Building Kennel Runs

[...Sydney...]

Does anyone have any suggestions on building kennel runs. No Dan I don't have a $40k budget, and I am not ready to do it yet, just researching and trying to get some ideas together.

What types of flooring work best?
If leaving a natural flooring, how far down do you suggest the fencing go to prevent dig outs?
What type of fencing is recommended for use with the APBT?

Maybe just some peoples personal experience and what you have learned would be appreciated...

I do not feel comfortable with chain set ups where I live. Even though I have a good bit of land I feel our area is too high traffic.

[Dansgrizz]

I think theres alot you shoud consider about your dogs before deciding what set up you should use....

Are they diggers? That should tell you alot about your flooring needs.

Whats the weather like around you? is it extreme? will they need insulated dog houses? will their water dishes be freezing over?

Will they be in their runs all day? or is this a short term containment? that should help you with the size of the runs.

are you expecting these dogs to fence fight? perhaps they shouldnt share a fence then...

As for the set up i showed you. They make much smaller tin sheds and you can even fashion your own lean-to type system.

I have seen the blue water barrles used with great success... since you have 2 dogs buy 3 barrells. 2 for housing a top and bottom 1/3 for water bowls and the middle for little element blockers/ lips on the top of the barrells.

[smith family kennels]

everything dan said...

with the exception of climbers who will need tops, diggers i would use decking floors I lke concrete better cause its easier to clean up and doesnt rot but tends to give bad kennel sores decking isnt as ruff. if escape artist use steel bars like a jail cell not chain link and if they still tip water bowls when you use a barrel make concrete water bowls :)

[Claddagh Kennels]

I don't feel comfortable with anything but a proper chain set-up, call me the devil or whatever. Also no fencing is the proper fencing for APBTs

[smith family kennels]

I use chain set ups myself but have seen nice kennel run set ups before. I find i easier to just do chain set up and rake and scoop poop then have to spray off floors and then scoop lol but to each his own. Plus alot of places have banned chaining and tethering dogs so they have to go to other options.

[Dansgrizz]

Speaking in generalities is never a good idea. To say that no fencing is proper and chaining is the only way is innacurate, lends one to think you have so little experience as you never seen a dog who fights it's chain but has no problems in a run. Dogs like this are better kept in runs also, for the sake of ones yard, if your yard picks up on this habit it's all bad. You'll have a yard full of toothless hard keepers cuz you refused to switch to a run or cull this undesirable trait.

[Claddagh Kennels]

How many APBTs have you owned? You own a few house dogs so now you are the master of all things possible I see. 99 percent of dogs that fight thier chain damn sure are not going to sit in a kennel!

[CASH]

I would go with the steel fencing over chainlink. I have seen to many dogs rip apart chainlink. For digging I have seen people lay brick or cinder blocks under the fencing to stop them from digging out.
In the past with my kennals I have had good luck with pea gravle. You do have to add some every few months but it all in all I think it Aworks well.
As for water bowls I like a cut down 55 or 20 gal drum.
Hope this helps some.

[Claddagh Kennels]

Also I didn't say chaining was the only way, I said it's the only way I feel comfortable. Damn if you want to try and blast me at least read what I write.

[APBTMOMMY]

Please remember this thread is for educational purposes, lets not get out of hand with personal attacks. Thanks- APBTMOMMY

[...Sydney...]

I think theres alot you shoud consider about your dogs before deciding what set up you should use....

Are they diggers? That should tell you alot about your flooring needs.

The dogs I have now aren't currently diggers, but they have never been confined in kennel runs before, I also don't know if dogs of the future will be diggers, the idea behind building these would be show we can have more dogs in the future...I had considered concrete, but the sores turn me off to it. I had considered composite, but the build up of poo and pee and whatnot under the flooring and harboring flies turned me off to it. I considered natural flooring, but because I do not know if they would dig or not I considered the idea of a concrete trough or burying fencing.

Whats the weather like around you? is it extreme? will they need insulated dog houses? will their water dishes be freezing over?

The weather is fairly mild most of the year it gets pretty hot in the peak of summer and likewise in the winter for these dogs, but nothing crazy...and snow if it comes usually last only a day or two.

Will they be in their runs all day? or is this a short term containment? that should help you with the size of the runs.
They may be in runs during the day...I want to have that option

are you expecting these dogs to fence fight? perhaps they shouldnt share a fence then... Not expecting it, but I was not considering having them share a fence. I was thinking just far enough apart to slide something in between the runs if there was an issue.

As for the set up i showed you. They make much smaller tin sheds and you can even fashion your own lean-to type system.

I have seen the blue water barrles used with great success... since you have 2 dogs buy 3 barrells. 2 for housing a top and bottom 1/3 for water bowls and the middle for little element blockers/ lips on the top of the barrells.


Thanks for all the responses

[...Sydney...]

I don't feel comfortable with anything but a proper chain set-up, call me the devil or whatever. Also no fencing is the proper fencing for APBTs

I already said this wouldn't work for me so I suppose no response would have been more appropriate. I don't have a problem with chaining it just won't work where I live.

Thank you anyway

[CASH]

How many APBTs have you owned? You own a few house dogs so now you are the master of all things possible I see. 99 percent of dogs that fight thier chain damn sure is not going to sit in a kennel!
Dan offers his opinion based on his experiance, same as you. Syd stated in her op that she was not confterable with a chain spot and asked for advice on building a kennal.

[...Sydney...]

Does anyone remember MADBood from GP I was trying to find old pictures of the kennel runs he built...I think that is something that would work for me, but the pictures have been removed or moved from photobucket...I tried to send him a PM, but he is no longer an active member on GP.

[smith family kennels]

Hes no longer an active member anywhere online really. Alot of the older crew has stepped out of the internet scene

[...Sydney...]

Hes no longer an active member anywhere online really. Alot of the older crew has stepped out of the internet scene

I can understand that...do you know anyway to contact him, email?

[Dansgrizz]

He had his runs up on a raised deck he had 2x4 treated with a rubberized pain on the floors and chain link runs with the green tin roof.

I dont believe youll find him on the interent anymore... great guy. much love to the madbood.

PS: i still email him regularly to ask about hsi dogs etc... i havnt gotten a response in a year....

[Dansgrizz]

ps... ill PM you his email...

[Claddagh Kennels]

http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/jan_feb_2002/how_to_set_up_comfy_dog_kennel.html
There you go, is that better?

[Claddagh Kennels]

http://www.hooverfence.com/kennel/setup-images/wolf-riv-kennels.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/cmstoney/compositedecking.jpg

[...Sydney...]

There you go, is that better?

LOL, much thank you!

[Claddagh Kennels]

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/8297/bal4extralargepoplargevv7.jpg

[chris mercer]

Thanks, down home flavor but still professional looking. I too am in the midst of redoing my runs. I had to wonder is it better to start from scratch or use the 12.5x44 foot concrete slab I already have. The dogs are so well behaved in the picture but if you have runners a solid divider may be a good idea to keep them calmer. None of mine after 6years have gotten sores from being on concrete. Tjeir dog houses sre raised and they rest on top of them if not in the house. Mine are also out between 6-8 hours in a large lot of sand. That's our native soil. Also, some are 12.5 ga. chain linik and the home made ones are 8 or 9 ga. No comparison, the heavier is better but I think that reinfored 12.5 would be fine.

Chris Mercer

[Dansgrizz]

Here ya go syd a set up like this should fit inside of your budget....ENJOY! BTW... im moving in with 30+ dogs lol got room?!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/Chinasetup.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/Chinasetup3.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/Chinasetup2.jpg

[chris mercer]

Dan, where is that and what is it? No shade for the dogs. There is one dog in view and he is seeking shade from the dog house. Are they insulated? That looks like doggy purgatory.

Chris Mercer

[...Sydney...]

Wow impressive! You can have the west wing :-)

[chris mercer]

I stand corrected, I see quite a few.
Chris Mercer

[Dansgrizz]

Its in china chris. I believe that is a compound lol.

[SMThe]

Looks like the shade trees were just planted. It'll take years for the shade to reach the dogs. Do you have anymore info on this "compound", Dan?

[OldfortKennels]

I personally like cable runs, if you are nerveous LOCK the collars to the chains.

If you are doing runs, have you ever seen Robs set up? he builds decks for all his runs about 2 feet off the ground with HEAVY duty fence panels. Regular chain link works, just have to check it often to make sure it secure. I REALLY like Robs setup and it looks amazing as well.

[...Sydney...]

Rob Herndon?

[...Sydney...]

I know this is old, but I finally found the picture I was looking for of the kennel set-up I liked...Oddly I stumbled across it on an AmBulldog forum, where the guy that posted it had found it on a pit bull forum...I am pretty sure this is MadBood's old set-up...if not it is identical...it has been a while since I have seen his pics...

I so wish I had the money to use composite decking...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOHxGXbgZGI/AAAAAAAALLQ/Zr2zLuVwWE4/s400/compositedecking.jpg

[Dansgrizz]

That is madboods setup..... That dude fell off the planet...

[George Bailey]

Those are great, well planned runs-- too bad he's not still around.

George Bailey

[smith family kennels]

yeah he did fall off the earth lol haven't heard from him in forever and that is pretty close to the setup im wanting to put together. I was going to use concrete but will probably use decking myself since we have plans to move the house and the dogs in a few years.

[...Sydney...]

Yeah this was my goal it's nice to finally have a picture to show my husband my vison lol! Man that composite decking is beautiful, it must have been like $1,500-$2,000 alone!! Ours is only like half this size, and real wood for the deck was around $350...

[Claddagh Kennels]

Why not build the platform to lean the other way and make a trench?

[smith family kennels]

I know what you mean sydney thats why I was just going to concrete but I cant pick that up and move it. Its going to be hard enough moving sheds and a house and I probably wont need it when everything is moved down toward the woods. Then Ill just stick the dogs in the woods lol. Id like to see it when its done.

[...Sydney...]

I know what you mean sydney thats why I was just going to concrete but I cant pick that up and move it. Its going to be hard enough moving sheds and a house and I probably wont need it when everything is moved down toward the woods. Then Ill just stick the dogs in the woods lol. Id like to see it when its done.

Yeah that is my reasoning for the wood deck too. It's not permanent. Also I don't have to have a permit to build a "floating deck" and it also doesn't increase our property value therefore doesn't increase our property taxes. :D

I will share pictures as it is completed...we are doing it in stages so it's not so heavy on the pocket book, and we don't actually NEED it right away so there is no sense in running out and dumping a bunch of money into it right away. It has also given me the opportunity to research and plan what will work best for us :D

[NATE]

Ok i can save you a A$$ load of cash if you know some one that can weld Rack decking call scrap yards around you and tell them you need some and be on the look out thats what i am going to use to build ours 4x4 twice as thick as any kennel on the market for scarp price :) thats whats up

[...Sydney...]

Here are a couple of pictures from today. We built the decking portion of kennel setup...the deck is 22' x 12' we still have to seal the deck so we haven't put the kennels up yet. But here is out progress so far...

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm1mxZ8nHI/AAAAAAAALLs/QITDJLH36u0/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20002.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm1phgOshI/AAAAAAAALLw/NCwMU0VLejw/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20003.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm1rVut06I/AAAAAAAALL0/L-3o6smOKbw/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20004.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm134EKLwI/AAAAAAAALMM/KgQZdC5cQj0/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20010.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm17sBiNoI/AAAAAAAALMY/pEu7PRaS6i0/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20012.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm19cWYmpI/AAAAAAAALMc/bRsioSVdyNw/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20013.jpg

Done at last!!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TOm2BlTA-vI/AAAAAAAALMo/X9EvGp1JBek/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20016.jpg

[Dansgrizz]

Awesome start, wut kind of sealer are u going to use?

[...Sydney...]

the plan is to pressure wash the deck to get alot of the chemicals off of the surface and then seal it with Olympic Maximum waterproofing sealer stuff

[Southern Inferno]

I see your doing a good job of taking pics while Paul works, lol ;)

[...Sydney...]

I see your doing a good job of taking pics while Paul works, lol ;)

LOL, yeah he is a good man :) I'll admit I helped alot (sometimes by staying out of the way), but he definitely did most of the work. He didn't seem mind though, considering he got a fancy new DeWalt circular saw out of the deal :p

[smith family kennels]

lol I ususally stay out of the way and take pictures too hahahaha. Nice Start girl!!!

[sw_df27]

it is def looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[green machine]

about how much did it cost you for all the wood?

[...Sydney...]

wood was roughly $350...screws about $40...cinder blocks about $45...lol and the funny thing is I only spent $360 on the two 10 x10 x6 kennels

[green machine]

thats not too bad at all.

[Howardpit1]

Looking good. I actually like the wood floor kennels. it seems to be better on the dogs joints than concrete, and if sealed good, very easy to keep clean.

[smith family kennels]

lol key words there Howard. "if sealed good" I like the too i was going to do concrete just because I knew it would be cooler on the dogs and they wouldnt chew it. I got some chewers. Im only going to use my for the summer months to make it easier to keep them cool then they would go back on chain spots afterward. Ill end up doing wood though cause you cant pick up and move concrete like you wood.

[...Sydney...]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TPQpvnoJd6I/AAAAAAAALOs/ZeZiUWBQ3EU/s640/Kennel%20Deck%20024.jpg

We got the deck stained yesterday! Hopefully will have the kennels up sometime this week. Kinda busy with the holidays and trial coming up, but we're not in a super big hurry to get everything done.

[Dansgrizz]

Very nice syd!

[SMThe]

Beautiful ! That's a lot of work.

[quickfire]

Very nice do you mind listing the dimensions and materials you used. I have never used wood I always heard bad things but I guess if it was sealed properly it could work out very nice. Esp bye the looks of your project.

[...Sydney...]

The deck is about 22' x 12' we leveled it with solid cinder blocks and framed it with 2x4x12s...it is two 11'1" frames screwed together in the center, to make it easier to move if we ever needed to or if we ever wanted to add on to it. We also used screws instead of nails to make it easier to move, add on too, and for maintenance, if a board needed to be replaced.

It is braced every 22" to avoid a "diving board" effect to the deck boards. The deck boards are 5/4x6x12 there is 46 deck boards, I think, with 1/8" spacing. We used treated wooded, and pressure washed the surface and stained it with an Olympic Maximum semi-transparent waterproof stain/seal...

That's all I can think at the moment...does that help or do you need other information?

[quickfire]

No that gives me a general idea. I have been getting the kennel decking off amazon and it has worked well but I like the idea of a raised off the ground kennel run.

[Southern Inferno]

Looking good!

If anyone is interested I have 16 panels of the option plus kennel flooring for sale. Used them on an indoor kennel that I don't have anymore. They retail at 30 bucks per panel at options plus, or 480 for 16. I will sell all 16 for 200.

http://www.optionspluskennels.com/kennelflooring.htm

[Indigo Bully Connection]

i do have one question... how would you keep the funk smell from accumulating under the flooring? It looks fantastic Syd!

[Dansgrizz]

Should stay sanitary if u practice proper kennel maitenance such ascleaning with trifectant or bleach solution. After a hose down the solution will wipe out the smell.

[sw_df27]

Bleach and a hose................................... also assuming it's gonna be sealed pretty good shouldn't be a problem to keep the smell down if you keep it cleaned daily

[infinity]

This is such a great thread. I would like to move it to the DIY (do it yourself) section and make it a sticky.

[Indigo Bully Connection]

i am a freak about keeping my current runs clean that are on cement. I'm looking to expand from two 10 x 10 out door runs to eight 10 x 15 runs. I just cringe knowing i wouldn't be able to completely sanitize the ground under it since it's raised. out here in florida it is super hot and humid... we're perfect for growing mildew and bacteria. I like the idea of getting the dogs off of the cement, as well as what smith fam. kennels said... portibility, but i have such a hard time wrapping my brain around the sanitary issues that could arise.

[sw_df27]

my theory is this my house is raised 2ft off the ground all around we have all hardwood floors and have the underneith checked yearly for mold and mildew and termites and have never had a issue so with that being said once this set up is properly sealed wouldn't it be like hardwood floors and not beable to leak underneith? or am I completely of base here please correct me if I'm wrong,........................

[Indigo Bully Connection]

my theory is this my house is raised 2ft off the ground all around we have all hardwood floors and have the underneith checked yearly for mold and mildew and termites and have never had a issue so with that being said once this set up is properly sealed wouldn't it be like hardwood floors and not beable to leak underneith? or am I completely of base here please correct me if I'm wrong,........................

well, when building the deck you're supposed to give a space between the boards for flex i believe. thus giving the opportunity for urine and small peices/ unfirm stools to get through aand just sit there to collect.

[green machine]

Well, like indigo said, even if you dont put spaces inbetween the boards, when the deck wood dries it will begin to naturally space them selves out.

[...Sydney...]

i do have one question... how would you keep the funk smell from accumulating under the flooring? It looks fantastic Syd!

We went with almost no spacing between the boards because I don't want a lot of crap falling between the boards. Much of it I plan to pick up and dispose of, the dogs will also not always be in the kennels. Our well pump is not far from the kennel and we are going to run water to the kennel so the hose is near by for cleaning purposes, also proper cleaning supplies help.

I don't really know everything just yet as it's not being used and it's not completely set-up so somethings are "in theory" and may change "in practice" LOL! Alot of this has been trial and error and talking to other people, and trying to learn from their mistakes, and what hasn't worked for them. We've thought about putting in a trough and septic tank, but more then likely aren't going to as of now, but may in the future especially if the set-up gets bigger.

I really just am trying to keep it small so I don't end up with more dogs then I can properly train and give attention to.

Another thing is there is gonna be a downside to any type of kennel (especially on a budget). So a big part of it is weighing pros and cons, and tweaking things to work for your particular situation.

[sw_df27]

very well said you will def have to keep us informed on how this works out sanitary wise trial and error trial and error got to love it! And Indigo very good question and very good info to know!

[Indigo Bully Connection]

i definitely want to keep up with this to see how it works out for you. albeit you probably won't notice the sanitary issues for quite some time months probably... my big concern really is urine... the dogs in their runs out here are in there for 9 hours a day (while im at work plus drive time). so its more of a "permanent" situation for me.

[sw_df27]

well I actually never thought of doing this we always had our runs set on the ground with ceder chips and straw and had to daily rack it and replace it got exspensive but our dogs were only in them maybe an hour out of the day they are crated while we're at work. Thankfully when we moved a few years ago we fenced in a 1/2 acre just for the dogs and don't have to use run set ups anymore so now they take turns in the 1/2 acre fence

[...Sydney...]

We put the kennels up today...I decided to go with two 5x10x6 kennels(I can always change my mind again and take the middle panel out) and one 10x10x6. Turns out it's a really good thing we made the deck oversized, because the kennels turned out to be bigger then 10x10x6, but they guy we bought them from said he had them "custom made" so I guess it not being exact is something we should have considered in our original plan. Regardless they ended up fitting perfectly...

Now we just got to put the roof on and we will be all set to go!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQebC2ktLI/AAAAAAAALXA/Vcfb7U1Zk_o/s400/Kennel%20Project%20002.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQedamusEI/AAAAAAAALXE/zDtt3QdnJvc/s400/Kennel%20Project%20003.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQee_gEvlI/AAAAAAAALXI/eFYDmpDkvgo/s400/Kennel%20Project%20004.jpg

Don't worry the dogs aren't staying in the kennels at the moment. I only put them in there for the pictures.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQegUmj6ZI/AAAAAAAALXM/rEzSq_zDsWM/s400/Kennel%20Project%20006.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQejdwb6kI/AAAAAAAALXY/9UyVso3zCos/s400/Kennel%20Project%20011.jpg

Sydney loudly detesting the idea of being a "kennel dog"
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQekcFFAWI/AAAAAAAALXc/DB5fFXNr8PE/s400/Kennel%20Project%20012.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TQQelun-L_I/AAAAAAAALXg/S1umEuMU9no/s400/Kennel%20Project%20013.jpg

[green machine]

looks great! Wish I were able to setup something like that!

[George Bailey]

Looks great!

George Bailey

[chris mercer]

Very nice looking decking, the chain link contrast nicely with the wood. What kind of roof are you all going to put over this? I see Sydney looking at the top rail. She's probably thinking , no sweat. I've had dogs that once they found out they could climb the fencing they did it and the others learned from it. I was able to solve the problem with mesh wire in the corner's blocking them off. The athletic ones went straight over. I closed these off with two by four welded wire across the whole top. This also keeps bitches in heat safer.

Chris Mercer

[...Sydney...]

It's going to be a wood framed roof with slope front to rear, and we are using corrugated roofing panels. The frame will be attached to the kennels so there's no way they will be able to climb out.

[chris mercer]

Sounds good.
Chris Mercer

[sw_df27]

This project is turning out very nice and giving me ideas for when we build our new house if the SO won't let me have a privacy fenced in yard just for the dogs seperate from the fenced in area for the kids!

[...Sydney...]

Ok so I haven't updated in a while, but the big part is done. We just got to build a couple of dog houses and get a couple of odds and ends.

The last thing we did was put the roof on. First we cuts the offensive spikes off the top of the kennel...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TSBvmUnxhBI/AAAAAAAALfY/vwBJhLIaD-0/s640/iphone_79.jpg

Then folded the ends back so it was just like finished chain link at the top, and just for good measure we added pipe foam around the entire top of the kennels.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TSBvzp_wI6I/AAAAAAAALfc/vcw3VSQKx00/s640/iphone_80.jpg


Finally we started the roof it has a 4" slope front to rear and we used Ondura corrugated roofing panels in red.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TTy3FZDUR8I/AAAAAAAALkM/j5HbQJ8kQCo/s640/iphone_86.jpg

then finally we finished!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WyANkpbGQnE/TTyo74j2EqI/AAAAAAAALkE/cvFRma2PiSQ/s640/iphone_85.jpg

Yayy! :)

[OldfortKennels]

Hey it looks really sharp! Very nice setup!

[CASH]

They look good. How big is each kennel?

[...Sydney...]

They were originally custom made, and sold to us as double door 10x10x6 kennels with center dividers, but the individual kennels are more like 5'.5"x11'. We originally wanted more deck overhang, but we didnt measure the kennels first. Just assumed they were as sold, 10x10x6. Luckily they fit the deck perfectly just not alot of extra room like we originally planned for.

[sw_df27]

It is looking good love it!

[chris mercer]

I like your finished project. It has a professional look with out the industrial look. Nice touch protecting the exposed chin link on top. I was an athletic greens keeper for a number of years and they make a hard plastic tubing that covers the top rail and wire with less chance of the wire puncturing through. It last about five years in full sun. They may have improved it. If it's protected from the sun it will last indefinitely.

Chris Mercer

[APBTMOMMY]

Really nice work Sydney, It looks great! Wanna come build one for me? LOL JK.