A dog enclosure, also commonly called a ‘dog kennel’, or ‘dog kennel run’ in Australia is one of the best ways to keep your dog out of harm’s way, or to prevent him from completely wreaking havoc around your yard. Although not every dog needs a dog enclosure, dogs that are kept in a non-secure backyard, dogs that have behavioural issues, or racing/dangerous breeds should be kept in dog enclosures.
However, it’s incredibly important to keep your dog in a proper dog enclosure, to ensure it has enough space to be comfortable and to stay confined with no chance of escaping. That being said, when shopping for dog enclosures, there are a couple of important factors to consider.
First and foremost, you need to consider the size and height of the enclosure. This will depend on the size and shape on your yard, and of course, your dog. Generally, bigger is better, but there are exceptions to this rule. Some of the most important things to consider when picking size and height are how much time will your dog spend inside it and the purpose of the enclosure.
If your dog is going to spend a bigger part of the day inside the enclosure, it should be bigger. For smaller dogs, a 2×2 metre area might be good enough. For medium dogs, you might want to consider at least a 3×2 metre area, and for a large dog, you should consider a 4×3 metre enclosure. If the purpose of the enclosure is to satisfy council requirements, then you need to match their minimum requirements. If it’s for correcting the behavior of a dog, you might need a smaller enclosure.
There are two basic types of enclosures based on how they’re constructed: chain mesh and welded wire panel.
Chain mesh enclosures are cheaper because the construction can be folded into a relatively small package, which reduces both shipping and manufacturing costs. However, they may take more effort to set up, and they’re typically fixed in shape and size, making it difficult to expand them. Furthermore, they aren’t as strong as welded wire panels, so they might not be suitable for larger breeds.
Welded wire panel enclosures are permanently welded onto a metal tube frame, which makes them harder and more expensive to transport. However, these enclosures are much stronger, due to the fact that they’re built using individual wall panels. Plus, they’re more flexible in terms of shape and size. All you have to do is loosen the joints and rearrange the panels or add extra panels to expand the enclosure.
