Dogs love to have a home of their own, whether it is an outside dog kennel or an indoor dog cage. Having their own space gives them a feeling of warmth and security; it can also make life easier for dog owners.

It is important to make the right choices though, so we shall look at how you should go about choosing them.

Indoor kennel (dog cage or crate)

An indoor dog kennel is known by various names, in the UK it is generally called a dog cage, and across the pond they tend to call them dog crates, but they are all much the same thing. While some people have an aversion to putting their dogs in a cage, dogs don’t share the aversion. To them their cage is their home and they love it. Dog crates are recommended by most of the top breeders and by the kennel club.

The crate should be inviting to your dog and comfortable, but it needs to be the right size, neither too big nor too small. You should base the size of your crate on the size of the dog. The dog needs to be able to lie down comfortably, to stretch out, to stand up and to turn around. As a rule of thumb it should be around one and a half times longer than the dog and six inches higher. If you are buying a dog from a puppy then you should size the crate on the full sized dog that your puppy will grow to be. If your dog is a single breed, then that is relatively easy to estimate, but if the dog is a mixed breed you might not be able to estimate its adult size very accurately, but it is always better to have a crate that is a little too big rather than one that is too small.

Styles

There are a number of alternative dog crate styles to choose from. The most popular are wire and plastic.

Wire dog crates are widely available. They are fairly easily assembled. Some are portable and will fold down; others are non-foldable. Some have a single door, while others have two or even more. If you have a puppy then you might choose a crate with divider panels that you can move as your dog grows. Wire crates allow your dog a good view of the surroundings and provide excellent ventilation. Choose a crate with a plastic tray for easy cleaning and good hygiene.

Plastic dog crates are usually more portable than metal ones. They are generally used for transporting dogs rather than providing a permanent home. There isn’t particularly good ventilation and they can make some dog’s feel over-confined.

Outdoor Kennel

There are a huge number of alternative outdoor kennel designs. Some outdoor kennels provide a den when your dog can go when it feels like it, while others are constructed to confine your dog within them. If you are using the latter, then it is very important to make it as spacious as possible depending on the size of your garden or yard, and you must ensure that your dog has a run where it can exercise.

You will also need to be very careful regarding hygiene and ensure that it is cleaned on a regular basis otherwise your pet could contract an unpleasant infection; which isn’t very pleasant for either you or your dog and could prove expensive if you don’t have dog insurance.

You can find an excellent range of outdoor and indoor dog kennels online and at pet supply stores and supermarkets.

My-ball

CPG

 Posted by Charlotte on September 1, 2014 Uncategorized  Add comments

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