KENNEL FLOORING FOR DOG RUNS

Can I start off by saying how much I HATE my dog’s kennel run! Oh the fencing is good so I’m happy with that. I did like the roof that I had on it (actually a tarp type of roof) until a bad winter storm blew it to shreds last year. What I do hate is the type of flooring that it has. It’s just a dirt floor with shavings. Without doubt, it is the worse type to have. Rain and snow = mud! Lots of it! Mud when it rains, mud when the snow melts, mud when you disinfect it. For now where I live, this is the only alternative that I have. I can’t put a permanent run on the ground.

Don’t even consider using a dirt or grass run for your dog if they are a digger. They can dig a hole under the fence and out they go! Also the dirt run is a breeding ground for fleas, worms and other undesirable yuggies! (new word)!

I used to have cement in my dog runs which I loved. I didn’t have any problem with the dog’s feet cracking and bleeding as I’ve heard from some other breeders. We used a fine enough grain without making it slippery. It was great to pick up after the dogs and a breeze to keep clean. The only thing is you must make sure you have something for the dog to lie on that is elevated off the cold hard cement. Sometimes I have seen dogs get calluses on their elbows from laying on this type of surface for too long. If you decide to use a cement run, make sure that you have the run a little elevated at one end so when you hose it down, there is good drainage and run off. Some people will put a sealant on a cement run, but if you’re not careful about choosing the right one, this can make it slippery when wet.

Some breeders have told me that they use patio blocks for their dogs run and like the cement run, they are very easy to take care of and disinfect.

When having a dog run that is put on the ground, it’s advisable to have wood shavings to pick up their droppings more easily and to keep the grounds clean. But with shavings, you must pick them up daily as the urine seeps into them and they can become smelly if not removed. And again, when it rains, you’ve got a whole run full of wet, smelly wood shavings.

There are other types of flooring you can use for your dog run. There are molded UV resistant plastic platforms that you might consider. These are elevated flooring systems so your dog doesn’t have to lie on the ground which can be painful if he has arthritis. Some of these plastic platforms trap the heat in the winter and coolness in the summer with the under body air chambers of the platform. They come in modular sections so are easy to install. Integrated channels help direct dog waste away from the dog’s living area.

Another alternative is a pea gravel run. I’ve never used this myself so I don’t know how easy it is to pick up. Like the cement run, you would definitely need an elevated platform for the dog to lie on. Again, if you have a digger, then a gravel run might not be the best for your dog either. This is not the best type of flooring for puppies as puppies love to put everything in their mouths. If they eat too much of the gravel, it can block up their intestines. Older dogs can do the same thing. If you use a gravel run, you need to rake it to keep it level. It’s fairly easy to keep clean as the urine runs right through it.

There are also different types of instant kennel flooring you might consider. One type is synthetic, perforated kennel tiles which are said to be resistant to warping and other damage by strong sunlight. These tiles are sturdy, strong and available in different colors. Liquid drains right through the tiles, and they're hygienic and easy to clean.

Another type, called "Instant Kennel Floor" is a sheet of flooring that can be stretched across the ground, and pegged into place. It's cheap, easy to install and comfortable for the dogs. It's also very portable. The woven design also allows liquids to drain through. Both of these types of instant kennel flooring are best suited for the small run or area than a long or larger run.

Other hard surface options might include masonry pavers, wood, and tile. The main drawback to hard surfaces is joint strain and splaying of the toes and as I mentioned earlier calluses.

Deciding on which kennel flooring to use comes down to price, convenience and durability. The cheapest, but in this writers opinion the least desirable is the dirt run. The cement run is probably the most expensive, but in my opinion, I like this one the best although I haven’t tried any of the others that I mentioned. They just don’t seem as desirable to me as the cement run. It’s permanent, easy to clean and attractive to the eye.

My rating: cement: (4), dirt: (1), pea gravel (2), others…..don’t know enough about!

ALL BY MYSELF.......SEPARATION ANXIETY

In my opinion, there are different degrees of separation anxiety and different ways that owners can cope with it. The German Shepherd is a people (or his master’s) dog. Because he is a pack animal his need to be with you is even stronger than let’s say the average household cat. He is the happiest when he’s with his owner. Nothing pleases him more than being with you. When he needs to be away from you due to hospitalization, showing, breeding, or even when you go out to the store and leave him behind, he suffers some sort of separation anxiety. Depending upon the nature of the dog (easy going, hyper, etc.) will determine how well he handles being away from you.

I must say that I never dealt with this condition myself with any of my dogs EXCEPT a couple of times that they got into the garbage can in the kitchen and turned it upside down! I have talked to other people who have dealt with this problem and its not any fun. Dogs that have this condition can become very destructive. Furniture, rugs, drapes, etc. have been destroyed by some dogs who suffer separation anxiety. I had to laugh when researching this topic. Someone suggested getting this type of dog another dog to help calm his fragile nerves. Yeah, right so the second dog can follow what dog number one is doing and they can tear up your house together! You open up the door to your house and surprise; nothing is still standing except the now two destructive dogs happily wagging their tails because “mommy” is home!

What causes this type of dog to suffer separation anxiety? There are a few theories. Some said it can be heredity. Others say many times it’s the alpha dog that may do this because he doesn’t like seeing part of his pack leaving without him. He has no one to be the boss over any longer. And then others say it is a lack of socialization and training on the owner’s part. Whatever the reason, the result is still the same and unless you have lots of excess money to spend replacing your belongings, the smartest solution is to train the destructive dog. A suggestion was made to try to use another door that you normally leave the house from and return to. The reason being is that a dog is a creature of habit. This might confuse him……..for awhile!

Some suggest leaving a radio on similar to what some of us breeders do for puppies to keep them company. Others sedate their dog and still others leave the dog in the crate while they are out. Leaving a dog in the crate that has separation anxiety can make him even more nervous to deal with. He is now totally confined and even more confused. Leaving him toys that have food in it to help distract him while you’re gone also was suggested.

The dog that is a kennel dog when left alone will usually pace up and down his kennel run barking and making a lot of commotion. Hopefully you live in a rural area where his annoying barking won’t bother anyone. Take a look at a dog in a kennel. If you open your door or look out your window and the dog sees you, what does he do? The majority of the time he becomes excited and starts to pace up and down or jumps up on the fence in hopes that you’ll see him and bring him in the house with you.

Look at a dog that is normally good in the house that doesn’t destroy anything when you leave. Even these dogs when you return act like you’ve been away for a hundred years. You are greeted with a very happy dog who welcomes your return with a tail that never stops wagging with an anxious, happy expression on his face.

Separation anxiety has caused so much aggravation to the owner of the dog that it is not unheard of that he takes the animal to the vet to be put down. If the owner hasn’t taken the time to train her dog, than in my opinion this is the lazy way to deal with the dog. I believe you owe it to your dog to properly train him before you resort to such drastic measures.

I also want to mention here my feelings about dogs that are sent away to be trained and conditioned for dog shows. Again this is my opinion and you may say I’m wrong and that’s alright because I’m going to say it anyway. I feel SOME dogs may be more suited for this than others. It is my feeling that ANY dog no matter what his temperament is like will still be a bit anxious in new surroundings perhaps with strange dogs barking in the runs next to him. He’s not in the house with you, but somewhere where nothing is familiar to him. Oh his temperament is good and he’ll adjust, but no one can make me believe that even this good natured dog doesn’t feel a little bit homesick for his owner and the environment that he is used to living in. No trainer or handler has the time to put into your dog the special things that you do with him. The dog is there for one purpose……training or conditioning. The trainer or handler has many other clients’ dogs to work with as well. He’ll put more time into training or conditioning your dog…..that’s why the dog is there, but he doesn’t have the time to give the dog the special love that only you give to him. I know that some dogs love their handlers, but he is still away from home and yes, “there is no place like home!”

Sometimes a dog needs to be boarded because you are on vacation. The dog’s feeding schedule may be different. Perhaps you feed your dog at 5 p.m. and the place that is taking care of your dog feeds him at 6 p.m. Well you and I know what it’s like around our houses when it’s our dogs supper time. In my house, my dog starts to whine and pace about an hour or so before her scheduled time of feeding. Imagine your dog in his new temporary place and they feed at a different time. He might be whining and pacing for a couple of hours.

I have heard some of the horror stories of dogs climbing fences, dogs escaping or dogs bloating that have lost their lives because they weren’t found in time. I feel if a dog bloats when he’s away, it’s because this dog was stressed. Again, you can disagree with me, but I feel that there is a connection between stress and a dog bloating. Naturally a dog can bloat for other reasons as well, but in some cases, I feel the dog was stressed.

German Shepherds who have good strong nervous systems should be able to cope with most anything. That’s why they are used in the military, the police department, search and rescue, etc. But these dogs are doing work with their masters so they have lots of one on one interaction with them. Many times these dogs live with their trainers to form a strong bond with them.

So dogs can and do have separation anxiety whether they are this way in their homes or they are away with someone else taking care of them. Some have this problem because of a poor nervous system but I believe that all dogs when separated from their owner have some sense of temporary loss not being with their master.

My rating: training and socialization of your dog: (4)