What is the best flooring for kennels - Page 1

I was wondering what everyone thought was the best flooring for dog kennels? In southern Missouri so rain, snow, and ice have to be considered. And it is for GSD so there you have the story's of hips with the concrete. But what else is there?
   Thanks for your opinions!

I have cement floors, And also have some with a footing poured and 2 in. pipe cemented in with the inside with sandy dirt. I wish all my kennels had sand, they are easier to clean, better on the dog. I would only have cement for bitches in heat.

4' x 6 '  Rubber horse stall mats... 3/4" thick.
Use over concrete to reduce stress to legs, feet and joints..
also works great over 5/8- crushed gravel or pea gravel, for good drainage when hosing them down.

You can cut these to fit with a sharp utility knife. 

Have some helpers to help lay these into position. 
These things know how to fight back, when its only one person against the rubber mats.

kennel deck is good option

There are many excellent threads here on this topic (Search Website for kennel floor). I think a kennel flooring choice really depends on your dog- mine eats gravel, stall mats, etc. so a concrete floor with a Kuranda bed was the only option left for us. `

I tried the industrial textile product, Instant Kennel Floor, and you can see my thread about it here:
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/forum.read?mnr=114033

I've pretty much had every configuration over the years. Concrete (easiest to keep clean), stall mats, wood decking.

What I have now is crushed limestone and I keep a layer of wood chips on top of this. 2 runs and they have a covered metal top.

This is my favorite. Urine soaks into the ground so the dog is not running back and forth through it or lying in it. I change out or add chips twice a year.

I do have an indoor run floored with stall mats, but I only use it for short periods and the dog is always exercised first. It can get pretty messy if it were used full time, with the urine just sitting on top and no way for the dog to avoid it.

Rik

Concrete floors, easy to clean never a problem with joints on any dog. Kennels except one which is made of blocks, are wood double skinned, inside nothing at all except in the coldest part of the winter cut straw is put inside. but the dogs do not seem to like it and pull it out they like just the wooden floor to lay on.
Steve1

Artificial decking like used on piers. Clean and lasts forever. Easy to clean and easier on the dog than concrete

I have a raised platform system. 3/4" ply on 2X6 joists secured to 6X6 corner posts. Flooring is coated/painted with a black rubberize waterproofing. During the winter it absorbs the sunlight and retains heat. I have a roof over top and during the summer the trees above and around are shading it. Theirs a slight pitch to the floor so iIf by chance they urinate inside it drains to the back. Everything hoses right off and it looks like new.


Hey Rik, did you ever build that new kennel?