We live on 3 acres and have no fencing. We are going to be setting up an outdoor 10x20 kennel for our puppy.
On one part, I plan to have a raised kennel flooring...however we need to decide what is best for the rest of the flooring. I don't want to have our grass and dirt, as there are a lot of rocks and I don't want the puppy to chew or swallow rocks. My husband is thinking those outdoor 12x12 stone tiles. Do you all think there is a better option?
I've seen the dog turf stuff, which is great, but is just way too expensive for an area that large.
A soft surface is best for their bones and joints, I would go with grass if possible. They sell lawn squares for fairly cheap, you can just put it over your current grass if you worry about rocks.
Tile with paver sand in between will work.But tiles absorb heat and radiate it back on your dog so a shade cover would be mandatory.I wouldn't worry about a hard surface in a small area like that.He won't be running and jumping in there to cause harm.A small section of soft grass would be appreciated I'm sure.
We used horse stall mats. They're rubber, but sturdy enough that the horses couldn't chew through them. Much more forgiving than concrete. Easy to clean also.
Ours are about an inch or a little less thick but heavier than 1/4 inch. Sorry, too lazy to get up (sore back). I believe that Home depot has interlocking square ones, probably not for outdoor use. Local trainers use them in their indoor facilities.
I just bought a roll-up plastic shade for the Summer, if it ever gets to be Summer. And I planted fast growing deciduous shrubs, native to the NW (Indian Plum) so the sun can come in the kennel in the winter.
a little pricey but IMO these are the best mats because not only does pee and rain go through, so does dirt and pebbles. a kennel my ex-wife worked at used them.
I like the rubber horse stall mats much more than the ones with the holes, which are probably meant for people to stand on, and probably wouldn't be much of a barrier for an aspiring escape artist.
Look, the horse mats are nearly indestructible, and the are so heavy that they're difficult to move.
Fyi i put down fencing, then 12 x 12 concrete pavers, and topped it with the horse stall mats. No digging issues.
Do they get hot? In my mind beach sand or pavement seem to get much hotter, but in any case you want to provide decent shade for your dog, even if it's walking on nice cool grass being exposed to direct sunlight during the summertime is cruel treatment.
Good luck to you!
Bruce
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