Could your dog benefit from a bit more exercise? Do you want to encourage your canine friend to spend a bit more time outside? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you should seriously consider creating an outdoor pen for your pooch.
For comprehensive guidance on how to perform this type of DIY task, be sure to read on.
Choose the size of the pen
Before you do anything else, you need to come to a decision regarding the size of the pen. The breed, size, and stature of your pooch will have a direct impact on the amount of space they require, so it’s important that you don’t embark on your DIY endeavor without first getting your measuring tape out and drawing up a blueprint. As a general rule of thumb, most active dogs that weigh between 20 and 60 pounds (dachshunds, beagles, whippets, etc.) need between 120 and 130 square feet of free space in order to feel comfortable and content.
Dog pen construction details
Building a dog pen isn’t the most challenging task in the world, but that doesn’t mean that you can afford to embark on this DIY endeavor without putting any thought into the design process. There are number of construction details that you can’t afford to forgo in this instance, some of which include:
Boundary height — larger dogs require larger boundaries
Roofing — if your local area is prone to experiencing heavy downpours of rain, it’s crucial that you build a roof that will be strong enough to keep your dog dry at all times
Flooring — your flooring choice should be based on the grooming needs of your pooch (dogs with short fur are able to rid themselves of dirt easily, whereas dogs with long fur actually attract dirt and subsequently fleas)
Materials — the temperament of your dog should have a direct impact on the materials that you use to create your pen (aggressive dog breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers, for example, are much better suited to metal pens as they’re harder to damage)
Give your dog a reason to spend time in the pen
If your dog doesn’t like the pen that you build for them, they won’t hold back in showing you what they think. Quite simply, if they don’t like it, they won’t spend time in it!
Don’t want your pen-building efforts to go to waste? If so, it’s imperative that you give your dog a reason to spend time in the space that you create for them. To stop your pooch from instantly becoming disengaged with their new pen, consider filling it with quality dog treats, healthy canine toys, and organic bully sticks… all of which are offered expertly on a monthly subscription basis. You could even add familiarities such as their dog house or kennel. This will provide your canine with relief from the sun on hot days as a bonus.
Make it fun!
A dog wants to have fun and play, so make sure that your outside pen provides this type of enrichment. This can come in the form of exercise equipment such as ramps, benches, obstacles, and pipe tunnels.
Want to create the perfect outdoor pen for your pooch? If so, be sure to put the above advice into practice.
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