Here is my article on Outdoor Kennels For Dogs.
I firmly believe dogs should be family companions, and should live inside the house with their humans. There are a few breeds and individuals that just don’t settle well inside, and prefer to be outside most of the time. This article was written especially for them.
With the newer animal cruelty laws, leaving a dog outside in hot or cold temperatures for any length of time will be punishable by law- so I highly recommend having a doggie door into a climate controlled interior resting area in part of the main house for the dog.
I generally don’t recommend a doggie door which allows a dog to come and go outside freely - it can break the household structure, and having an overstimulated dog racing inside and outside at will can easily lead to them forgetting the outside potty area is different from being inside. I do recommend having a doggie door which allows a kenneled dog access to a small confined resting area in the main home.
Living in the Northeast, I prefer the triple panel double sheeted Lexan dog doors which seal and insulate very well, and are less apt to catch a dog’s tail in them. They are a bit heavy though, and dogs will often need to be trained to push hard against them to go in and out.
The kennel should be surrounded by another secure fence line, so stray dogs and wildlife cannot easily get right up to the dog’s kennel and fight with nor terrorize them. This also helps detour unkind humans from harassing the kenneled dog. I also have a surveillance camera aimed at the kennel, so I can supervise the area from my iPhone when I’m not home.
The kennel should have both a secure top and bottom, because many dogs will both dig and climb out. I use rectangular shaped metal yard fence for the bottom, wired with zip ties to the steel kennel itself. I put an inch of sand over that, then an inch or more of pea gravel on top. This provides good footing and drainage. Metal rectangle shaped yard fencing over the top can be firmly attached to the kennel as well.
Flooring can be made of wood, though dogs may chew it- which can be hazardous especially if wood is pressure treated. Some people use composite decking planks which are expensive, but would hold up well, provide drainage, and keep the dog off the ground.
A cement pad can be used under the kennel, tho cement is hard on a dogs joints, so I recommend putting a thick rubber stall mat down over it.
The kennel should be high enough for the dog to easily stand up on his hind legs - this is also a requirement of the new laws.
The kennel should be securely padlocked to help prevent people from letting the dog out, or stealing them.
I highly recommend adding a resting bench which the dog can both lie up on, or sleep below. Dogs love to be up higher- for better visibility, and it keeps them away from the draft level on the ground. Many dogs also love to sleep under low overhanging objects, this gives them a secure, den like feeling.
Clean water should always be available for the dog. The water should be placed so the dog won’t tip it over. I prefer the flat backed stainless steel buckets that hang with a snap inside the kennel during the Summer, during the Winter I use a rubber feed bowl sitting inside a raised secured metal dog food dish. The rubber bowl allows me to remove frozen ice water easily. Fresh water should be available to the dog at least twice a day minimum. Kenji has fresh water in the house as well when he comes in to be fed.
Having the kennel covered over the top year round provides the dog protection from the elements, and is especially important for shade during the warmer months. A doghouse can be added inside the kennel as a minimal shelter from the elements, and to give the dog a secure place to rest while still being outside.
Due to the new laws in many states now a doghouse will not be acceptable as the only form of shelter, even for a short period of time, and the dog must have access to an inside climate controlled area at all times.
Having a safe chew toy in the kennel provides the dog with some stimulation, and reduces boredom. The number one neighbor complaint in the USA is barking dogs. Be a responsible dog owner and make sure your dog gets plenty of breed specific mental and physical exercise every day.
It’s best to not leave a collar on the dog when it is kenneled, because they could get it caught on something ( including their own paws) and potentially hang themselves.
There are breakaway collars available if a collar is a must.
I highly recommend having all dogs microchipped as a form of permanent identification. The paperwork is transferable to other owners, and must be updated with the new owners contact information if the dog comes from a rescue or shelter.
Ideally there should be enough room for the dog to run around inside the kennel for some exercise, and the dog should also be taken out several times a day to be exercised in a safe area and/or have additional exercise on a treadmill. All dogs need daily mental and physical exercise, some breeds will require much more than others.
My Australian Cattle Dog “ Kenji “ is treadmill trained- just a walk, but with gradually added duration. A treadmill provides excellent low impact year round physical exercise as well as it really helps with the dogs mental state of mind. They have to concentrate on staying in the middle of the track, and maintain the walking speed of the mill. Kenji does one hour twice a day every day on his treadmill, along with basic obedience training, and play time -it really helps keep his mind and body fit. I have a detailed article specifically on treadmill training at my site below, which is open to the public and free of charge. ❤️🐺❤️
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