Make Your Own Chain Link Dog Kennel

By Scott Byers

You come home from work one day to find your wife sitting on the couch with two little puppies that have big, brown sad eyes and your wife saying "but honey, they looked so lonely." You can't tell her she can't have them, but you don't want them in the house, under your feet constantly and chewing on your poker table. What do you do? You build a chain link dog kennel in the back yard so everyone will be happy.

Building a chain link dog kennel is not very hard. The first thing you want to do is to decide how big you want the kennel to be. Will the dogs be small in size, or will they grow into a small version of a Mac truck? Are they small enough they won't jump over a four foot fence, or will they grow to the size that a four foot fence would be like stepping over a stick?

You next need to decide what you want to build your chain link dog kennel out of. Chain link fencing no longer comes in one size fits all. Do you want small holes in the wire, or will large ones be okay? Do you want 100 feet of chain link fencing or do you want 50 feet? Does it need to be 4 feet high or do you need something taller like 6 feet or 10 feet? Choose your fencing wisely so that you don't find yourself rebuilding your chain link dog kennel six months down the road.

There are several different kinds of posts that you can use for your chain link dog kennel. Most people prefer to use landscape timbers because they are sturdier than some boards and don't necessarily have to be concreted in like the metal poles. If you need posts that are shorter than the standard length of landscape timbers, simply ask the store to cut them down to size, or measure them and cut them down when you get home.

If you have the time to build your own chain link dog kennel, it can be cheaper than hiring someone to do it or buying one already made. Just imagine the rewards you may get when you tell your wife "okay, honey, we can keep them; they do look kind of lonely."

Dog Kennels: Select the Right One for Peace of Mind When You're Out of Town

By : Richard Livitski

For most dog owners, choosing among the many dog kennels that are out there is one of the hardest tasks to do, especially because you are already faced with the prospect of going away from home without your best pal.

No matter where you decide to leave your dog, no one will be able to take care of them like you can, so you want a place that is as comfortable and as close to home as possible for your dog.

Remember that some dog kennels are going to be pricier than others, as some of the more expensive facilities considered “dog boarding spas” will very much cater to your dog’s individual needs. Not everyone can afford these expensive facilities though.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you find an affordable dog boarding facility that is right for your pooch…

Requires Vaccinations: Remember that your dog will be boarded alongside other pets, so it is best to find a facility that requires dogs to be updated on vaccinations before kenneling. This is to protect your dogs as much as it is to protect the staff. The two most important vaccinations are rabies and bordetella. The bordetella shot protects dogs from receiving “kennel cough,” a common cold that is passed from dogs who are boarded in close proximity.

Meets Your Dog’s Needs: Unfortunately there are some dog boarding kennels that are just overwhelmed with too many dogs and too little staff. This means your dog will probably get the basic necessities like being let out to go to the bathroom on a minimal basis and getting two meals a day. A good facility will make sure your dog receives necessary medications, special foods for their diet, as well as adequate outdoor time.

If you are going out of town and have a new puppy, you may also want to consider finding a place like a puppy kennel that specifically takes care of puppies or at least a facility that has adequate staff to watch over a potty training puppy.

A Clean Facility: One of the most important factors you should look for is a clean facility. This means that the kennels are hosed down on a regular basis to remove any urine or feces. As well, the facility is cleaned with