Once you become a dog owner, you need to ensure you give your dog all the care he needs and provide him with all the right products. Besides water and food bowls, a bed to sleep in, combing products, and toys – you will also need an indoor kennel or even an outdoor dog enclosure. When it comes to buying these units, you will need to consider your dogs’ needs, lifestyle and property characteristics so you can choose the most appropriate enclosure for your four-legged friend.
Once you set out to buy the ideal unit, you will come across many models of outdoor dog enclosures. These units usually come with four to eight wall sections and one gate so they can keep the dog in a safe place for a short period of time. You can find them made from metal, wood, and plastic. Also, they are available in a range of heights and sizes so there is a suitable unit for any dog breed and property type. Some enclosures can be stored away while others are structures that will permanently stay on your property. Outdoor pet enclosures come in a few different types including pet gates, exercise pens, chain-link kennels, and modular panel enclosures.
The purpose of outdoor dog enclosures
These units are designed to keep your dog safe and comfortable in your outdoor living area. They are also handy in many different situations like when there is easy access for the dog to escape to the street; there are workmen in the house and your dog doesn’t like strangers; when the dog wants to eat raw bones outside; if you are making a children’s party in your backyard or your dog needs to wait for his bathtime after a day playing in the mud, etc.
Considerations that will affect your choice
Choosing the right dog enclosure for your furry friend can be a daunting task, so it is a good idea to have these few things in mind. Think about how your dog interacts with you and the environment, keep your lifestyle in mind and note the practicality of the enclosure. Practicality involves:
- Size of the enclosure (whether it is big or small enough to accommodate the size of your dog and yard)
- Material (certain materials like metal are more weather-proof and stronger than others)
- Number of doors (consider the access you want for you and your dog)
- Locking mechanism (make sure you choose an enclosure that is secure and has a good locking mechanism as some dogs can outsmart the lock)
- Flooring (dirt, concrete, plastic paneling)
- Roof – it can be soft (tarp, canvas or other material) or hard(metal). It can also be UV treated or not.
Placement of the dog enclosure
Once you find and buy the perfect enclosure for your dog, your next consideration should be its placement. Indeally, ensure that the unit is sheltered from the sun, especially during the hottest part of the day. Avoid placing it at the very bottom of a sloping yard. This means that the ground will take longer to dry and you do not want your dog to lay on a wet or damp floor. If your dog has problems with barking, don’t place the enclosure near your neighbors and never place it 100% under a large tree with mature and thick lims because your dog might get hurt in case some of the limbs fall.
