(18
ratings, average: 4,11
out of 5)
Almost all dog owners should first think about the healthy maintenance of their pet. It is so provided by nature that a dog must have its own place, your own personal territory. When keeping dogs in an apartment, these conditions may not be met. Therefore, owners of summer cottages or country houses most often began to use enclosures to keep their four-legged friend. After all, an enclosure is an area where a dog feels like an owner and does not have to worry that someone can harm it.
A dog enclosure is necessary if:
- Large pet size does not allow healthy living in an apartment. TO large breeds include Alabai, Caucasian Shepherd, Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Mastiff, etc.
- From time to time it becomes necessary to isolate the dog for periods when guests arrive or various work is carried out on the site.
- A guard dog lives in the yard. Then the enclosure becomes a home for her, where she can hide from bad weather (snow, rain) at any time.
The finished enclosure can be made to order, or you can buy it in a specialized store. But, if you want to save money and have minimal construction skills, it is better to build an enclosure with your own hands. At the same time, you can completely adapt this structure to the location and size of your site.
Selecting a location
Before you start building an enclosure, you need to decide on its location. If you install it in the farthest part of the yard, your pet will become irritated, bark loudly and howl frequently. And this leads to loss of peace by the owners and sometimes even to the emergence of conflict situations with neighbors. Wrong location of the enclosure nearby with a fence, especially if there is a busy street nearby, because people passing by and passing traffic will often distract and irritate the dog.
The optimal location is considered to be front yard. The enclosure will be located near the path and gate. At the same time, your dog will have the opportunity to monitor everything that is happening in the yard and will be quite free in his shelter. And of course, when creating comfortable living conditions, it is very important that part of the enclosure is located in the shade, and the walking area and bed are in the sun.
You should not place your dog’s home near a garage, compost pit or other objects with a strong odor, which can cause great harm to the dog’s sense of smell.
Sizing
Remember that the dog needs a lot of space to move around the enclosure, so:
- An enclosure for dogs of medium breeds with a height at the withers of no more than 50 cm must be at least 6 m2;
- An enclosure for a husky or Labrador, i.e. for dogs with a height at the withers of 50-60 cm, must have an area of at least 8 m2;
- Aviary for Alabai, Caucasian Shepherd and other dogs with a height at the withers of more than 60 cm must be at least 10 m2.
The width of the enclosure should be larger one and a half times the dog's body length excluding the length of the tail, but not less than 1.5 meters. The length is calculated depending on the area and width.
Height determined empirically. You need to lift the dog by the front paws and measure the distance from the floor to the ends of the paws. By adding another 0.5 m to this indicator, we get the required minimum height of the enclosure. Many dog owners adjust the height according to their height to make it convenient to visit their pet.
And, of course, it is necessary to take into account the gender of the dog. For the bitch it is necessary to provide a place for maternity ward and vestibule. For puppies, the enclosure must be protected from the weather. The puppies will not sit in the kennel, but will run around the entire enclosure. If the dog is not alone in the enclosure, you need to increase the resulting space by 1.5 times.
Gallery: DIY dog enclosure (25 photos)
Cell drawings
Having decided on the installation location and determining dimensions of the future home your four-legged friend, you need to make a drawing of an enclosure for a dog:
It is best to use proven materials. Wood or metal are mainly used. In no case should you engage in making various decorations on the grill to avoid the possibility of injuring your paws on sharp edges. Completely eliminate the use of chain-link mesh, as it quickly stretches and breaks at the joints, forming sharp edges.
It is worth paying increased attention on the quality of the boards for construction. It is preferable to use tongue and groove boards. They have a well-treated surface and grooves that reduce the number of fasteners.
It is advisable to reduce the use of fasteners to a minimum. It’s better to avoid nails altogether, as they become loose over time and pose a health risk to your pet.
Building foundation
Concrete is most often used to construct the foundation. First you need to decide for what period it is planned to use an aviary. And if the building is dismantled after some time, then in the corners of the future structure it will only be enough to drive square pipes to a depth of 0.5 meters. You also need to fill the perimeter with an expanded clay pillow.
For a stationary enclosure, designed for several years of operation, a more reliable foundation will be required. Therefore, the vertical posts of the frame are concreted. Then a cushion of sand and gravel up to 15 cm thick is made between them. A concrete screed with a thickness of at least 4-6 cm is made on top of this base.
Then onto the dried base wooden beams are attached with a cross section of 70 × 70 mm, on which the floor will be attached. The distance between the logs is 400-500 mm. The more often the logs are laid, the stronger the future floor will be. To make cleaning easier, the logs must be laid with a slope towards the front of the enclosure (1.5 cm per 1 meter of floor).
The use of wooden beams for the frame of the building is undesirable. This is due to the fact that the load from the walls and the roof will be big and the tree may bend. It is more reliable to use square metal pipes, similar to vertical posts. If you decide to build collapsible design, then it is best to use fastening using bolts and nuts. It is advisable to produce a stationary, durable structure using welding. Welding seams will create the necessary strength for the frame and allow your pet to avoid injury. In the front part of the frame it is necessary to make a frame for the gate.
Walls
The dog enclosure should have three solid walls to prevent drafts. And one wall with a lattice so that there is a possibility of viewing the territory. Some owners install two blank walls and sew up the third only halfway. All this is done so that the dog does not feel cooped up, and also to increase the amount of light in the enclosure.
The wall with the grating should face south, southwest, southeast. The grating is made of smooth reinforcement with a cross-section of 10 mm. In the middle of the wall we weld one reinforcement horizontally, and the rest vertically, in increments of 8-10 cm. This results in three attachment points.
The enclosure is made with two horizontal crossbars, which makes the structure more durable. The gate is made of iron rods. The width of the gate should be approximately 80 cm. The hinges are welded closer to the wall. If space allows, it is better to make the door opening inward. And, of course, it is necessary to install reliable locks on the outside of the gate.
It is advisable to make solid walls from tongue-and-groove boards. The use of such boards completely eliminates the gaps in the structure, which creates reliable protection from drafts.
When insulating a building, the outer layer is first made. Then the beam is fastened from the inside at a distance of 50-60 cm and a layer of insulation is laid. After which the interior lining of the enclosure is completed. Ecowool can be used as insulation. For the inner layer, plywood or any other sheet material made of wood is perfect.
Roof installation
To construct a roof, you first need to make a frame. It can be made from wooden beams with a cross-section of 70 × 70 mm. But the use of metal pipes, similar to those used in the manufacture of the main frame, is much more reliable and durable. These elements are fastened using bolts and nuts, but preferably by welding. The roof should slope towards the rear of the structure to allow water to roll off. Then a sheathing of wooden beams with a cross section of 5 × 10 mm is installed on the frame.
Roofing material is laid on top of the sheathing. You can use any roof covering, preferably sound-absorbing, to avoid harsh sounds that could damage your pet’s hearing. The roof must be made with a gap for ventilation, which will greatly help the dog feel good on hot summer days.
Laying the floor
The floor is laid on joists. Due to the cushion of sand and gravel, there is no need to insulate it. Floor boards need to be treated special composition to prevent them from rotting. Fasten the boards only with screws, since they, unlike nails, are safe for your pet’s paws.
There is no need to make the booth too large so as not to waste heat in cold weather. The height and length of the booth should be slightly larger than the size of the dog, and the width should allow the dog to lie quietly without resting against the walls.
For the manufacture of the frame, mainly wooden beams with a cross section of 50 × 50 mm are used. The walls are made of boards. An important condition is the insulation of the booth. It is possible to use ecowool, which is sewn between the outer and inner walls of the booth.
The floor is not made, since the booth is installed on the main floor.
The roof of the dog house can be flat, because this is your pet’s favorite resting place during the daytime. It is better to make the roof removable for easy cleaning of the booth.
Husky enclosure
Enclosures for husky dogs have their own minor differences:
- The height of the husky enclosure should be from 2.2 m. This is due to the fact that huskies are a very jumping breed.
- The lattice of the enclosure is made of mesh, not rods. When jumping, the dog clings to the mesh, which is almost impossible when the mesh is made of rods.
As you can see, there is nothing difficult in building a home for your beloved pet. And all your work and efforts will be rewarded good mood and the health of the dog.
Building a stylish and original enclosure for a dog with your own hands is not astrophysics or higher mathematics. Everything is much simpler. First you need to determine its shape and dimensions. Make a drawing taking into account all dimensions and wishes. It is important to choose quality material. You should also consider where best to place it.
Often, owners need such a platform to isolate their tailed guard from guests, household or garden plantings. 
Of course, sometimes a dog enclosure is made into an apartment. The reason for this is the breed of the pet. It may be either too large or aggressive. 
For safety reasons, it should be kept separately.
For an apartment, a booth can be made from old bedside tables (cabinets) or you can use special cages or mesh fences.
Location
Creating comfortable conditions for both the animal and household members is the leading goal of this idea. It is not recommended to build a fenced area for your vocal guard:
- Near the fence, gates and gates. All passers-by, as well as cars, will irritate him. As a result, the dog’s morning or night serenades for the family are guaranteed. In addition, there is a possibility that he will get out and do a lot of dirty tricks.
- In the backyard. Four-legged friends have a herd instinct. If you completely isolate them, they will become sad and begin to howl and whine, and this gets on your nerves.
- Near the door of the house. Unpleasant smell and the pet's barking will make life unbearable for the family.
The optimal location for outdoor dog enclosures is the front area of the yard. It is better to place it under a branchy tree. The roof, of course, will hide the cute animal from the heat, as well as rain. However, hot iron will create a real steam room in the building. While the dense crown will be an excellent shelter from the sun.
It is necessary to place the enclosure longer from drafts. Nobody wants their pet to get sick.
Features of construction
The foundation of such a structure is mainly concreted and covered with crushed stone. Back and side wall becomes deaf. The other three are made of gratings, rods or meshes. There must be a gate with a shutter so that you can feed the dog and wash the area. In the middle, 2 places are installed: one for overnight stay (kennel), and the other for food (feeder). In order for your four-legged companion to feel safe and comfortable, the following requirements are imposed on do-it-yourself dog enclosures:
Since it is sometimes necessary to make an enclosure for a dog in an apartment, you can use improvised materials. For example, make a fence from slats or mesh. At the same time, attach it to one of the walls of the apartment. Much depends on the wishes of the household members themselves.
Animals need to be walked from time to time. They should run and frolic. Otherwise, the muscles atrophy and the blood stagnates.
Material selection
It is recommended to make one or two sides of the site completely closed so that there are no drafts. To build such blank walls, you can use the following types of building materials:
- brick;
- foam or cinder blocks:
- wooden beams, panels or boards (thickness from 2 cm);
- concrete slab;
- finished frame made of wood and reinforcement.
Thermal insulation material is coniferous trees. For harsh winters, it is still better to insulate the walls or make them double.
Floor
The flooring in an outdoor dog enclosure should not be cold. This can cause rheumatism in the animal. Therefore, it cannot be made from cement. It is better to use asphalt or concrete. Cover the screed with wooden flooring. The tongue and groove boards are sanded and dried well to prevent mold from developing. Before painting, they should be treated with antiseptic agents. The floor must be sloping. The side zones are slightly higher, and the front and center zones are lower. As a result, water will drain rather than accumulate on the surface.
Any wooden parts should not come into contact with the ground or other base elements. Otherwise, the wood will absorb moisture and rot.
Roof
In the original, the coating should be made inclined or flat. It is forbidden to use ordinary nails to install the roof. It is better to give preference to self-tapping screws or other types of closed fastenings, because the dog can get hurt. The roof of a home enclosure for a dog can be made from:
It is mounted on a wooden platform, which consists of several boards. This structure allows for heat retention in the building and excellent air circulation.
Front end
The front wall provides the tailed guard with a good overview. The grid is an incomparable option for such observation. It can be made from metal profile pipes with round or square cross-section. Using a grinder or sandpaper, you need to clean the parts from burrs and rust. The metal surface must be primed and covered with several layers of paint.
The Ministry of Health prohibits the use of powder and galvanized materials. They are harmful to the health of the animal. It is recommended to use screws made of stainless material as fastenings.
Net - a budget option, however, it is not always reliable. Under the weight of the shepherd, it may fall out or rupture. Dogs also often chew the wire and pull out their teeth. 
Design
After determining the location, it is important to make a detailed drawing with the dimensions of the dog’s enclosure. You need to think through and correctly position the main zones:
- booth;
- platform;
- gate;
- area (lawn) for walking;
- feeding windows.
The optimal height of such a structure is calculated taking into account the dimensions of the pet. It is necessary to take measurements of the animal in full height. 
To do this, he must stand on hind legs. It is worth adding from 20 to 50 cm to the resulting indicator, at the discretion of the designer.
If the site is being prepared for several dogs, then all dimensions must be multiplied by 1.5.
Construction
After receiving the project, you should select the material for the roof, blind and front walls. Then it is important to decide on the location. 
Now you need to consider step by step how to build an enclosure for a dog with your own hands, so as not to miss anything.
Foundation and decking
The rafters for the foundation will be powerful pipes (4-6 pieces), which should be driven into the ground along the perimeter of the object, or columns of bricks. The remaining space is filled with gravel or expanded clay. The base (screed height from 40 to 70 mm) is poured with a solution of concrete or cement. It is important not to forget to tilt towards the frontal zone.
The wooden flooring is nailed to a special timber frame. Its dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the enclosure. This floor is made from tongue and groove boards because they do not require nails for installation. 
Construction and filling of the frame
If the fence is metal, then pipes can be used. They are assembled according to the drawing and fastened using bolts or welding. The same assembly principle applies to wooden supports. The algorithm for their construction is as follows:
The metal frame is filled with pre-selected material: a wooden beam or a brick wall. To insulate the back part, pressed sawdust, polystyrene foam, eco- or mineral wool are additionally used.
The front wall is made with one transverse crossbar. If you use a mesh, you need to make sure that it sits firmly on the folds. Any load can break it.
The front wall must be made of chain-link or mesh. In other cases, a grate is made, consisting of welded pipes and rods. Near the gate, two rings intended for feeding should be welded. The turning mechanism opens outwards. 
Installation of roof and booth
To work with corrugated sheets or slate, it is necessary to build a wooden frame. Then the roofing sheets are applied one after another. A wooden frame is sheathed with roofing felt or soft tiles, onto which special OSB boards are attached. For safety reasons, use self-tapping screws or closed type fastenings 
Among other things, an awning can be used as a cover. Dense and waterproof fabric is pulled over metal carcass, securing with loops.
The booth is made with a flat roof. As a result, it will become an observation deck for the pet. It is desirable that the structure opens, because then it is easier to clean it. The size of the booth is equal to the length of the lying dog with its paws stretched out. 
A few simple steps and your do-it-yourself dog enclosure is ready. This stylish residence will serve as a wonderful place to relax and work for your beloved pet. 
Video of building a dog enclosure
Keeping guard dogs on a chain has lost its meaning with the increase in the size of private households: if some corner of the controlled territory is inaccessible to the dog, the house is not protected from invasion. Moreover, a dog on a chain, even if sliding along a wire, is an easy target for a thief armed with a crossbow, and a well-trained guard dog is expensive. Modern dog handlers train guard dogs to patrol the territory and keep enclosures, but, unfortunately, not all commercially available ready-made enclosures are made taking into account the characteristics and requirements of the animal, and improper maintenance of the dog can ruin the dog. This is a very compelling argument in favor of making a dog enclosure with your own hands. Secondly, keeping pet dogs and raising puppies requires, on the one hand, not to particularly constrain the animal; on the other hand, to teach him not to cause unnecessary trouble to his owners. This article discusses what type of dog enclosure is suitable in what cases and how to make it.
The main condition for choosing the type of enclosure is not to spoil the dog. This will also be detrimental to him, not to mention the fact that the dog may deteriorate as a watchman. The best guard dogs come from herding dogs, and for those, all sorts of adversity is a normal working environment. It is much more harmful for a dog to overheat, overeat and become mushy than to be cold, hungry and tired.
Particularly hardy dense canine dogs are kept in open enclosures: shepherd dogs, Russian guard dogs and similar breeds. Gustopovaya means with long hair and thick underfur; dog's fur in kennel style. There is generally specific terminology: mouth is a forceps, tail is a rule (emphasis on “and”), etc. In regions with a mild climate or for temporary keeping, an open enclosure can be a simple fence (item 1 in the picture with photo), and in In a temperate climate, in an enclosure for dense canines, you also need a shelter booth, pos. 2. Domestic dogs, when going to the country, are placed in a folding enclosure with an awning, pos. 3: a city dog, once in nature, can easily go crazy, get lost and disappear.
In places with high insolation, not necessarily warm (chernozem zone and further south, southern Siberia and Far East) the awning or roof should cover approx. 2/3 enclosure for any dog, pos. 4. The purpose of 2 adjacent closed walls of the enclosure with wind protection (position 5) is actually to better block the dog’s view of what prevents it from performing its duties: the bustle of the street, a playground, a rest area for the owners, etc.
A dog is a predator, and for any predator the main condition for comfort is wide view surroundings. Therefore, the dog will feel better and guard better if you make an enclosure with a platform. It could simply be the flat roof of a shelter booth, pos. 6. If the dog is not jumping, you need to make a ladder onto the platform. The simplest board, inclined at 20-45 degrees, with 20x20 slats packed across in increments of 100-200 mm.
In places with sharply variable climates, dogs are kept in enclosures with a half-winter road (pos. 7): the kennel is installed in an additional section closed on 3 sides, which is covered with a tarpaulin in the worst weather. Enclosures for dogs with insulated winter modules (items 8 and 9) are built in places with harsh, long winters; the hole in the winter road is covered with strips of rubber so that the dog can go out on duty.
If the location conditions (see below) of the enclosure with the winter road allow, its 2 adjacent walls are made blank, pos. 9. If this doesn’t work out, it’s better to leave everything open except the winter road, pos. 8. Tunnel enclosures are suitable for keeping a pack (see below), but for a single dog, an enclosure like the one in pos. 8, but with blank long walls, it will probably ruin it.
It is believed that the door of the enclosure is a guard or service dog must open inward, otherwise a strong dog can knock it out. True, but often there is no space to open the door inside the enclosure, if only because there is no extra space in the yard. In this case, take another look at pos. 6, the outward opening door of the enclosure should:
- Be upholstered with mesh (see below) on the inside.
- Have at least 2 crossbars.
- Each crossbar must have a secure latch.
- The door leaf must be hung on barn hinges.
- There should be a safety latch on the inside of the door: when entering the enclosure to care for and feed the animal, the door is immediately closed and locked behind you.
More about the platform
Booth-platform, as in pos. 6, will suit a male dog without any problems, but a female puppy needs a separate platform if she whelps and is nursing a litter in her permanent enclosure. How an enclosure with a platform for a puppy is constructed is shown in Fig. on right. A winter enclosure is installed optionally if the female with her offspring remains in the enclosure during the cold season. When the puppies are taken from their mother, the platform above the shelter - the brood's den - must be removed and a general cleaning done in the enclosure so that the smell of the offspring does not bother the parent.
Aviary dimensions
The minimum required area of the enclosure, as is known, depends on the height of the dog at the withers: up to 50 cm - 6 square meters. m; up to 60 cm – 8 sq. m; over 60 cm – from 10 sq. m. The remaining dimensions of the enclosure are also tied to the dimensions of the animal’s body:
- Width - not less than 1.5 body length without tail, but not less than 1.5 m.
- Length – calculated by width and area.
- Height: Lift your dog up by his front paws until he is stretched out and have someone else measure the distance from the ground to the ends of his front paws. Add 0.5 m, this will be the minimum possible height of the enclosure, except for especially jumping dogs, see below.
Location
The main thing in choosing a place for an enclosure is to provide the dog with the best possible view of the controlled area. Imagine a professional taxi driver plodding along a bumpy country road in a broken-down jalopy. It will feel about the same guard dog, without being able to survey their area of responsibility. Only he can’t tell the owner, he doesn’t know how.
The second factor is that the enclosure should be located away from sources of strong odors. The dog will still get used to the amber of a poultry house or barnyard; its ancestors smelled the same thing in nature, but the ammonia vapor weakens the dog’s sense of smell. There are also odors that are unbearable and harmful for dogs, see at the end.
Orientation to cardinal directions and winds, contrary to popular belief, does not play a special role. The facade of an enclosure with a dog of northern origin (reindeer husky, husky) in the southern regions is better oriented to the north, and with a dog of southern origin (Caucasian or Central Asian Shepherd, eg) north of Moscow - to the south. In other cases, the ideal orientation would be the façade facing east and the blank walls facing the direction of the prevailing winds.
Base
Also, you should not consider recommendations to lay a capital foundation for an enclosure as relevant: it will cost you extra expenses and work, and the dog will only be better off if the underground floor is ventilated. The dimensions and design of dog enclosures are such that they are insensitive to ground movements; ready-made enclosures are simply placed on the ground, bricks or concrete foundation blocks 400x400x200 at angles and vertical supports. Aviary support posts for large and strong dog It’s still better to concrete it, see below.
Materials and construction
The best material for a dog enclosure is structural steel. An enclosure for a shepherd can be partially made of wood (see below), but it is highly advisable to make enclosures for such smart dogs as huskies, huskies, and fox terriers completely metal - wood can be chewed.
Stages of building a wooden enclosure for a dog
However, wood is more affordable than metal and easier to work with. This is especially true if it is not possible to connect welding or power tools at any time. How to build a wooden enclosure is simple, inexpensive and suitable for almost any dog, shown in Fig. higher:
- Wood materials are impregnated twice with a water-polymer emulsion or once with silicone anti-rot impregnation.
- The ends of the support pillars made of 150x150 timber that go into the ground are additionally impregnated with bitumen mastic.
- The support pillars are concreted, pos. 1 in Fig., aligning vertically along a plumb line. The pillars need to be prepared with a margin of 10-15 cm in height, or more if the site is noticeably uneven. Installation pitch up to 1.5 m.
- After the concrete has hardened, the upper ends of the pillars are cut horizontally to the required height, using a cord and a level. Don’t rush to throw the scraps into the stove, they will come in handy.
- Pairs of pillars are connected by pairs of boards from 100x25, pos. 2.
- The floor is laid over the resulting box beams, pos. 3 (tongue and groove boards from 150x30); see also below.
- The bottom trim made of 100x100 timber, pos. 4 and 5. It is better to attach the lower harness from underneath.
- Blind holes are drilled in the bottom trim beam for the grille bars. For German Shepherd the rods must be no less than 10x10 or a diameter of 12 mm from ordinary steel or from 8 mm if the rods are reinforcing.
- Place the bars of the grille, leaving an opening for the door, pos. 6. Installation step is 10 cm for large dogs and 5-7 cm for small ones.
- The bars of the lattice are temporarily tied with soft wire to prevent them from becoming loose.
- Prepare the bars for the top trim by drilling holes into them for the bars of the grill.
- Mount the top trim. Its beams are attached to the supporting steel corners or plywood gussets.
- Sheathing blank walls.
- They put a partition inside and arrange a winter road, if necessary.
- They make the roof (item 7) and carry out the remaining work, see below for more details.
Note: oil impregnations for wood, incl. waste motor oil can be used if the enclosure will be populated in a year. Then they build it in the spring - over the summer the light fractions of the impregnation will evaporate, and over the winter the heavy fractions will bituminize and lose their smell (they will fizzle out).
A steel enclosure is built in a similar way:
Floor or soil?
Purchased enclosures are often simply placed on the ground; The dog relieves its physiological needs on it. The floor of the enclosure needs to be cleaned of traces of its vital activity, but the dog is able to dig a hole in the ground and leave the enclosure. How can we be here?
Firstly, northern dogs dig the ground in exceptional cases. Their digging reflex is very weak, because... They have permafrost in their homeland. If a husky, husky or labrador is regularly walked or let out on patrol, you don’t have to be afraid of undermining from them. Secondly, at one time J. Darrell came up with a way to develop toilet skills in almost any mammal, even a wild African pig:
- Prepare a small enamel vessel of suitable size for the dog’s latrine: a basin, a foot bath with a sealed drain, a large bowl.
- When building an enclosure, away from the booth and feeder (see below), a cutout is made in the floor for installing a toilet bowl.
- The cutout for the toilet is temporarily sewn up with plywood.
- During the period of training to the enclosure, the dog is given the opportunity to relieve itself wherever it wants.
- When it gets used to it, a pile of fresher droppings is taken for temporary storage.
- The enclosure is being thoroughly cleaned.
- They remove the plywood, put the toilet in place and fill it halfway with sand.
- They put the saved lump of droppings in the toilet and let the dog into the enclosure.
This method works flawlessly: after all, animals mark their territory with urine and excrement. Now the dog will only go to the toilet in a big way. The sand in it is needed to satisfy the instinct to bury waste; it needs to be changed from time to time.
Note: enclosure for burrowing dogs, e.g. fox terrier must have a floor.
Feeder
Making a dog feeder in the enclosure rotating at floor level (on the left in the figure) in order to demonstrate your mechanical skills is a serious mistake. A funny thing provokes the animal to play with it, which is dangerous for the dog. The feeder should be made folding with the bottom edge approximately at the height of the lower edge of the dog’s chest, as on the right in Fig.
Feeders in dog enclosures
The roof of the dog enclosure must have a gap for ventilation. Walk in on a hot summer day with a gentle breeze from the yard onto the veranda. Is it stuffy there? Now imagine that you are covered in fur from head to toe. Let us repeat once again: heat and stuffiness are much more harmful for a dog than bitter cold.
As for what to lay the roof of the enclosure from, here is the basic rule: the roofing material should not resonate in the rain or wind. A dog's hearing is as sensitive as its sense of smell; Frequently repeated sharp sounds can damage it. The best materials for the roof of an enclosure are sound-absorbing: roofing felt, soft tiles. It’s easier to lay them on the sheathing.
Note: So the scraps of timber from the construction of the wooden enclosure came in handy - they were used to create a ventilation gap under the roof. The sheathing is of the usual type, but it won’t hurt to insulate it. Not for the winter, but for the summer, so that the roof, heated by the sun, does not radiate heat downwards as much.
Cross members from the same rod must be welded to the grid of the enclosure made of rods with a vertical pitch of 1-1.3 m. Usually one cross member is placed at half the height of the rods. In an enclosure for a shepherd dog, it is better to install two crossbars, respectively. by reducing the installation step. The German Shepherd is not the champion of strength among its relatives; the Caucasian and Central Asian are stronger. But an adult male German Shepherd pushes apart 10x10 bars 1.5 m long.
Special cases
Husky
This intelligent, loyal and disciplined dog is becoming increasingly popular. If reindeer-hunting huskies do not make watchmen, and hunting dogs are produced occasionally (although all of them are outstanding), then the husky can be called a jack-of-all-trades dog. However, a husky enclosure should have a number of features.
First, the enclosure for a husky needs a height of 2.2 m. The husky dog is a very jumping dog; in their homeland they need it so much to look around over the endless snow. A husky jumps almost like a poodle, and he, for your information, jumps from the floor onto the cabinet without a run.
Secondly, the bars of the husky enclosure should be made not from rods, but from mesh. Jumping, the husky clings to it. If the lattice of the enclosure with a husky is made of twigs, then it will be impossible for the dog to do the necessary things physical exercise. Finally, in mid-latitudes and to the south, it is better to have a husky enclosure facing north, northeast and northwest.
About the grid 
Dog enclosures with mesh bars
A mesh lattice instead of rods is also suitable in an enclosure for dogs of other breeds. It is better to place a wicker mesh grille in the enclosure, pos. 1 in Fig. on right. For a husky, this is all the more good because the wires of the woven mesh are bent in a zigzag and are easier to cling to. But welded mesh will also work, pos. 2. In both cases, the wire diameter is from 4 mm, and the mesh is 10x10 cm for large dogs and from 5x5 to 7x7 for small ones.
It is not advisable to use chain-link mesh to lattice enclosures: even very calm dogs often injure their paws on it, and hair plucked by chain-link is a common occurrence in such enclosures. By the way, chain-link is safe for a husky, this dog is so smart. She is too smart for a chain-link enclosure: she unravels the joints, tears them off the frames and leaves the enclosure in an hour and a half. The only time an enclosure for a dog made of chain-link mesh is justified is when its area is more than 20 square meters. m, and the dog is exactly guard breed, i.e. very disciplined, and trained by a good dog handler.
For small and small
Puppy and small, but adult dog they are far from the same thing, and they need different enclosures. First, there is no need to make an enclosure for puppies out of wood (item 1 in the figure below): they are still weak, but they will chew. The wood chips will be swallowed and get stuck in the ragged hole. Secondly, an enclosure for puppies needs to be made, taking into account that they have an insatiable curiosity, but their little minds have not yet developed. Scientifically, the full range of dog instincts has not yet been activated.
Enclosures for puppies and small dogs
Instead of an enclosure, suckling and stupid puppies should be kept in a playpen with soft walls so that there is no whining; a baby puppy feels abandoned if he cannot get used to something warm and soft. This is why puppies are often friends with house cats. A playpen for a puppy is made from cardboard box; For a couple more options, see the video at the end of the section.
When the puppy in the playpen begins to stand up, leaning his front paws on the side (pos. 2 in the figure), the soft upholstery needs to be removed and the puppy must be accustomed to the apartment cage made of mesh, pos. 3; It’s better to simply bend it from a piece of mesh with a mesh size of 3x3 to 5x5 cm, soldering the joint. A knitted joint is dangerous for a puppy.
Enclosures in an apartment for small dogs are generally arranged in the same way as for large ones, taking into account the low strength and insignificant love of freedom of the inhabitants. An enclosure for a decorative dog is the same set of beds made of vertical rods. Ready-made sections of mini-kennels for dogs are sold in pet stores; from them a dwelling of the desired size and configuration is assembled. But remember: for lap dog the enclosure is something like a public garden with a bench or bar. For permanent housing, a dog needs a house in an apartment.
Note: For lap dogs and other long-haired dogs, only welded sections of the apartment enclosure should be taken. Braided ones will tear out all the wool, especially since ornamental breeds Dogs, as a rule, are no different in intelligence.
Video: puppy pen
Video: do-it-yourself playpen for puppies
For the pack 
Aviary for several dogs
If the area is guarded by several dogs, common enclosure for them it is necessary to make from sections with semi-winter roads, canopies 3/4 of the length of the section, blank partitions between them and separate feeding troughs. Otherwise, bickering in your free time from work is guaranteed. In this case, on big dog 3-4 sq. is enough. m of area and sections as wide as the length of her body without a tail, see fig. on right.
What not to do!
In conclusion, we will analyze the typical mistakes in the construction of dog enclosures. It is forbidden to strengthen the enclosure with jibs, ties, and other methods for wind and snow loads (item 1 in the next figure). A dog is a compact body that instantly picks up speed of 10 m/s or more. How much will it contain? kinetic energy according to the formula from school physics, with a weight of 20-40, or even 70 kg? Will all these slats withstand her blow?
Erroneous implementation of dog enclosures
Then, if you are not a dog handler with special education and experience, then when building an enclosure for a dog, get carried away with design delights even in a minimal size, as in pos. 2, should not. What to the human eye It’s nice, the dog will most likely just be prevented from living a normal dog’s life. By the way, the same applies to cold forging, only you can also get your paw caught in it.
Next, do not block the dog’s view and not much, as in pos. 3. Dogs are 100% extroverts; their and our concepts of coziness and comfort are fundamentally different. And finally, do not place the enclosure near a flower bed or in the garden and do not decorate it with flowers, as in pos. 4. A dog's nose is much more sensitive than ours, and too strong a pleasant aroma turns into an unbearable stench. In addition, ethylene and aldehydes emitted by flowers and fruits simply spoil the dog’s sense of smell. A dog’s nose is almost the same as our eyes, and for a dog’s health he needs a moderate and natural background of odors.
Previously, dogs who lived in the yard had kennels built and tied to a chain. Today, they are increasingly resorting to the construction of spacious enclosures. On the one hand, the dog does not have access to the body of the guest who enters the yard, on the other hand, the collar does not dangle around his neck all the time, and the faithful guard can move around his home at full height. In this we invite you to get acquainted with the technique of making the right enclosure for dogs with your own hands.
Where to start
First you need to understand the true purpose of the enclosure. After all, this should be more than just an ordinary fence for a dog. Your friend and guard will spend almost the entire day in the building. Therefore, all the elements necessary for his normal and comfortable living must be clearly thought out. Namely:
- a feeder from which the dog will eat;
- a place where he can hide in case bad weather, cold or sun;
- walking area.
Did you know? Scientists cannot reach a consensus on the origin domestic dog. Some believe that she had several ancestors: a wolf and a jackal. Others adhere to the theory that dogs descended only from wolves, as indicated by a comparative analysis of some of their characteristics and the results of molecular genetic studies.
Choose a suitable location
The choice of place should also be made according to the priority that the dog should be comfortable. She should not be irritated by the noise of cars, so if possible, her home should be located away from the road. Buildings for other pets should also be located at a distance. As well as places where you do carpentry or do any other noisy work. They should also not fly to your pet’s home. unpleasant odors, for example, from either a cesspool.
Ideally, the source of irritation should be located 500 m from the enclosure, say, in a rural area or on a large summer cottage, and 10-15 m in a private city or country house.
Housing for your pet must be placed close to it so that the animal has places to rest in the shade throughout the day.At night, the enclosure should be illuminated - this point should also be considered: is this possible with the help of centralized lighting or to install the light yourself. 
The place where it is planned to equip the enclosure must be sheltered from the winds. It should not be somewhere in a remote corner - the dog needs to observe what is happening in the yard and at the entrance.
The most optimal place would be in the front part, near the entrance to the yard, on the side of the path leading to the house.
Calculate area and height
The area and height of the enclosure are calculated based on the size of the pet. There are certain minimums in terms of area. One of the sides must be at least 2 m. 
- For dogs with a height at the withers of up to 50 cm, the minimum area of the enclosure should be at least 6 square meters. m. A dwelling for two dogs or one bitch with children of such dimensions should not be less than 9 square meters. m.
- For dogs that are 51-65 cm tall as adults, an enclosure area of 8 square meters is required. m. For two dogs or a female with puppies - from 12 sq. m. m.
- Pets taller than 66 cm should be kept in an enclosure with an area of at least 10 square meters. m. For two dogs or a female with puppies, you need to equip a room measuring 15 square meters. m.
The height of the dog “apartment” should be such that the dog can stand in it at full height on his hind legs without touching the ceiling. By the way, if your pet is still small and you don’t know what it will be like as an adult, you can roughly calculate this by knowing the size of its paws, chest, weight and other parameters. For example, one of the unscientific formulas says that the weight of a puppy at two months should be multiplied by three and added 200 g - this will be the weight of an adult.
Did you know? The largest dog in the world, recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, is considered to be a Great Dane named Zeus. His height is 111.8 cm and his weight is 70 kg. He and his owners live in the USA. And the oldest dog is considered to be Blue, a native of Australia. He lived 29 years and five months.
Draw a drawing
After you determine the dimensions of the dog enclosure with your own hands, you need to draw a drawing. You can use ready-made ones as a basis, examples of which can be found on the Internet. Usually the enclosures on them consist of delineated boundaries:
- winter road with and without a booth;
- platform;
- open area.
Important! Failure to follow recommendations for the size and materials of the enclosure can lead to the dog suffering from uncomfortable conditions, the proliferation of diseases and the risk to visitors if any element is too flimsy and cannot hold an angry guard.
Selection of materials
After the drawing is ready, it is necessary to think over and purchase materials for the dog’s enclosure. Here are some recommendations on what is best to make walls, doors, roof and floor from to make your pet cozy and comfortable.
Walls and door
The front wall, which will serve as the dog’s view of the yard, should be made of lattice. In this case, it is not recommended to use a net - large four-legged animals can easily carry them out with their paws or break their teeth on them. 
The most the best solution is the use of round or square metal profile pipes. They should not be galvanized or powder coated. It is necessary to weld them together efficiently, especially if your pet has large sizes and large body mass.
The pitch between the pipes should be 10 cm for large animals and 5 cm for small ones.
For the safety of the quadruped, metal structures and connections should be well primed, cleaned of burrs, rust removed and covered with hot-painted enamel.
There is an option to equip the grill without a welding machine. To do this you should:
- drive the rods well into the ground;
- prepare wooden beams, the length of which is equal to the length of the grate;
- make notches on the beams at a distance from the iron rods;
- insert the notches of the beams into each of the rods;
- secure with corners - drill holes in the beams and corners and fasten them with bolts.
The side and back walls of the dog “apartment” can be made of wood, but not thinner than 2 cm, slate, or metal profiles. Wooden walls should be treated with anti-rot agents. They are the best for health. Important! Elements used for fastening must be stainless. Wooden parts must not come into contact with the ground.
Roof
For the roof, materials such as ondulin, soft tiles, corrugated sheets, etc. are selected. It is better if it is bituminous shingles, since precipitation drumming on it sounds the least loud and irritating to the animal.
Nails should not be used when installing the roof.
A mandatory element must be a visor.
Floor
The floor can be made of concrete or asphalt. Cement is not recommended because it is too cold. Your pet will freeze on it, and there is a risk that he will catch a rheumatic disease. 
In any case, it is better to think about wooden flooring, which is laid on an asphalt or concrete floor. They can cover not the entire floor, but only part of it. A plot of two by two meters will be sufficient.
Also, the concrete base can be insulated with crushed stone, placing it between the soil and concrete.
It is not necessary to fill the entire floor in the enclosure; you can leave a section of soil that can be planted with grass. Here your friend will just take a walk.
The floor should not be made level, as moisture will stagnate on it. It is necessary to build it with a slight slope.
What else is important to consider
After the enclosure is ready, you need to start arranging it: make a booth (if provided), entrance doors. The door needs to be made so that it opens into the middle of the enclosure. The latches must be both external and internal.
Availability of a booth
The best housing for a dog is one that is equipped with a booth. This is where the animal will spend especially cold periods. 
When building it, you should also take into account some factors:
- The booth must clearly correspond to the size of the dog - he must fit in it in an extended position and have room to turn around. If you make the kennel spacious, it will be cold and will not be able to keep warm.
- The material for the booth should be exclusively wooden. It is better to choose coniferous wood for construction.
- If you live in regions where winters are especially harsh, then the booth should be made with double walls, the space between which should be lined with insulation.
- The ideal option for cleaning the booth would be a removable roof.
- It is better to make the roof flat and sloping - some pets like to use this place for sitting to make it more convenient to observe the territory entrusted to it.
- It is strictly prohibited to use paint or varnish to treat the interior lining of the booth.
Feeder
When setting up a place from which the dog will eat, it is necessary to think about how it can be safely fed by someone else or unfamiliar person, if you will be for a long time be absent from home.
It is better to think about a rotating mechanism for the feeder and a device for fixing it in the closed position. Was this article helpful?
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