From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: building a kennel
Date: 14 Apr 92 23:21:04 GMT
Organization: Purdue University

In article <11305@borg.cs.unc.edu> wagner@currituck.cs.unc.edu (Michael Wagner) writes:
>
>Or how about any pointers, even for less ambitious kennels.
>
>Mike

We built a kennel for our two collies last summer.  It's 24' by 28'
with a concret pad.  We advertised in the local paper:
"Wanted:  Used dog kennels.  Chain-link, 6' high.  Will remove."

We bought three complete kennels of various sizes with all hardware and
gates included for about a total of $500.  The normal cost would have
been about $2000.  We constructed two 14' by 24' side-by-size kennels with
an adjoining gate down the center and put them in the middle of our dwarf apple
orchard.  It looks like this:

     --------------------------------------------------------------
     |           H H H            |H H H H H       T       TT     | 
     |    TTT    H   H     TT     |H       H      TTT      TT     |
     |           H   H            |H H H H H      T T             |
     |           H H H            |                               |
     |                            X                               |
     |   TT                       X                               |
     |   T                        X                               |
     |                            X   T T T                       |
     |                            X    TTT                        |
     |   TT                       |   T T T                       |
     |   TT                       |                               |
     |                            |                               |
     |                            |                               | 
     |-----------------XXXXXXXXXX---XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX------------|
     
TT--trees    H-dog house   XX-gates
TT

The gate in the middle can be left open when Mauii isn't in heat so the
two have the whole area open.   There is plenty of room for them to run
about and for them to get into the shade.   The trees have pee-gravel
around them so the water can get down to the root system.

The concrete is sloped to help the water run off and so that cleaning and
disinfectants can be washed off.  The concrete is sealed and it has
a brushed finish for traction.  The two dogs love THEIR kennel.  They
really be mad if you start rearranging their toys or cleaning their
houses. 

The total cost was about $1600 (that includes concrete, sand and
sealer allong with the fence.)  We did all the labor (myself, my dad
and my grandpa).  Really it is purefect for our two.  Wolfie over
heats in the house and prefers sleeping in a snow drift too sleeping
in his pink-insulated dog house.  Mauii doesn't care either way, but
prefers being our there with Wolfie to play.  They both only stay in
the kennel when we are not home and at night to keep them from 
wandering or getting stolen.  When we are home, they go in and out of the house
at will and run around outside when we are around to keep an eye on them.
They know exactly where the boundaries of the yard are and never go beyond
the boundaries.  The also mud-bog in our pond and run around on the 17 acres
of alfalfa we grow.    It's at least another option.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Marla Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowulf (1leg CD) CGC TDI CERF  tri-color collies