new design for dog kennel?

Question

I'm thinking of raising dogs for profit. I have tons of room in the country, and will need to build facilities, but would like to design something that doesn't look or feel like a kennel / cage / prison. Something with common grounds where they can run and be a dog. With a separate whelping area, and separate areas to put dogs when they're aggressive. Am I being naive? Would anything like this work? If not, why not? Any legitimate ideas and comments would be welcome.

Answer 1

You will need to use the USDA specifications. When/if PAWS passes we will probably ALL need to comply, but you most definately will if you plan on breeding several litters a year.

You will need 2 totally seperate kennels to seperate bitches and studs and a whelping building. Heating/AC as well as air exchangers. Floor drains every so many feet, etc. The USDA is VERY specific and if it doesn't meet the rules you will have to redo it. Better get reading, it is not easy or cheap to comply with regulations, and most commercial breeders are USDA inspected.

All said and done, it will end up costing you AT LEAST $200,000, but probably more like $250,000.

Good luck.

Answer 2

O.K. You don't sound like a person that thinks dogs are livestock or you wouldn't say cage/ prison. I'll start with that.
Dogs are not cattle, or horses, or pigs.

Saying “you want to raise dogs for profit” makes you a puppymiller .

Puppy mill operators are frequently accused of being motivated only by profit rather than a commitment to the breed or any empathy for the animals in their care.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_mill

You say you want a dog to be a dog, which means a community with you as the head caretaker. That means lots of time, love and money.
Dogs need to have shots, dogs need to be groomed, dogs need to be cleaned up after and dogs need to be fed PROPER diets, especially if you’re going to have pregnant females.

I suggest you check out the site www.pet-abuse.com and think twice about putting more dogs out there.

Now, if you want to become a rescuer (please please PLEASE) that means you could apply for tax exempt status as a 501(3)C or such and that would cut costs on the expenses to take proper care of animals.

After you get the burned, kicked, blinded, and just plain old neglected critter back on his or her feet you then find it a home. Just as you would for any puppy you would bring into the world.

For a suggestion as to how to house these unwanted creatures – any other rescue site would be glad to help you and more than glad to give you suggestions.

Also instead of being an uniformed puppy miller you’d be someone making the world a better place.
After all, any idiot can put a male and a female together and make puppies, but to rehabilitate and rehome takes skill.

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

Other wise I suggest you turn you land into either corn fields or sugar cane and then sell the product to the ethanol companies at least then you won’t be treating something that knows how to love into a “caged breeding machine”

Answer 3

I agree with Ontario Ashley, and I also think that you need to realize the financial burden that comes with breeding. What if the mother needs a $1,000.00 C-section? Are you prepared to deal with the financial cost of that? About 3 years ago, I had 2 bitches due at the same time, they both needed c-sections and extensive work after the surgery to keep them alive. My total vet bill was around 8,000.00. Not to mention that while the mothers were sick and in the hospital, I got to hand feed the puppies and try to keep them alive. I am a breeder of Lhasa Apsos who only breeds about one litter every year or two, and I do things properly. The only breeders who make a profit are the ones who let things slide, and the ones who don't take the time/money to make sure that their puppies are healthy. If you're serious about breeding, then find yourself a mentor who also shows their dogs, and makes the time and takes the effort to ensure that they are producing only quality dogs. Then, take about 5 years to just work your butt off in their kennel, to ensure that it's really what you want to do. Believe me, after you've been scooping dog crap for the fifth year in a row, at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning, so that you can get to work on time, and make sure that the dogs are all properly exercised, fed and happy for the day, the novelty wears off. It's tough to stay in this for very long, and only a few breeders make it past the 5 year mark. I did, and am glad that I did. However, I've also worked my butt off to make sure that my dogs are always healthy, and if I produce one that's not healthy, that it is properly cared for. Are you prepared to take back any puppies that you've bred because the owner can no longer take care of them? What about if the owner is killed and the dog is left all alone? I have a right of first refusal clause in my contracts that state that if the owner can't take care of the dog, or is going to get rid of it, they legally have to give me a notice, and I'll gladly take the dog and place it with another family. There is so much to think about with breeding dogs, and your kennel design shouldn't be the top of your list. Believe me. Just think about what you're doing before you get yourself in too deep.

Answer 4

I hope you are not trying to breed dogs for just the money. Because if that is all you have in mind don't breed dogs as we have enough people that are in it for the money. Those people are give us good breeders a bad name by useing bad dogs with all sorts of problem. Never the less you better have a great vet because you will be there all the time. There are alot of bills when raisning dogs you have to be lised by the state (not sure about your state) best check with your ag department.

Also you can not leave the males run with the females as then you have uncontroled breeding. Unalterd males don't make good room mates as some will fight.

Answer 5

If kept in the same area, the dogs would have to be supervised at all times. You put dogs that don't know each other in the same area, they will have to establish a pecking order, so they will fight. And what would you tell an owner, if their dog was hurt or even killed while staying with you. I think they would probably sue. What you can do is have a seperate for each dog, and put them in the common area only when you are around.

Answer 6

Do you have experience breeding? Will you select only top-quality dogs & b!tches that have show titles and all genetic/health testing completed? Are you involved with the associations of the breed, to keep updated on current issues, breeding practices, and breed quality? Are you willing to travel overseas with your b.tch to find a quality stud and prevent inbreeding?

I hope the answers are all yes, if not I wouldn't go near a puppy of yours.

Answer 7

hey yu could put some wire metal fences up. yu could also make a big dog statueof a dog

Answer 8

So you want to be a puppy-miller, huh?

Get bent. Dogs are living creatures, not products.

Answer 9

if you don't want it to feel like a cage, why not just make big open areas and make sure your fencing is very high and very secure?

Answer 10

check into the fed regulations for commertial breeders - "impervious surfaces" IE: steel & concrete are required