Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Northern Mn
Posts: 173

I was going to finish my kennals this summer and I was wandering what you thought was better for cleanlyness and if there was a difference for the dog(if they perrfer one over the other)

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Vulcan,Mo
Posts: 771

Do you mean concrete?

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 4324

Dirt doesn't require as much cleanup time because you don't have to wash it down everyday - just scoop. But inless you put down horse or cattle pannel to prevent digging, you'll constantly be filling holes. Putting shavings on top of the wire panelling helps keep dogs clean.
Concrete is great for cleanliness if you wash it down every day - but you need to pick up solids before waahing down & have a drainage plan.
Dirt is easier on elbows and hocks as far as prevening rub spots. But you need to have a good flea/tick prevention program such as using Bayer Tree & Shrub.
Concrete is good for whelping because you can keep everything sanitary as well as keeping pups clean and away from items they shouldn't chew for the first few weeks. Easier flea/tick prevention. Also, for dogs going to shows, concrete is good for keeping them clean and/or for letting them dry right after a bath.

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Everywhere
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I would vote elevated wood.

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Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:

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Originally posted by mjflores
I would vote elevated wood.

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Registered: May 2006
Location: northeast ohio
Posts: 1307

i have concrete and when i laid it i worked it in with a rough broom. it helps to keep the dogs feet from flattening out.

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Registered: Feb 2008
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does anybody put lime on a dirt floor in a kennel?

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You wouldn't want to put lime where a dog could step in it.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: East Texas
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I go with dirt,
Cement will rub the paws raw, I have seen hounds that were kept on cement, stop hunting due to sore paws.
Also harder on joints, as there is no give to it, and the joints on the hound will take a constant pounding.
The dirt thouhgh you will have more parasites.
Its a toss up, but I would go with a dirt floor.

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Registered: Dec 2008
Location: western indiana
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quote:

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Originally posted by mjflores
You wouldn't want to put lime where a dog could step in it.

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quote:

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Originally posted by mittonman
Why is that? Is it not good for them?

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Registered: Oct 2007
Location: Enid,Oklahoma.
Posts: 377

I prefer Cement. You don't have the parasites as bad. Parasites tend too live in the dirt longer.. I was also told by a vet that Parvo can live for years dormant in the dirt floor pf a kennel.. I think cement would be your best bet for a kennel flooring.. Also I find you don't have the odor of urine smell as bad as on dirt...
I have thought of wood boards but the urine going through the cracks of the boards and hitting the dirt, and shaded all the time would bring flies and bad odor also... I stick with cement....

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Registered: Feb 2009
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i use concrete then on about half ilay arubber cow mat down my dogs seem to lay and stand on the mat and pee and crap on the crete

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quote:

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Originally posted by MikeO
does anybody put lime on a dirt floor in a kennel?

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Northern Mn
Posts: 173

quote:

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Originally posted by Arlo64
i use concrete then on about half ilay arubber cow mat down my dogs seem to lay and stand on the mat and pee and crap on the crete

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Northern Mn
Posts: 173

Lime can be acidic if it gets wet and it could burn the dogs it does work good for killing parasites alot of dairy farmers use it for floors in stantion barns but only where the cows walk

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I've been a plasterer for 27 years and I can tell you lime will burn your skin, and you don't want it in your eyes. Some lime is hotter than others. I have had concrete pens and they are nice, I got dirt now and like them too. I've been thinking about a 100 x 100 pen and I think that would be the easiest to deal with. I think a concrete pen is better for raising pups. I never had any issues with sore feet. Washing pens everyday gets smelly and dog poop is hard to break down, so the septic system is always a problem. I clorox the dirt and spray different kinds of pesticides during the summer, dirt ain't that bad. Good feed and regular worming is a must. Grown dogs do better than young pups as far as keeping down the worms. Concrete is a good nail trimmer.

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Everywhere
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Lime is a big topic all in itself. For starters, allot of people use the wrong lime in the kennel anyways...they're using garden lime. The proper lime to use is dehydrated lime, this will kill the odor and germs. All lime is "hot", and will hurt your dogs feet. They also should'nt be able to breath the dust, or lick a surface that has it. It can create real foot problems in dogs..or anything without hooves. My kennels are elevated wood, and I really like it. It's very clean, soft on the dog's feet, cheap to make, and easy to disinfect with bleach. I do throw lime underneath it once a spring to help breakdown any build up. If I had it all over to do again, I'd build the same thing...elevated wood platforms.

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: milan,mi
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Next kennel runs will be on ext plywood sloped at a slight angle, hunting partner has had our beagles on this setup for ten years now with no problems, easy to cleanup, cheaper than concrete, and can be moved easily, plywood in screwed on treated 2x4's, seals it every 2 years.

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Registered: Feb 2008
Location: BROOKFIELD, MA.
Posts: 477

I use river stone in my dog yards..Easy to clean up and can be washed every day if you want, I do except winter time.when its freezing...

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: Greenup IL
Posts: 506

I have concrete and love it. dont broom finish thats wear u get sore feet. finish it slick as u can. i used a fresno tool and mine is slick. my buddy used broom he has feet issues.

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Troy, MO
Posts: 806

Chat or screenings is good too but you have to keep adding to it.

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: JERSEYVILLE , IL
Posts: 71

We have had concrete and you are constantly cleaning it, spraying it off, scubbing it, and you are still having to scoop poop. Its hard on a dogs joints because there is no give in the concrete. Also if you dont spray it off fast enough, your dog stands around in its own pee all day. So we no longer use the concrete.

Dirt is just that dirty. Bugs, ticks, fleas, and not to mention when it rains they are covered with mud! I would definetly not do just dirt. imo

Now we have chat/pea gravel with a lime base. The lime keeps the bugs away and the chat is great for clean up and easy on their joints. Easy on their feet, keeps them on their toes but doesnt hurt their pads. Doesnt stink and the pee soaks in so they are not standing around in it. If you dont like the lime you can use sand. I work for a lady that has over 30 akc show dogs and that is what she uses, sand and then chat.

I dot not have a problem with digging because the lime is nice and hard. The kennel I work for that has the sand base does have a problem with digging. I am always filling holes.

Whatever you decide, good luck!!!

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Two Rivers WI
Posts: 996

I'd say concrete but I've used pea gravel in the past. Easier on joints, cleanup and drainage.

Never had a problem with digging.

Striker...pea gravel and chat are two different things. Chat is crushed limestone and will pack down hard. Pea gravel is just that small pea sized gravel that will not pack down.

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Registered: Apr 2006
Location: Damascus, OR
Posts: 89

I have 6' x 20' concrete runs with a 4' x 4' dog house at the end of each one. You want it finished as smooth as you can get it. Hire a finisher if you have to and tell him you want it like your garage floor. Set your 6 foot chain link posts before you pour your cement. Mine slopes 2" in 24 feet away from the doghouse end. The pee runs off and it's easy to scoop. The smooth finish means it hoses off really easy and it's not hard on the dogs feet. My dogs have a fenced acre of pasture to run on most of the day. They're only in the kennels at night or when a female is in heat. The doghouses are built into a 4' x 12' man sized building for each pair of runs. Each run has a man door into the building and the runs. Each run has a dog door into the 4' x 4' x 4' dog house. The dog houses can be opened from inside the building for cleaning or whelping. Above each dog house on the inside of the building are storage shelves for food, collars, leads, etc. The floors of the doghouses are built up on 2" x 4"s set on edge with a plywood floor on top of them, and there's fiberglass insulation between the raised plywood floor and the cement slab. I use wheat straw for bedding. I like a galvanized roof over about half the 20' run for shade and to provide a dry spot (this IS Oregon!).

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