Building
a two-room kennel will provide a warm, dry, outdoor
shelter. Make it large enough for the dog
to sleep or lie down in the inner room without
being cramped, allowing an extra 150mm (6in) to
the length and width measurements of the dog taken
when it is lying curled up. Make the outer
room half as wide as the inner one.
For the height measure from the floor to the top
of the dog's head when it is in a sitting position
and add 150 mm. Make the doorways shoulder
high and 50mm (2in) more than the shoulder width.
Add the length
and width measurements of the two rooms together
and make a floor to this size using 18mm (3/4
in) exterior grade Plywood. For a base,
build a frame the same size as the floor, using
50 x 100mm (2 x 4in) softwood timber. Fit
the floor to the base, using 32mm (1 1/4in) No.
8 woodscrews.
Make the walls and inner partition from 18mm exterior
grade chipboard with end walls cut at 45 degree
angles for a sloping roof. Cut doorways
in the partition and in one wall.
Use 18mm exterior
grade plywood for the roof panels. Join them at
the apex with plastic corner joints. Allow
50mm extra on the length and width measurements
of the roof panels to provide eaves. Cover
the roof with bituminous felt, held with galvanised
clout nails.
Assemble the
walls, base and inner partition using plastic
corner joints or screwing through short 25 x 25mm
(1 x 1 in) battens. For cleaning make the
roof detachable, held by cabin hooks.
Paint the outside walls and base with one coat
of primer followed by undercoat and gloss or a
wood preservative - ensure you check the product
used is pet friendly.
I realise this
is difficult with no picture but if you imagine
the base as a rectangular picture frame, place
the floor on top of this frame. The construction
is a bit like a doll's house with a central partition
inside. End walls and central partition
have pointed tops to hold a sloping roof.
Place the kennel
where the dog can see family comings and going.
Disinfect regularly, cover the inner room with
shredded newspaper, changed weekly.
courtesy of
http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/
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