Kennel floor - revisited (again) - Page 2

I really like the rubber mats but the appeared too costly at the moment, but the tracor supply store gave me an idea on where to look locally...I think I will check it out :)

Hi folks, I have tried a couple of the methods suggested. Pea gravel is okay but it is heavy and you always lose a bit of it when cleaning the solid. I use the course (less dust )wood shavings in colder weather inside of large crates when the dogs are inside. I made kennel flooring out of composite decking. My kennels are 5x10. I use the 4x6 stall mats at one end of the kennel where the dog houses are located. Check with the equine/stable supply sources on the net for the cheapest prices. The mats are heavy, maybe 80lbs. each. Kyle

I agree with Hudson. Right now we are managing 19 dogs.I also use stall mats inside the building which also has concrete (painted). Never had a problem. Some dogs however will chew at the mats time to time but this is usually caused by stress of some sort and you just have to figure out why. If it continues or you have a heavy chewer you have to remove it. Dogs will eat just about anything,including woodchips and stones and to much of anything can cause a trip to the Vet for possible blockage problems but knock on wood havent had that happen yet.The composite decking maybe a good material as long as it is not toxic if chewed. They cant chew flat concrete!Unless you have a mental case.And they cant dig out. But I do have exersise pens that are dirt and they are in there some of the day. But spring is upon us and we have to shut them down due to mud. They also go on long runs in groups.

I actually decided (lol, finally) on just putting more of the pavers down, after I found a (somewhat inexpensive) local source for nice thick mats. How easy is it for them to chew up the mats if they are seamless and cannot get to the corners? I was going to special order horse trailer mats that would be long enough where the kennel itself would be placed on top of the mat, where the dogs cannot get to the corners, and only one large piece would be down instead of sections. Although the sections sure would be easier for me to work with! And if they did tear one up, one small section would be easier (and less expensive) to replace. The pavers will be pretty level for the rubber to go on, but its not going to be perfect enough (least I think so) that there wouldn't be a seam just up enough for them to grab and shred. Just wondered...if it doesn't make a huge difference, I'll just order them in 4x6 pieces.

EMTBStephanie: Be careful with the HUGE one piece mat. Those things a lot heavier than they look. My 5 X 7 are over 80 lbs. Once ever other month or so I roll them up, take them up and disinfect the whole kennel and they are a bear to work with. You get much larger than these dimentions and you won't be able to work with them without some assistance.

stephen - you are so right! by the way, how do you get yours to roll? the best i can get is a curl... lol

EMTBStephanie You should not have an issue with your dogs chewing the mats. I had one female that tried chewing the mats but gave up. She was able to chew part of it but did not chew completely threw. THis female when given the large black kongs they only last about two days. I'm very impressed with anyone that can roll one of those 4x6 mats. I bet you can tear a phone book in half as well, lol. I use two channel lock pliers to grab and move the mats around. Kyle

Kyle, I use to use vise grips to handle them. Go to one side of the mat, start rolling it towards the laid out portion. It will not roll tight, but enough where you roll one end to the other and grip your fingers in the rolled hole and the palms on the outside of the roll and you can handle them(I weight 200lbs and in my hey day could bench press 300 lbs, but any average person could handle them in such a manner, I suppose).

We recently switched the flooring of the kennels to "Kennel Deck" and just love it! We used to have the rubber kennel mats and didn't like them because of the urine smell that even after cleaning still manged to have a smell. When the dogs urinated it can't go anywhere--so then they smell like pee. The "Kennel Deck" is great. If they urinate most goes between the grooves so they don't step all over it. The poop is very easy to clean also. Sanitizing is very easy. They don't weigh much so it is very easy to lift up to clean the concrete. Not one of the dogs has tried to eat the kennel deck--not even the puppy. Super--so far!

Which kennel deck did you get? I saw a few versions of this and thought about those...price is very comparible to the rubber mats. I know I seem so flip/flop about this, but that's a heck of alot of money I'll be throwing down on the dog's floor....so I want to do it right the first time :) Come to think of it, a rescue I volunteer at just got some of those kennel deck pieces, but they only have a couple in each run for the dogs to lay on, not the whole thing covered. I think I will run up there and see if any of the dogs are using them as chew toys, lol.