Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    I can't give you any advice on how to build a kennel but check on
    the local zoning laws of your city or town. My father-in-law tried
    to build a kennel for his doberman pincher. Well it turns out that
    the city required concrete floors and running water. The dog ended
    up in a little dog house and a wire run.......
    
    sjn

    
    Hi Rich,
    	The following are some ideas that you may consider for your
    kennel run. Since there are many dog owners in this file, I'm sure
    they could all give you some very useful ideas.
    
    	1.) cement floor that is slanted somewhat to allow water
    	    to run into a drainage system of some sort.
    
    	2.) chain link may be built to whatever your design requires,
            if you talk to some of the different fence companies,
    	    they may be of more help.
    
    	3.) portability ? I bought my chain link in sections, so that	
    	    I could move runs from one place to another. The sections
    	    are held together by clamps. This also allows you to change
    	    your kennel dimensions or add on later. As for the poured
    	    cement, well ?????????
    
    	4.) a drainage system can be built simply by digging a hole
    	    about 4' deep , filling in with gravel and crushed stone,
    	    and installing a 55 gallon drum into the hole. a drainage
    	    pipe can connect your kennel drainage to the drum. This
    	    will help keep a nice clean environment for your dog(s).
    
    	5.) protection from direct sun or from rain and snow. even if
    	    you are installing a dog house, adding a roof or even a
    	    fence may help improve your kennel. The roof would help
    	    keep your runs dry and somewhat snow free, and a fence can
    	    be use to block any direct sun during the hot summer months.
                   
    I hope that you find these ideas somewhat helpful.
    
    pat.
    

    	Does anyone know of a type of cement flooring that would
    	be movable, like concrete forms or somethine?  The draw-
    	back that I see, would be that stuff could leak through
    	the cracks into the ground beneath, but the dog would
    	be protected from that by the raised floor.
    	  Linda

    As Pat Mentioned earlier a roof is real nice but who would go
    thru the added expense? I would.
    
    Keeping a kennel clean is a big job.
    
    There are several ways of going about it.
    
    One way, If you live where you let your dogs lose for 10
    min in the morning and ten min in the afternoon is just
    simply let them run around a bit getting excercise
    and usually the urge.
    
    But not all of us live in such a rural setting and we
    have to get in there and pick up after our dogs as
    frequently as possible.
    
    This might be twice a day or even more frequently.
    At any rate in the winter time the stools get burried in the snow
    and makes removal nearly impossible.
    
    That's where that roof comes in handy. Other advantages
    as Pat Mentioned is all important shade in the summer
    time also.
    
    Flat stones can be used instead of concrete but they are not
    as clean and some of the urine will get between them,however
    it is not as pernament as a poured cement run.
    
    For smaller dogs such as Beagles sometimes they can be put on
    wire or stainless steel bars above the ground that lets
    the waste pass thru to the gound beneath.
                      
    I have some reservations about this in New England durring
    those days of below Zerro weather with the stainless steel
    bars.
    
    I use to keep all my beagles like this in Penna.
    ( That is on the wire.)                                                
    
    Another consideration is Reducing the noise if you have neighbors
    that are close. This may require a fence which will act as
    a Noise barrier and also limit the dogs vision so he/she
    will not bark at as many disturbances.
    
    Bear
    
    

Thanks for the replies.

I was planning on a cement floor and was wondering how thick to pour. I was
planning on about 2" over a gravel so that if I ever did have to move the pen
I could break it up with a sledge. Not that I am planning to move it, just in
case. 

The roof is something I was planning on in part of the kennel, but the more I
read the more I think the whole thing should be covered. How would you do it?


Rich

    
              1  50 feet clothes line rope
              2  Railroad spike
              3  hammer
              4  Job complete in 5 min

    Just though I would keep in touch, still want to do some duck
    hunting with you this fall. If you plan on working your dog
    this summer let me know.
                                                   Al