My dog run construction

[brettguise]

So I have asked for advice on the Labrador, purchased the Labrador which I pick up Sunday evening and picked peoples brains on the dog run. A combination of everything suggested and I have come up with the following.

 

I reused slabs for the base of the dog run that can be easily hosed, originally it seemed most clinical to use a concrete base but when it was priced at £180 and then I couldn't take it with me when I plan to move house in the next couple of years I decided to use slabs. The sand and cement to fix them in place cost me about £50 and the hardcore I got from my neighbour who had a lot of old broken slabs and bricks from removing rubble in the garden.

 

I purchased the dog panels from - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8cm-bar-Galvanised-dog-run-panels-dog-cage-ALL-SIZES-/330409347033?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&var=&hash=item4cedee87d9#ht_4526wt_906

 

They are on offer at the minute, total for 2 x 1.5m panels and 1 x 1.5m panel with door was £144.50 delivered and they delivered them next day awesome service.

 

Shed I purchased from a local company, fully tongue and groove was impressed with the quality of it. Couldn't find a second hand one so bought the new one for £250.

 

Other various materials such as wood for inside, insulation for the dog section and screws hinges etc come to about £100.

 

Total - £550

 

 

 

This is the internal section just undergoing work, will post pictures once it is complete. The hole will be cut in the side for the dog to enter. The frame will hold two doors and then a piece of wood will go on the top at about 36" heigh to double up as a work bench. The dog will go into its small insulated section to sleep and can get outside when needed. As the hole will be cut into the side and the dog will sleep further down there shouldn't be much draft in the sleeping section.

 

Insulating the walls with either fiberglass wool or polystyrene waiting to see if I can get something on the cheap and lining it with thin plywood. Will put a piece of wood down on top of the boards to remove some draft and then some carpet in the bedding section. Will eventually change the floor to horse mat when funds allow. Going to see if the ply gets greasy or not from the dog, if it does I will staple some wipable matting to the walls as well.

 

I have got some cheap plaster beading the metal pieces 2.8m for £1.50 or something will grind it to different lengths and use that on the wooden edges to stop the dog from chewing.

 

 

 

What do you guys think? Some feedback would be much appreciated!

[lee-kinsman]

Well done!

 

Lee

Edited September 6, 2012 by lee-kinsman

[bodach]

Nice set up, if I was you I would look for some old aluminium angle maybe from old window frames and use it to cover all the exposed wood corners to stop chewing, cracking shed for the price.

 

Bod

[AlistairB]

Mine is a very similar design. As Bod says, use plasters edging or whatever its called to cover all the corners and edge round the entrance hole in the shed or you might come home to this like i did.

 

 

I've also had to line the fence with marine ply as the youngest one would be through that fence in 2 minutes flat. You might also want to consider some kind of roof as my labs would scale that fence given half the chance, if they hadnt aready eaten through it.

 

AB

[PERCE]

Nice set up, if I was you I would look for some old aluminium angle maybe from old window frames and use it to cover all the exposed wood corners to stop chewing, cracking shed for the price.

 

Bod

 

You can buy this in Wickes but it's not cheap, I get it from a local backstreet hardware store much cheaper.

[DJL4]

What do you guys think? Some feedback would be much appreciated!

 

The one minor thing I'd do is fill in the gaps between the paving slabs with cement, it'll help cleaning.

The setup looks very good and is about the same size as mine which houses four dogs so you've always got room for expansion ......

 

Best of luck with the Lab, good first choice.

 

DaveL

[Asa Bear]

Very nice pal.

[brettguise]

I have the metal edging already for the wood im finishing off the boxing hopefully tonight and have decided to insulate the walls still deciding on a cheap material preferably free. Going to see If I can find some polystyrene back of currys tonight lol. Im going to U nail chicken wire to the back fence to keep the dog in hopefully that will stop her from getting out of that one.

 

I was thinking of putting some smooth stones in between the cracks of the slabs for drainage rather than cement. Either than or ill just cement them got plenty left.

 

Perce my metal edging from wickes for 2.8m or 2.4m cant remember was only about £1.70 a strip ill just grind it to size. I got 3 long strips to do the inside of the box.

 

Oh another question as well, how big of a hole in the side of the shed for a Labrador? What have you guys cut. Much appreciated.

[kent]

A shouldn't fill the joints with stones, they will only wash out point them in or the place will stink and be something of a health hazard after a limited period. Hole size is reasonably irrelivent if you put a flap type sysem in, like the clear, transparent thick plasic used in loading bays. Its a fair job for the money, though i should have mixed that slab myself as £180 is a bit steep for your purpose. Mine is build on a heck of a slab mind but its also a very perminant arrangement

[malantone]

I have a dog flap with magnetic catches works a treat, I replaced the industrial type with plastic flaps as the draughts were serious, have a look

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3a70955cc7

 

I have a similar fence the panels are rubbish, chicken wire might work, I replaced the wooden panels with gravel boards.

Edited September 8, 2012 by malantone

[Fat Dog]

Looks good, my only thought would be where is the ****/water going ? I always surround the run with blocks and lay concrete sloped to a drain or gully. Makes cleaning up very easy. Good luck with the lab.

[brettguise]

Looks good, my only thought would be where is the ****/water going ? I always surround the run with blocks and lay concrete sloped to a drain or gully. Makes cleaning up very easy. Good luck with the lab.

 

Erm, watering the grass? It will have a roof so the hosing off bit would hopefully just sweep off lol.

[malantone]

Erm, watering the grass? It will have a roof so the hosing off bit would hopefully just sweep off lol.

that grass is going to stink if you continue to sweep urine and dung remains onto it far better trying to drain to the sewer, its not that big ajob to run a guley into a pipe across the garden in to the manhole.

Edited September 13, 2012 by malantone

[lumpy]

Mine is a very similar design. As Bod says, use plasters edging or whatever its called to cover all the corners and edge round the entrance hole in the shed or you might come home to this like i did.

 

 

I've also had to line the fence with marine ply as the youngest one would be through that fence in 2 minutes flat. You might also want to consider some kind of roof as my labs would scale that fence given half the chance, if they hadnt aready eaten through it.

 

AB

 

Its called angle bead but is as sharp as a razor, maybe not such a good idea if the dog is going to chew it !

[fenboy]

Excellent job , I insulated my inner box too, cement the joints or it will be a nightmare to clean once cemented you can clean with a pressure washer if needed.

I would also put somewhere for the water to run too , just dig a trench around the outside ans fill with gravel for a soak away , better than muddy grass.

[brettguise]

that grass is going to stink if you continue to sweep urine and dung remains onto it far better trying to drain to the sewer, its not that big ajob to run a guley into a pipe across the garden in to the manhole.

 

Ill look at making some sort of drainage.

 

Its called angle bead but is as sharp as a razor, maybe not such a good idea if the dog is going to chew it !

 

Ive made sure there's no sharp edges but I will keep an eye if it gets chewed.

 

Excellent job , I insulated my inner box too, cement the joints or it will be a nightmare to clean once cemented you can clean with a pressure washer if needed.

I would also put somewhere for the water to run too , just dig a trench around the outside ans fill with gravel for a soak away , better than muddy grass.

 

Thanks and I will look at the soak away idea as well to see what I can do on the ground im working on.

[Dickthomas]

nice

Edited September 20, 2012 by Dickthomas