Aviary for a shepherd (German) in the courtyard of a private house

The German Shepherd is one of the best breeds for guarding an area. Dogs are brave, loyal, smart and active. Their psychological and physical health depends on the conditions of detention. A large breed needs space and freedom of movement. The most convenient option for a German Shepherd is an outdoor enclosure on the territory of a country house and the possibility of walking. Before building housing for a pet on the site, you need to find out where it is best to build it, how to calculate the size and other subtleties that will make the life of your beloved dog comfortable.

Is it possible to keep a shepherd dog outside in winter?

Large dogs like German Shepherds love long walks. But they can only be kept in a spacious, insulated enclosure in winter, otherwise the pet may die from hypothermia. Even though these dogs have a thick undercoat and can withstand frost, they need a warm home.

Shepherd needs a warm and safe enclosure

Features of an enclosure for a shepherd

Dog breeders living in rural areas should take care of an insulated home for their German Shepherd. The best option for such housing is a spacious, warm enclosure. This is much better than a kennel in which the dog sits on a chain. The animal will be able to move in the enclosure, but it cannot be locked up around the clock.

For your information! If the shepherd is constantly in a closed room, it may develop mental problems. She will rush out, begin to constantly whine and bark, and become nervous and irritable.

When kept in an enclosure, the owner will need to walk the dog for 30 minutes. or 1 hour. You can simply let the dog run around the area for a while.

It is necessary to accustom a shepherd dog to being kept in an enclosure from childhood. A small puppy can be placed in an enclosure, then he will quickly get used to such a home.

A warm enclosure with a winter road will become a reliable shelter for your pet

Pros of the aviary:

• the dog does not sit on a chain, but moves freely around the enclosure;
• For animals of large breeds, which include the German Shepherd, it is important to have their own space. It's also a great place for watchdogs;
• The dog considers his house a safe place. This is especially important for females during the period of birth and raising puppies. In a shelter you can protect your pet from unwanted mating;
• Living in an enclosure, the animal will not chew corners in the house and make noise.

Keeping a dog in an enclosure will require some effort and daily responsibilities from the owner. This cannot be called a disadvantage of kennel keeping, but, nevertheless, dog breeders should be aware of these nuances.

Minuses:

• the dog needs time to get used to its new habitat. During this period, she will break out of the enclosure;
• The enclosure needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain cleanliness.

How to make a roof

Video description

The following video will tell you in detail how you can make an enclosure for a shepherd:
In order for the dog to quickly get used to its new housing, it must be fed only inside the enclosure. While the animal is eating, it needs to be locked, and then opened and released outside, but not immediately, but after ten minutes. Every day this period of time will have to be extended. A large bone will help lure your pet inside. Over time, the dog will get used to the fact that during the day it needs to be in the enclosure, and in the evening it is allowed to walk around the yard.

If desired, you can train your dog to relieve itself in a strictly designated place. To do this, they make a toilet out of a basin or foot bath for her. Place it in the farthest corner from the feeder, push the dishes into the floor and fill them to the top with sand. While the dog is being accustomed to the enclosure, the toilet is temporarily covered with plywood, giving the pet the opportunity to relieve itself where it wants. When he gets used to his new home, the dog is released into the wild.

Ready-made standard project Source remstroidomufa.ru

While she is walking, a fresh pile of droppings is buried in the sand of the toilet, and the rest of the area is thoroughly cleaned. Then the dog is released into the enclosure. This method of training works flawlessly: animals always mark the latrine with excrement. Therefore, the pet will defecate where the owner buried its fresh excrement. Sand is needed only to satisfy the instinct to bury droppings. It will need to be changed periodically. This is easier to do than washing the floor of the enclosure every time.

How to choose a place for an aviary in the courtyard of a private house

Cross between German Shepherd and Caucasian Shepherd

The dog cannot be isolated from the outside world and especially from its owners. An enclosure for a German shepherd in the courtyard of a private house needs to be built in a place where the dog can see everything that is happening.

Note! It is necessary to choose a place on a hill so that rainwater does not accumulate in the dog house and it is not damp. You can build an enclosure near bushes or trees so that the shepherd dog is not disturbed by noise.

The shepherd's home must be reliably protected from wind, rain, and snow. You cannot build a house near a noisy road, garages or places where varnishes and paints are stored. The dog needs to be protected from noise and pungent odors, so the enclosure is built at a distance of 500 m from the barn, garage or workshop.

A dog house consisting of a winter road, a platform and an open area

Kennel in an aviary

The doghouse should be so spacious that the shepherd can sleep peacefully there with its paws outstretched. The kennel for a German Shepherd, placed inside the enclosure, has the following dimensions:

• height – 0.95 m;
• width – 1.35 m;
• depth – 1 m.

The hole is a wide hole 0.6 by 0.4 m. For a semi-open enclosure, the kennel is well insulated and placed in the corner at the junction of two blank walls . In an enclosure with a winter road, it is placed in a winter room.

The kennel is a wooden box (painted only on the outside) with a manhole and a flat roof, from where the German Shepherd likes to watch the area. It would be great if the roof is removable: this will make cleaning the kennel easier. The entrance hole is often located on the south side so that the inside is dry and snow does not accumulate. Closer to winter, the entrance to the kennel is covered with thick waterproof fabric.

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What kind of enclosure is needed for a shepherd dog?

Building an enclosure for a shepherd dog with your own hands is quite simple. The owner must know what kind of house his pet needs.

Guard dog breeds: the best for a private home

The height of the booth should be 50–60 cm greater than the height of the dog at the withers. The length of two parallel sides must be at least 2 m. The enclosure must be placed on an elevation of 50 cm so that the floor is not at ground level.

Important! It is advisable to make a gutter in the corner for draining water. Then you can wash the floor by watering it with a hose, and the water will quickly flow down the gutter.

It is best to make three walls from wooden boards so that they retain heat in the house. Instead of the fourth, you need to stretch the mesh or put a grate so that the shepherd dog can see everything that is happening nearby. The house must have a window through which the owner will serve food to the dog.

Under no circumstances should you make a floor from concrete slabs, as the dog can get sick and even die in a matter of days. The floor in the enclosure must be made of planed wooden boards, cleared of knots and treated with special solutions to prevent rot. Planks with cracks cannot be used.

Cleaning Features

General disinfection of the enclosure is carried out every quarter in winter and every month in the warm season. Use formalin (3% solution) or creolin.

It is recommended to sweep the floor twice a day. Wet cleaning – once a month. In spring and until late autumn, you need to spray an insecticidal spray that removes and prevents the penetration of ixodid ticks.

If dry grass is placed, the kennel is also treated against ticks in the winter. This can be explained by the fact that parasites wake up from body heat.

What materials are needed for construction

Guard dog breeds for a private home

An enclosure for a shepherd dog consists of three structures: a frame, a base, and a roof. Each part of the house will require different materials.

For your information! Instead of nails, it is better to use self-tapping screws so that the dog does not get hurt.

The base of the enclosure can be made of a metal frame or concrete, but on top it must be tightly covered with wooden boards in several layers.

The frame can be built from iron slats, wood or metal posts. It is better to put a lattice on the open wall of the house, rather than a chain-link mesh.

The walls must be upholstered in several layers of boards, oriented strand board and insulation.

The roof is covered with corrugated board, slate or ondulin. The latter of these is often used as a soundproofing material.

List of materials:

• tongue and groove board;
• wooden boards;
• corrugated sheets, slate;
• OSB;
• profiled pipe;
• ondulin;
• felt, penoplex;
• beam;
• lattice or mesh;
• self-tapping screws;
• Fiberboard;
• bolt, hinges;
• wire;
• primer, paint.

Drawing (top view)

Tools for work:

• welding machine;
• screwdriver;
• drill;
• jigsaw;
• roulette.

How much will it cost to build an enclosure?

The cost of building an enclosure for a shepherd may vary in each specific case. It depends on the type of materials used and their quantity. For example, the cheapest equipment will cost 10-15 thousand rubles. If expensive materials are used, the construction price can reach 50-100 thousand rubles.

If you can make the drawing yourself, then it is better to entrust the construction of the structure to specialists. This will allow you to quickly build an enclosure, do everything slowly and according to the rules.

An enclosure for a shepherd is a kind of home, a place where the pet can comfortably spend time and perform its security functions. The construction of such a building will also benefit the owner, since there will be no wool in the main house and the furniture will remain intact.

Calculating the size of the enclosure and preparing a drawing

Every dog ​​breeder will be able to draw up a construction project. The dog enclosure consists of three parts. Shepherd sizes:

• winter road - a closed, insulated space measuring 2x1.5 m on which the booth is located;
• platform - wooden flooring with an area of ​​2x1.5 m;
• a walking area measuring 2x1 m. You can compact soil on the floor or put together a wooden flooring.

A small manhole should connect the winter road to the platform. Through it, the dog will be able to climb into the kennel, and the owner will put bowls of food for it. You need to make an entrance door on the outside wall. The width of both holes should be 80 cm.

Drawing (side view)

The height of the house should be 180 cm or more. The roof must be placed at an angle so that rainwater drains from it. You will also need a visor.

Knowing the requirements for building an enclosure, the owner will be able to design the correct drawing and build the house with his own hands.

The diagram above shows the location of the booth in the winter road, as well as the outer and inner doors.

Important! If two dogs live in the enclosure, then the area needs to be increased by 1.5 times.

How much does it cost for ready-made and self-made?

The price of a seat depends on the material from which it is made, as well as its size.

For a German Shepherd it will be quite expensive. The price will vary from 30 thousand rubles to 60 thousand rubles.

If you want to build a place for the dog with your own hands, you will save quite a bit. The purchase of materials and insulation will cost 20 thousand rubles on average.

How to build an aviary with your own hands

You can build an enclosure for a German Shepherd with your own hands. To do this, you need to choose a suitable place, prepare the soil, then build a base, frame, roof and insulate the structure. All work is carried out strictly according to the drawing.

Structure base

First, they place the base of the enclosure and make a small foundation for it.

1. A frame made of metal or timber measuring 150×150 mm must be secured to posts.
2. Treat 30 mm thick boards with varnishes and solvents.
3. Lay and secure the boards tightly to the base.
4. If the frame is metal, it must be treated with anti-corrosion solutions. A layer of material should be placed under the boards to protect against moisture penetration. First, a moisture-proof layer is placed on the concrete base, then insulation and only then boards.

How to make a foundation

Before building the base, it is necessary to build the foundation of the enclosure.

1. At the selected location, remove the soil and dig a small hole 30 cm deep. Its length and width should correspond to the dimensions of the enclosure.
2. Fill the hole with small crushed stone. Install supports made of low brick or concrete pillars along the perimeter of the building.

After this, the base frame is strengthened on the pillars and the base is built.

Requirements for the winter road

Building a frame

Strong beams or metal pipes are perfect for the frame.

1. 4 pipes or beams are fixed at the corners of the base.
2. At the top and bottom, these pipes are tied with metal corners measuring 2.5 cm.

Note! The frame must be secured very tightly and evenly.

Wall installation

One or two walls are covered with bars, and the rest (2–3) are sheathed with boards and insulated. The most important thing at this stage of work is to insulate the walls. The dog will feel comfortable in a warm enclosure.

1. One wall is covered with a lattice. There should be a space of 8–10 cm between the longitudinal rods. An additional yard is welded across the rods.
2. The same structure is installed on the adjacent wall.
3. The other pair of walls is sheathed with boards in several layers. The outer layer is made from block house or oriented strand board (OSB). The next layer will be made of a material that retains heat for a long time, for example, mineral wool. The inner layer can be made of OSB or wooden planks.
4. You can sheathe three walls with boards, and install the lattice only on the fourth.
5. All sides of the winter road are sheathed with insulated boards.
6. It is necessary to make a hole in one of the external walls for the entrance door.

How to make a base

Door installation

The door can be made in a wall covered with a lattice, then you do not have to cut a hole in the wood and install hinges there. It is necessary to make a door that opens inward and locks both from the outside and from the inside. You will need a strong bolt.

Erection of the roof

To make a sloping roof, one of the walls must be 15 cm higher than the others. All openings must be tightly closed.

Several longitudinal and transverse beams are fixed to the top of the building. Insulation (fibreboards, fiberboard) is fixed to them, and the top is covered with flooring.

Roof decking

Materials such as ondulin, slate, and corrugated sheets are perfect for roofing. It is advisable to choose ondulin because it has soundproofing properties.

The boards are tightly fixed to the base

How to make a foundation?

The foundation is the first thing to do when erecting a structure.

Its depth should be 1-1.5 m. The length and width should be calculated from the size of the dog.

You need to lay a layer of large stones on the bottom. After this, the stones must be fixed with cement mortar 1: 1: 2: 3 - cement, water, sand and crushed stone, respectively. After this, leave for 2-3 days until the foundation is completely dry.

If the ground is soft, then do it before pouring the formwork - lay boards along the edges of the hole and fasten them with self-tapping screws.

DIY shepherd doghouse installation

When working with boards, you first need to drill holes in them, and then insert screws and screws into them. If you screw screws into boards, the wood may crack, and this should not be allowed.

For your information! To secure the metal pipes of the frame you will need a welding machine.

Material selection

It is necessary to choose only dense wooden boards without cracks. They are coated with varnish to prevent decay. Before starting work, they need to be planed so that the dog does not catch splinters in his paws. The door needs a strong bolt. These are relatively inexpensive materials.

How to arrange

In the winter road you need to make an insulated hut and put bowls for food and water there. You should not place foreign objects in the enclosure. You can secure the bowls to a support or stand. To make the dog comfortable, the feeder must be suitable for the height of the animal. As a rule, the height of the stand is 20–30 cm.

Note! A toilet needs to be installed in the open area. You can pour filler there or lay down part of the lawn.

Frame

How to arrange it?

If the enclosure is the main location of the dog, it must be equipped with a booth . The dog should be positioned in it so that its paws are stretched out.

It should also have bowls for food and water—the water should always be fresh and the other free of leftovers. It is better to secure the dishes on a frame that can be opened without going inside.

In the open part you can provide a place for a toilet. It can be a section of lawn or a metal sheet with crushed stone. If you decide on such a design, provide a filler that can be easily removed. But the best option is to take your dog for a walk at least 2 times a day.

Aviary care

The enclosure is swept with a broom or broom twice a day - morning and evening. Once a month it is necessary to wash the floors with water and a cleaning agent. Some dog breeders sprinkle the floor with shavings or sawdust.

After each feeding of the dog, the owner must wash the bowls. Dog dishes should be kept clean at all times. It is necessary to periodically spray anti-tick aerosol in the enclosure. It is especially important to do this in spring, summer and early autumn.

The feeder can be mounted on a grill

Generalization on the topic

The dog will feel needed only in a comfortable enclosure. Properly assembled and installed, it will not interfere with it and perform protective functions. Today you don’t have to pay for housing for guard pets yourself. You can easily buy a ready-made design or order the production of your own project from specialized companies. When using such facilities, you need to remember that you will need to walk and play with the dog every day. She needs this as much as she needs food and drink.

Zoological norms

The size of the building depends on the size of the dog. There are strict zoological standards that must be followed during the construction process. A spacious home should correspond to the dog’s height at the withers:

• a shepherd dog under 50 cm tall can live in an enclosure with an area of ​​6 m²;
• with a height of 50–65 cm you will need 8 m²;
• dogs taller than 65 cm need a house of 10 m².

Important! Two dogs will need 1.5 times more space.

Inlet grille

The aviary will be an excellent gift for your beloved dog. In it she can feel safe, move a lot and stay warm in winter. Every owner will be able to build a warm enclosure for their pet if they follow the instructions above.

Selecting a location

The choice of construction site should take into account the following nuances:

1. Good review. The German Shepherd is a human-contact-oriented breed; it needs to see its owner, hear his voice and be aware of possible threats to him. She gets nervous if her senses do not give her complete information about what is happening nearby. Extraneous noise (from the street), on the contrary, should not irritate the dog.
2. To avoid dampness, it is best to place the enclosure on a hill, providing protection from wind and rain. The resting place should be dry in any weather. The elevation contributes to the function of an observation point for the shepherd.
3. Provide distance from places with strong odors. This could be areas with other pets or a garage.
4. The territory guarded by the German Shepherd must be fenced with a fence of at least 2-3 meters. This measure will prevent accidental ingestion of foreign animals and infectious agents.
5. The location should be bright. Penetration of sunlight is beneficial for the health of any organism.
6. The size of the enclosure for a German Shepherd should be made consistent with zootechnical maintenance requirements.

If the location has been chosen, you can begin planning the enclosure.

It is important already at this stage to comply with the zootechnical requirements for the structure being built. If the place is chosen correctly, then all that remains is to think about the size and materials of the enclosure for the German Shepherd. The construction process depends on the materials used, but there are general requirements for different parts of the enclosure

How to insulate?

In order to make the booth as warm as possible, it is necessary to lay layers of insulation on both sides with glassine paper. To do this, parts are cut out of it, cut according to a template, and placed tightly on wooden blanks.

Glassine can be secured using a construction stapler . After this, a layer of polystyrene foam is placed, and on top of it is another layer of glassine. Finally, a second layer of lining or plywood is made, covering the glassine on top.

CAUTION! In places with cold climates, where frosts reach -30-35 degrees, one layer of polystyrene foam is not enough for insulation.

In order to further insulate the kennel, before the onset of cold weather, it is recommended to additionally line it from the inside with a layer of thick felt, which can be removed during the warm season.

Also in winter, a bedding of hay or old blankets is placed on the floor of the booth..

To prevent cold wind from blowing into the kennel through the hole, if you have a vestibule, you can hang another curtain made of tarpaulin, separating it from the living compartment.

Purpose and design features

On the territory of a private house

Using collars and leashes is an unreliable way to isolate an aggressive dog from people. The advantage of an enclosure is that here the four-legged pet has unlimited personal space. Large breeds of dogs do not belong inside the owner’s home, so your four-legged friend will comfortably spend most of his time in the enclosure. It will be well protected from adverse weather conditions (rain, wind, snow, cold and heat).

Dog handlers have established that dogs are disciplined by keeping them in separate residential buildings. The need to build an enclosure may be caused by a number of circumstances:

• the appearance of small children in the family;
• your pet has grown, and the old booth has become cramped;
• there are other animals living on the property that need protection from her attacks;
• The dog has puppies.

A spacious enclosure will become a comfortable home for your pet.

There is a misconception among some owners that by evicting their four-legged friend from their home, they will harm him.

By building an aviary on the territory of your household, you will achieve several goals at once:

1. Create comfortable conditions for your pet.
2. It will be safe for guests, neighbors and children to be in your yard.
3. The animal is under constant supervision.
4. It is more convenient to clean and care for your dog in an enclosure.

Before you start creating an enclosure, you need to determine its size, installation location and material of manufacture. When creating an enclosure design, the following (minimum) requirements must be met:

• the person who will clean the enclosure must have the necessary conditions for this;
• there must be a booth in the enclosure;
• the enclosure must be equipped with protection from rain, snow, falling leaves and branches;
• the length of one side of the enclosure must be at least two meters;
• In accordance with the height of the dog’s withers, the enclosure must have an appropriate area.

The ratio of the height of the dog’s withers and the area of ​​the enclosure

An enclosure option for keeping one medium-sized dog

The indicated minimum sizes are intended for those dogs that, for example, are released at night to guard the territory of the entire household and do not spend most of their time in an enclosure.

Dog enclosures are divided into the following types:

1. Open (enclosures that do not have a top covering).
2. With partial insulation (enclosures with lattice sides).
3. With an insulated block (the entire surface of the enclosure is closed).

The enclosures specified in the first two options are equipped with a booth. The third option is used for short-haired dog breeds, and in it the kennel is optional.

The roof of the enclosure is usually made of slate, soft roofing or metal profiles.

In apartment conditions

Enclosures for keeping dogs in apartment conditions are expensive. Their sizes are individual and selected in accordance with the dimensions of the pet. In order not to spend extra money, you can make this design on your own. For a small puppy, a height of 40–45 cm and an area of ​​up to 100 square cm is sufficient. For small breeds of dogs, you can make an indoor house about 80 cm high, with an area of ​​at least one and a half meters (if the area of ​​the apartment allows, you can make more). There is no need to make the enclosure smaller, since your four-legged pet needs space for sleeping, playing, a toilet, and a bowl of food and water.

Enclosures for placement in apartment conditions are a structure of several metal bars or wooden fences. Such sections are connected to each other using grooves and screws. Indoor kennels are ideal for isolating a sick dog or for puppies. They have found wide application in raising aggressive dogs that damage furniture or are untrained and relieve themselves in inappropriate places.

Home enclosures made from metal sections are very popular due to their ease of assembly and cleaning. They are durable and easily fit into the interior. This design is convenient because it can be assembled in the form of a fence (for example, to block the exit from a room).

This design easily turns into a fence

An enclosure made of sections can be used as a temporary home for a dog while the owners are relaxing in the country. To do this, you need to install a booth inside the enclosure.

For small dogs there is an aviary-tent. It is convenient when you need to leave your pet at home alone without fear that he will harm himself or ruin something in the apartment. When guests arrive, small dogs are placed in such an enclosure so that they do not get in the way and no one steps on them.

Very convenient in apartment conditions

Do I need to put it on a chain?

It is impossible to put a German Shepherd on a chain, as this causes both physical and psychological discomfort to the animal. A dog put on a chain becomes angry and vindictive and, worst of all, loses trust in people, including its owner . In addition, when kept in chains, the shepherd's appearance deteriorates: the muscles may weaken or the back may sag.

And finally, keeping a pet on a chain is unacceptable for safety reasons: a shepherd dog can become entangled in the chain and injure its paw, or even choke on it.

IMPORTANT! The chain can only be used for short-term isolation of the pet, provided that someone from the family will be watching it at this time, but the animal cannot be kept on it permanently.

Choosing a location for the booth

The booth must be located in the correct area, regardless of what breed will live in it. Among the main requirements that should be observed when choosing a location for a kennel are:

The area should allow the dog to view the entire yard. This will allow the four-legged guard to control any movements on the owner’s territory. The place for the kennel should be 10-14 m away from the owner’s and neighbors’ houses. The kennel should not be placed near farm animals

Noise and unpleasant odors can negatively affect the health of your shepherd. The area for the dog house should be well lit by sunlight, but it is important to shade the dog’s “working” place from the scorching sun in the summer months.

Note! By placing the booth on a hill, you can achieve excellent visibility for the four-legged watchman and free flow of water from the site during heavy rains. Option of a ready-made kennel that can be purchased

Option of a ready-made kennel that can be purchased

House for a shepherd: materials, manufacturing stages

To build a doghouse, you will need wooden boards made of coniferous trees. They have advantages over any other building materials:

• absorb unpleasant odors;
• environmentally friendly;
• safe for animals;
• wear-resistant (the service life of the kennel is 20-25 years);
• they are easy to work with;
• do not deform during operation;
• absorbing moisture, they do not swell.

The shepherd's doghouse is made from wooden boards. This material meets all the comfort and safety requirements for four-legged animals.

To build a kennel for a German Shepherd you will need:

• 15 boards 20 centimeters wide, about 1 meter high, 2-4 cm thick (the price of one piece is approximately 300 rubles). All boards must be the same size, visually attractive, without cracks or pores;
• self-tapping screws;
• nails;
• slate for the roof. This material does not make noise from the rain, the dog will not be scared. You will need about 2 square meters (the price of one is 500-600 rubles). Smooth or wave will do, focus on the appearance - choose the one you like best;
• drill;
• roulette;
• screwdriver;
• stapler

Standard do-it-yourself kennel drawings for a German Shepherd are presented below. In your work, focus on them:

Using this drawing you can build a booth with a porch. The shepherd will like to rest on it in dry and sunny weather

Using this drawing you can assemble the simplest doghouse for a shepherd. The process will only take a day or two

Drawings are not a guide to action, but rather a vector, a direction. You can change sizes to suit the size of your dog.

The process of building a house for alabai begins with creating a frame. They lay the floor, then nail the walls to it, then the roof.

The floor must necessarily consist of two layers of wood. Between them is insulation, namely mineral wool.

It is inexpensive (a package with 6 square meters of insulation costs 600-700 rubles)

The bottom layer of the floor is reinforced with roofing felt for waterproofing (a meter costs about 50 rubles).

Important: in this way you can insulate not only the floor, but also the walls of your home. If you are going to build a booth with double walls, add 2 times more material to the project than indicated in the instructions above

This is true if you live in the North or if it rains often and for a long time in your region.

The roof can be gable or straight. It will be more spacious under a gable dog, and warmer under a straight one. The basis of the roof is made up of the same boards. And slate is placed on top.

Important: do not leave gaps so that water cannot get inside. Place a layer of roofing material between the wood and slate

It will act as waterproofing.

A do-it-yourself kennel for a German dog must have a hole; it can be made oval or square, depending on the architectural features of the kennel.

The opening in a shepherd doghouse can be oval or square at the owner’s discretion. The main criterion is comfort for the dog.

To quickly and correctly build a house for a dog, watch the video instructions:

Watch this video on YouTube

General requirements for enclosures

In order for an animal to feel comfortable in a furnished enclosure, a number of requirements must be met:

• the structure must be protected from moisture and direct sunlight;
• a booth is installed inside the outdoor enclosure, and bedding is installed in the indoor enclosure;
• the dimensions of the enclosure are selected based on the size of the animal;
• the design should be convenient for maintenance - cleaning, changing water and feed.

When building an enclosure, it is important to remember that it will become the dog’s main habitat, so it is necessary to take into account all the nuances so that your four-legged pet feels safe and comfortable:

• for small representatives of breeds (not exceeding 50 cm at the withers), the enclosure should exceed six square meters in area;
• for those whose height at the withers is within the limits of 65-70 cm, a structure with an area of ​​eight meters or more will be erected;
• Breeds exceeding 70 cm require a spacious enclosure with an area of ​​about ten meters.

When treating the floor, if it is an outdoor enclosure, you should remember that wooden boards (the main material) should not fill the entire space, some areas should be left in their natural form

Different coating options are possible depending on the characteristics and habits of the pet. When designing walls, it is important not to make them blank, since it is important for dogs to observe the environment and your movements. It is best to build all walls (or just the front part) using lattice material - forged, welded parts, or chain-link mesh. For blank walls, “breathing” components are suitable - wood, brick.

The roof should cover the entire territory of the enclosure; the roofing material can be anything, but for thermal insulation it is better to select wooden bases, and for sound insulation - a layer of soft material. It is preferable for the door to open inward, which will contribute to security; locks on both sides of the door will serve the same purpose.

Installing a booth is one of the most important points in arranging a personal place for a pet; in other cases, it is part of the main enclosure.

An important aspect is also the future location of the enclosure. Choosing the right location is not difficult; there are a number of tips and recommendations:

there is no need to place the enclosure close to noise sources, this will unnerve the animal; It is better to set up a place closer to the home, so that the dog can see the front door of the house; elevation is preferable to lowland, since the dog will observe what is happening on the site and does not risk being flooded during precipitation; it is important not to allow places that emit a strong odor to be close to the enclosure, this will damage your four-legged friend’s sense of smell; the entrance should be placed on the east or west side; any other location may cause inconvenience in different seasons.

In order not to miss a single aspect when constructing a room for an animal, you should initially carefully consider the drawing, which will indicate the factor - whether the pet is planning a permanent home or not; this will help determine the future foundation or its absence at all.

It is important to draw a boundary between zones - a feeding area (tiles and wood are used for laying out), a walking area (soil, grass), and calculate the dimensions of a wooden platform (a booth is placed on its territory)

Required materials and tools

Before you start creating the ideal enclosure, you need to decide on the choice of the most suitable material and stock up on the necessary tools.

To build an enclosure for a private home you will need:

1. Metal rods, profiles and corners (their number depends on the size of the enclosure).
2. Channel.
3. Profile pipe.
4. Tongue and groove boards.
5. Bolts, screws, screws.
6. Cement mortar, bricks or concrete pillars.
7. Roofing material.
8. Primer and paint.

Tools:

1. Welding machine.
2. Jigsaw.
3. Screwdriver or screwdriver.
4. Electric drill.
5. Sanding machine or sandpaper.
6. Plane.

Choosing a floor covering

Tongue-and-groove boards of coniferous wood have proven themselves well as flooring. They have low thermal conductivity and water permeability. Cement and concrete should not be used as flooring, as this will cause the development of many colds in your pet. It is not recommended to use asphalt as a floor, as it has low wear resistance and releases carcinogenic substances (benzopyrene and lead) in the heat. In conditions of elevated air temperatures, asphalt releases harmful substances. The floor will be correct if it has a slight slope. This facilitates water drainage when cleaning the enclosure or in rainy weather.

When assembling, the edges of the boards fit tightly together

Walls

Metal gratings on the walls must be primed and painted. According to international standards, the distance between the bars of the grill should be from 8 to 10 cm. However, you need to take into account the size of the animal: the larger it is, the wider the step between the bars. It is preferable to use rods with a round cross-section, because the square cross-section reduces the viewing angle. The grill bars must be checked for any remaining sharp edges, drops or smudges formed during welding. These sharp fragments must be removed and the grate surface thoroughly sanded.

Wooden wall coverings should be made of coniferous wood. The resin in this wood does not allow moisture to pass through and is an excellent insulating material. The boards must be carefully sanded and butt-fitted. This will protect the animal from splinters and other injuries. The surfaces of wooden walls must be treated with an antiseptic that is safe for pets.

Roof and door

The roof is covered with various materials (slate, metal tiles, corrugated sheets, etc.) The door is made of boards or metal rods. It should open into the enclosure and have an internal and external bolt.

Compliance with all requirements when building an enclosure is the key to your dog’s health

When creating an enclosure for apartment conditions you will need (for a metal structure):

1. Metal rods or prefabricated metal sections.
2. Wire.

Tools:

1. Soldering iron.
2. Pliers.
3. Wire cutters.
4. Fine file.

For a wooden structure:

1. Wooden planks and bars.
2. Door hinges (small).
3. Latch or cord.

Tools:

1. Wood saw.
2. Screwdriver.
3. Sandpaper.
4. Self-tapping screws.

Kinds

The pet house can be built with a pitched or gable roof. In some cases, a vestibule or enclosure is added. Sometimes combined options are built, with a vestibule and an enclosure at the same time. The structures are insulated or left cold. The choice of building should be influenced by the climatic factor, and not by appearance or material savings.

The German Shepherd is a large guard dog; it needs not only shelter from cold and bad weather, but also a proper place to walk. If she does not move freely around the territory, then there must be an enclosure or chain of sufficient length.

Let's take a closer look at the options for dog kennels and find out the advantages of each of them.

Single-pitch

Dogs love this type of building because of the opportunity to lie on the roof, where it is closer to the sun and has a better view.

Gable

This option is preferable in climates with high rainfall. The roof design allows you to quickly get rid of water and snow.

With vestibule

It is needed in cold, rainy and windy regions. The vestibule makes it possible to retain heat in the booth itself; during rain, the animal will always be dry and clean. Feeders and drinking bowls remain under the canopy, the dog can use them even in bad weather conditions. The structure is covered with a flat or pitched roof.