Kennel Building - Page 1

I am thinking of building a pole barn kennel building in upstate NY. I was wondering if anyone had any pictures/plans and / or pics? I am thinking six 6 x 10 runs inside a 25 x 30 building. I want to pour a cement slab with some sort of drain and have runs seperated by cement block (to prevent fence fighting and make for easy clean-up). Probably coat with an epoxy paint also. Will probably need an insulated building to deal with cold temps in winter (14 degrees right now). Not sure about adding heat....probably ceiling fans for summer. Definitely running water (have a well for house).

Wondering if I need a seperate septic for water run off after cleaning runs? I woul;d have the ability to run drain into a nearby drainage culvert. Not sure if that would be a problem as whatever disinfectant I use would also be washed into culvert.

Also interested in opinions on different pole barns. I know Morton is top of line but big $$$. Hansen (home Depot) is another one I am considering. Also a few Amish companies in PA...


Any advice comments would be appreciated.

My mother has a boarding kennel, she holds up to 50 dogs. In my experience of managing her kennel for her I have noticed that some dogs can tolerate concrete, some cannot. I put rubber stall mats down from tractor supply in my personal runs at home. also, painting the cement block is a nightmare. The first layer or two is good but after years of oil from the dogs coats and oil from the urine getting on the walls we are having a very difficult time of getting paint to stick anymore, even after intense sanding with an industrial sander. I am trying to get her to tile the runs, but she is still thinking that over. she has her drains run into a large cement holding tank underground, it also has a hole at the top and that is what we throw the feces into. . we have to have a tank truck come out a couple times a year to completely empty it. Not sure if you can get into trouble for washing chemicals and waste into a culvert but my guess would be yes. I would imagine you would need heat because the concrete and block gets extremely cold, even in the winter with the heater on it gets very chilly. Then you are going to have problems with mice getting into your furnace and chewing wires (we do, and we have an exterminator come on a regular basis). we have cement block going up about 5 feet and the fencing going up to the ceiling after that. over all it is a nice set up. We have guillotine doors going into the outside runs and the whole perimeter of the building is surrounded by 6 ft fence. you will also need a water hook up for your hose to clean runs. I know you are only putting up a few runs but i just thought id tell you about our larger setup.

Thank you Leslieann. You are the second person to warn me about painting the concrete. I am thinking about wood heat (outdoor stove piped into kennel) so wiring and mice wont be a problem. I am only looking for 4-6 dogs but that waste set up sounds like what I was thinking about. How is the hole at the top for the feces set up? Is it a pipe with a cap? Who knows...maybe I can sell buckets of feces to some hipsters as fertilizer!!! HA HA Sorry...I digress!

Thank you again for the info!

it is a just a concrete hole with a bar through the middle I assume that is to stop people from falling inside...its about two feet in diameter. maybe 2 1/2. it is completely open at the top. we have an old flat sheet of steel that we put over it and we put a cement block on top of that to ensure nothing falls into it...if a child were to fall inside they would not survive. also we cover it it to keep rain out because when its full it needs emptied so we try to keep unnecessary water out. some of the water does seep into the ground but a heavy rainstorm would fill it up halfway.

 

I wouldn't do the block. Professional grade chain link panels with galvanized dividers 5' high is what I used. No fence fighting, easy clean up, and saves a lot of floor space not using block wall dividers.

I have in floor heat. Heat both kennel and home with a wood boiler. Concrete poured on top of 2" of Styrofoam. Dogs love it. I have a real smooth finish, which aside from almost going on my a$$ once in awhile when it's wet, is real easy on their feet and makes for easy clean up.

Your going to want at the very least a small drain field. Better yet would be a small septic tank going into a drain field. Going into a ditch isn't going to cut it and your gonna set yourself up for some headaches.

Ed Frawley on the Leerburg site has some real good tips and photo's of his kennel, as well as what to do and not to do as well as a real neat septic system.

Whatever you do, don't rush it. Make sure you ask around and get as much advice / recommendations you can. Look at a lot of setups and ask people what they would have done differently. Good luck and have fun with it....

Thank you Slaux,
I have been planning now for two years and am ready to start in spring. Do you have any pics of your kennel? I can PM you my email if you like...or do you have website where you purchased panels. I did think about lost floor space with blocks but I keep coming back to the no rust/easy clean up of cement. Other downside is that it is quasi permanent if I decide to stop breeding program...stuck with cement stalls..or a rough finish of floors if I break them up... I am worried about all the hosing/bleach/urine on metal (including building walls which was another reason for the cement.

I have a 30x30 pole barn with a 16' lean too around 3 sides , framed and finished the inside with painted plywood . I Have wall mounted propane heat , I did have wood burner but that got old fast . I have r-19 in the 6" walls and spray foam ceiling , ceiling fan to circulate the heat down . I have 10 indoor outdoor kennels 5x5 inside and 5x10 outside with a "gun dog door " for each kennel also 2 10x10 kennels indoor /outdoor for puppies . I have slick epoxy floors with polyurethane over that and a gutter/trough That drains into a septic tank and drain fields . Also have a outdoor frost free spickets
in each kennel for easy washing down and a spicket inside of each kennel with lickers on it for always fresh water . Have elevated dog beds in each inside kennel . The new kennel has made life easier . I let my dogs out every morning before work and after work and after feeding so don't have to worry about poo. But I have a grinder pump in the bottom of gutter pit ,it all drains into that and pumps into septic tank just incase of accidents . I have led lights for outdoor kennels and also night lights on a photocell and led security lights on all corners . Inside I have t5 tandem 8' floursent lights and a small led bulb on ceiling fan and dimmer switch for a night light . It has a insulated 16' garage door on the front of building I open up in the spring and fall and also I have a window A/C unit That keeps it 70degrees in the summer. It's really Effecient setup my water bill is $15 electric bill around 30-40$ And only used 10% of 350 gallon propane tank so far this winter . Have about $25k in it but I did all the work myself . 

Hello Smith,

Thank you for the response.  I plan on doing all the work myself except the install of building (for times sake).  I think I may need more heat in winter as I am up in western catskills.  I do like the floor heat idea but am concerned about cost (that and concrete pour would also be done by a contractor.  I am also concerned about stick framing the interior because I have heard it will raise my taxes higher than a pole barn construction...I am checking into that before I make that call.  I have seen some pole barns that come with insulation.  I still haven't gotten much feedback on pole barn companies.  I know you mentioned you used plywood on your framing but do you use them as kennel walls?  If so I can't imagine they would hold up to water...urine...and bored dogs! HA  It sounds like you have a nice set up....I am just concerned about the 5 x 5 runs as I am still not sure I will do the outside runs.  At the end of the day I probably will but my concerns are coyotes, neighbor has four dogs he lets roam all over the area (he was here first...is a good guy...and I don't really care...so don't want to start another thread on that) and the fact I don't want to look at chain link every day.   I was also thinking 30 x 30 or 30 x 40...all bepends on pricing...cost of initial building isn't that great of a difference when you add 10 feet...but that also means 10 foot more to tax...more concrete...more electrical...more plumbing etc...

I do also need whelping area and some storage.  If you have any pics I would love to see them.  I can PM you my email.  Did you run your drain down the middle of kennel, at front or rear of runs??  What did you use for drains?

Thanks again,

Eddie

It was 14 degrees here last night and the kennel was 65 degrees it's a 30k BTu heater more than enough considering the good insulation . Drain is in the very front of kennel by kennel door . I just formed a concrete gutter with fall to the pit . It works out good in the front . I have kennel panels for kennels . The interior walls are pressure treated plywood with industrial grade paint . The outside is pole barn metal .

Eganhaus, If you shoot me your email I can send you some photo's. The kennel panels I have are from Marquette Fence Co. in Michigan, probably not near you. I am sure you can get similar panels closer to you as they are fairly common.

If you decide on doing block, which isn't altogether a bad idea, I would seal them with a clear block / concrete sealer, not paint. One other thing to think about if you decide on block, is to build a frame, either wood or welded metal and build your own panels above the block wall out of steel rebar. Painted black they look professional and will last several lifetimes. Lots of good tips on here. Take the best and mold them into what works best for you....