We all want what’s best for our furry pals. Who wouldn’t?
Regardless of whether they’re active or not, they do require some sunshine every now and then. And when it’s time to go outside, they’ll need a space to protect them from the elements and keep them cosy and comfortable, such as a dog kennel or a temporary shade structure.
Fitting a nice outdoor leisure space for your dog can pose a challenge for new pet owners, but it’s actually quite simple and affordable. These housing structures offer protection and comfort to your furry pals and are a must for every household with an unshaded lawn or backyard.
If you’re looking to enhance your dog’s outdoor comfort, you may be overwhelmed with the amount of options that your dog can use as a temporary shelter, from wired crates to traditional kennels.
If you’re facing this exact struggle, that’s where we come in. In this article, we’ll give you a list of considerations you should make to help you know what to look for when sprucing your dog’s outdoor resting space.
Let’s jump right into it!
In This Article:
1. Clean Bedding and Feeding Areas
One of the first things to consider when building an outdoor living space for your dog is its ability to remain sanitary even after extensive use.
A not-so-well-kempt living space can cause your dog needless exposure to all sorts of sanitary risks. Unfortunately, the wrong dog kennel or outdoor space can make that nightmare a reality—and you could end up with a sickly and smelly dog.
Having a layer of separation where your pet’s waste won’t come into contact with its sleeping area can help reduce the risk of contamination from illnesses and bacterial growth. If your dog has its own kennel, a gapped one with a pee pad also helps in the off-chance that your dog defecates or urinates inside the kennel.
Furthermore, having a clean feeding area can also help prevent contaminated food from entering your dog’s digestive tract. In turn, this helps keep your dog’s health and well-being on the safe side.
By picking a kennel with gaps in its floor structure and a collecting tray, you can enjoy a convenient clean-up experience whenever the time comes to sanitise your dog’s kennel.
2. Proper Ventilation and Lighting
Another essential consideration to make when selecting a temporary outdoor shelter for your dog is proper ventilation and lighting. Good ventilation is key to ensuring ample airflow within this structure to keep your dog happy and healthy.
When air is stuffy, it can harbour bacteria and odours that can cause discomfort and even sickness to your dog.
Furthermore, stuffy kennels—a common temporary outdoor housing for dogs solution—also come with the same problem of being compact and devoid of light.
This can be stressful for dogs as they won’t be able to regulate their circadian rhythm properly, making them more irritable and aggressive.
As such, it’s essential to ensure that your dog’s living space is well-ventilated and properly lit.
Putting the pup’s living structure in a location with proper airflow and a good amount of light can make a big difference to their comfort and health levels. This can help your dog remain comfortable whenever he or she prefers to stay outdoors.
3. Spaciousness for Adult-Sized Pet
The usefulness of a dog’s outdoor resting area hinges on its ability to house your dog comfortably. If the kennel is too small to keep your dog, then your kennel’s utility won’t be maximised and your dog won’t be able to enjoy its space to the fullest.
While dogs like compact spaces, there’s such a thing as too tight. As such, be sure to choose a kennel that can snugly accommodate the size of your dog.
Beyond keeping the dog safe, it should also comfortably fit bedding, food bowls, water bowls, and toys while giving enough room for your pup to wiggle around.
When the kennel is spacious, your dog can relax more easily when the time comes for them to return to their den. As such, be sure to consider the size of your dog (their adult size, to be exact) before deciding on their new home environment.
4. Weather Protection
Outdoor kennels are a valid option to house dogs for households located in temperate regions, but they can also be used in more volatile temperatures if you pick the right one.
A well-designed kennel should be able to ward off snow, rain, and harsh sunlight with ease to keep your dogs dry and comfortable amidst harsh weather conditions.
Don’t be fooled: it’s still important to provide as much shelter as you can to prevent your dog from weather exposure and potential illnesses. However, having extra safeguards within your dog’s kennel can also be a big help.
Ideally, the structure should have shade and ventilation to prevent overheating and protect your pet from UV rays. You should also have kennel covers with you during colder and wet months to ensure rainwater doesn’t seep into the kennel. Some form of elevation can also help to prevent flooding.
5. Enhanced Privacy
Certain dog temperaments demand privacy and an exclusive area to rest on their own accord. Their kennel presents the perfect opportunity for that.
If your dog enjoys solitude, be sure to pick high-quality dog kennels with covered and private areas where they can retreat and relax without needing to be exposed to external stimuli. This enhanced privacy can help them maintain a sense of calmness where they can lower their anxiety.
A kennel with a solid wall or curtains in its openings can help give off the impression that it’s a safe haven.
You may also augment the kennel’s privacy by placing it in a cornered location where there’s not much foot traffic. This enhanced seclusion can help support your pet’s need for isolation and emotional well-being.
6. Fencing and Containment Measures
Some dog breeds are natural-born escape artists, able to dig through the dirt under fences or jump through open-roofed kennels to have their merry way.
Their cunning nature also allows them to scratch through kennels made of flimsy plastic material. Moreover, a few kennels can be unlocked from the inside, which can cause them to step outside and potentially roam to places they shouldn’t.
A well-fortified outdoor space has multiple safety measures in place to ensure that your pet remains contained when it needs to be. A deep-fenced lawn can be a good start.
A heavy-duty kennel with a strong locking mechanism also grants you, the pet owner, peace of mind knowing that your dog won’t go missing whenever they’re outside the house. Of course, keeping them in the kennel shouldn’t be a long-term solution.
7. Easy Transportability
Some outdoor dog structures double as transport hubs for your dogs.
If you plan to move your dog’s outdoor living arrangements from place to place, having portable grips on your kennel can be a lifesaver. Portable dog homes can make it easy for you to move your dog wherever it needs to go, whether it’s to the vet or on a road trip.
Furthermore, a transportable kennel helps ease the dog’s anxiety whenever they have to be transported as the kennel is an environment that’s already familiar to them. This is unlike a case wherein the pet has to be moved to a separate cage to be transported—which can heighten their anxiety and stress levels.
With a proper transportable kennel, you can move your pet around more easily. If you want that enjoy that enhanced comfort whenever you travel with your pet, then consider the kennel’s portability before making a purchase.
8. Aids in Training
A healthy dog is a smart one, and as much as possible, you want to give your pet all the right resources and tools to help them develop a sense of discipline and routine.
While a clicker is the most obvious choice for training your dog, training regimens can also be supplemented by the right outdoor dog kennel.
For example, crate training can be an effective method to help regulate your dog’s bowel and bladder, since they instinctively don’t want to soil areas where they lounge.
You can also put pee pads below the kennel (or in an accessible part of their outdoor space) to prevent a mess if they’re still in the process of learning how to control their bathroom schedule.
With the right combination of kennel training and treats, your dog can be trained appropriately and develop the right behaviour. In turn, this can keep them well-disciplined throughout their life, making them more easy to manage.
