Dog Kennel Flooring
Kennel is the name given to any structure or shelter for dogs. A kennel is a doghouse, run, or other small structure in which a dog is kept. American English often uses the word "doghouse" in this context; in British English the term "kennel" is preferred, but the phrase "in the doghouse" is understood but does not mean "in the kennel", rather it is a colloquial phrase meaning "in trouble" or "being shunned". Used in the plural, the kennels, the term means any building, collection of buildings or a property in which dogs are housed, maintained, and bred.
Kennel Flooring is Well Worth the Investment For a Happier Pet
By D. Goossens
One of the problems with having an outdoor dog kennel is the ground you will be putting the kennel on. Some people just sit the kennel up over a fairly level grassy area and forget about it. Other folks sit the kennel on a concrete pad.
Photo: dogkennel.biz
Either of this approaches will work, but there are some drawbacks to both.
With the constant traffic of the dog moving in the kennel placed on grass, that grass area will quickly turn to mud or bare soil. This makes it difficult to clean the kennel area properly to prevent illnesses from fleas, ticks and parasites that burrow into the soil. Concrete is great for being able to clean and disinfect the kennel area, but concrete is very hard on the pads of the dog’s paws and for an older dog, it is very hard on their leg joints.
One way to solve this problem is by using plastic kennel flooring panels. If using over grass, I suggest the grass be cut as short as possible before laying the panels into place. If the ground is not completely level, you can put down sand or gravel to level out the bumps and then lay the panels in place.
For use on concrete, the kennel flooring panels act as an insulator from the concrete surface temperature and the softer surface of the plastic kennel flooring is much easier on the dog’s joints. Most kennel flooring is now made using HDPE which is UV resistant and very easy to clean using a solution of bleach and water. Be sure to rinse the area thoroughly after disinfecting as your dog could receive chemical burns on their paws if stepping on bleach.
The panels I use are available at Options Plus Dog Kennels. These panels overlap when put into place and have a grained surface so you will not slip when entering the kennel. I highly recommend them and your outdoor dog will be much happier.
