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When building kennels what takes priority?

By Mark Whitehouse

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

I would appreciate advice on the size of internal sleeping compartments and external run sizes.
We have recently moved to our new home in the countryside, and have a great opportunity to build new kennels. I would also like to know if it is a good idea to kennel younger dogs with older dogs.

Mark Whitehouse says:
All my younger dogs are kenneled separately away from the older and training dogs.

I find that puppies absorb more of their basic obedience training and discipline without any distractions from the older dogs and any unsettled dogs that are in for training.

Young dogs under 12 months can be kenneled together with no ill effect, providing that the kennel size is an adequate size for the number of dogs that are in it.

You are in a very fortunate position in that when starting from scratch you can build in many labour-saving attributes and essential services.

These are water, drainage and electricity. All steel work should be galvanised - this is to protect the steel and prevent rusting.

Insulate and damp proof under the concrete floors, this will pay dividends when the cold weather starts as it will help keep the kennels warmer.

My training kennel runs are two metres wide by four metres long and the internal sleeping boxes are two metres by one metre.

This would be large enough to kennel two to three spaniels comfortably.

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