Looking back, what would you have done differently?

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:28 am

I have to disagree, "no slick finish"! I've busted my butt on the slick finish of the carport when it was only wet, let alone what it would become in the winter freezing temp's.
Water/bleach and a good stiff push broom will clean the "rough coat" finish of the floor, without the risk of broken bones. Or, you could do as the county does and sand the floor before you attempt travel on it...lol

That reminds me, I need to get the 50# bags of oil absorber to put in the back of the van & suv. The weight is great help for "keepin' on" and if you get stuck, you just bust open a bag and poor some out in front and behind the tires to gain traction. I guess that's my winter travelers tip...Patch

DarrinG · Post by **DarrinG** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 5:44 pm

Patch, if you get on a CB these days, dont call anyone "good buddy" unless you want to tell everyone you're a queer! My how things have changed!

Post by **Bev** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:07 am

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:41 pm

Don't worry Darrin. Really sad isn't it...Patch

Beagles_BlueticksJM · Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:57 pm

Description: 8x8 shed with indoor dog houses, and 2 12x6coming off the sides. Rock ground for the ground in the kennals

What I would have done differently: not made the dog houses so big, it is hard for such a small dog to warm up such a large space in winter, or i would have put wind-blocks inside the house. Left the floor in the kennal dirt until I got ahold of some bricks or something, the rock is horrible for clean up

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:14 pm

I have had Gravel, Dirt and concrete kennels and have to say none of them were easy to care for. My kennel now is all concrete and i hate it. If i were to start over this is what i would do.

Fence in a large space at least a 50 x 50 for the males and 50 x 50 for the females. Build one large dog house in each where they can all sleep together. Make a centrally located pole shed to feed under and keep supplies. They have plenty of room for exercise and will learn to get along after awhile. Open the gate once a week and go inside and mow the grass. Mother nature will take care of the waste.

This would work good for no more than 4 dogs on each side as they only problem would be to many dogs would turn the sod to dirt.

I have concrete now and spend more time cleaning than running and it seems the dogs never look as good as they do when on the ground where they can romp and play and sun themselves. You don't have to shovel snow or clean poop.

VABEAGLER

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:14 am

Bev this is great I am putting the finishing touches to the secondary kennel (12 X 20 ) with 6 runs. Hopefully the main Kennel will be built (24 X 60) in the spring. Why a secondary kennel? I break pups in the pen and the idea is that an outside dog will never be boarded within the main kennel. also we can work out the kinks from the first kennel.

Briarhoppers · Post by **Briarhoppers** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:55 pm

I have a 45x50 ft pen and keep 5 beagles in it. I have one large dog house 3x4 and they all sleep it in and get along fine for the most part. The first 8 ft. of the pen is framed up w/ 4" of pea gravel. They spend the majority of the time in the pea gravel as that is closest to the house. Then I also have right off of this big pen two 8x12 smaller pens w/ pea gravel for when I need to seperate out a female or if dogs aren't getting along, etc.

Works well for maintenance as dogs do 90% of their business in the back corner of the pen. Down side is if you get an escape artist in the pen he will get out eventually. Also, there is the occasional dog scrap but this has been very minimal. Best thing I like about a big pen is that the dogs can act more natural - playing and running around. They sleep most the day, but seems like early and late each day they all get into a big game of tag!

Bopeye · Post by **Bopeye** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:38 pm

Pete,
That's exactly what I'm fixing to do. I didn't know of anyone else doing this, but it's good to see a couple folks post that do it.
I went and bought 200 feet of 6' tall chain link fence and am planning to enclose a 50'x50' area for my females. I'll keep the male in a 7'x13'x6' kennel. I had two accidental matings, NO MORE!! The dogs from both matings seem to be turning out real good, but I darn near ruined a good female.

Any thoughts or comments Pete, VaBeagler or anyone else?

I have one female that can climb over a six feet tall fence so I will either put chicken wire on the top or a 'lectric line. I'm also planning on digging a small ditch and have the fence about six inches or so underground. Any thoughts on that?

C'ya

DarrinG · Post by **DarrinG** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:13 pm

James, my hunting/trialing buddy has a setup similiar to what you're talking about here. Let me say quickly that he too buried his fencing about 1/2 ft and the next day all his hounds went running through the yard. They dug under the fence in no time flat. He then went and bought a couple of rolls of welded wire and attached it to the bottom of the fencing and created a apron to the fence to keep them from digging out. It worked. Then he had 3 of his hound start climbing the fence and jumping out. He then had to get an electric fence charger (he bough a solar-powered one) and run one strand of electric fence wire around the top of the fencing.

His dogs stay in the big kennel now and dont get out!

Briarhoppers · Post by **Briarhoppers** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:57 pm

Bopeye,
So far I haven't had any diggers (keeping my fingers crossed), but I do have a climber and they can be frustrating! I have tried every thing to include a shock collar on this dog and I haven't been successful in breaking him of climbing. I finally, got fed up and ran 2x4 across one of the 8x12 pens and put a complete wire roof on it. Its been over a week and he hasn't escaped! Some dogs are just escape artist and its amazing to see what they will do to get out - can also be dangerous for the dogs.

I would recommend putting some pea gravel down at least in a portion of the pen as you will have a muddy mess this winter if you don't. I have used the apron concept in the past on bird dogs and it has worked well.

Best of luck on building the dog lot!

-Pete

pine top · Post by **pine top** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:31 pm

just finishid my kennel it goes alittle somthing like this 16by 70 all under one roof 6ft walk way 4by 10 runs 8 by 16 area for feed sink and table water suply under slab one stub up every other pin with t on top for lik/its slab fineshed smoth as glass 4x10 area has a 6in fall with 8in pvc pipe cut in half this runs from end to end for wast this dumps in to 8in pipe that goes down hill 80 ft into the woods behind the kennel two rows of 4x8x16 in blocks lade in front of each pin gates 4x5 2 in above blocks swing in dog houses 2ft x 2 1/2 ft i put one 2x4 along backe of pin sat dog house on the 2x4 scerwed it down used i bolts and cable to suspend front from the 2x6 rafters nothing touching the ground front of house about 15 in from slab 2x4x6 tied wire not welded what would i change nothing cost to much

jerry carter
laurel ms arha lp state rep