Fido's Dog Kennel Pages

Decorative Dog Crates

2010-01-23T19:52:00.001-08:00

If you are interested in buying a dog crate for your home, but you don't want to invest in one that looks ugly or that does not match with your decor, it is possible to buy dog crates that actually blend in with your furniture.

One very nice crate that I have seen that doubles as a dog bed for a smaller dog, is actually also used as an end table. They are really great looking, and sometimes--well most of the time in fact--it is almost impossible to tell that there is a little doggie sleeping under the table.

These are actually becoming a lot more popular these days than they were before. You can find them in many pet shops, and they are not that expensive to buy either. Of course, it does depend a bit on the type of material that the dog crate end table is made from, but generally speaking unless you are going for the designer type of crate, they should be well within reach budget wise.

And the great thing about this type of dog crate is that it matches so well with your furniture, it does not look at all out of place!

Kennel Flooring

2009-10-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered a new type of kennel flooring, called kennel decking. It resembles the type of decking that you would use for a patio, though the actual boards are a little further apart. The reason I like it is that it is so very portable! I live in rented houses, and as such am not really committed to living in any one place for any length of time. That does pose a bit of a problem when it comes to owning a dog, or dogs (at times) as I like to have an outdoor kennel or pen and run for the times I am not at home, but I never want to put up anything super permanent.

Fencing is not a problem, as it's not so permanent, but kennel flooring was always a bit of a problem for me. Laying a cement floor was generally out of the question, as most landlords aren't that enthused with a cement block in the middle of their yard. But now that I have discovered kennel decking, I think all of my problems have been solved.

It is made out of hard plastic, and comes in 8 feet square sections. Super simple to lay down, the decking reminds me a bit of plastic pallets. Anyway, if you are wondering what to use for your kennel or pen, and you don't want anything permanent, take a look at some of the kennel decking that's on sale online! I think it's great!

How Long to Crate Train a Puppy

2009-09-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

It's hard to give an exact timing on how long it takes to crate train a puppy so that they only eliminate outside. From experience, I have not had much trouble crate training puppies, though I have made sure that I am home at first all the time with them so that I can take them outside often throughout the day.

Not only do you need to take them outside every couple of hours during the day, but you also need to watch for signs when they're out of their crate, playing around and take them out if they show signs of wanting to go. Typically, if you see a pup with his nose down on the ground sniffing around, or starting to turn around in circles, jump up with a loud "no" to startle him, and take him outside right away.

You should also always take your pup outside whenever he wakes up after a nap, and around twenty minutes after eating, regardless of whether it has been two hours since he last went.

After a few weeks our Golden Retriever was sleeping all through the night. We'd take her out once just before we went to bed (we're pretty late at going to bed most nights) and then first thing in the morning she'd usually wake us up whimpering, so we'd take her out then.

She actually only had a few accidents inside, and she never went inside her crate. The main thing with crate training is that you do your part and don't forget to take your dog out at the appointed time. If you do that, crate training is the easiest way to house train a pup.

The Best Way To Keep Your Dog Kennel Cool

2009-06-21T00:18:00.000-07:00

Having an outside dog kennel and run can be quite stressful in the hot blazing days of Summer. First, you need to start by having your dog kennel located in a nice shaded area. It is a good idea to cover the top of your dog kennel with a tarp to make sure the sun is not beaming down on your dog.

Having the sides of the kennel made of open fencing will allow fresh air to flow freely throughout the kennel. Always keep fresh, cool water available for you dog at all times. This will help your dog to enjoy being in his kennel much easier.

Materials Needed to Build a Dog Kennel

2009-06-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

The material needed for a dog kennel may be as simple as a couple of different things or be more elaborate and require extra items. Consider your dog’s specific needs.

In areas that receive full sun, it may even be illegal NOT to have a place for your dog to retreat and stay cool, so some sort of roofing material will be needed.

The size and activity level of your pet will make a difference in the size and strength of the materials you buy for constructing a kennel.

For the most part, fencing of some sort, posts, gravel or cement, a gate and some type of roofing material are the general ingredients necessary for building a kennel for your dog.

Outdoor Dog Kennel Ideas

2009-06-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

To build an outdoor dog kennel, you must first choose the location. For your dog’s comfort and safety, select a shaded area that is protected from wind, rain and snow. If your dog is a digger, also be sure to select an area where she will not disturb power lines or pipes, and consider installing a high density plastic dog kennel floor to hinder her digging efforts.

Select flooring that will be comfortable and safe for your dog and convenient for you. This means that you will want to choose flooring that is easy to clean, has no sharp pieces, is easy on the pads of your dog’s feet and does not retain moisture. Concrete, gravel, grass and interlocking plastic flooring are all popular options.

Instant Dog Kennel Flooring

2009-06-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Selecting the right flooring for your dog kennel is important for your dog’s safety, health and comfort. While there are several options available, if your dog is a digger or you want an instant dog kennel floor with minimal work, you may want to consider high-density plastic flooring, often called modular dog kennel flooring. High density plastic flooring for your dog kennel comes in easy to assemble, ultra-durable sections that interlock for stability. This type of flooring is easy to clean, sets your kennel floor slightly above ground level, is completely portable and can be used on any surface that is basically flat.

This dog kennel flooring is comfortable and safe for your dog, and convenient and allows for easy cleaning for you.

Cement Dog Run Flooring

2009-06-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

An Alternative To Cement Dog Run Flooring
Cement is a well-liked dog run flooring material that is easy to keep clean and disinfected; although, I do not like this number-one choice in dog run flooring at all. From the dogs’ point of view, this material is very uncomfortable to sit and lie on, and it is not a part of the natural environment that I believe that the dogs enjoy touching. There is a lot to be said about the smells and feel of the real ground to a housedog.

It is more work, but I totally believe in giving my dogs a natural environment to romp and play on while they are outside enjoying their dog run exercise periods. The dog has such a sensitive nose. It is impossible for me to believe that they just want to look through the fence at the grass without being able to inhale its fragrance while touching it.

My dogs do not seem to want to dig out of their pen while my flooring keeps changing. I buy flats of cheap ground covers from the nursery, and simply change their grass every couple of months.