How to build a dog enclosure? With your own hands!.

A dog loves its owner just like that. Not for feeding, not for a warm overnight stay, but simply for the fact that he is. The most important thing is that she must recognize you as a “senior comrade,” and then you will not find a more devoted friend. But you also have to take on some obligations, at least in order to take care of your four-legged pet. And if you live in a rural area or spend a lot of time in a country house, you should think about how to build an aviary for a dog, do it yourself or attract specialists. In the end, it doesn't matter who does it, the main thing is that everything goes right and the animal feels good.

General considerations about the aviary

It is worth noting that for all its simplicity, the construction of an aviary is not the most primitive thing. The main thing in it is the design and choice of material, as well as taking into account the characteristics of the dog. If these requirements are not met, then the aviary will become a source of inconvenience and problems for both you and your pet.

  1. The size of the enclosure depends on the size of the dog. If her height is:
    • up to 0.5 meters at the withers, then she needs an area of ​​6 sq. m;
    • from 0.5 meters to 0.65 meters - 8 sq. m;
    • more than 0.65 meters - 10 sq. m.

    Such dimensions are necessary for the round-the-clock maintenance of the animal. But if the dog has the ability to move freely around the territory, for example, at night, then 6 square meters is enough to keep it. If several dogs live together, then the area increases by about one and a half times. The same should be done when keeping the bitch with the puppies.

  2. Paul. Most often it is made concrete, it is easier to make it on your own. However, it should be borne in mind that such a floor is very freezing and the dog can chill its paws. Therefore, it would be best to lay a wooden covering on top, in principle a 2x2 m square is sufficient.

  3. Walls. One of them, the front one, should resemble a lattice, allowing the dog to observe the territory. It is best to weld it from pipes, for which it is advisable to use ordinary, galvanized ones, which are harmful to health. The step of the fence for large dogs should be 100 mm, for small dogs - 50 mm. Do not use a mesh, as the animal will try to chew through it and ruin its teeth. Metal parts need to be treated - remove rust and also paint.

    For the rest of the walls, it is best to use wood, boards 20 mm thick: they must be well planed on all sides, no knots and cracks are allowed on them. Without fail, the boards must be treated with antiseptic preparations, they must be fastened with self-tapping screws.

    On the front of the enclosure there should be a door that opens inward and a feeder located 200-300 mm from the floor surface. The door should have at least two locks (inside and outside) and padlock lugs.

  4. Roof. Any material is suitable for it, but a soft coating is best. This will avoid excessively loud noises during rain or hail, which are harmful to the dog's ears. When constructing a roof, the use of nails is unacceptable.

About the booth

The booth is an obligatory element of the aviary. It serves as protection for the dog in frosty and windy weather, and also allows it to simply take cover and rest.

When making it, it is necessary to take into account several additional factors:

  • the area of ​​the booth is determined by the size of the dog. In the kennel, she should be able not only to turn around, but also to rest in an extended position. The construction of an unnecessarily spacious booth will lead to the fact that in winter the structure will not keep heat well, and the animal will begin to freeze;
  • Walls are best constructed from well-dried and treated wood. In frosty winter conditions, they must be made double using insulation;
  • it is better to make a removable roof, this will greatly facilitate cleaning and provide assistance to the animal if it gets sick;
  • It is preferable to make the roof pitched, flat. Dogs love to lie or sit on it, using it as an observation post;
  • In the booth, a bed with an area of ​​at least the area of ​​the kennel should be provided.

Construction of an aviary

Now, after familiarizing yourself with the basic requirements, you can consider how to make an aviary for a dog with your own hands. First, it is advisable to prepare his plan, an example is given below.

It is designed for an average dog like a shepherd dog, has an area of ​​8 square meters. m, a winter road or a booth, a platform and an open area are provided. The dimensions of each of the mentioned parts are shown in the drawing.

  1. Initially, you need to choose a place where the aviary will be located. It should be placed away from utility rooms, garages, livestock areas and other similar areas. It is best to position it with a southeast facade.
  2. The foundation should be poured. In principle, this is not a mandatory procedure, but everyone makes the decision himself. If you fill it, then the dog will be warmer, and the whole structure will be stronger. It may look, for example, as in the photo, if you make an aviary directly on the surface of the earth.

    The simplest option is to make a curb and pour concrete into it. Or you can simply install supports that will provide ventilation between the site and the bottom of the enclosure.

Then the wooden floor should be laid. To exclude its deformation, it is necessary to additionally lay logs or other similar supports. In addition to strength, they will provide a ventilation gap between the coating and the base. The wooden floor is laid in the part where the construction of the booth and the platform is provided.

Now it's time to start installing the walls. For this, metal pipes are installed around the perimeter of the enclosure and connected with crossbars. All fasteners are welded or, in extreme cases, bolted. After the frame is ready, blank walls are attached to it from several sides, which can be made of wood or corrugated board. On the open side (from the facade), rods are welded.

The rafter system is placed on top of the frame and the roof is laid. It remains to hang the door and install the booth. It must also be placed with a gap relative to the floor, for example, on legs or bricks.

This is roughly how you can build a dog enclosure. Of course, this is not the only option, there are others, but it allows you to understand the basic principles that must be taken into account when erecting such a structure.

Changed living conditions lead to the fact that many of the city move to the countryside and take their four-legged pets there. For a dog in a rural house or in the country, it is advisable to build an aviary, which will significantly improve its maintenance and allow it to fully grow and develop.

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