Advice for Kennel/Run size for a Labrador

[Nik_B]

Hi all

I have a 22 month old Labrador who is going for residential training soon. Obviously while he is there he will live in a kennel and when he comes home I would like to time his return with the introduction of a kennel here.

Would anyone please be so kind as to let me know what dimensions I should look for? Also any advice for where to get one from because there are many websites often selling things that look more like summer houses and cost a fortune.

I am thinking a steel bar enclosure 2.5 - 3 m long and 1.5m wide with an insulated kennel inside. Would that be big enough? His health and well being is top priority!

Thanks in advance

[James]

more than big enough, the kennel is just a place to be kept safe, dry and warm.

[Nik_B]

Thanks James

This is where he will be in the day and also at night so I want him to have a run and not to be enclosed like a rabbit also if he soils the run I wouldn't want him treading in it because he doesn't have enough space to move around. Do yout hink 2.5 m is long enough then bearing in mind that the kennel with go inside the run and take up some room? Within the run he will have a kennel where he can sleep and stay warm so that wont need to be very big.

[David]

I'd say 2.5 meters is more than enough. You will find that the dog will spend most of its time in or on top of the box.

As for treading in his output, It a hazard of having a kennel unless your lucky enough to have a dog that holds on until you let it out. He wont walk around it no matter what size the run is. Think about drainage when your putting it up, there's lots of swilling out to be done.

[Nik_B]

Thanks David

I will go for a 2.5m x 1.5m run in that case. He will be walked first thing every day and it is at that time when he goes to the toilet. Yes there is great drainage, the area I am going to use is recently flagged with porous material which fills the space between the stones. The aim is to reduce the mess he makes in the house i.e. malting and the doggy smell and have him out of the way so we aren't driven mad with him being over excited when the doorbell rings and also his family time will be more constructive rather than him being able to play with the kids toys when ever he feels or and get fussed too much.

[baguio]

As he's obviously house trained you will probably find that provided he's given the oportunity to relieve himself as often as he currently does then he will be clean in his kennel/run too. If either of mine have an accident over night in their run it's due to tummy problems. Even then they will cry to be let out and if i'm quick enough and hear them I can avoid the accident. They certainly do nothing more than lay around in the run so your dimensions are plenty big enough.