Help! Quick kennel decking question - Page 3

Laura, why not just go with a normal 5x5 indoor kennel area and put hanging radiant heaters over them?

Ang

WOW, Ang!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHIMING IN!!!  If you got 3 years in harsh weather, I ought to be able to get more under roof, I'd think. How wide should the spacing be? One guy said 1/2" and one said 1/4". I will listen to you way before I listen to them. They don't understand my dogs like you would. That's my biggest problem- carpenters not knowing the type of dog and me not knowing carpentry. 

Northwoods, I could move it. I know people. ;-)  With the space between houses, though, I'd have to remove my own fence and my neighbor's to move it. If I built it in sections, the cost would be about 1/3 more. I asked;-).  I had a nice horse lean-to, really nice, skylights, sliding door, on skids and I moved it a couple times. My bf HATED driving around with that thing on the low boy. LOL, so it would really have to be a nice building to pay for a new fence for both yards and go through moving it. I also will have fewer issues w/the county if it's on skids, as if we can move it...makes permits a piece of cake instead of waiting while they take their sweet time passing it or failing it one stage at a time. 

Nan, what would you use if you were me? My CURRENT dogs do not spin, chew on wood, are very clean, and in general are well-mannered, though high-drive. I don't have a problem with a lot of the typical frustration behaviors because they do spend time in the house, they run errands, they get free time in the yard, etc. I only have 4 here (and my Chi ;-) ). I know that may change if I put them in a kennel, as they're not really used to them. Time will tell!

You guys are the best! ;-)

Sure, Laura. Will do. Right now the plan is to take the 6' wide back room area and give me a 2' walkway so the boxes will be on my left. My entry door will be at one end of the building because the building is going to be very close to my fence. When I say nice, I mean nice and functional, not fancy. They are going to be simple boxes, insulated on all sides, plus top and floor, just good grade plywood walls inside and out. Entrance hole will have a high-grade dog door (maybe) and be just big enough for the dog to get in and out and it will be off the ground. Top will be hinged and have a latch so I can clean and change bedding and they can't push it up and get out. I know Alberta is cold, but Chicago gets pretty cold, too. I think what I'm doing should easily work for you as well. I'm doing it a bit overkill because we have 2 Pits that are NOT outside dogs and as mine is a fence jumper, it would be REALLY nice to not have to leave him crated when I'm gone for longer periods, so it needs to be warm enough that he can be comfortable in the winter. He is totally trustworthy as far as destruction goes, so I may even give him some type of heated bed or lamp. No one else could be trusted with anything that could start a fire. He's an angel, though. They also have those cushions that aren't heated but reflect body heat back to the dog which is something you may consider. 

Ang - Thank-you for the suggestion. Martin doesn't want to use radiant heaters in case the power goes out when we're away (not uncommon out here). Our property also came with a stack of new plywood and bales of new insulation to build the insulated boxes with so the price is right.

Thanks Jenni. What you describe is pretty close to what Martin has sketched out. We'll likely use Gun Dog House Doors (Heavy Duty one); I've heard from friends that they bang but the kennels are located about ~200 feet from the house. We thought about using a Hound Heater but Senta is too destructive when kennelled.

Jenni, I used untreated for years. No problems. After a few years I used those horse mats over the wood. I siliconed the seems so nothing could get through. I used 2x6, but if I did it over I'd use the cheapest plywood I could find. Especially with the mats. You can always treat the wood before covering it.

As to the spacing, I'd be worried about 1/4". That just seems like the size of a nail and SNAP!

Thanks Chaz. 1/2 seemed too big. 1/4" is bigger than a nail I think. I'll have to measure my deck and go from there. No problems there except too big in spots from wood shifting and whole paws have gotten caught. I don't want tiny paws getting caught and hurting legs, though by the time they're big enough to go out there, their paws are pretty wide. 

Hoping Ang will post back w/her spacing. 

1/2" isn't very big. Remember different wood shrinks differently. Untreated is kiln dried, treated shrinks badly!!, and cedar not so much. I've seen people install treated and it will shrink a 1/2".

So what do you think I should do if I use untreated? Remember, it will be covered so not as open to elements. I wouldn't expect much shrinkage; am I wrong? Should I do 3/8" spacing as opposed to 1/4"? I WILL have my Chi in there at times and he has fallen through 1/2" spacing many times but he's pretty good at stepping over the cracks. 

Oops Jenni! I meant like yours mine don't live outside either:) I was drinking my morning coffee any typing! Dangerous! 

I would go with pine for short term. Cedar is great no doubt and if you were going to stay there, i'd say cedar but pine will get the job done;) 

Don't get me wrong our pups aren't pigs since they live right inside our house until 5 weeks then head outdoors during the day until 8 weeks old:) For some reason they all choose to potty in front of the door!!! None play in it or go next to it... So guess what!? I go to take them out and all of them are running through it!!! GGGGRRRRRRRRR! An issue I need to solve! Shvaings have solved my problem for now;)

Aha! Pre-caffeine.   Glad you understand and that we're on the same page and that I have another vote that pine will get the job done for a year or two. I want cheap, but not so cheap that it's not functional. 

They potty by the door because they have the right idea...just poor execution of it. LOL! I get my son to distract them on the other side of the run while I clean it up real fast and then let them out. ;-) By yourself, not so easy. I used to get poop all over my pants because they'd jump on me first. I have also used washable potty pads in the whelping box before they start going outside and put it in the far corner in the back to get them used to going in one corner, then I make it smaller and smaller as they get old enough to head out. Seems to work well enough.