Question:

Can you recommend a half decent way to kennel a dog? First of all my pointer can jump and secondly she can dig. I want to go to work just once with out my neighbor calling me and telling me how she has escaped the yard again. I need this thing to be bulletproof cause if she can’t go under she’ll find a way to get over. I just wish I could catch her at it. I swear she’s climbing it and not jumping. The fence is five feet as it is. The chicken wire I laid underneath isn’t working either. How big should I make a kennel anyway? I don’t want a small pen. She should get to run around.

ANSWER:

Houdini in a dog costume – wonderful!

The minimal size for an outdoor kennel or run should be 6’ x 8’ for a medium sized dog with a medium activity level. That gives some room to move around while staying out of the poop and pee area. A larger or highly active dog needs more space and I prefer to see the kennels get longer versus staying square so the dog has some running room. For a high-energy dog like a Border Collie or Australian Cattle Dog, I would recommend 6’ x 20’ so they have lot’s of room to pace.

Construction material is critical for the health and safety of your dog. I like to see sealed cement as they cannot dig out and it is easy to keep clean (it will need to be resealed at least once a year). Smooth surfaces are easier to keep clean but dogs tend to wipe out and injure themselves. I prefer a moderately rough surface to give them traction and yet is still relatively easy to clean. Cement is not a forgiving material for their feet but as long as they are not in it all the time, it should not cause any problems down the line.

You cannot beat chain link walls and a gate that can be padlocked. When it comes to my dog’s safety, I want to know that when I leave them in their outside kennel, that they will be there when I get back. For an escapee, put a roof on the kennel of either more chain link fencing or even better, a heavy tarp material, which doubles as protection from the elements.

After that, a doghouse to provide a den for them, a water bucket attached to the chain link so it is difficult to spill, toys and a blanket or two should all your dog needs to keep them happy and inside their kennel.