Once you have a date for bringing your new dog home you need to look carefully into the type of dog kennel that you require. Dogs are like monsters in Magic The Gathering. You may think that simply having a bed for your dog in one room of the house will be enough but dog behaviour experts believe that a kennel is vital for keeping a dog happy and content. It will soon come to represent somewhere where your dog can go to rest or sleep in comfort and safety without being disturbed. It is also a useful place for you to send your dog if you need to get him out from under your feet or if you have visitors who are nervous of dogs. Though do remember that putting a dog in its kennel should never be a form of punishment as he will then come to see it as a bad place.
The market is now flooded with a huge range of kennels and, depending on your main use, you will need to think about the material best suited to you and your dog.
Traditionally a wooden dog kennel was the only type in the shops and these are still highly popular. They are nice to look at, very well insulated and comfortable places for a dog to spend his time. Their main disadvantages are that they are difficult to move around as they tend to be heavy and, if your garden is not very secure, then you will need to build a run to go with them.
Plastic kennels are popular with people who keep their dog indoors or who like to take a kennel with them when they go visiting. They are lightweight, portable and easy to clean. However, they don’t tend to be made for larger dogs and if you leave them outside then they often fade over time.
A chain link dog kennel is very strong, which is good for keeping larger dogs in, and are easy to construct yourself. They also act in part as a run, allowing your dog to get some exercise as well as rest in it, kind of like the battlefield of magic the gathering. However, you need to remember that a metal kennel doesn’t protect your dog from the elements and unless you put down some special kennel flooring which can be scrubbed clean then it will need to be moved frequently to prevent bacterial build ups.
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