How to Build a Backyard Kennel

? How to Build a Backyard Kennel? By Kimberly Mathis The most important thing, about building a backyard kennel, is what size, what strength and what features are needed for your dog. What is a backyard dog kennel? A backyard dog kennel is a small, fenced – in area used to contain your dog. It is an area used to keep your dog safe and contained while outdoors. It is not recommended that your dog stay in the kennel permanently. In fact, dog psychologists recommend that you allow your dog time inside as well. What size do you need? Well, what size is your dog? If you have a small dog, you won't have to build a big yard. The larger the dog, the bigger the yard. A yard has to be big enough for your dog to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom. A dog will not soil the area where he eats. This is very important because if you have a large dog and you put him in a small kennel, he has nowhere to eat and do his business. The size of your dog, also, depends on how strong you need to make it. You also need to ask yourself â€Å"How long is my dog going to stay in this kennel? † As I mentioned before, it is not a good idea to make the kennel your dog's permanent home. It causes anxiety in your dog. It also causes behavioral differences in your dog. Okay, let's get started. First, you will need to get supplies. Now most of the supplies can be bought at a local feed store or a local hardware store. You will need the following: Wooden Support Poles. You want these poles to be 6 ft high and at least 4 inches at the base. Unless you have a big dog, then you want to go taller with the posts. We don't want the dog to jump out of his cage and cause a unpleasant mess. U-nails is also required. These will help hold your fence in place. You will also need fencing. The experts prefer you to use portable metal fencing. You will need a gate for your kennel. This gate needs to be heavy and with a latch. That way your pooch can't push it open and escape. Finally, you will need a hammer and a screwdriver. Next, you will need to measure out where you are going to put this kennel. You need to make sure that it is big enough so your dog can run around yet not so big it inhibits your whole yard. Then you go and buy your materials. Remember that your yard is outside and should be able to withstand the forces of nature. Pick your spot. Make sure that there is shade and sunlight. A grassy yard is a good thing. It helps recycle the dog's urine and feces well. You also want to make sure that when it rains, it isn't going to fill up with mud and puddles. These can cause serious problems for your pet. Make your fence. Put your posts in the ground approximately 2 feet down and 4 foot apart. After you put in your posts, you want to put the dirt in around them and pack them down well. It will help your fence stay sturdy and strong. Now you are ready to attach the fence. You will attach your fence by using the U-nails. The experts say to use 3 per post. You are almost finished now. The last thing you want to do is attach your gate. Now to attach the gate, you have to make sure that it will close†¦. that was a little humor†¦. I would be the type to put a gate on and it not close properly. The gate should have a latch on it. You want to screw the hinge onto a post. Check that the gate swings easily. I cannot express how important it is that the latch work. I actually have a backyard dog kennel that was built almost exactly like the one I am describing. There is no latch on the gate. This creates a problem. My dog manages to push the concrete bricks, that are holding the gate shut, out of the way. With a latch, I wouldn't be having this problem. I have stated previously that I have a backyard kennel made almost exactly like the one I described. I found that it doesn't work very well. I have a wolf breed type of dog and she digs out from under the fence. My suggestion would be to lay concrete down and make sure the fence is in the concrete. Also, with a large breed dog, you will want to make sure that it is high enough so your dog will not crawl out of it. We have had that problem as well. I searched for different sites to help me write the best description of a backyard kennel and found only one. It is apparent that most sites do not recommend putting your pet outside in an enclosure. I, personally, am one that doesn't find anything wrong with it. I tried to let my dog inside and she ate my house. She likes being outside. Unfortunately, she likes to be UNDER our house and that is not acceptable. So we built her a dog yard with house and a porch and a canteen area. She is living the life of dogs out there and doesn't seem to like it. She is constantly figuring ways to escape and go under our home and into our duct system. I refuse to put air conditioning in her house. We have a state-of-the-art dog house that is under a perfect shade tree. The only solution, that I could come up with is that I am going to have to install concrete around the fence line. I am hoping that it works and keeps our dog in her yard. I did my essay on this subject in hopes of finding out what we did wrong. Unfortunately the only thing I see that we did wrong was making it her permanent home. I really didn't learn a lot about this but it was a fun and informative subject. This is how to make a backyard dog kennel. http://www. ehow. com/about_4568749_backyard-dog-kennels. html