meter
- width - 1.35 meters
- height - 0,95 meters
- entrance to the booth - 0,6х0,4 meters
Dog breeders are advised to make a floor in a kennel with a thickness of at least 4 centimeters. A sufficiently thick and insulated floor will provide the animal with a more comfortable wintering.
Asking what kind of a kennel and favorite pet should be, always remember that in the first place it should be most comfortable for the animal. The best option for the construction of the booth will be a removable roof. He will allow unimpeded disinfection and cleaning of the dog shelter, as well as in any force majeure circumstances, to help the animal inside.