How to beat the cold and keep draughts away in your dog kennel and runs
A dog kennel and run will usually provide ample protection from the cold and bad weather. But if your dog kennel and run is located in an open area with little or no shelter, there are things that you can do to help.
Here, we give some examples of what you can add to your new dog kennel and run to make sure that it provides enough warmth and comfort for your dog during the winter months.
PVC draught excluder, or draught screen
We provide clear plastic flaps over the dog kennel pop hole (dog entry) to prevent wind from blowing into the bed area. Your dog can still go in and out of the kennel as desired.
Internal draught board
An internal draught board is a solid upright board which your dog can lie behind in the kennel. It acts as a wind barrier, therefore keeping the kennel warmer and draught free.
Sliding hatch over dog pop hole
A sliding hatch closes down over the pop hole, acting as a complete barrier for wind and cold air. The sliding hatch is obnly recommended to be closed for short periods of time – maybe overnight – as your dog cannot access the run while shut.
3/4 mix dog run panel, also known as draught panel
A 3/4 mix dog run panel is solid metal from the bottom to three quarters of the way up. We have used these before on run ends to again provide protection from winds and rain.
PVC lined insulation to kennel bed area
We fill framework with polystyrene board and line with white PVC sheets. The insulation retains the heat in the kennel sleep (and can also keep it cool in the summer!) The wipe-clean plastic stays at an even temperature, therefore won’t have a condensation build-up. This is in contrast to materials such as metal which heat and cool quickly – especially when using a kennel heater.
Raised dog bed, or sleeping bench
A raised dog bed is also useful as it keeps your dog away from the floor. Most dog runs have a concrete base, which can get icy cold in winter frosts, as well as hold water. Our aised dog benches sit on a timber frame, allowing airflow underneath. This in turn keeps your dog warmer and more confortable.
Our dog kennels for sale are also available with the optional upgrades listed below. We have included as much information as possible to help you decide on the best configuration for your dog kennel, but please do give us a call if you would like any help on what would be best for your requirements. We promise no hard sell – we want you to be happy with your new dog kennel and run. We can offer ideas on what kennel upgrades would be best for you; we will also let you know if you don’t need it!
For example, if your dog is going to be housed in your new dog kennel for long periods of time or overnight, then we would recommend the insulation and sliding hatches. If your dog is only going to be kept in a smaller garden kennel for a few hours whilst you are at work, then we would maybe recommend the wipe clean floor to help with maintenance if there are any accidents when you get home. Onduline is a popular choice for exposed areas that suffer from the elements, whilst the stable door is a good idea for an occasional pet kennel and can give a less ‘locked away’ feel.
SLIDING HATCH Our sliding hatches are added over the pop
hole to the dog’s sleeping area. We use the same material as the wipe clean flooring, and aluminium runners allow you to slide it up and down as required. It separates the sleeping area from the run and is ideal for keeping your dog indoors at night.
WHELPING HATCH A half sized sliding hatch for whelping – low enough for mum to jump over for a break yet high enough to keep her pups safe inside. The Whelping Sliding Hatch fits in the same runners as the full hatch, and can be supplied FREE OF CHARGE when you pay for the full sliding hatch upgrade. *This is only available with the purchase of the sliding hatch upgrade on any of our dog kennels and runs or multi bay kennel blocks. Please let us know when ordering if you want this option*
WIPE CLEAN FLOOR Phenolic coatings provide protection against moisture allowing easier maintenance and cleaning. The 12mm boarding is added to the sleep area and provides a non-slip and durable surface.
PVC INSULATION 40mm polystyrene is fitted between the framework in walls and flooring then lined with 2mm white PVC sheeting. It keeps dogs cool in the summer, warm in the winter and the wipe clean surface provides easy maintenance.
STABLE DOOR Add a stable door to the sleeping area. Perfect for puppies or allowing the door to be open whilst keeping your dog inside.
ONDULINE ROOF Corrugated, bitumen based roof sheeting provides extra protection against the elements and is ideal for exposed areas
Based on our Sandon Triple dog kennel and run this double kennel had a total footprint of 15ft by 10ft 6inches. Our customer wanted a single unit separated into two dog kennels that would accommodate her two different dog breeds. So we altered our triple wooden dog kennel to have a 5ft wide kennel and run for her Akita and a 10ft wide kennel and run for her Great Dane. The pop holes were made larger with one being 2ft x 2ft and the other a whopping 2ft wide by 3ft tall! She also purchased our high quality
stainless steel kennel dog bowl holders along with adding an internal draught board in the sleeping area.
Our wooden outdoor Double Hampton Dog Kennel and Run was installed to a prominent country estate in Newbury. The setting was stunning and made the job much more enjoyable for us!
Our customer opted for the Onduline kennel roofing upgrade, which is a corrugated bitumen based roof covering that provides extra protection from the outdoor weather and also has a longer life span than standard kennel felt. The dog kennel sleeping areas were insulated then lined with 2mm PVC sheets which provides an easy clean kennel surface. The kennel was also upgraded to have our anti-bacterial wipe-clean Phenolic coated flooring. The dog runs were separated by a galvanised dog run panel which allows them to be kept apart whilst still being able to see each other for company. Our customer also requested two of our wipe clean raised dog beds to go inside each of the dog kennel runs. These are made from our Phenolic coated kennel flooring so are wipe clean and anti-bacterial, and we add aluminium anti-chew around the edges to prevent the dogs chewing on them.
A perfect kennel solution for keeping your dogs outdoors.
Our first response to this question is always “what space do you have available?” Whilst we always advocate having as large a kennel & run as possible, there is no point squeezing a larger sized double dog kennel into your modest back garden. Here we have listed a few points on how to select the right sized wooden dog kennel.
How big is your dog?
It goes without saying that a larger dog will need more space. Consider the room they will need to turn around inside the bed area and the run needs to have enough space for stretching and walking around. A good way of knowing the sleep size is to measure a dog bed or crate that is already being used by your dog. Or, while they are sleeping, measure the area that they are snuggled in.
How long will they be in the kennel for?
This is a very important point. Some of our customers buy dog kennels to house their pet during the day for a few hours while they are at work; or have it as somewhere secure to put their visitor-phobic dog out of people’s way. In these instances, a smaller sized kennel and run such as our Alton single dog kennel and run would be plenty. Consider also that the door can be left open to the run if you have a secure garden that your dog will be safe in. If, however, your kennel and run is going to be a permanent outdoor housing solution for your working dogs, we would recommend having a large kennel and run such as our kennel blocks to allow your dogs plenty of room. The sleeping area doesn’t necessarily need to be bigger unless housing multiple dogs together as a smaller space will stay warmer during cold spells.
How many dogs are to be housed in your new dog kennel?
Dogs that get along can be housed in kennels together. Dogs of a smaller breed would be fine in our standard sized kennel and runs, however if you wanted to house larger dogs together you would need to look at increasing the overall size of your kennel and run. See our larger sandon single kennel and run.
If you are interested in purchasing a new kennel and run for your family pet or working dogs, please browse through our selection of standard wooden dog kennel and runs. We have a range of sizes and styles to suit all budgets, and we also offer a bespoke service on all of our animal housing if you can’t find exactly what you want. You might also find our blog post about housing your dog in a kennel interesting.
