The New Kennel

[Miff]

Looks good.
I thought I was going to have to buy a new kennel but decided to get a gundog friend of mine (he is a carpenter)to have a look at my 20 year old Neaverson, which was drafty and beginning to leak. So glad I did as there wasnt anything really wrong with it; i.e. it wasnt rotten but needed a new roof. I decided to have the kennel lined and insulated at the same time as having the roof done with that corragated stuff which is very tough (cant remember what it is called but it is a thousand times better than felt) Now it is like a totally new kennel and for a fraction of the thousands it would have cost to buy new. I think your set up looks good but whilest you are at it why dont you consider doing the same. It would be well worth it. Now I am finding not only is it warmer when temperature drops but its cooler when the temperature goes up as well. The dogs absolutely love it and boy, am I gald I didnt go down the road of a new one. I did have a new galvanised run put on a couple of years ago so now its just as good as new.
Miff.

'pound for pound you get more of everything with a cocker'

[da.drew]

Looks good.
I thought I was going to have to buy a new kennel but decided to get a gundog friend of mine (he is a carpenter)to have a look at my 20 year old Neaverson, which was drafty and beginning to leak. So glad I did as there wasnt anything really wrong with it; i.e. it wasnt rotten but needed a new roof. I decided to have the kennel lined and insulated at the same time as having the roof done with that corragated stuff which is very tough (cant remember what it is called but it is a thousand times better than felt) Now it is like a totally new kennel and for a fraction of the thousands it would have cost to buy new. I think your set up looks good but whilest you are at it why dont you consider doing the same. It would be well worth it. Now I am finding not only is it warmer when temperature drops but its cooler when the temperature goes up as well. The dogs absolutely love it and boy, am I gald I didnt go down the road of a new one. I did have a new galvanised run put on a couple of years ago so now its just as good as new.
Miff.

'pound for pound you get more of everything with a cocker'

Hi Miff, thanks for your comment. My intention (based on what Ive read on the forum) is to build a box in the kennel, which will be about 3' 6" in length, tall enough for the dogs to stand etc, and about 3' deep. Basically Im making 6 panels, each one is a sanwhich of Plywood, insulation and plywood, The front one will have a pop hole with hole being slightly raised and the top removable. The bottom will be lined with wood shavings for comfort.

[Miff]

Hi, that sounds really good. I just thought about the insulation as mine wasnt insulated when I bought it (they didnt really make them like that then) and having it now has made one heck of a difference. I would recommend the roofing thought. Really worth considering as felt doesn't last long. Good luck with it and tell the dogs they are living in luxury! Mine were so cold the winter before last that I brought them inside. Now, with a lamp on, they would even be OK in minus a lot!

[da.drew]

Ive edited the post, all the pictures are now in the first post!

[Ghillie]

Looking good my friend busy doing the same but on a bit bigger scale.

Regards Cam.

[bcgundogs]

Looks great, nice to see development pics all the way through.

When we moved to this house i had to modify the kennel in order for it to fit down by the side of the house so it's essentially a shed with no run, they have free run of the garden anyway (bar the veg patch!), and get locked up on a night. Unfortunately it's a squeeze for two Springers and a Jack Russell and with my Cocker pup coming i've been given the green light to use the remaining grass area to convert into a kennel block. For me it's not going to be your typical kennel with the dogs living there 24/7, i just need a sleeping quarter, somewhere secure and warm (might even convert a large shed??) Thanks for the link to UK Kennels.

[gorse and granite]

Looks fab.
This may sound like a daft question but....do you leave the dogs with access to the outdoor run at all times? If not, when?
How long are the dogs left in the kennels between exercise and/ or training? Does this vary with age, eg for a puppy? I see you have two dogs so would timing change with only one?
What does everyone do re timing of leaving dogs? Just trying to work out a good routine for my pup, on her own, as she gets older? She's now 5 months so not any 'serious' training yet. any suggestions and advice very welcome.
Thanks.

[da.drew]

Looks fab.
This may sound like a daft question but....do you leave the dogs with access to the outdoor run at all times? If not, when?
How long are the dogs left in the kennels between exercise and/ or training? Does this vary with age, eg for a puppy? I see you have two dogs so would timing change with only one?
What does everyone do re timing of leaving dogs? Just trying to work out a good routine for my pup, on her own, as she gets older? She's now 5 months so not any 'serious' training yet. any suggestions and advice very welcome.
Thanks.

Sorry for the delay in replying. The dogs have access to the small run 24/7 as there water bowl is out there. They have access to the main run when ever or somebody else is at home.
Im fortunate to work fairly close to home so go home at lunch time to let them into the main run for 1/2 an hour. They are in the little run from abount 7:30 till 12 and then 1 till 4 on a week day. I train them twice a day and sometimes do some basic heel work at lunchtime.
My trainer told me that she never puts a pup into a kennel until it is house trained. I adopted the same attitude and neither of mine will mess in the small run uness they are desperate, they wait until I let them into the big gravel run. I should add that the oldest is 2 and the youngster is 6 months.
I am considering getting rid of the gravel and putting slab down as its easier to keep clean and can be washed/disenfacted easier than gravel.