Keeping large dogs indoors is not a good idea because they need space and fresh air. They were not bred to live indoors, so it is uncomfortable to live with them. But letting your dog out into the yard “on a permanent basis” is also not always possible. You need a place where you can close it for a while. Therefore, they build fenced areas - enclosures.

What is an aviary

An aviary is a fenced area for keeping poultry, pets and dogs. It may or may not be covered.

A dog enclosure is a building in which an animal can be kept. For large dogs, the enclosure is made outdoors, and in such a way that it can withstand the pressure of the animal for a long time.

For small domestic dogs, an enclosure usually means a portable fence that allows you to limit their movement. The same enclosures are usually needed for older puppies, so that they do not wander around the house.

Enclosure sizes

To make an aviary with your own hands, you will first need to decide on the size. It all depends on the breed, or rather, on the size of the dog. The larger it is, the more spacious the enclosure it needs for normal well-being. For shepherds, huskies and other not too large dogs, a pen with an area of ​​6 meters per individual is sufficient. For Alabais, Caucasian Shepherds, Mastiffs and other large breeds, much more is needed. If the pen is considered only for “locking it while someone comes,” then you can fence off the same 6 squares. Otherwise - at least 8

We assume that the depth of the pen is desirable to be at least 2 meters. The width “emerges” from the required area and the available free space.

Usually the enclosure is made covered. You can leave part of the area without a roof so that your pet can bask in the sun if desired. But you shouldn’t leave the area unprotected: either your dog will run away or someone will come to visit. Instead of a “normal” roof, there may be a lattice made of rods - there is enough light and there are no surprises to expect.

If the dog will spend the winter in the enclosure, you can provide a winter road or install an insulated booth. Most likely, your watchman will like the second option better. They often prefer to sit on the roof of the booth, since there is a better view from there, and not everyone agrees to go into the closed part - they can’t see anything. You can quickly stick your head out of the booth, but you have to run out of the winter road. In general, you better know your pet's personality. An enclosure is not always built because it is cheaper, but so that it is durable, reliable and comfortable for the animal.

What height should a dog's enclosure be? Since it’s up to you to clean anyway, the height is taken so that you can move inside without problems. Usually the height is from 180-185 cm, but depends on the height of the owner.

Choosing a location for an aviary in the yard

You want to make an enclosure so that your pet feels good, so you need to take into account its character and habits. While in the enclosure, the dog will continue to guard its territory, so it is best to fence off the area on a hill, if there is one. It will be very good if the entrance to the house, the entrance to the site is visible, or at least it will be possible to track one of these important points. When choosing a place, keep in mind that your pet needs to see you at least from time to time. You or family members. Otherwise, whining and howling are guaranteed, especially if the dog is not used to restrictions.

When choosing materials, keep in mind that everything that can be chewed will be chewed

When choosing a location, pay attention to the following points:

• It is better to retreat at least half a meter from the nearest building or fence, otherwise you will not be able to clean the debris from there.
• The enclosure should not be in danger of snow melting. If a huge mass suddenly falls onto the roof with a corresponding sound, the dog will receive a shock. It will be very difficult to drive her into an enclosure.
• The structure must be unfolded so that the open part faces southeast or southwest. In the northern regions, it is preferable to go south. Just don't go north.
• It’s not bad if there is a massive bush or spreading tree nearby - they will protect you from the wind and heat.

Taking all these wishes into account is far from easy, but it depends on how well the pet will feel.

Design requirements and materials

Large breed dogs with good coats are not afraid of the cold. If they are outdoors all the time, they grow a thick undercoat, which perfectly protects them from the cold. It is much worse for them if they are either warm or cold. What’s also bad for them is a draft. Then a thick undercoat does not help. Therefore, one of the long walls of the enclosure must be sewn up; one or two of the short ones may be closed. With this device, in any wind direction you can find calm and the dog does not have to climb into the kennel.

What to make the frame from and how to sheathe it

The frame of the enclosure is made from a pipe or corner. It is better/easier to use a profiled pipe - square or rectangular. Wall thickness from 1.5 mm, pipe cross-section for racks 40*40, for lintels - 20*40. And then look at the weight of the dog, the dimensions of the building and the planned materials. Nowadays, finding a corner of normal quality, and even even, is a problem, and straightening it without special equipment will not work. Therefore, it is better, after all, to use a pipe. If you take a corner, then it will have a shelf 4-5 cm and a thickness of 2 mm.

The walls of the enclosure can be made from imitation timber. But the part facing inward also needs to be processed (coated)

As already said, at least the back wall needs to be sewn up, or better yet, two adjacent ones. In regions where wood is inexpensive, they usually use boards or tongue-and-groove moldings - imitation timber, floorboards, etc. We turn the front side inside the enclosure - splinters in dogs are a very unpleasant thing. You can replace the boards with plywood, you just need moisture-resistant, sanded, low-emission plywood (not construction).

Lattice

Often the frame is covered with chain-link mesh or welded mesh, which is used in road or construction work. The chain-link is very unreliable, because if the dog strives to be free, it is not a hindrance to it. They learn very quickly that if you push hard, it will bend and sag, and if you apply enough force, it can break. This is what usually happens.

A "small" dog escapes through a chain-link fence

Those who are unable to break it with their weight use the cells in the grid as steps. Very convenient, by the way. Once trained, they escape very quickly. And medium and large dogs are usually smart, so escaping in this case is only a matter of time. And if dogs have not yet learned to climb on the mesh, they can be injured by welding points, protruding edges of the mesh, etc. The grid is often attacked, so it is only a matter of time before dangerous elements appear.

If you decide to make a dog enclosure yourself and are a little comfortable with a welding machine, use a rod. Round or square - your choice. You can also install a small cross-section pipe, but it is usually more expensive. The partitions are welded to the frame vertically. The installation step depends on the size of the dog, so that even if it has lost weight it will not fit through, the distance should be less than the width of the chest.

The forged aviary looks solid

If you just don’t like pipes, you can do it. Just don’t make “steps” or tapering decorations for your dog - they can be dangerous.

And one more thing: you shouldn’t leave a gap under the roof. Yes, it’s easier to do this way and less material is wasted, but again, dogs are smart and, with a strong desire, they crawl into this gap. And in size it is sufficient even for a large dog to crawl through.

Floor

When planning to make an enclosure, the question very often arises of what to make the floor from. The best option is flooring made of boards, without any gaps. Claws can get stuck in the cracks, causing injury. So it is best suited as a flooring.

To solve the drainage problem, it can be done with a slight slope - 1-2 cm per meter. It is better not to paint the boards, but treating them with antiseptics and drying them is possible and necessary. If you want the wood to be darker (less visible dirt), use wood oil with pigment. It is absorbed into the pores, pigment and oils penetrate deeply. A film does not form on the surface, but liquid and dirt are not absorbed. Then the wood is easy to clean. Yes, the composition is not cheap, but the wood becomes much more convenient to use. The coating must be renewed once a year, and there is no need to remove the old one: a fresh layer is applied to a clean, dry base (with a brush or roller).

Yes, in order to prevent the floor boards in the enclosure from rotting and to keep it warm, it is best to raise the floor 20 cm above the ground level. In this case, mice and other living creatures will not settle there and the dog will have a better view even while lying on the floor. To prevent it from blowing through the floor at all, you can make it insulated. Throw boards on the bottom, maybe unplaned, on top - a layer of polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam, and a floorboard on top of it.

Sometimes they decide to make a concrete floor in the enclosure, but it is very cold and the dog will be cold in winter. The problem is solved by knocking down fragments of wooden flooring. But they slip and move, which is not for everyone. You can make a double floor - pour a concrete screed with a slope towards the drain, and install the floor 10-15 cm higher. Then the problem of seeping “liquid”, which will be absorbed into the soil, will be solved. This way you can wash the floor in the enclosure and the area, getting rid of smell and dirt.

Roof

The roof of the enclosure can be made of any kind, from any material. You can have a single slope, with a slight slope back, or you can have two or four slopes. To ensure that rain and snow get inside as little as possible, it is advisable to make overhangs, that is, the roof should be larger than the size of the frame. The minimum overhang is 20 cm. If you need to make an enclosure with your own hands at minimal cost, consider the option with a pitched roof. By the way, it can be beveled not only backwards, but also to one side.

Drawing of an enclosure with a pitched roof. It is the most inexpensive and easiest to use

Any roofing material can be used for a dog enclosure. But if you are concerned about the appearance of the site, it is better if, at least in color and texture, it is similar to the roofing material of the house and/or buildings.

Doors and locks

The frame of the door and the posts to which they are attached are made from the same pipe that was used for the frame of the enclosure. Filling is usually the same. Hinges and latches must be secure. The door opens inwards - this makes it easier to control the dog, and there will be less trouble. If the doors open outwards, your dog may accidentally drop you. Some are so happy to see the owner that they can open the doors together with the person, as soon as the lock is opened.

Constipation - well fixed. Our alabai coped perfectly with the latch, if you did not lower the latch down. He jumped and knocked on it with his paw until he opened the gate. This is despite the fact that the lock was at a height of about one and a half meters and in order to close/open it you need to press the sash well. It seems that everything you need to know to make an enclosure for a dog with your own hands has been described. All that remains is to discuss the kennel, but this is a separate topic - there are many nuances.

A modern country house can no longer be imagined without an enclosure for a dog. This attribute allows you to keep one or more medium or large pets on your property. But while everything is clear to the owners about the construction of the house itself, questions still remain with the enclosure. Having answered them, you can safely begin the construction of this dog territory.

The first thing you have to do is determine the type of future enclosure. In part, this issue is resolved according to the region where the country house is located. If construction is necessary in the southern region, then the place for the dog can be fenced with a canopy from the sun. But for the middle zone, you should take care of building a booth. In the northern regions, the enclosure must be equipped with a winter road.

Once you have decided on the type, you need to calculate the size of the enclosure, which will depend on the free space on the site and the breed of the pet.

Aviary standards

A lot or a little? This question will torment the owner of a four-legged friend during the first stage of construction. To bring some clarity, you need to know the minimum dimensions that can be limited to enclosures for dogs:

• Not less than 6 m2 for pets with a height at the withers of up to 50 cm.
• Not less than 8 m2 for pets with a height at the withers of up to 60 cm.
• Not less than 10 m2 for pets with a height at the withers of more than 60 cm.

These parameters should be used as a starting point when choosing the optimal space for a fenced area. To these data you need to add the number of dogs that will live in the enclosure. If you plan to have more than one friends, then you need to add at least 50% of the free space for each.

Materials for building an enclosure

When the size of the future structure has been determined, it is time to move on to procurement activities. But first you need to decide on the materials from which the dog pen will be made. And here too there is plenty to choose from.

The main materials for building a do-it-yourself dog enclosure are:

• tree;
• metal;
• brick;
• concrete.

Wood is the basis for the pet's house and the frame of the fence. This option can be considered classic. In this case, the enclosure itself is fenced with a welded mesh or chain-link stretched over poles. Wooden stands are installed around the perimeter and create space for your four-legged friend.

The use of metal can be combined with wood and brick. In this case, the fence is no longer a mesh, but a lattice. It is attached both between wooden pillars and between brick ones. Also often there are designs with metal stands, which is quite justified from the point of view of the safety and reliability of the entire enclosure.

The use of brick, and in some cases natural stone, is due to purely aesthetic and design considerations. When the area around the house is landscaped in a certain style, it makes sense to build the same paddock. Otherwise, the use of this material will depend only on the taste and intentions of the owner of the country house.

Concrete is used mainly to create the floor of the enclosure. But wood also claims this role, remaining a classic building material. The concrete mixture is also used to construct the foundation for the fence. Therefore, you should not discount it.

Wood flooring or concrete floor

The choice between types of flooring in the enclosure is a very important step. On the one hand, concrete should be the undisputed leader. This material allows you to completely eliminate digging under the fence, which will protect guests from the sudden appearance of a watchdog. But nevertheless, this method also has negative consequences.

In winter, outdoor dog enclosures with concrete floors pose a hidden threat to pets. The fact is that during frost the stone cools greatly. Then the negative temperature is transferred to the dog’s paws. Prolonged exposure to cold from concrete pavement can lead to rheumatism in your four-legged pet.

But wood is a more forgiving material. Having low thermal conductivity, it does not cause such damage to the dog. But he has his weaknesses. For example, poor resistance to fungi and mold, which will accompany the flooring due to the close location of the earth. This scourge can only be combated by using various impregnations and antiseptics.

It is impossible not to say about the earthen field. In this case, no flooring is made, and the dog walks directly on the lawn located inside the fence. But this method is fraught with problems associated with undermining. Four-legged pets are excellent diggers. They will quickly get out and disturb everyone around them. That is why it is necessary to do the flooring.

Does the enclosure need a roof?

The answer to this question may again be the region where the country house is located. But one thing is clear: the dog must have protection not only from rain, but also from the scorching sun. This means that it is necessary to make a roof for the enclosure. At least over most of it.

The issue of choosing a material can be approached in the same way as when installing a roof for a house. You can lay ondulin, soft or regular tiles. The choice depends entirely on the capabilities of the site owner. The main rule should be the following: the roof should not be noisy. This is important for the dog's peace of mind. When it rains, drops can knock loudly on the roof and irritate the animal. Especially if bad weather happened at night.

The design of the roof can also be left to the discretion of the designer. Usually they make shed floors, which do an excellent job of draining water falling from the sky. But you can also find more complex projects, when the pet pen resembles a real house. Like, for example, in this photo of a dog enclosure

The door is an element of particular importance

You can only enter and exit the fence through the opening. It must be included in the design of the enclosure. But the entrance should not remain open, otherwise the dog will simply run away. Therefore, it is necessary to install a door leaf in the fence.

There is one rule for this design element. The door should open into the enclosure itself. This is a safety requirement that some owners of four-legged pets violate. In addition, the door leaf must have a strong lock. The entrance must be kept locked so that the pet does not leave its enclosure without the knowledge of the owner.

The lock mechanism should be easy to close both from the outside and from the inside. This circumstance will allow the owner to exit from behind the fence without any problems, even if the passage closes. The handle is installed at the discretion of the owner.

The door design is a rectangular frame. In the center, the canvas is reinforced with an additional spacer on which a lock can be attached. The material for the door is metal or wood. The choice depends on the overall design of the enclosure. Often a welded grille is used as a door. But this option is usually installed on the same fence.

Feeder device

To quickly and safely feed your four-legged friend, you will need to install a feeder. This element must be thought through before making an enclosure for a dog. There are always several feeder design designs to choose from. But the most optimal one will be one where the dog cannot get out and will receive a bowl of food and drink.

This device can be manufactured not only with a lattice fence, but also using a mesh. In this case, it is necessary to add additional bars to the wooden frame. This will create a small frame into which the rotating device of the feeder will be inserted.

If there are several dogs in the enclosure, then the places for eating and drinking should increase accordingly. The main thing is to provide the pets with comfortable conditions, and at the same time the ability to quickly restore order so that the inside of the fence is clean and dry.

Booth or winter road

Where should a four-legged friend rest, hide from the cold in winter and from heavy rains the rest of the time? Of course in the booth. This building has been familiar to many since childhood, when every private home always had a similar place for a dog. But if there are several dogs in the enclosure at once, then one booth will not be enough and it would be most reasonable to build a small residential complex, which is called a winter road.

As a rule, these structures have a separate entrance from the street, through which the owners use it for regular cleaning. You can also build a window into it so as not to carry out additional electrical wiring. And there is no need to mention once again that such a room must be high so that a person can work and move without bending.

Both the winter road and the hut must be well insulated. All work is carried out as in a regular residential building. When the insulation is completed, the owner will be completely confident that the dog will not freeze even in the most severe frost.

It is advisable to make a platform on top of the booth. This is necessary for the dog itself, which prefers to have a good view of the surrounding area from a certain height. The platform is also the roof of the booth and it will also need a layer of insulation. Better yet, make an opening bed. Then you can easily and simply clean the inside of the booth.

The entrance to the booth or winter road is small. It is enough to cut a square of 60x60 cm format. The corners of the entrance can be slightly rounded. It must have a curtain. It can be made from strips of rubber, PVC, or simply hang burlap. Such a curtain will not let out warm air and the dog will live comfortably on frosty days.

Tools

Moving on to the practical part of building an enclosure for a pet, do not forget about the tool. The master will need:

• Hacksaw or electric jigsaw.
• Tape measure and pencil.
• Bayonet and shovel shovels.
• Screwdriver and screwdrivers.
• Hammer.
• Chisel or chisel.
• Grinding machine.
• Wire cutters.
• Brushes, roller.

Depending on the design (if you choose the option of an enclosure made of a metal lattice), a grinder and a welding machine may be useful. But this is only if the master owns these tools, otherwise you can cause trouble.

In addition to the listed equipment, do not forget about self-tapping screws, nails and paint and varnish materials, which to one degree or another will be necessary during the work.

Earth, concrete and wood

Before you build an enclosure for a dog with your own hands, you will need to mark the future structure. Here it is necessary to identify all the zones in order to further move quickly and confidently towards your goal.

This is what the plan according to which construction should be carried out might look like. It is more convenient to mark using stakes and strings. Using this landmark, you can begin excavation work. It is not worth digging very deep, since the structure will not bear a large load. It is enough to go 20 cm deep to then make a sand cushion.

Next, concrete is poured or blocks are laid. The main thing is to get a stable foundation for the future enclosure. If a metal lattice is chosen as the fencing material, then recesses must be made at the corners. The depth of these places must be at least 70 cm. When pouring concrete, racks made of metal pipes are inserted into the corners.

Flooring and frame

When the foundation for the enclosure is ready, they begin to construct the strapping and install the frame. When choosing wood as the main material, timber is laid around the perimeter. Connections at the corners and along the length can be made in “half a tree”. In this case, the timber is sawed down to half the thickness (if the total is 100 mm, then the cut will be 50 mm) and each part is connected to each other.

Perforated corners and self-tapping screws are used to fasten frame components. This creates a fairly strong “skeleton” of the future enclosure. In the part of the structure where the winter road is located, the racks should be installed every 50 cm. It would not be superfluous to insert jibs between them to give the entire structure strength.

Roofing and insulation

When the frame takes its place, it’s the turn of the roof. The upper part of the enclosure is covered with rafter legs, onto which sheathing boards will later need to be nailed. The distance between the beams depends on the cross-section of the material used. For boards 50 mm thick and 150 mm wide, a difference of 60 cm is optimal.

Next, the sheathing strips are nailed down. For them, a 25x100 mm board is used. The material should be edged, that is, the sides of the planks should not have areas with bark. Depending on the type of roofing, the boards are nailed down with or without space between each other.

It is necessary to install a windproof film along the frame posts, and place insulation inside it. The latter is used polystyrene foam, basalt wool or similar materials. There should be no voids left when laying the insulation. This will avoid freezing.

Floor construction

Interior work begins with laying the floors in the enclosure. In the winter road they should be as well insulated as the frames and roof. But a double layer is required on the floor. To prevent the insulation from falling through from below, boards are nailed to the beams.

If the floor covering is chosen in the form of boards, then it makes sense to leave a gap at the edges. This will allow air to circulate and prevent mold and mildew from growing.

Covering the winter road with installation of doors and mesh

The enclosure is almost ready. All that remains is to polish it up. And for this, the winter road needs to be sheathed, giving it an attractive appearance. For this you will need a lining. This material can be secured with nails or using special clips.

A cordless screwdriver will be useful for this work. With its help, installation can be carried out using self-tapping screws, which eliminates damage to the edges of the lining.

It is also not difficult to stretch the mesh and anyone can conduct a master class with this material. For fastening, nails, staples or self-tapping screws with a press washer are used. One condition must be met. The fastening must be strong so that the dog cannot tear it off.

At the final stage, the door is installed. The canvas is screwed using loops and screws. When everything is in place, a lock or deadbolt is installed on the door. The dog's enclosure is ready.

The feeder can be mounted directly on the net or, if possible, between the posts. Now the pet has a place to live and eat. He, in turn, will faithfully guard the owners’ country mansion.

All happy owners of four-legged friends want to be out of town more often so that their pet can properly stretch its paws. It's good if you have a dacha. And it’s even better if you live in a country house and in harmony with nature.

However, here the question arises - how to limit the dog’s movement around the site and equip a sleeping place in the yard. If your dog is a large or medium breed, you will need to place an enclosure for your tailed friend in the yard near your house.

An enclosure for a large dog is necessary if:

• The dog is very large and should not be kept in the house. Large dogs include such breeds as the Caucasian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Alabai, St. Bernard, Newfoundland, and Mastiff.
• Sometimes it becomes necessary to isolate your four-legged friend for a while. For example, if guests have arrived or construction work is underway in the courtyard of the house.
• if the dog is a watchman and lives in the yard. The enclosure will become a home for her and will help her hide from snow and rain.

It is quite possible to purchase a ready-made enclosure for your dog in a specialized store or have it made to order. But if you have the desire and opportunity, as well as minimal builder skills, you can make a reliable and beautiful dog enclosure with your own hands.

Where should a dog's enclosure be located?

The most important thing is to choose a place to build an enclosure on your site. You should not place the enclosure in the most remote part of the yard. There is a great opportunity to regret what you have done, because a dog that is isolated from society will worry and bark loudly.

A dog enclosure would also be superfluous next to a fence: in this case, your dog will be interested in people passing by. And if the dog is large, it can easily jump over the fence, for example, in winter, choosing a snowdrift as a fulcrum. This could end in trouble for both of you.

The best place for an enclosure is at the front of the yard. The dog enclosure will be located near the gate to the house and next to the path. This way, the dog will be able to observe what is happening around him, but at the same time will be quite isolated in his shelter.

Provide your four-legged friend with good living conditions. After all, building an enclosure is a serious matter and should be approached with special responsibility. Before starting construction work, you should consider:

• dog breed;
• pet's age;
• gender of the dog;
• location of the site;
• compass rose

What should a dog's enclosure look like?

The main requirement for building an enclosure is as follows: remember that you are building a house for your dog and it should be comfortable, cozy and calm. In the enclosure, the dog should feel warm and dry. After all, the dog not only sleeps or eats there. He also plays there, rests, and guards the territory.

Your dog should have plenty of room to move around inside the enclosure, so:

• an enclosure for a beagle, spaniel, Shiba Inu or other medium-sized breeds no more than 50 cm at the withers, the area must be at least six square meters;
• an enclosure for a husky or Labrador, as well as other dogs whose height at the withers reaches 65-70 cm, you need to build an enclosure with an area of ​​at least eight meters;
• the enclosure for a Caucasian or Central Asian Shepherd, Alabai should be very large: at least ten square meters. Preferably more.

We have decided on the size of the area. What about the gender of the animal? The requirements for a bitch and a dog are completely different. A female individual needs a maternity room and a vestibule, which will be located in the enclosure. It should be protected as much as possible from bad weather, because the bitch will give birth to puppies and they will not be in the kennel, but will begin to move around the entire area for their games.

A male dog needs a large and reliable kennel; he is physically strong and strong. A large and strong male is able to knock out a lock or break an enclosure, so he must be strong.

Features of the structure of walls, floor and roof in a dog enclosure

If the enclosure is being built for a dog that will always live in the yard, it is important to protect it from drafts and lock the adjacent and rear wall of the enclosure. To build these walls it is better to use:

• wooden board;
• thick tongue and groove board in metal frames;
• brick;
• monolithic concrete;
• cinder block.

The open wall should face south, southeast, southwest. It is made from metal rods.

Important ! It is better to use rods rather than mesh. It will be more expensive, but will last longer. The mesh will break after some time.

The gate is made using a metal frame and iron rods. How should the enclosure be closed? Remember, dogs are smart and cunning creatures. They open many locks with ease. The lock must be secure and located outside.

Provide your dog with a warm, dry floor. The best option for flooring is wood. A floor made of thick planks is durable and will provide protection from drafts. The base can be made of concrete, but in this case it is necessary to have a wooden flooring with ventilation from below.

Important ! Asphalt, concrete and other similar surfaces can be harmful to your dog's nails and joints.

The boards need to be treated with special products to protect them from mold and rot, and care must also be taken to ensure that there are no knots or nails on them, because the dog can get hurt.

You can make wooden flooring in the form of a panel structure. In this case, you first need to assemble a metal frame from a profiled pipe. Then cover it with boards at least 40 mm thick.

When installing the floor, pay attention to the fact that the boards should not sag and there should be no gaps between them. Otherwise, the dog will easily get his claw in there. The bottom of the boards should always be open, this will prevent rotting processes. It is best to waterproof the soil under the flooring using a material such as roofing felt.

In order to create the required gap, it will be necessary to raise the flooring onto a stand, the brickwork will serve as a support.

Important ! The floor in the enclosure should be sloping from the side walls to the center and towards the front.

There are no special requirements for the roof; the only important thing is the presence of a large canopy. It can be made from absolutely any roofing material. For example, from:

• metal tiles;
• slate;
• soft roof;
• profiled sheet.

The best roofing will be one that not only protects the dog from precipitation, but also has high sound insulation. The slope of the roof should be in the direction of drainage. This way, water will not accumulate under the decking.

The general condition for keeping a dog in an enclosure is the presence of a place for walking and a spacious kennel. The kennel should not be huge, but nevertheless, the dog should sleep comfortably in it with his whole body stretched out. In cold weather, the dog should warm the house from the inside with its warmth. Having a place to walk is also necessary so that the dog can relieve itself. And also run or stretch. There may be a vestibule next to the booth: the dog’s personal belongings can be stored inside it. For example, toys, bones, bowls. There is also a maternity kennel for puppies.

Calculating the size of an enclosure for a dog

If we have decided on the area of ​​the enclosure, then what about the height? The height of the enclosure should be designed in such a way that the dog can stand freely on its hind legs without touching the roof.

Important ! If an enclosure is being built for several dogs, the area must be increased by one and a half times.

Drawings for building a dog enclosure with your own hands

Once you have decided on the size of the enclosure, make a drawing. To do this, you can use a ready-made project or make it according to your own idea. After the drawing is ready, take care of the building materials to build the enclosure.

Making an enclosure for your favorite four-legged pet is not at all difficult! It will be great if you have welding equipment. However, you can also use an ordinary hammer drill.

To construct the structure you will need:

• metal corner;
• iron rod or ready-made forged lattice;
• roofing material;
• wood for decoration;
• dog house.

The process of building a dog enclosure

The drawing is ready, the location of the enclosure and its dimensions have been determined, building materials have been purchased, which means it’s time to move on to the process itself. Construction must begin by driving corners into the ground along the perimeter of the future dog enclosure. First, weld the transverse corner horizontally. It is he who will fasten the vertical corners together. When installing the structure, remember that you need to choose a location for the gate. And also provide a cutout at the bottom of the grille. It is likely that the dog will have to be fed to strangers, and it may be aggressive.

Next, start building the floor. It should not be left grounded because the dog can easily dig underneath and run away. The back and side walls will need to be covered with boards. The wall can also be slate or plastic. However, wood is the most reliable and environmentally friendly option. These walls must be constructed of dense material to avoid drafts and prevent the dog from catching a cold.

Next, install metal rods or metal mesh on other walls. You can make a roof just over the booth or around the entire perimeter of your pet’s enclosure. If possibilities allow, you can use a fence as two wooden walls.

The lattice can be welded to the fence. But if you don’t have a welding device, proceed as follows:

• drive the rods into the ground at a distance of ten centimeters between each other;
• purchase wooden beams and make notches on them, the depth of the notches should correspond to the width of the iron rod;
• attach the timber to the rods so that each rod fits into the notch;
• secure with a corner (we drill holes in the beam and the corner and fasten with bolts).

If you follow the procedure in this way, the grill will come out strong and reliable. The door at the gate will need to be secured with hinges or bolts. It is worth making two locks: a latch and a padlock. The latch can be made outside and inside. For example, if work is being carried out on the installation of a kennel and the owner will need to lock himself with the dog inside the structure.

Kennel and place for feeding the dog

Be responsible when building or purchasing a booth. After all, this is your pet’s home, shelter and place to sleep. Consider the following nuances:

• the size of the booth should be suitable for the size of the pet;
• inside the dog should be able to turn around and stretch out;
• The dog does not need a lot of space, such a booth will be cold;
• use coniferous trees for the walls of the booth;
• if the climate is harsh, additionally insulate the walls;
• make the roof of the kennel removable, so you can easily reach the dog or get it out of the kennel in case of illness;
• It is better to make the roof flat - for the dog it is an observation point for what is happening;
• make sure that the dog does not leave the enclosure using the booth as an aid.

Set up a feeding area closer to the fence. It is better to make or purchase a special table with recesses for bowls for water and food.

Home enclosures for small dogs

Aviaries are needed not only by owners of dachas and cottages, but also by apartment residents. No, of course, no one builds such huge structures. But still, some owners of miniature decorative dogs prefer to limit their freedom to an enclosure.

Enclosures for puppies

In addition, an enclosure in the apartment will be useful for puppies if the dog plans to have them. During the period when the bitch is feeding puppies, a mini-aviary will be the best purchase.

The apartment's enclosure should contain dog bedding, toys, a bowl of water and a diaper on which the dog can relieve itself.

Advice ! An enclosure is not a place of punishment for a dog, no matter where he is at home or outside. This is the dog's home, where he should go with a positive attitude and feel safe there. You cannot punish or beat a dog in an enclosure.

Knowing the basic parameters of enclosures, construction steps and technical features, you can build a pet house yourself, and be sure to watch a video with a detailed description of the process

We wish you good luck in this wonderful endeavor!

Keeping guard dogs on a chain has lost its meaning with the increase in the size of private households: if some corner of the controlled territory is inaccessible to the dog, the house is not protected from invasion. Moreover, a dog on a chain, even if sliding along a wire, is an easy target for a thief armed with a crossbow, and a well-trained guard dog is expensive. Modern dog handlers train guard dogs to patrol the territory and keep enclosures, but, unfortunately, not all commercially available ready-made enclosures are made taking into account the characteristics and requirements of the animal, and improper maintenance of the dog can ruin the dog. This is a very compelling argument in favor of making a full-fledged dog enclosure with your own hands. Secondly, keeping pet dogs and raising puppies requires, on the one hand, not to particularly constrain the animal; on the other hand, to teach him not to cause unnecessary trouble to his owners. This article discusses what type of dog enclosure is suitable in what cases and how to make it.

Types of enclosures

The main condition for choosing the type of enclosure is not to spoil the dog. This will also be detrimental to him, not to mention the fact that the dog may deteriorate as a watchman. The best guard dogs come from herding dogs, and for those, all sorts of adversity is a normal working environment. It is much more harmful for a dog to overheat, overeat and become mushy than to be cold, hungry and tired.

Particularly hardy dense canine dogs are kept in open enclosures: shepherd dogs, Russian guard dogs and similar breeds. Gustopovaya means with long hair and thick underfur; dog's fur in kennel style. There is generally specific terminology: the mouth is a forceps, the tail is a rule (emphasis on “and”), etc. In regions with a mild climate or for temporary keeping, an open enclosure can be a simple fence (item 1 in the picture with photo), and in In a temperate climate, in an enclosure for dense canines, you also need a shelter booth, pos. 2. Domestic dogs, when going to the country, are placed in a folding enclosure with an awning, pos. 3: a city dog, once in nature, can easily go crazy, get lost and disappear.

In places with high insolation, not necessarily warm (the black earth zone and further south, southern Siberia and the Far East), the awning or roof should cover approx. 2/3 enclosure for any dog, pos. 4. The purpose of 2 adjacent closed walls of the enclosure with wind protection (position 5) is actually to better block the dog’s view of what prevents it from performing its duties: the bustle of the street, a playground, a rest area for the owners, etc.

A dog is a predator, and for any predator the main condition for comfort is a wide view of the surroundings. Therefore, the dog will feel better and guard better if you make an enclosure with a platform. It could simply be the flat roof of a shelter booth, pos. 6. If the dog is not jumping, you need to make a ladder onto the platform. The simplest board, inclined at 20-45 degrees, with 20x20 slats packed across in increments of 100-200 mm.

In places with a sharply variable climate, dogs are kept in enclosures with a half-winter road (pos. 7): the kennel is installed in an additional section closed on 3 sides, which is covered with a tarpaulin in the worst weather. Enclosures for dogs with insulated winter modules (items 8 and 9) are built in places with harsh, long winters; the hole in the winter road is covered with strips of rubber so that the dog can go out on duty.

If the location conditions (see below) of the enclosure with the winter road allow, its 2 adjacent walls are made blank, pos. 9. If this does not work out, it is better to leave everything open except the winter road, pos. 8. Tunnel enclosures are suitable for keeping a pack (see below), but for a single dog, an enclosure like the one in pos. 8, but with blank long walls, it will probably ruin it.

About doors

It is believed that the door of a guard or service dog's enclosure should open inward, otherwise a strong dog can knock it down. True, but often there is no space to open the door inside the enclosure, if only because there is no extra space in the yard. In this case, take another look at pos. 6, the outward opening door of the enclosure should:

• Be upholstered with mesh (see below) on the inside.
• Have at least 2 crossbars.
• Each crossbar must have a secure latch.
• The door leaf must be hung on barn hinges.
• There should be a safety latch on the inside of the door: when entering the enclosure to care for and feed the animal, the door is immediately closed and locked behind you.

More about the platform

Booth-platform, as in pos. 6, will suit a male without any problems, but a female puppy needs a separate platform if she whelps and is nursing a litter in her permanent enclosure. How an enclosure with a platform for a puppy is constructed is shown in Fig. right. A winter enclosure is installed optionally if the female with her offspring remains in the enclosure during the cold season. When the puppies are taken from their mother, the platform above the shelter - the brood's den must be removed and a general cleaning done in the enclosure so that the smell of the offspring does not bother the parent.

Aviary dimensions

The minimum required area of ​​the enclosure, as is known, depends on the height of the dog at the withers: up to 50 cm - 6 square meters. m; up to 60 cm – 8 sq. m; over 60 cm – from 10 sq. m. The remaining dimensions of the enclosure are also tied to the dimensions of the animal’s body:

• Width - not less than 1.5 body length without tail, but not less than 1.5 m.
• Length – calculated by width and area.
• Height: Lift your dog up by his front paws until he is stretched out and have someone else measure the distance from the ground to the ends of his front paws. Add 0.5 m, this will be the minimum possible height of the enclosure, except for especially jumping dogs, see below.

Location

The main thing in choosing a place for an enclosure is to provide the dog with the best possible view of the controlled area. Imagine a professional taxi driver plodding along a bumpy country road in a broken-down jalopy. A guard dog will feel approximately the same way, not being able to survey its area of ​​​​responsibility. Only he can’t tell the owner, he doesn’t know how.

The second factor is that the enclosure should be located away from sources of strong odors. The dog will still get used to the amber of a poultry house or barnyard; its ancestors smelled the same thing in nature, but the ammonia vapor weakens the dog’s sense of smell. There are also odors that are unbearable and harmful for dogs, see at the end.

Orientation to cardinal directions and winds, contrary to popular belief, does not play a special role. The facade of an enclosure with a dog of northern origin (reindeer husky, husky) in the southern regions is better oriented to the north, and with a southern dog (Caucasian or Central Asian shepherd dog, for example) north of Moscow - to the south. In other cases, the ideal orientation would be the façade facing east and the blank walls facing the direction of the prevailing winds.

Base

Also, you should not consider recommendations to lay a capital foundation for an enclosure as relevant: it will cost you extra expenses and work, and the dog will only be better off if the underground floor is ventilated. The dimensions and design of dog enclosures are such that they are insensitive to ground movements; ready-made enclosures are simply placed on the ground, bricks or concrete foundation blocks 400x400x200 at angles and vertical supports. It is better to concrete the support pillars of an enclosure for a large and strong dog, see below.

Materials and construction

The best material for a dog enclosure is structural steel. An enclosure for a shepherd dog can be partially made of wood (see below), but it is highly advisable to make enclosures for such smart dogs as huskies, huskies, and fox terriers completely metal - wood can be bitten.

However, wood is more affordable than metal and easier to work with. This is especially true if it is not possible to connect welding or power tools at any time. How to build a wooden enclosure is simple, inexpensive and suitable for almost any dog, shown in Fig. higher:

• Wood materials are impregnated twice with a water-polymer emulsion or once with silicone anti-rot impregnation.
• The ends of the support pillars made of 150x150 timber that go into the ground are additionally impregnated with bitumen mastic.
• The support pillars are concreted, pos. 1 in Fig., aligning vertically along a plumb line. The pillars need to be prepared with a margin of 10-15 cm in height, or more if the site is noticeably uneven. Installation pitch up to 1.5 m.
• After the concrete has hardened, the upper ends of the pillars are cut horizontally to the required height, using a cord and a level. Don’t rush to throw the scraps into the stove, they will come in handy.
• Pairs of pillars are connected by pairs of boards from 100x25, pos. 2.
• The floor is laid over the resulting box beams, pos. 3 (tongue and groove boards from 150x30); see also below.
• The bottom trim made of 100x100 timber, pos. 4 and 5. It is better to attach the lower harness from underneath.
• Blind holes are drilled in the bottom trim beam for the grille bars. For a German Shepherd, the rods must be no less than 10x10 or a diameter of 12 mm from ordinary steel or from 8 mm if the rods are reinforced.
• Place the bars of the grille, leaving an opening for the door, pos. 6. Installation step is 10 cm for large dogs and 5-7 cm for small ones.
• The bars of the lattice are temporarily tied into a braid with soft wire to prevent them from becoming loose.
• Prepare the bars for the top trim by drilling holes into them for the bars of the grill.
• Mount the top trim. Its beams are attached to the supporting steel corners or plywood gussets.
• Sheathing blank walls.
• They put a partition inside and arrange a winter road, if necessary.
• They make the roof (item 7) and carry out the remaining work, see below for more details.

Note: oil impregnations for wood, incl. waste motor oil can be used if the enclosure will be populated in a year. Then they build it in the spring - over the summer the light fractions of the impregnation will evaporate, and over the winter the heavy fractions will bituminize and lose their smell (they will fizzle out).

A steel enclosure is built in a similar way:

Floor or soil?

Purchased enclosures are often simply placed on the ground; The dog relieves its physiological needs on it. The floor of the enclosure must be cleaned of traces of its vital activity, but the dog is able to dig a hole in the ground and leave the enclosure. How can we be here?

Firstly, northern dogs dig the ground in exceptional cases. Their digging reflex is very weak, because... They have permafrost in their homeland. If a husky, husky or labrador is regularly walked or let out on patrol, you don’t have to be afraid of undermining from them. Secondly, at one time J. Darrell came up with a way to develop toilet skills in almost any mammal, even a wild African pig:

• Prepare a small enamel vessel of suitable size for the dog’s latrine: a basin, a foot bath with a sealed drain, a large bowl.
• When building an enclosure, away from the booth and feeder (see below), a cutout is made in the floor for installing a toilet bowl.
• The cutout for the toilet is temporarily sewn up with plywood.
• During the period of training to the enclosure, the dog is given the opportunity to relieve itself wherever it wants.
• When it gets used to it, a pile of fresher droppings is taken for temporary storage.
• The enclosure is being thoroughly cleaned.
• They remove the plywood, put the toilet in place and fill it halfway with sand.
• They put the saved lump of droppings in the toilet and let the dog into the enclosure.

This method works flawlessly: after all, animals mark their territory with urine and excrement. Now the dog will only go to the toilet in a big way. The sand in it is needed to satisfy the instinct to bury waste; it needs to be changed from time to time.

Note: enclosure for burrowing dogs, e.g. fox terrier must have a floor.

Feeder

Making a dog feeder in the enclosure rotating at floor level (on the left in the figure) in order to demonstrate your mechanical skills is a serious mistake. A funny thing provokes the animal to play with it, which is dangerous for the dog. The feeder should be made folding with the bottom edge approximately at the height of the lower edge of the dog’s chest, as on the right in Fig.

Roof

The roof of the dog enclosure must have a gap for ventilation. Walk in on a hot summer day with a gentle breeze from the yard onto the veranda. Is it stuffy there? Now imagine that you are covered in fur from head to toe. Let us repeat once again: heat and stuffiness are much more harmful for a dog than bitter cold.

As for what to lay the roof of the enclosure from, here is the basic rule: the roofing material should not resonate in the rain or wind. A dog's hearing is as sensitive as its sense of smell; Frequently repeated sharp sounds can damage it. The best materials for the roof of an enclosure are sound-absorbing: roofing felt, soft tiles. It’s easier to lay them on the sheathing.

Note: So the scraps of timber from the construction of the wooden enclosure came in handy - they were used to create a ventilation gap under the roof. The sheathing is of the usual type, but it won’t hurt to insulate it. Not for the winter, but for the summer, so that the roof, heated by the sun, does not radiate heat downwards as much.

Lattice

Cross members from the same rod must be welded to the grid of the enclosure made of rods with a vertical pitch of 1-1.3 m. Usually one cross member is placed at half the height of the rods. In an enclosure for a shepherd dog, it is better to install two crossbars, respectively. by reducing the installation step. The German Shepherd is not the champion of strength among its relatives; the Caucasian and Central Asian are stronger. But an adult male German Shepherd pushes apart 10x10 bars 1.5 m long.

Special cases

Husky

This intelligent, loyal and disciplined dog is becoming increasingly popular. If reindeer-hunting huskies do not make watchmen, and hunting dogs are produced occasionally (although all of them are outstanding), then the husky can be called a jack-of-all-trades dog. However, a husky enclosure should have a number of features.

First, the enclosure for a husky needs a height of 2.2 m. The husky dog ​​is a very jumping dog; in their homeland they need it so much to look around over the endless snow. A husky jumps almost like a poodle, and he, for your information, jumps from the floor onto the cabinet without a run.

Secondly, the bars of the husky enclosure should be made not from rods, but from mesh. Jumping, the husky clings to it. If the bars of the husky's enclosure are made of twigs, then it will be impossible for the dog to do the physical exercises it needs. Finally, in mid-latitudes and to the south, it is better to have a husky enclosure facing north, northeast and northwest.

About the grid

A mesh lattice instead of rods is also suitable in an enclosure for dogs of other breeds. It is better to place a wicker mesh grille in the enclosure, pos. 1 in Fig. right. For a husky, this is all the more good because the wires of the woven mesh are bent in a zigzag and are easier to cling to. But welded mesh will also work, pos. 2. In both cases, the wire diameter is from 4 mm, and the mesh is 10x10 cm for large dogs and from 5x5 to 7x7 for small ones.

It is not advisable to use chain-link mesh to lattice enclosures: even very calm dogs often injure their paws on it, and hair plucked by chain-link is a common occurrence in such enclosures. By the way, chain-link is safe for a husky, this dog is so smart. She is too smart for a chain-link enclosure: she unravels the joints, tears them off the frames and leaves the enclosure in an hour and a half. The only time an enclosure for a dog made of chain-link mesh is justified is when its area is more than 20 square meters. m, and the dog is a guard breed, i.e. very disciplined, and trained by a good dog handler.

For small and small

A puppy and a small but adult dog are far from the same thing, and they need different enclosures. First, there is no need to make an enclosure for puppies out of wood (item 1 in the figure below): they are still weak, but they will chew. The wood chips will be swallowed and get stuck in the ragged hole. Secondly, an enclosure for puppies needs to be made, taking into account that they have an insatiable curiosity, but their little minds have not yet developed. Scientifically, the full range of dog instincts has not yet been activated.

Instead of an enclosure, suckling and stupid puppies should be kept in a playpen with soft walls so that there is no whining; a baby puppy feels abandoned if he cannot get used to something warm and soft. This is why puppies are often friends with house cats. A playpen for a puppy can be made from a cardboard box; For a couple more options, see the video at the end of the section.

When the puppy in the playpen begins to stand up, leaning his front paws on the side (pos. 2 in the figure), the soft upholstery needs to be removed and the puppy must be accustomed to the apartment cage made of mesh, pos. 3; It’s better to simply bend it from a piece of mesh with a mesh size of 3x3 to 5x5 cm, soldering the joint. A knitted joint is dangerous for a puppy.

Enclosures in an apartment for small dogs are generally arranged in the same way as for large ones, taking into account the low strength and insignificant love of freedom of the inhabitants. An enclosure for a decorative dog is the same set of beds made of vertical rods. Ready-made sections of mini-kennels for dogs are sold in pet stores; from them a dwelling of the desired size and configuration is assembled. But remember: for an indoor dog, an enclosure is something like a public garden with a bench or a bar. For permanent housing, a dog needs a house in an apartment.

Note: For lap dogs and other long-haired dogs, only welded sections of the apartment enclosure should be taken. Braided dogs will pull out all the fur, especially since decorative breeds of dogs, as a rule, are no different in intelligence.

Video: puppy pen

Video: do-it-yourself playpen for puppies

For the pack

If the area is guarded by several dogs, a common enclosure for them should be made of sections with half-winter roads, canopies 3/4 of the length of the section, blind partitions between them and separate feeding troughs. Otherwise, bickering in your free time from work is guaranteed. In this case, 3-4 square meters will be enough for a large dog. m of area and sections as wide as the length of her body without a tail, see fig. right.

What not to do!

In conclusion, we will analyze the typical mistakes in the construction of dog enclosures. It is forbidden to strengthen the enclosure with jibs, ties, etc. for wind and snow loads (item 1 in the next figure). A dog is a compact body that instantly picks up speed of 10 m/s or more. How much kinetic energy will it have according to the formula from school physics, with a weight of 20-40, or even 70 kg? Will all these slats withstand her blow?

Then, if you are not a dog handler with special education and experience, then when building an enclosure for a dog, get carried away with design delights even in a minimal size, as in pos. 2, should not. What is pleasant to the human eye, will most likely simply interfere with the dog’s ability to live a normal dog’s life. By the way, the same applies to cold forging, only you can also get your paw caught in it.

Next, do not block the dog’s view and not much, as in pos. 3. Dogs are 100% extroverts; their and our concepts of coziness and comfort are fundamentally different. And finally, do not place the enclosure near a flower bed or in the garden and do not decorate it with flowers, as in pos. 4. A dog's nose is much more sensitive than ours, and too strong a pleasant aroma turns into an unbearable stench. In addition, ethylene and aldehydes emitted by flowers and fruits simply spoil the dog’s sense of smell. A dog’s nose is almost the same as our eyes, and for a dog’s health he needs a moderate and natural background of odors.

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Building a stylish and original enclosure for a dog with your own hands is not astrophysics or higher mathematics. Everything is much simpler. First you need to determine its shape and dimensions. Make a drawing taking into account all dimensions and wishes. It is important to choose quality material. You should also consider where best to place it.

Often, owners need such a platform to isolate their tailed guardian from guests, household chores, or garden plantings.
Of course, sometimes a dog enclosure is made into an apartment. The reason for this is the breed of the pet. It can be either too large or aggressive.
For safety reasons, it should be kept separately.

For an apartment, a booth can be made from old bedside tables (cabinets) or you can use special cages or mesh fences.

Location

Creating comfortable conditions for both the animal and household members is the leading goal of this idea. It is not recommended to build a fenced area for your vocal guard:

1. Near the fence, gates and gates. All passers-by, as well as cars, will irritate him. As a result, the dog’s morning or night serenades for the family are guaranteed. In addition, there is a possibility that he will get out and do a lot of dirty tricks.
2. In the backyard. Four-legged friends have a herd instinct. If you completely isolate them, they will become sad and begin to howl and whine, and this gets on your nerves.
3. Near the door of the house. The unpleasant smell and barking of the pet will make life unbearable for the family.

The optimal location for outdoor dog enclosures is the front area of ​​the yard. It is better to place it under a branchy tree. The roof, of course, will hide the cute animal from the heat, as well as rain. However, hot iron will create a real steam room in the building. While the thick crown will be an excellent shelter from the sun.

The enclosure needs to be placed longer from drafts. Nobody wants their pet to get sick.

Features of construction

The foundation of such a structure is mainly concreted and covered with crushed stone. The back and side walls are made blank. The other three are made of gratings, rods or meshes. There must be a gate with a shutter so that you can feed the dog and wash the area. In the middle, 2 places are installed: one for overnight stay (kennel), and the other for food (feeder). In order for your four-legged companion to feel safe and comfortable, the following requirements are imposed on do-it-yourself dog enclosures:

Since it is sometimes necessary to make an enclosure for a dog in an apartment, you can use improvised materials. For example, make a fence from slats or mesh. At the same time, attach it to one of the walls of the apartment. Much depends on the wishes of the household members themselves.

Animals need to be walked from time to time. They should run and frolic. Otherwise, the muscles atrophy and the blood stagnates.

Material selection

It is recommended to make one or two sides of the site completely closed so that there are no drafts. To build such blank walls, you can use the following types of building materials:

• brick;
• foam or cinder blocks:
• wooden beams, panels or boards (thickness from 2 cm);
• concrete slab;
• finished frame made of wood and reinforcement.

Thermal insulation material is coniferous trees. For harsh winters, it is still better to insulate the walls or make them double.

Floor

The flooring in an outdoor dog enclosure should not be cold. This can cause rheumatism in the animal. Therefore, it cannot be made from cement. It is better to use asphalt or concrete. Cover the screed with wooden flooring. The tongue and groove boards are sanded and dried well to prevent mold from developing. Before painting, they should be treated with antiseptic agents. The floor must be sloping. The side zones are slightly higher, and the front and center zones are lower. As a result, water will drain rather than accumulate on the surface.

Any wooden parts should not come into contact with the ground or other base elements. Otherwise, the wood will absorb moisture and rot.

Roof

In the original, the coating should be made inclined or flat. It is forbidden to use ordinary nails to install the roof. It is better to give preference to self-tapping screws or other types of closed fastenings, because the dog can get hurt. The roof of a home enclosure for a dog can be made from:

It is mounted on a wooden platform, which consists of several boards. This structure allows for heat retention in the building and excellent air circulation.

Front

The front wall provides the tailed guard with a good overview. The grid is an incomparable option for such observation. It can be made from metal profile pipes with a round or square cross-section. Using a grinder or sandpaper, you need to clean the parts from burrs and rust. The metal surface must be primed and covered with several layers of paint.

The Ministry of Health prohibits the use of powder and galvanized materials. They are harmful to the health of the animal. It is recommended to use screws made of stainless material as fastenings.

The mesh is a budget option, but it is not always reliable. Under the weight of the shepherd, it may fall out or rupture. Dogs also often chew the wire and pull out their teeth.

Design

After determining the location, it is important to make a detailed drawing with the dimensions of the dog’s enclosure. You need to think through and correctly position the main zones:

• booth;
• platform;
• gate;
• area (lawn) for walking;
• feeding windows.

The optimal height of such a structure is calculated taking into account the dimensions of the pet. It is necessary to take full body measurements of the animal.
To do this, he must stand on his hind legs. It is worth adding from 20 to 50 cm to the resulting indicator, at the discretion of the designer.

If the site is being prepared for several dogs, then all dimensions must be multiplied by 1.5.

Construction

After receiving the project, you should select the material for the roof, blind and front walls. Then it is important to decide on the location.
Now you need to consider step by step how to build an enclosure for a dog with your own hands, so as not to miss anything.

Foundation and decking

The rafters for the foundation will be powerful pipes (4-6 pieces), which should be driven into the ground along the perimeter of the object, or columns of bricks. The remaining space is filled with gravel or expanded clay. The base (screed height from 40 to 70 mm) is poured with a solution of concrete or cement. It is important not to forget to tilt towards the frontal zone.

The wooden flooring is nailed to a special timber frame. Its dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the enclosure. This floor is made from tongue and groove boards because they do not require nails for installation.

Construction and filling of the frame

If the fence is metal, then pipes can be used. They are assembled according to the drawing and fastened using bolts or welding. The same assembly principle applies to wooden supports. The algorithm for their construction is as follows:

The metal frame is filled with pre-selected material: a wooden beam or a brick wall. To insulate the back part, pressed sawdust, polystyrene foam, eco- or mineral wool are additionally used.

The front wall is made with one transverse crossbar. If you use a mesh, you need to make sure that it sits firmly on the folds. Any load can break it.

The front wall must be made of chain-link or mesh. In other cases, a grate is made, consisting of welded pipes and rods. Near the gate, two rings intended for feeding should be welded. The turning mechanism opens outwards.

Installation of roof and booth

To work with corrugated sheets or slate, it is necessary to build a wooden frame. Then the roofing sheets are applied one after another. A wooden frame is sheathed with roofing felt or soft tiles, onto which special OSB boards are attached. For safety reasons, you should use self-tapping screws or a closed type of fastening.
Among other things, an awning can be used as a cover. Dense and waterproof fabric is stretched over a metal frame, secured with loops.

The booth is made with a flat roof. As a result, it will become an observation deck for the pet. It is desirable that the structure opens, because then it is easier to clean it. The size of the booth is equal to the length of the lying dog with its paws stretched out.

A few simple steps and your do-it-yourself dog enclosure is ready. This stylish residence will serve as a wonderful place to relax and work for your beloved pet.

Video of building a dog enclosure