kennels or chains?

[curdog]

i use both what do you prefer?

[victorcharlie]

Kennels.  I've got above ground kennels with 6 inches of crush and run gravel for a base.  I have a 6' privacy fence around that, and then have about 3 acres enclosed with woven wire which carries 2 strands of electric wire.

I usually let the dogs out in the 3 acre enclosure during the day and put them up a night.

Today I put them back in the kennel about 10am as it forcast to reach 98 today.

I used 5/4 deck board on the above ground runs with about an inch or so between the boards.  I have a tin top on them so the dogs are fully contained in a cage and are 2 1/2 feet off the ground.   I got several big maple trees that shade them and with the deck boards the air circulates around them. 

With the boards spaced correctly the feces will fit between the crack and fall onto the gravel.  Most of the time the dogs will hit the cracks so I don't have to hose them out very often.

I'm not sure how this would work with a large breed that chews but works great for the beagles.

I recently took down all my on the ground kennels as the flees and ticks are much  worse on the ground.

[curdog]

sounds like a great setup. but it;s been 107degrees here for the last week

[Don Fischer]

I've used both plus the above ground wood ones. Right now I'm down to one dog and he's 14yrs old, hears as well as he did at 4yrs old (which means when it's convient for him) and he sleeps where he want's, usually on the couch.

I prefered kennels with concrete runs. They are easier to clean and to sanitize. The concrete also helps keep toe nails trimmed and pads tuff. Surface should not be slick and not to ruff. To ruff and you sore up the dogs feet al the time. To slick and the dogs don't get goog traction and slip when it's wet; pulls mussel's! But concrete sprays clean and you can wash it down with bleach water now and then to keep parasites down. Concrete runs are expensive to build so I used chains mostly with barrel houses. Bad thing about chains is that the dos dig and parasites get into the dirt. Keep the house in shade if you can and as much sunlight as possible on the cahin area, helps control parasites.

Intresting note. Robert Whele, owner of Elehw Kennels in New York used chains exclussively. He liked them.

[victorcharlie]

I agree, by far concrete has a lot of advantages.......but.....concrete is expensive and is a commitment..........as far a feet go, if the dog stays on gravel he'll have less feet problems as his feet will stay tuff.

I do think that on the ground on gravel or dirt vs. off the ground, off the ground wins.......

There are alot fewer problems with fleas, ticks, and worms when kept off the ground.

Some states require that over a certain number of dogs and your a dealer........being a dealer means state specified kennel standards, kennel inspections and license fees as well as the collection of sales tax etc......not a good thing........

Hey Don.....haven't seen you post in awhile.....good to see your still around you must be busy!

[Don Fischer]

Truck was broke down for three weeks and no internet at home! Three weeks and $3000 later and I'm back!!!!! Really scarery how much of your stuff I agree with. A lot of people think I'm to soft on a dog, I suspect you may have the same problem. Had a guy send me a nice Elhew pointer from Nebraska years ago. Elhew bitch by Hooks Bounty hunter. The dog was 2 yrs old and out of hand completely. Guy got him for $150 plus shipping. Didn't want me to do him, wanted my wife to. He said I was to soft for that dog. I never let her touch a client dog, she could make the hair fly. I finished that dog to wing, shot and kill and to back in 2 mos. Ran him off horseback and that dog could run to who laid the rail, fabulious dog! Turns out the guy took him home to the Oregon coast and roaded him 5 mi a day off a 4 wheeler in the sand dunes, ruined the dog! One of the best I'd ever had, I could have shot the guy. Dog was done with a collar and you could turn him from horse back as far away as you could see him. The guys dream was to be the Ferris Miller of the west coast. He didn't even come close. oh yea, he was one of the guy's that swore by the 90 series Tri-Tronic, didn't have a clue how to use it. He later got a nice little setter bitch from Richie Robinson (Takoa Mountain Sunrise and Double Dog Dare). She was soft but he just was going to breed her. Really pissed me off. Again he had a dog he wanted but couldn't see the forrest for the trees. She'd run out at shooting dog range, same as Sunrise, and would not get lost. Damn she was a sweet dog. I like a dog that likes people. Never knew a guy that had a knack for ruining dog like he did.

Huh! Made this post in the wrong spot! Oh well, getting old.

[curdog]

no problem, it needed to be said. i have had the same problem with hog dogs. when a client buys a dog i will tell him what the dog will do and will not do. what he likes and don;t like, and how to hunt him. buuuut it never fells they don;t listen and then wonder why the dog is not acting right