Registered: Jun 2003
Location: East Texas
Posts: 828

We are going to do a 'total revamp' of kennels this year - we've settled on the materials for the fencing that we feel will be sturdy and durable - we'll be putting in prefab panels with gates that come from tractor supply for the fronts, and the sides will be 16' welded 'horse panel'. We are still not sure what will be the best surface for the kennels. We are going to invest quite a bit of money in these kennels and we want them to be very sturdy, durable, comfortable, and hygienic. In other words, we want them to not be tearing up with dogs bouncing off of the sides, we don't want the dogs digging out or climbing over, we don't want something that will be hard on their joints, and we want them to be able to be kept sanitary for maximum parasite and disease control. I've so far found fault with just about every surface. Concrete would be the easiest to keep clean and sanitary but I've been told it's hard on feet and pasterns, esp for show dogs. Dirt of course just can't be kept very clean, harbors germs, worm eggs, coccida, etc., and the dogs can dig out if there isn't something like a wire floor, which makes it even more difficult to keep clean. I've heard of using gravel (pea gravel or slightly bigger gauge), and I'm thinking perhaps with fastidious poop-picking and some good bleach water dumped through periodically it could be kept clean, but I worry in our brutally hot summers even with the kennels being very well shaded the gravel would be quite hot for them to stand and lay on. I'm now wondering about concrete with rubber mats on top, painted with Kilz paint (so the black mats won't draw so much heat). I'd like to hear everybody's opinions on the pros and cons of different surfaces to help us decide.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 247

Concrete. They can lay down, which is what they are doing 98% of the time in the kennel anyway.

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Registered: Dec 2008
Location: arkansas
Posts: 1136

Ibuilt a keenels about 14 mths ago. I used 4x4 treated post and the poured concrete. It has a metal roof and I used the 4x2 horse panels for dividers. I cut the horse panels in half long ways 16ftand put it around the out side 2 inches of the floor. I then took the same roofig metal panels and closed in from roof to top of the half horse panels. I then made slider rails on the inside and cut the same metal panel to go on the inside to let down in the winter.I used 3ftx3ft boxes 12 in. off the floor for beds. Dont have dog house. This has worked great for me. The metal panel are what u buy at most lumber supply 3ft wide. I place a fan on one end off the kennel and it stays 12 - 18 degrees cooler than out side and the concrete does not get hot. In the winter about the same 12-18 with panels down to the floor. Dont have as much trouble with water freezing up, cause wind dont blow across it. The wind chill is not as bad on water or dogs.

Last edited by redpower on 02-08-2010 at 11:27 PM

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: Ont. Canada
Posts: 194

Cement and put a grade on it to drain to the front. Best thing I ever did was put a metal roof over my dogs. They stay out of the sun and a lot easier to keep clean. I wash down the pad at least 3 times a week with bleach and water and no smell or flies around.

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Registered: May 2009
Location: Tonkawa Oklahoma
Posts: 5587

What you are thinking about is what I would do but I would build them under a shade instead of painting the rubber. I would put them under a car port type building. Those portable buildings you see every were would work great. Just leave one sheat of iron off the bottom for vent. You could put it on in the winter to block the wind. I think they are like 6-7 hundred dollars and you could put several runs under one. Set them on rubber mats and tie the pannels to the building posts.

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Registered: Feb 2010
Location: MARSHALL,N.C
Posts: 31

I am actually getting ready to build a kennel when the weather clears and ground drys i was seriously thinkin about goin with the car port idea myself and the concrete floor just gotta let the ground dry

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Concrete is only hard on dogs if the finish is too rough. It cleans easy, and a lean-to or mono slope roof over them is great for the shade. Like I said finish is key on the concrete. Too rough of a broom finish will tear up feet etc. I would recommend steel troweling it before the broom to seal the concrete tighter, and as light of a broom finish as you can get. Just enough that it is not slick, and it will clean very easily.

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Registered: May 2009
Location: Tonkawa Oklahoma
Posts: 5587

When I do concrete I do it as slick of finish as I can get.

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Registered: May 2009
Location: Irvine, Ky
Posts: 115

Just a thought but if you wanted the advantadges of concrete without the feet problems you could either lay horse stall mat on top of it.

Another option that would be around the same price as concrete is to look into the flooring like farm tek sells and build your floor up off the ground three foot similiar to a deck that way the feces and urine goes thru and you can rake out underneath of it.

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Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Celina, OH
Posts: 124

Okie, i wouldnt get it as slick as you can. Believe it or not it will be too slick when its wet. could be a hazard to dogs when they get to jumping around. I suggest after bull floating, put a light brooming finish. just light enough for traction and yet easy too clean.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Martin, Tn
Posts: 235

anyone tried just the thick horse mats?

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Registered: Dec 2005
Location: wakarusa, indiana
Posts: 3304

you could use horse or hog mats, i used hog matts for when i showed hogs at the national shows, they were kinda pricybut pretty soft,

honestly i dont think there is much difference in rubber mats, wood flooring or concrete, dogs lay down 95% of time like someone else previously stated

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Martin, Tn
Posts: 235

i like idea of mats lil easier than pourn concrete lol

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Foust's Skuna River Jake

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Registered: Dec 2005
Location: wakarusa, indiana
Posts: 3304

problem with mats are they are expensive, , , dont last as long as concrete(dogs chewing, weather, especially cold weather will cause cracking)

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Martin, Tn
Posts: 235

yes take about 350.00 to cover 12 x 20 area

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Foust's Skuna River Jake

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Kinmundy , IL
Posts: 540

I have had both broom finish and slick concrete kennels. I will never have broom finish again. The dogs ge used to the floor there on. I sealed my last ones with a new polymer they have out. ives you the advantage of slick floor for cleaning but it is not slick on feet. My latest whelping kennels I have done stamped and stained concrete using the same sealer.Looks real nice.

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Registered: Nov 2009
Location: East TN
Posts: 256

Has any tried the 12x12 concrete pavers you can buy at home depot, lowes, or wal mart? I thought this would be a good surface, not to slick and much cheaper than pouring a floor.

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Registered: Feb 2010
Location: Lake Gaston N.C.
Posts: 221

If you use a car port for roof you might think about laying 3 rows of block to sit it on the urine will rust it a way if its on the concret

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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Reinforced Turf Product !!!!!

First Place a Heavy Course of 2.5"-4" Stone Drainage bed With 2-3 Plastic Drain Tile per Run at the Bottom of the Drainage Course.

Place the Roll out Reinforce Turf Product "GrassPave 2" then Cover with 3" of Pea Stone gravel .. Allways Over Order your Pea Stone so you will have Replacement Gravel When cleaning ..

Firm Stools or easily removed with a Fine Plastic Pitch Fork (House Supplys)

http://www.invisiblestructures.com/...lotof_turf.html

http://www.invisiblestructures.com/...GV_brochure.pdf

Also with this Product You Could Grow Grass Inside your Dog Runs .. just add a Seed Bed in the Reinforced Turf


If the Sun is a Problum add a Shade Over your Kennels

http://www.bfproducts.com/comersus/...p?idCategory=92

"DrainCore"

http://www.invisiblestructures.com/draincore2.html

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Last edited by Majestic Tree H on 02-09-2010 at 02:45 PM

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Registered: May 2009
Location: Tonkawa Oklahoma
Posts: 5587

quote:

---

Originally posted by brent springer
Okie, i wouldnt get it as slick as you can. Believe it or not it will be too slick when its wet. could be a hazard to dogs when they get to jumping around. I suggest after bull floating, put a light brooming finish. just light enough for traction and yet easy too clean.

---

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808 N. Main St.
Tonkawa Okla. 74653
580-628-0507
CH 'PR' Grady's Dark Woods Waylon -Bluetic

NITECH 'PR' Grady's Insane Tinker Bell (Tink) - Treeing walker --Okla. State Hunt open redg. winner

'PR' Grady's Barley - Treeing Walker

Last edited by Okie Dawg on 02-09-2010 at 04:02 PM

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Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Greenville,Oh
Posts: 1447

quote:

---

Originally posted by brent springer
Okie, i wouldnt get it as slick as you can. Believe it or not it will be too slick when its wet. could be a hazard to dogs when they get to jumping around. I suggest after bull floating, put a light brooming finish. just light enough for traction and yet easy too clean.

---

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Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

the problem with laying down rubber mats on dirt is the pee will run under the mats, and when it rains the water will stand under the mats with the pee and start stinkin to high heaven...plus the ground wont stay flat, and the mats will start havin corners stickin up, etc...and dogs will chew on them and pens just get nasy with rubber mats on the ground...

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Williamsville,Virginia
Posts: 2196

Here's a couple of pics of my kennels.On concrete and darn glad I did.


Back side of my kennel.

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High Lonesome English Kennels
Robert Gregory
Williamsville,Virginia
home#- 540-925-4437
cell#-757-339-3454
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Last edited by robgregory on 02-09-2010 at 04:06 PM

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Registered: May 2009
Location: Tonkawa Oklahoma
Posts: 5587

Nice looking kennels and a pretty place. Are they hooked up to a septic system? Couldn't tell by pic.

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UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL
Grady Jarvis
808 N. Main St.
Tonkawa Okla. 74653
580-628-0507
CH 'PR' Grady's Dark Woods Waylon -Bluetic

NITECH 'PR' Grady's Insane Tinker Bell (Tink) - Treeing walker --Okla. State Hunt open redg. winner

'PR' Grady's Barley - Treeing Walker

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Williamsville,Virginia
Posts: 2196

I don't know if you've ever seen those Doggie Doolie systems that are sold.But that's what I incorporated in each pen before I poured the concrete.You shovel the waste into the things and pour water and rid-x down in it about once a week.Oh,and cy the way,I got a smooth finish on my concrete.Trust me,the dogs learn as well as you and I real quick like not to get rambunctuous when it's wet.Makes scoopin' up turds a lot easier and easier to sanitize.
Rob Gregory

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High Lonesome English Kennels
Robert Gregory
Williamsville,Virginia
home#- 540-925-4437
cell#-757-339-3454
Home of:
"PR"High Lonesome Hannah. Nt.Ch. Hardtime Miss Kitty's Cat

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