Hi. I am planning to use a small storage shed 6*8 insulate it and cover with plywood, have a doggie door put in or a Mr. Ed style door. put a regular hard plastic dog house inside. Surround it by six foot chain link fence, with one foot cement border, Question are. what would be the best material to put in the middle of the run for cleaning and health? Has anyone see any drawback on this idea? Has anyone use something like this? I think it will also hold up in the winter weather of NC. Please give some feedback I want to do a good job from the start. Dan

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the boards. My preference for runs are painted concrete with sand mixed into the paint to prevent slipping but I realize this isn't very economical and very permanent and requires a runoff for water. Another option people use is landscape pavers, which require sand which while great for drainage imo is pretty cruddy to deal with bugs like ants, and bacteria. There are also some folks who use pea gravel but it's not my preference due to the sanitation issue.

Not that I wish to deny you your shed but dogs tend to be wood chucks when left to their own devices. One of the best shed/run designs I've seen over the years was a shed with a dog house built into the side of it with a mud flap door. Inside of the door was the space for a dog house with a locking top on it so the dog didn't have free access to the rest of the shed, the little house could be easily cleaned, but had a nice warm space to curl up in out of the wet and wind.

BTW... don't leave any exposed wood edges available to a dog. They'll chew it 9 times out of 10. If you must give them an edge cover it with sheet metal.

Thanks Melissa, I thought I had a good and warm place for my dog, I understand about the chewing, If any successful idea with pictures, out there, I really would appreciate it. Before I spend much money for something that would cause harm to my dog.

http://www.datazap.net/sites/2008/Website/Dog_Kennels/B_and_B/largekennell.jpg

This is pretty close to what my neighbor uses for her Westie. For a larger dog I would want at least a 5 x 10 run.

That is real nice Melissa, It is something like that i have in mind, just not the same form. I will keep working on it. My pup is not due to be with me until April. Thanks

The boarding kennel I own is a rented building and built by the owner who now rents it to me....so I didn't create it. But the outer runs are sloped concrete with a lightly textured surface for some traction and drainage. Then they open to a 'yard' of pea gravel. The gravel is three inches or so deep and I am sure originally had different draining base....it is pretty much dirt now (built in 1993) To sanitize the yard I just spray it down at least a couple times a week. Depending on business I do it every day even. Usually it is bleach, sometimes odoban or some other kick butt ammonium chloride type disinfectant. I don't have trouble with smell or health. The yard is constantly and immediatley poop scooped so that helps a lot.

Years ago I worked at a kennel (my life has come full circle) that had gravelled runs (bigger than pea gravel) and they were nasty. This place did not keep up with sanitation (I was the best worker she had had in years and I was mid teens.) so it really was not a good choice. Beat dirt but that was about it.

The ground cover that I have used in runs was actually horse bedding called Dry Stall . It is a volcanic aggregate similar to pumice and is light/white in color. It does require adequate drainage and will need to be rinsed down the same as pea gravel with bleach or simple green or whatever your favorite safe, outdoor cleaner happens to be.

We dug down eight inches, put down tight fitting pavers at a slight slope with the bottom edge having an extra twelve inch by six inch trough. We back filled with three inches of slightly larger than pea gravel and also filled the trough with the gravel as well. Over this we filled to the top with the Dry Stall product. I personally liked the Dry Stall better aesthetically and it gave a nicer feel to walk on than gravel. It is VERY easy to scoop and provides excellent drainage.

They also have a product called Best Cedar as well that is a cedar shaving that is a natural fly/flea repellent and has a very nice aroma. The company sell each separately or together as Cedar Dry, and while I personally like the stark white look of the Dry Stall best, I love the nice smell of the mix. It is just a little tougher to spray down with a hose... They will send a free sample if you request

*NO, I don't work for them, I just like their product and since many dog people don't look to horse bedding an option, I like to share *

As an extra thought, we found that if we installed a six inch high wall around the whole fenced area it helped to keep the ground cover inside the kennel and not spread out everywhere on the lawn. Also, if the dog is encouraged to use the restroom in one specific area, away from the gate or front of the run, it helps with the cleanliness. To encourage this there are “Pee Posts” sold at various pet stores that are infused with stink (don’t leave one, even new in your car on a hot day ) that encourage the dog to relieve themselves there. And most males prefer to aim at something (we actually had a red, plastic fire hydrant filled with rocks that could be washed down). If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but a pile-o-poo at the gate where the dog passes back and forth as he sees you coming is no fun either.

Thanks Sonya and Jessica, Good information, I will look into those products, A friend of mine suggested instead of a concrete border, to use the cow, or horse mat. Along with your info. I know I will do a good job for my dog. The edges of wood will be covered by a ninety degree aluminum cover to prevent chewing as much as possible. Thanks once again. Dan

 Quote: JessicaKromer

The ground cover that I have used in runs was actually horse bedding called Dry Stall

Hi Jessica - does this product get into the dog's coat? My dogs spend time in their runs/pens, but are also house dogs. Although I think this product is great, I've avoided using it for the dogs because I was worried they'd be bringing it inside and I'd have a gritty mess to deal wtih.

To the OP, this is what I did for my runs:
I scraped away the topsoil and then used our tractor blade to slope the area so water would easily drain off. Next, I put down a geotextile filter fabric (so the rock wouldn't sink into the dirt) and covered it with mesh (to prevent the dogs from digging throught the rock and pulling up the fabric). I topped it with 3-4 inch river stone.

The stone I used is too large, which makes it difficult to pick up after the dogs - I have to really spray it with a hose after I pick up, to get it totally clean. My husband picked the larger stone because he thought it would be less likely to end up in the adjacent grass.

I also have horse stall mats in each run, as well as a dog house, so the dogs have somewhere comfortable to stand and lie down.

I would have done concrete, but didn't want something so permanent, just in case I decided to move/eliminate the runs someday. I'm planning to top dress the rock with a smaller material (was thinking pea gravel), in order to make clean-up easier.

Thanks konnie, I will post that question to the dry stall personnel, whoa! so many things to consider, But, with all the input, I can really make an inform decision. Dan