 | Is it protected from thieves?
 | Ours is behind a driveway gate/fence. And has shade tarps on the sides
for privacy. |
|
| Is it protected from other dogs?
| Our puppy kennel is on the
north side of the house. The rescue kennels are 2 fences away on
the southwest side of the house. Wayeh kennels are 2 fences away
on the southeast side of the house. Yes, puppies need
socialization with other dogs -- when they are old enough, and not
until. |
|
| Is it protected somewhat from weather?
| Our puppy kennels are on
the north side of the house because of summer heat. There are
trees on the east and north side of the house as well. |
|
| Will it be at least double fenced, maybe even triple fenced against
escapes?
| Our driveway is gated/fenced for ease of unloading and
mushing hook-ups. |
|
| Is it close enough to the house that you will spend a LOT of time
socializing puppies?
| Our first puppy kennel is right up against
the basement wall and under the second-story porch for weather
protection. This second puppy kennel does NOT share a kennel wall
with the first one. What happens if the dog in the first kennel
dosen't like puppies? Or doesn't like the puppies of the bitch in
the second kennel? Or the mother's fight? We put a 5' gap
between the kennels, which incidentally also allowed for water drainage
from the uphill side of the driveway. |
|
| Is the ground somewhat level?
| Unless you want to bring in heavy
equipment, pick a level spot. You will want some drainage -- like
maybe a 4" drop across a 15' span. The nature of the blocks
means that water drains out quickly between them, even though you will
push and mallet them as close together as possible. Water finds a
way. And you will build on a slope with the gravel. But you
don't want it so steep that icy winter conditions make it treacherous.
We built ours on the driveway -- already graveled and somewhat level,
close to the house, and protected from elements, thieves, and escapes. |
|
| Is the kennel layout such that you will wash debris and waste away from
the gate and the walkway?
| We built the first rescue kennels with the gates on the downhill --
yuck. We don't do that anymore. Gates on the uphill, wash
away from the gates. |
|
