Need some advice on a kennel/dog run flooring

[Headhunter]

I am thinking of adding a new furry hunting partner to the family and need some advice on a kennel/dog run. We have a fenced back yard but while we are both at work we want to have the dog in a kennel area that needs to be built. On the side of my house I have a 20x9 area where the kennel can go. I am thinking it will be standard cyclone fencing with a gate at each end. My questions are what are the options on flooring.

I was thinking I would go with brushed cement flooring like I saw in an eirlier thread, but some folks tell me cement is very hard on a dogs joints and arthritis would be a problem. As an alternative, someone suggested small marble sized round river rock would work well (that is what happens to be in there now for landscaping) others have told me that large bark chips works well too.

I have zero experience with this and am not sure what to do. I am sure the stone or wood bark would be comfortable, but what about sanitary issues? How can you keep them clean or wash them? Cement seems to be the easiest clean up option as you pick up and spray off.

So with a 20x9 area, what flooring should I use and please give me an idea of what it would cost for that type of floor? I want to provide my soon to be partner a great play area while we are at work, yet not break the bank.

Cheers,

Jimbo

[billc_sbio]

Jimbo,

Smooth or lightly brushed concrete IS the traditional kennel flooring...

(I think your kennel size is a tad on the large size for a "Run" )

Yeah, might cause some arthritis problems along about the 11th or 12th year. :grin:

[Hawk]

We put in some 16"X16" concrete squares from Lowe's and Home Depot for our kennel floor. They hose off like concrete, but aren't permanent like a slab. We put black landscape fabric under them so the grass and weeds don't grow up between them. I think the cost was about the same as a slab, but we have the flexibility to change the shape or move the kennel any time we want.

We tried bark chips but they are quite difficult to clean up. I wouldn't recommend that route.

[thresher]

What about half and half. Being that the concret will help keep your dogs claws from getting to long. Then you would have the other half with pea gravel. What about a roof over it aswell? Or is he gonna have a dog house. Didnt know if you thought about that yet?

[Headhunter]

I would be most helpful if we keep to the topic, specifically flooring solutions. I am looking for what others DID not theory or...this is what I would do, but solutions based on personal experience. What worked, what didn’t and what was the cost. Thanks and respectfully, Jimbo

[FishinTechnician]

Go with concrete. Anythingelse and you'll have cleaning and odor issues. Use a brushed surface. Seal the concrete with sealer and you will be able to hose off anything you might miss during ordinary daily cleanup. Most times I keep a rubber mat on the pad and the dogs seem to prefer it over laying directly on the concrete. It has to be cleaned under but in the long run it's better for the dog. Another option is to build a raised wood bench at one end of the run. I have used a couple of 2x12's on top of a 2x4' frame bolted to the cyclone fencing. Bolt two 2x4's on either side of your fencing (both sides and rear) sandwiching the wire between the 2x4's. If the dog isn't to heavy you can get by without any upright(legs) supports. The lighter the wire the more likely you'll need uprights to support the weight of the dog.

[Katie Ann II]

Smooth concrete is the way to go. Bacteria will get into the brushed concrete and harm your animal. My husband works with concrete. He poured for the local kennels and they insisted on smooth surface. That is what we did with our kennel as well. Easier cleaning too. KA2

[Snakebite]

We put in some 16"X16" concrete squares from Lowe's and Home Depot for our kennel floor. They hose off like concrete, but aren't permanent like a slab. We put black landscape fabric under them so the grass and weeds don't grow up between them. I think the cost was about the same as a slab, but we have the flexibility to change the shape or move the kennel any time we want.

We tried bark chips but they are quite difficult to clean up. I wouldn't recommend that route.

Mine are 8X16 and kinda uneven which I think is a good thing. hoses right off, and I let the grass grow between them. The mutts pretty much keep it worn down.

[billc_sbio]

What you'll find with pro-kennels is that longer/narrower runs exercise the dog MORE than large square enclosures.

My own, poured slab, half covered, kennel is somewhat of a compromise, being about 7' x 15' (with a large dog house that cuts off ~3' of the length), and it normally houses 3 large dogs.

What I've found, is that if your dog/s are well house broken, and if they don't spend more than ~8 hr.s a day in the kennel, they tend not to "go" in the kennel (I'm not suggesting this is good for them, just what mine do/don't do).

So, at least in my instance, my dogs "hold it" (not even peeing) and there normally doesn't have to be much hosing out of the kennel, except for routine cleanup.

[98ramtough]

I have a 9'x21 kennel that I poured a couple years ago. What I did was pretty much just not finish the concrete, its not brushed, but not perfectly smooth. It is not slippery but still hoses off really well. My dogs stay inside at night and are out there during they day. They do not "go" unless I leave them in there overnight. They hold it until I let them out. Make sure they have shade and water and they will love it. My dogs love the kennel, when I let them outside they race for the kennel, tows and a big 100 gallan water bowl in there......

Best of luck,

Mike

[quackerdog]

Just this week I spraped out all the cedar chips from my kennel (12'x6') and I am going to lay down trex decking. My lab likes to dig himself a little bed so eventually he gets through the cedar and weed block or screen. Trex will last for a long long time and if I move it can go with the kennel. I'm going to lay it down and attach the the kennel right to it. If you want to do conrete you can lay stall mats on top of it for cushioning and they can be easily cleaned.

[Hunt'nFish]

Huh, Trex decking right on the ground...now that's interesting. But I'm sure that isn't cheap.
I still like the 16"x16" concrete pavers though. Flexible on the budget and can be moved if need be.

Jimbo, I think I'm going with a covered deck off the family room slider and concrete pavers out to the end of the house. That will be 22'x17' w/ half of it deck...the wifes been wanting a deck anyway.
Hunt'nFish

[BrotherWolf]

Jim
I would pour a 16x8.6 lighty brushed pad should be less than 350 smakers....put in your post pryer to pouring the pad...keep the post along the house 4 inches from the house and 4 inches in from the other side of the pad...make sure you put a little bit of a slope when your build the frame for the pad for drainage.......then dig out a french drain for the out side of the pad and plumb it into your down spouts.....dont do pea gravel or anything else that waste can seep down into...you will have major order problems

[DevlinCackler]

Hey Jim,

I built a kennel for a friend using stall mats and chain link pannels. The mats are easy to use and clean and are not permanent like concrete. I think they also could be a little easier on the dog than concrete, but that is only my opinion. I bought the mats from a place where you can get factory flaws or 2nd at a reduced price. I don't recall how much they were and will not lie to you they are not the cheapest route but defiantly an option. I think they come 4 X 8 and are about 1/2 inch or more thick; they are heavy duty as they are typically used for horse stalls.

If you are interested in this option I can find out where you can get the seconds and will even offer the use of me and my truck to haul them; of course you'll have to cover gas.

It’s to bad you weren’t ready for a dog sooner, Rosco would have been a good addition to your family and the price couldn’t be beat.

Later John

[Capin' Dan]

Here is what many of us with our show dogs do. Brushed cement and then cover that with horse matts espceially around the kennel gates as thsi is where they will be doing most of their jumping. I have seen folks use pee gravel. I feel it is hard to clean up but the urine soaks done which is good. The hair from shedding is a bit of an issues and I think you need a good layer of sand under the pee gravel. I use cement for mine and have not had too many issues.

[taggbro]

I've been using lighly broomed concrete for about 20 years now. My last dog lived to 12 and got cancer. Doesn't seem the floor bothered her in the least.

Just poured another one earlier this summer for another dog.

On your kennel, I use a 6x12x6, gate at one end cyclone. I also have a dog house in the kennel.

If the area gets alot of sun, I'd recommend kennel shade (available at home depot). The shade is also nice to slow the rain down a bit as well.

[James in Idaho]

My kennels are 6 x 12 x 6, and I use crushed gravel. I think it's about 3/4". I have believed for a long time that gravel builds a better foot, my dogs have not had foot issues. However, if I ever have more than two dogs, I'm going with concrete. I would not go any larger in size, the "small" size does cut down on pottying in the kennel, and is plenty as long as the dog gets lots of outside time. Heck, I let my dog out, he does his thing and then goes back into his kennel to nap.

I will opine that all of my chessies have been easier to kennel than the labs. Don't dig as much, and rarely ever soil in the kennel. The labs have bordered on being septic, while digging to China. Heavy wire under the gravel (which is about 8" deep) is a really good idea.

[Meister Jaeger]

Jim,

One option not mentioned thus far is 'Kennel Deck'; check it out at Cabelas. Poly-based material. Lots of pluses - like cheaper, easier, and vastly less permanent than concrete. Not to mention better for your future best friend's joints.

You might ask a few Veterinarians for additional 'expert' opinions?

It's just a 'female-canine' that we can't ask the dog what they'd prefer. Good luck.

[ehunter]

Concrete flooring easier to clean as mentioned above. We also have wood decking that the dogs can lay on to get off the concrete it works well we can pick up the decking when we clean the kennel. Good luck

[The_Duck_Master]

Go with a concrete pad, Jim. Over time it is the cleanest, cheapest & most durable solution. Unless of course you believe in doing things twice.

[FishinTechnician]

Brushed concrete will keep their toenails short. Sealing the concrete will eliminate any absorption of urine/feces. Clean/scrub your runs at least once a week with a commercial kennel disenfectant, or bleach water.

[MossyOarReelCreek]

Hey Jimbo,
I think the post you referred to was mine. I am still working on my kennel. But, To answer your question on cost. The 5' x 36' x 4in (180 sq feet)slab I poured cost $344.00 delivered. Here is a calculator to play with for concrete volumes. Once you decide on the dimensions you will know the cost. A 9x20 slab will take 2.22222 yards. Give me a call if you want to BS about runs. I got mine roofed but, have too may projects all needing done at once.

MORC
Ron 503-481-7353


http://concrete.com/calculatorsmaterials.htm#volume

[Amahnee]

I have stall mats too and the dogs prefer them to their bed. Remember to keep them shaded in the summer as they get hot being black.