How do you keep your kennels cool in summer? - Page 1

I would like to pick brains for a better way to cool my kennels next summer. I have a kind of in and out 30 X 16 wth a roof and 2 sides. The front is open with gates. Up until now I have used small fans and swamp coolers. The fans blow shavings everywhere and the swamp coolers (portable kinds) only last a summer. Huge chunk of money down the drain.
So for next summer I am debating on whether to get an industrial sized swamp cooler mounted on the cieling so it can blow down into all the kennels OR huge industrial fans with misters mounted up top on the cieling. 
Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks
Stephanie

Why use shavings for bedding? Why not just give the dogs a mat/bed to lie on, and leave the rest of the run bare for easy cleaning?

My indoor kennel is enclosed, so I put in a window unit air conditioner. Works great!

What kind of roof is on the kennel? Is there any sun directly on the kennel?

When I had kennel runs, I used spray mist nozzles from a poultry supply. Sprays a very fine mist (1/2 to 1 gal. per hour) and an industrial fan to move the mist. Also planted some fast growing trees (Bradford Pear) on the west side.

I'm in the South and we can have 100 degrees for long stretches. Worked for me.

Have you tried elevating the fan, may help with the blowing chips.

Rik

Consider building a smaller "kennel house" inside the covered area...... with small doors for access. Keep only this part cool. Insulate well, add a/c to only this portion. use heavy duty flap doors.

6' deep, 7.5' high as wide as each kennel run would be planty, insulate well and add smallest mini-split units (1 unit for 2 kennels, centered). place units high so dogs cannot damage them, and make sure all hoses and wires are external. Temp can be set at 80, and when unit is runing, cool air will blow on them. 

Concrete floor with horse mats and a door that a person can use for access and cleaning is very much recommended.

Your dogs can come and go as they please, if they get too hot, they can chill inside. You will be able to easily clean out as required. If needed, you can lock dogs in dog house.

Also consider planting deciduous trees to help shade during summer months.

Thanks to all. I love the shavings. They bond to the poop and pee and make cleaning even easier. When the floors are bare, I deal with dogs walking through thier poo and smearing it.  The shavings just make everything so clean and dry.
I think the large fans up high with the misters is the way to go. Even the industrial swamp coolers will get clogged eventually and will require more maintanance.
The building is solid steel construction so just about anything could be mounted up there.The floor is rubber stall mats with the shavings on top.
We do have small shade trees started. By next summer they should be helping a little.

I'm just asking.... my dogs are kenneled the majority of the day and sometimes night, (if I'm working). When they're not kennelled there either in the truck, training, or running/playing around. At night when I am off they are indoors with me. If working they are crated (in doors) or outside kennelled.

My dogs RARELY crap or piss in their kennels. I "break" them periodically and they know not to mess in the kennels. Are yours like in the kennels and never come out? I'm being sincere here, not a smart....

My kennels are on a platform @ 18" off the ground. Plywood floors covered with a rolled on waterproof material. I live on a farm and the elements let alone just the evening morning dew is a lot of wetness on the ground. At 90 degrees a medium size Industrial fan kicks on.
  

Put solar flex on the ceiling of the kennel. Buy it at Lowe's in the insulation department. It comes in two and four foot widths and twenty five feet long. It's aluminum foil with bubble wrap sandwiched between. You can cut to length with scissors and glue to ceiling with liquid nails. It will last forever and It cuts down on radiated heat dramatically. Also, get shade cloth and hang outside on sun side. Helps a lot.

alboe2009, as a boarding kennel operator I can tell ya, some dogs are just PIGS!  They will be out all day on walks and hikes and the second they are back in the run they take a huge steaming dump! ( please note they have had 700 poops on the walk)  Not only is it a huge steamer, often it has to be stepped in immediatly so that the dog may then proceed to smear it on every square inch of the kennel. ( and by every inch I mean every inch) Once it is smeared everywhere then they add the crowning touch.  They pee in it! Now once that is done, the offender will sit in this mess so as to throughly paint his backside for the next faze of his evil plan.  They stand up and wag the hell out of their shit and pee covered tail!!  Flinging this mess on all the other dogs in the kennel. The idiots sit there grinning like they are super heros.  SO you let idiot out of the kennel and he proceeds to run up and down the entire building.  Once that is done he will run back to you full tilt and plan a shit soaked paw righ in the middle of your boobs! 

Brynjulf, sounds like you either need to find a different line of work or feed a better dog food. I would be pissed leaving a dog of mine at a boarding kennel to have it spoken of that way and to have it crap that much. I have boarded dogs and never had them get filthy like your clients dogs.