Dog run/kennel design

4" concrete for floor with slight slope to drainage area.This will make wash out a lot easier. You can get by with 5 to 6 Ft. wide runs by about 20" long so dog isn,t quite so cramped up. I normally put my houses on outside at far end of run with removable roofs so cleaning/changing bedding is easiest. You could also attach it to an existing building/garage/barn and cut access doors into building with boxes inside. Plan your runs to get some shade over them during summer months and its a lot easier on dog and if possible position bxs if outside to block out north winds during winter months. That said those dogs still need to be aired/excercised every day. Don,t just keep them stuck in those runs as they,ll get zero exercise. Many people get away with those little 10'x10' fenced in areas from places like tractor supply but I,m not a fan of them unless just used to put dog in temporarly. Far as materials probably easiest option is preassembled chain link fencing panels. These vary greatly in quality due to pipe size and gauge wire used. Or another option is to dig in 4x4 posts and fence in with dog kennel fencing usually available in 50 & 100 ft. rolls. Either option plan on putting at least a sloped kennel shade over run. I prefer the black mesh kennel covers with a heavy grade silver tarp over that. The silver reflects hot sun away from run and will keep it much cooler in summer. Do not use a dark colored cover over run or you,ll raise temps at ground level during hot weather. Of course a full roof is an even better option.
 
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Michael, your pup is quite a looker!!!! Does pup have a name?

I got one of those 10'x10' kennels from Lowes last year when I got Belle. I couldn't trust her in the house and leaving her in the crate at home all day was not a kindness since I wouldn't be able to get home and let her out to pee during the day. The place where I put it already had a slope but no grass so I put in the 1 sqft pavers for a floor. Not ideal perhaps long term, though she stayed in it during the days throughout the summer. I also put a roof over it to help keep her dry. I have a plastic crate that I removed the door from and that I put on a raised platform in the corner with some blankets so she had a comfy place to lay and get off the concrete pavers. I also provided her a kiddie pool to wallow in during the day (and provide water) that I replaced with fresh water every day. It worked throughout the summer and she was comfortable.

For me the 10'x10' kennel was a temporary solution until I could trust Belle not to eat the house if left alone. She has outgrown that stage (with the exception of shoes) so she doesn't get locked up in the mornings when I go to work now and has free run of the house and yard when I am at work.

I did contemplate the "what do I do" if she doesn't outgrow the eat the house stage. I looked at sheds that would provide protection from the elements with runs attached to the sides and probably would have gone with something like that if I needed to constantly keep her out of the house during the work day. I'd have power out to it so that there could be air conditioning and heat out there as well. I looked at something like this but with a slab:

https://www.horizonstructures.com/12x18-traditional-3-box-kennel-feed-room
 
We are calling her Whitley. We?d like to have an inside dog but our youngest had some allergy issues so that?s out of the question until she grows out of it anyways. My wife is a teacher so her and the kids are keeping her entertained through the day right now. I?m leaning towards a slightly elevated platform floored with either synthetic deck boards or poultry flooring and getting the pitch right with concrete pavers. Heat isn?t a huge issue here and I am probably going to roof it and have it under the edge of a walnut tree that will throw shade from noon on.
 
See your thinking about trex or similar as flooring. Your going to need to disinfect floor about once a week for health of dog and to eliminate odors . If you go that route make sure you use stainless fasteners on flooring as the bleach you'll need to disinfect with will eat thru standard decking screws fairly quick. Something for thought is water , urine , feces will wash thru joints in decking and be laying underneath. Concrete is least susceptible to problems or Even pavers are a notch above a deck if done properly.
 
Congratulations on your new pup.

I had a double kennel on a pressure treated deck for 20 years. It worked great. Although, the wooden deck was not as easy to clean as concrete but was also easier on the dogs feet. I had Mason Kennels. https://masonco.com/animal-enclosures/dog-solutions/chainlink-runs.html I started with one and added a second. After 20 years they looked/worked no worse than the day I bought them. I sold them for more than 50% of purchase price. I never had a problem with a dog getting a paw caught in the door/latch mechanism or chain link. I never had a dog figure out how to open the the latch.

Sometimes bigger isn't better. Too large of a run can encourage pacing in a dog.

Have fun with your pup,

Tom
 
these were my kennels up on the Tug Hill Plateau. I had 3 setters at the time. Each run had an inside run, with heated water buckets and insulated houses that were good (snuck in and checked on the dogs one night) to at least 30 below. those were the days. Bird numbers never to be seen again. Forgot to mention that both inside and outside runs were concrete based. Outside runs were sloped and ended in a trough that went to a doggie septic system. A daily hosing (in warmer times) took care of everything. I miss those dogs.
Gary
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