Kennel / Run Size - Page 1

To anyone who cares to provide feedback....a question regarding the size of kennel runs. What,in your opinions, is a good size (length x width x height) for an adult German Shepherd Dog who will occupy it during the day while I am at work? I have had people tell me that 30' x 10' x 6' is ideal but I wanted to consider a variety of opinions before building a new one. Also , what are your opinions on surfaces,i.e; concrete versus dirt/grass , etc... Thanks in advance!!! Cheers!

Hello, I guess this would depend on the size of yard that you have available. I have my yards for the dogs and they are 20x32x6 I have a small arbor in them for shade, and a deck under that...We are adding a "dog house" with A/C, it is a 8x8 shed that will be finished out with tile and a 4x4 access area...two dogs will be able to use one shed. I have laid cattle pannels (really thick welded wire) on the ground and attached it to the fence (this will stop any digging out) They have grass in the yard...we are going to ad a concrete side walk all around the fence line of the yards...I have tried the gravel, and it has been a pain in the but keeping it in place..I want them to look very nice all the time with minamal work from me. If you don't add something to the fence line they will make little furrows that will then hold water when it rains...big mess. I personally dont' like the long narrow runs, because I have found that the dogs will run back and forth in them and end up doing the pacing thing. This is how I hve done myne and really like it...so do the dogs. They are not out there all the time. Eventually they will be out there more because I am getting run down with all the house work with all the dogs in the house and they are crated when they come in...and I will rotate who gets house freedom. Heather

Our kennel is 32'x40'x6'H. It is concrete on 1/3, with a concrete walk all the way around (2'wide) and then grass in the rest. The doghouse in on the concrete, but has a slightly slanted roof and is short enough for the dogs to jump up and lie on, as mine love to lay up there. However the kennel gets little use, as my girls are in the house 90% of the time. We also have a "potty" pen, all grass, 6'x6' area that they potty in, attached to the other kennel that has a gate in between, they don't potty in the big run at all. Hope this helps. Kari

All of my kennels are concrete,under roof with doghouses. Kennels are each 10x10x6. When my dogs are kenneled,they love to lay on their doghouse.But to be honest they are rarely kenneled.My greatest investment was to fence an acre off utilizing 6ft chainlink and create large areas for the dogs to run.There are dog houses within each along with a plastic childs pool as my dogs LOVE water. How was your shepherd housed before you obtained him? Are you in the city or in a more rural atmosphere? No matter what you decide on building for him...It is very important that you provide him with things to occupy his time while he is there.

Thanks for all of your input!! Regards!