How do you keep your kennels cool in summer? - Page 3

WOW ok I have one or two filthy dogs in all the years I have been doing this and now all of a sudden all the dogs are shit soaked????  You are totally out of line here! What in heavens name have I ever done to you?  My understanding is this board does not tolerate personal attacks.  Did you just come on here to fight with a complete stranger or what.  Good heavens you should be utterly ashamed of yourself!

No, no, and no. You're the one who came on explaining in great detail about the dogs in your kennel. :)

I did indeed detail about an experience with a dog in the kennel. I stated in detail how gross some dogs can be, unless you have seen it . It can be rather shocking.  A member asked a question about dogs messing in kennels and I pointed out that some dogs are indeed dirty.  Not really sure how you jumped to the conclusion that it is the norm and that all of the dogs in the kennel are shit soaked. Anyhow I can't argue with crazy. 
   But be assured that I will defend myself if you attack me again.  Also remember that your future puppy purchasers read these forums.  What you write will be here for years to come.  You may want to read before posting.

Sounds like you attack yourself. Just repeat what you post and you go off. Take a chill pill, like someone wiser than either of us suggested to me, which I did, so to speak. Then you start all this stuff up like as if you didn't post it all to begin with. Take a break.......

taking a detour around posts immediately preceding mine....


Plant trees and bushes on all four sides around the kennel area, I prefer evergreens (leaves can be a REAL pain in the butt to clean up!  but pine needles IMO are not a big deal)  Be aware that ticks tend to like hanging out in some types of evergreens, you can plant other things that are deterrents to ticks and bugs, like beautyberry bushes, citronella, pennyroyal, etc. 

Shade fabric or some kind of roof over the outdoor kennel areas

Consider non-toxic mulch instead of shavings, this is heavier and much less likely to blow around.  Or sand that can be wetted down on the hot days, not only will the fans not blow around wet sand but the dogs will get the cool benefits of wet sand.  Powdered limestone rock (agriculture limestone), baking soda and Diatomaceous earth can be mixed with sand to further reduce smells, help absorb liquids and kill bugs (DE).  

If you have a kennel building, insulate it well, have dog doors and use AC

Misting systems!  

I have a question: I see misting systems mentioned a frequently. So if you live in an arid part of the country, I can understand the value of evaporation. But, if you live in a humid climate, then the misting is going contribute to the humidity and exacerbate over heating of the dogs. The lack of evaporation will make panting ineffectual in cooling down body temp. Also, it would seem that the misting in a humid climate would cause problems such as hot spots. My question is, are you in an arid or at least a semi-arid climate when you recommend misting?

Joanro,
It gets pretty humid here in the summer, and we will be putting a misting system in also. The previous years
we take and completely soak the dogs down and give them kiddie pools of cool water to lay in. There have
been no adverse effects, no hot spots and a few very very happy dogs. I like the idea of fine sand that you
can wet down. I need to look into that.

Melissa

I have  ahuge Budleia bush that shades the sunny side of my kennel run.  I allow it to grow all summer so the kennel is shaded along with half the run, in autumn I prune it back so that it grows nicely again the following year. 

The first misting system I saw and got the idea from was at "Dollywood" in Tennessee. Heat and humidity there are brutal in the summer. They had them set up so you could walk through the mist and cool off a bit. I'm in the deep south and average humidity in the afternoon is in the 50's.

Not sure how high it would have to go to get no effect, but the mist coupled with a fan moving it worked well for me. I also planted trees to block direct sunlight.

Rik, I know what you're saying about Dollywood. I went there in 1988, I think it was the first year it opened, or soon after. Anyway, all the black asphalt and only one air conditioned little building....it was hot enough to kill ya at that park. Anyway, I have a spring fed creek that my dogs get to play in when it's so hot, and transplanted stuff colloquially called " rabbit bush" in front of my kennels...that was twelve years ago. Now that rabbit bush is higher than the kennels and shades them completely. Just have to keep a path trimmed to walk through as it is now formed a tunnel in front and is the coolest area on the place.