any input or experiences are much appreciated!

My kennel is 10'x20'. The front half of it is wood decking. The back half has chain link fencing laid down over which the St. Augustine grass has grown and covered. To look at it, you would not know the chain link is there, but it is effective to keep the dogs from digging or trying to get out.

This set up allows them to use the grass section as their bathroom. Clean up is easy and if Mother Nature doesn't wash everything down once in a while, I can use the garden hose to water the grass section and keep everything washed down.

I don't know if my set up is "ideal," but it works for me. The dogs are only in there on the one day a week the pool guy is showing up anyway.

I’ll shoot!

I have a “pen” in the back that is made of a picket fence and surrounds an 8’ x 8’ shed. The pen is 20’ x 20’ and is really just used as a potty area now. We uses a product called Cedar Dry for the substrate and it works great. It smells nice, keeps things dry, and is easy to clean. I use an “apple picker” (horse poop scooper) to clean solid waste, and once a week I “fluff” it up to circulate the wet. The dogs both like to lay in it and roll, (especially after a fluffing!) I use a 6 inch layer over cement that I can remove and spray down four times a year with bleach or some other disinfectant.

For my “kennel” I use a product by the same manufacturer called Dry Stall. Same thing, a layer (here 3 inches) over cement. (There are 2x4s attached to the outside that hold it all in, and flip up for the spray down). I find it is nicer than gravel or some such on their feet. And is still easy to keep clean if there is an accident. It is also very drying. It is great for fleas because it dries out their eggs and larva, but I keep this in mind with their feet, and provide a raised platform for resting.

They can’t dig in either, maybe they did at the beginning, but figured out real quickly that it was pointless and don’t now. They also stay clean unlike when it was on just dirt, and well drained.

Both products are made for horses, and for out door use (as opposed to inside the stall) so hold up well, but I often replace it to keep things clean and fresh. They also keep things looking very sharp and looking nice. My runs aren't eye sores like they used to be. These products are available at feed stores.

that is great information. thanks. i was curious if anyone has had experience or issues with treated wood irritating the skin or if it was bad for the dogs to lay on?

I used pavers for mine beause I did not want a permanent slab. I would think that the wood hold urine and would take longer to dry. I wash down the pavers every other day. I probably don't need to but it's my routine

I think that the time elapsed after treatment (or building if new) would make all of the difference, that is if there was a sensitivity. I have had decks without any problems.

Would your dog choose to lay on the wood vs. a bed?