Outside Dog kennels?

Question

I dont people complaining calling them jails and such keep those opinions to yourself. We have a very large yard however are considering using a kennel this year and installing playground equiptment for the kids and maybe a swimming pool/hot tub. My question is how do you control the urine smell in the soil? My dogs stay inside during the winter and mostly outside during the summer {we live in ND so it doesnt get "hot" in the summer months trust me and on the rare occassion we have to run the AC we do bring the dogs in} that being said they have dog houses and shelter in their half of the yard but a kennel doesnt sound like such a bad idea. However a friend of mine keeps her dog in one she cleans the poo but the urine smell remains in the soil. Would it be possible to lay a thick tarp down ontop of the soil and cover it with sand? Or would their nails still puncture the tarp? Another friend of mine who has a dog that digs alot in their kennel put down chicken wire to stop the digging

so would it be best to put the tarp down, cover it with chicken wire and then lay down sand? Just brainstorming here like I said we dont kennel our dogs yet and it wouldnt be a small kennel it would run the length of what is their side of the yard right now and be about 14' wide.

Answer 1

Honestly, your best bet is going to be constructing a permanant run for your dog with a drainage system. This is going to be the best way to keep your dog in a clean healthy environment. For ideas you can talk to breeders, vets, or dog training facilities. Obviously these places have very elaborate structures usually for housing and caring for many animals, but you could easily scale it down and spend a few hundred dollars. This may be more than you were looking at spending but it will be worth it in the long run. A simple concrete slab (your choice on size but 10x10 should be enough) with chain link on all sides and a simple dog house from any pet store should do. Remember, if you choose to do this yourself, you need to keep all hardware for the chainlink facing the outside so the dog cannot get cut on it, also face the fence so the sharp edges are at the top so the dog doesnt get cut trying to paw under the fence. For drainage, there should be a trough in the concrete on one side with a drain. You can send that drain where you wish but if it doesnt go to a sewage pipe or septic tank then you need to 'scoop the poop'. For cleaning drag a hose out and spray, keep in mind that disinfectant (capful of bleach) should be used about once a week or so to ensure that no bacteria is thriving in your dogs world.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

I think a tarp would just make the smell worse. There are a lot of products that are used to deodorize kennels available at places like Drs. Foster & Smith and PetEdge. Cementing the area or laying a good bed of pea gravel would also help.

Answer 3

I would get a portable run. Then you can move it occational and give that spot on the ground a break and with time nature will clean it up for you. Also I wouldn't recomend chicken wire for underground. It has lots of sharp endges that could cut your dog's pads.

Answer 4

Yeahh

Answer 5

This doesnt have anything to do with this Q but thanks for answering my Q I am 12 and bonzie *my blue heeler* I have noticed they can be a bit proctective! lol but bonzie is sweet too! and shes inside sometimes but shes normaly outside with my golden!

Answer 6

anythings possible....
good luck