Outside Dog Kennel

Tired of cleaning dirt and hair brought in by the dog every day? You love your dog but the extra work can be a real bummer and possibly effect your relationship. One solution, if you have the yard for it, is to build an outside dog kennel.

Buying dog kennels can be expensive so if you plan to build one it is a good idea to research just how much they are so that when you plan and purchase the materials and tools you need you are sure that you are indeed saving money. Prebuilt kennels are usually in the $150 to $250 range. More than likely if you build your own you can save at least half that amount.

Your first concern should be the size and purpose of the outdoor kennel. These two aspects are closely related. If you plan to build a simple dog house for sleeping then it doesn’t need to as big. This is fine if the dog has a larger area in which to roam. If you are planning to build a dog ranch then you will need to think a bit bigger as he or she will need much more room.

If you are just building a dog house you can definitely get away with using two by fours for the frame and one by fours or particle board for the walls and roofing. If you intend to keep the dog outside on rainy days the extra care should be given to the roof. Black paper and shingles can be expensive but are very effective.

Dogs love to be outside, there’s no doubt about that. However if you are planning a ranch style dog kennel and your dog doesn’t have enough room it would defeat the purpose. Plus if you make it too small the poor thing will be walking in his or her own mess.

Many of the prebuilt outside dog kennels are basically just fencing with a door. Fencing is expensive and you may need to purchase the proper tools as well. If you buy fencing you will need to secure the posts into the ground with a large trowel or something similar. Outdoor kennels can be built with cheaper materials as well such as wood posts and chicken wire. This type of barrier may or may not be effective depending on the size of the dog.

Your best bet is to go online and search out and take notes on how the prebuilt kennels are built and what materials are used. Then go to a hardware store and price out the materials you would like to use for your dog kennel. Have a well thought out plan and you can’t go wrong.

Visit Dog Kennels Info for the full story.

Infectious tracheobronchitis and bordetellosis are two very common forms of kennel cough. These are not deadly, neither are any of the other forms of this condition however, it can make your dog quite miserable. The cough is persistent and can last for several weeks. The infection exposes nerve endings in the windpipe and bronchi which causes the irritation resulting in a rough, dry hacking cough. The cough releases the germ into the air and can easily be transmitted to other dogs that are close by and is therefore not exclusive to kennels.

Most dogs can recover without medication however a vet can give him or her a cough suppressant to relieve the annoying hack and to protect other dogs that may be living with or play with your dog. Antibiotics can be prescribed to speed up the healing process but they are not necessary.

There are other diseases that manifest as a hacking cough and can be mistaken as kennel cough. Some of these diseases are quite serious. If your dog has a cough you should definitely get him or her checked out by a veterinarian to be sure. Also, be sure your dog gets all the proper vaccinations, especially if you’re planning to put him or her in a kennel or in close proximity to many other dogs.

This by no means should be taken as a warning against the sanitary conditions of all kennels in general. On the contrary, pet kennels must adhere to strict guidelines in order to gain and retain their license to do business. However, it is impossible to control how their customers care for their animals previous to being admitted. Nor can they accurately test each dog upon its entrance to the boarding kennel.

Besides proper dog grooming, vaccinations and good dog care, one thing a dog owner can do to help keep his or her animal safe is to be sure that when they return home from the dog kennel, they return to a clean environment. In the event that your dog did catch something you wouldn’t want it to spread to any of your other pets.

Visit Dog Kennels Info for the full story.