From this article you can find out how a do-it-yourself dog enclosure is made: photos of outdoor and home designs made by yourself, unusual solutions and useful tips from experts. The text describes in detail the technology for the construction of structures intended for keeping animals, with visual materials and a detailed description of the entire process: the choice of drawing, materials and dimensions of the structure, followed by instructions for manufacturing.
The aviary will allow the dog not only to have its own place, but also to protect animals from bad weather and external hazards
Content
- 1 Aviary for dogs: photos of popular designs, their classification
- 2 Diy dog enclosure scheme: drawings and dimensions, choice of materials and design
- 2.1 How to make an aviary for a dog: basic recommendations
- 2.2 How to make an aviary for a dog with your own hands: choosing the best place for construction
- 2.3 Making an aviary for a dog with your own hands: photos of designs from different materials
- 2.4 Making kennels for a dog with your own hands: photos of designs designed for a pack
- 2.5 Calculation of the size of an aviary for a dog by the main parameters
- 2.6 Common mistakes when building a dog enclosure and expert advice
- 3 How to build a dog enclosure in the yard of a private house
- 3.1 How to build an aviary for a shepherd dog with your own hands: assembling a structure
- 3.2 Making a dog booth with your own hands: drawings and description of technology
- 3.3 DIY construction of a doghouse: drawings and dimensions
- 3.4 Do-it-yourself dog house construction technology from scrap materials
- 4 How to make an aviary for a dog with your own hands: video instruction
Aviary for dogs: photos of popular designs, their classification
Any dog who lives outside for a long time needs a special place where he can feel comfortable. This area should have a fence and the necessary amenities so that, if necessary, the animal has the opportunity to sleep peacefully, play and hide from the weather. To organize a space suitable for these purposes, it is enough to build an aviary for a dog that will meet all of its needs.
You can build a beautiful dog enclosure with your own hands from scrap materials or purchase a turnkey construction
When is an outdoor dog enclosure needed?
Medium and large sized dogs are kept outdoors. Small breeds are less hardy and need to be kept at home.
An outdoor dog enclosure is necessary in the following cases:
- The size of the animal does not allow keeping it in the house - experts recommend building enclosures for Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, Alabaevs, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Mastiffs and other large breeds.
- The need for temporary isolation of the animal - during construction work in the yard of the house or in the event of the arrival of guests, there is a need to protect the animal.
- Keeping a watchdog - if the animal acts as a watchdog, the aviary will serve as a home for the dog living in the yard. This structure will protect your pet from rain, snow and wind.
To keep a dog on the street, it is necessary to build an open or closed enclosure with sufficient area for the free movement of the animal
Many stores allow pet owners to buy an inexpensive outdoor dog enclosure of any size or modification ready-made or to order its manufacture. If you wish and have minimal skills in construction, you can independently build a beautiful and reliable house for an animal.
What are dog enclosures: photo and classification by type of construction
Before starting the manufacturing process, you need to determine what should be the structure that will stand in the yard of the house. In the photos found on the network, aviaries have different configurations and designs. The appearance of the structure depends on its purpose, the size and breed of the dog, the materials chosen, as well as the personal preferences of the owner of the animal.
Helpful advice!Regardless of the design chosen, it is worth taking care of wall insulation. Ecowool or polystyrene can be used as thermal insulation sheathing.
The aviary is necessary for puppies for educational purposes and also to protect them
Dog enclosure designs are:
- Temporary.
- Closed.
- Capital.
Temporary aviary constructions open. The territory allotted for keeping the dog is fenced off with a net or fence. For the arrangement of the internal space, a booth is installed and a flooring is formed. Such enclosures do not have a roof, since the animal is temporarily in them.
Closed structures belong to the category of intermediate buildings. For convenience, a flooring is formed inside and a booth is placed. This type of aviary is considered partially insulated, since the walking area is fenced off with solid walls on three sides. The fourth surface is in the form of a lattice to leave the animal the opportunity to observe what is happening in the yard.
The stationary construction of the dog enclosure must have a solid foundation with an insulated floor
Capital type aviaries have one translucent wall in the form of a lattice. The remaining surfaces are made solid and well insulated. Such structures have a flooring and a roof. A booth is placed inside or a special sleeping place is equipped. For this, part of the aviary is fenced off.
Features of enclosures for puppies and small dogs
In addition to outdoor enclosures, there are also home constructions that are used in living quarters for keeping puppies. Such products are small in size and very light in weight. Most of these enclosures are prefabricated.
Inside, you must definitely place:
- soft bedding;
- a bowl of water and food;
- a diaper or tray so that the dog can relieve itself;
- toys.
An example of a modular collapsible enclosure for small breed dogs
At home, open-air cages for Yorkies and dogs of other decorative breeds with miniature sizes are used. Some owners do not want to limit the freedom of their pet with such an obstacle, but there are many situations when you simply cannot do without such a design.
Important! An aviary is not a place of punishment for an animal, regardless of whether outdoor or indoor construction is applied. If the dog is inside, you cannot punish it.The animal should feel safe and positive about the time of its stay there.
Aviary for an apartment can be built from old furniture or purchase a lightweight collapsible structure
If your home aviary does not fit well into the area of the apartment, you can give preference to a clipper or cage. In this case, the dog's holding area will be more compact.
Ready-made kennels for dogs: turnkey prices
For owners of large and medium-sized animals, many companies offer to buy a ready-made outdoor dog enclosure. At the same time, buyers are offered the opportunity to choose a design from the catalog or create it to order based on the drawings or photos they like. Prices depend on the size of the structure, its configuration and the materials chosen for the construction.
Average prices of ready-made turnkey enclosures:
| Model | Size, m | Roof material | Wall material | price, rub. |
| Economy | 2x2 | professional sheet | metal frame and lining | 25000 |
| 2x3 | 29000 | |||
| 2x4 | 37000 | |||
| Insulated kennel for a dog | 1.2x1.2 | soft tile | metal frame and board | 30000 |
| 2x3 | 50000 | |||
| 2x4 | 60000 | |||
| Aviary Block House with observation windows | 2x3 | reinforced profiled sheet with lining | metal frame and block house | 60000 |
| 2x4 | 70000 | |||
| Aviary with winter road | 2x3 | professional sheet | metal frame and lining, insulation | 50000 |
| 2x3 (lattice lining around the entire perimeter) | 60000 | |||
| 2x4 | 60000 | |||
| 2х4 (lattice lining around the entire perimeter) | 75000 |
Note!The cost of finished structures does not include the price of the booth. When buying an aviary, it will cost about 7,000 rubles. The price of a booth without insulation is 4000 rubles.
Portable prefabricated aviaries are very convenient for use in a private home, as they can be easily dismantled or moved to another location
Diy dog enclosure scheme: drawings and dimensions, choice of materials and design
To provide the animal with good living conditions, before building a dog enclosure with your own hands, you should draw up a drawing. The layout of the future construction should take into account the main factors that can affect the comfort of use.
During the construction process, you need to take into account:
- dog breed;
- age category;
- floor;
- the nature of the location of the site;
- features of the location of the wind zone on the site.
Diagram of the design of a typical enclosure for dogs of large breeds
How to make an aviary for a dog: basic recommendations
The aviary will become a home for a dog, therefore, during the construction process, it is necessary to provide for all the nuances so that the design provides coziness, comfort and tranquility. It is very important that the animal is kept dry and warm. Here the pet will eat and sleep, spend most of the time playing, relaxing, and also looking after the territory.
The aviary can be placed as a separate building, annex or part of a household building
There must be enough space inside the structure for the animal to move freely. If an enclosure is being made for medium-sized dogs (up to 50 cm), such as spaniels or beagle, a minimum of 6 m² of floor space is required for optimal living. If it is planned to build an aviary for a husky or a Labrador with your own hands, then the internal area of the fence should be increased to 8 m². This requirement applies to all breeds with a withers height of 65-70 cm.
Related article:
Dog enclosure in an apartment: how to create a safe place for a pet
Varieties of home designs for pets, their advantages, advice on choosing and making your own hands.
For the construction of an enclosure for a shepherd dog (Central Asian, Caucasian) or Alabai, at least 10 m² should be allocated. It is desirable if there is more space. Having established the minimum size of the area, you also need to take into account the sex of the animal. Males and females need different housing conditions.
There must be a place in the aviary for bowls of food and water
For a female dog, it is necessary to provide for the presence of a vestibule and a maternity. These structural elements will be located inside the aviary. When puppies are born, they will not sit in one place, but will move around the territory during games. For this reason, the structure should be protected as much as possible from bad weather conditions.
For a dog, you will need to install a reliable and large booth. When making an aviary for an alabai with your own hands, it should be remembered that males are physically strong, therefore both the castle and the aviary itself should be as strong as possible. Otherwise, the dog will just break him.
For structures of an open type, it is necessary to provide reliable fasteners
How to make an aviary for a dog with your own hands: choosing the best place for construction
Choosing the best place is an important condition for building a good enclosure for an Alabai or a dog of another breed. Do not install the structure in a remote location. If the dog is isolated from people, he will bark loudly and worry. A fence near the fence isn't a good idea either. The animal will be constantly interested in people passing by the yard. A large dog can easily jump over a fence by choosing a snowdrift as a fulcrum in winter, for example. This can lead to a lot of trouble.
Important! Avoid placing the enclosure next to a compost pit or other sources of strong odors, otherwise the dog may partially or completely lose its sense of smell.
The aviary should not be located on the sunny side, so that the animal does not suffer from the heat in the summer.
The front of the yard will be the optimal location for the enclosure. In this case, the structure will be located near the gate leading to the house and the path. Thanks to this, the animal will have the opportunity to observe everything that happens around, being in an isolated shelter. It is not recommended to choose the lower part of the yard for construction. In this case, the aviary will be flooded with rainwater. In addition, dogs love an overhead view, so a slight elevation should be preferred.
If you place the entrance on the south side of the site, the animal will be hot in the summer. Only in cold regions is this zone allowed. But even in this case, it does not hurt if there is a tree nearby that gives shade, where the dog can hide from the sun.
The best option for the location of the aviary is considered to be the area near the house, so that the animal is not lonely and bored
If you make a do-it-yourself enclosure for a dog with a door on the north side, it is fraught with trouble. Precipitation will be a source of these inconveniences. If the region where the site is located is characterized by frequent snowfalls, in winter you will have to constantly clear these drifts in order to enter the aviary. This requires a significant investment of time and effort that the owner may not have.
For a comfortable stay, the size of the enclosure should correspond to the needs of a particular breed of dog
Making an aviary for a dog with your own hands: photos of designs from different materials
If future construction involves the manufacture of an enclosure for a large dog, intended for permanent residence, care should be taken to protect it from drafts. To do this, it is advisable to block the back wall and the adjacent wall.
In this case, you should use as building materials:
- bricks;
- type-setting wooden boards;
- thick grooved boards enclosed in metal frames;
- monolithic concrete;
- cinder blocks.
When choosing to build a wooden enclosure, all elements must be treated from time to time with safe antibacterial agents
It is better if the open wall faces south, southwest or southeast. For its manufacture, it is desirable to use metal rods. A metal frame and rods are suitable for creating a wicket.Dogs are smart, so they can easily open many locks. The locking device on the wicket must be reliable.
Important! It is not recommended to use a net for a dog enclosure in construction. Despite the fact that this material is more affordable than metal rods, it will last much less. In addition, the net can injure the animal if it breaks.
The aviary can be built as a small house, which will provide additional storage space for food, bedding and toys for the dog
The comfort of living is possible only if the base is warm and dry. For this reason, experts recommend taking wood for the manufacture of floors in enclosures for huskies and other dogs. The coating, formed from thick boards, provided that it is properly processed, will last long enough to protect the animal from drafts. For this, antiseptic agents are provided. These formulations provide protection against decay and mold. In addition, you need to take care of the absence of protruding nails and knots so that the dog does not get hurt.
For building the base, you can take concrete. However, in this case, the presence of wood flooring is mandatory, as well as ventilation under it. Materials such as concrete and asphalt should not be used as the only uncoated base. They can seriously damage the joints and claws of the animal.
Typical design of a watchdog enclosure
The roof structure can be any, the main thing is that it has a visor. The list of roofing materials recommended for use includes:
- slate;
- metal tile;
- professional sheet;
- soft roof.
An example of an open-type dog enclosure
When choosing a roofing material, it is better to give preference to coatings that have a high level of sound insulation. Dogs' hearing is very sensitive and during rain the animal will feel discomfort if the drops drum loudly on the roof.
Making kennels for a dog with your own hands: photos of designs designed for a pack
To contain a whole pack, you can build one structure that will take into account the needs of several animals. Such facilities are necessary in cases where several dogs are kept on the site or the owner is breeding them. Aviaries for two dogs or more animals that are most often found in the photo look like tunnel structures. They are good for keeping a pack, but they are not at all suitable for housing a single pet.
To keep a whole pack of dogs, they usually choose a one-piece enclosure structure, divided into zones for each animal.
Such designs consist of several separate sections with semi-trails. Each section should be covered with a canopy for 3/4 of its length. In this case, approximately 4 m² of internal space will be allocated for each dog. The width of the section should correspond to the length of the animal's body without the tail.
In order to save money, you can make a dog feeder with your own hands from wood, using a jigsaw to cut holes for bowls and a drill with screws to secure the structural elements.
When keeping two dogs in one enclosure, it is worth taking care of a sleeping place for each animal
Important! Sections of an enclosure with several dogs must be separated by deaf partitions, otherwise, during feeding, skirmishes between animals are possible.
The feeder is made in the following order:
- To begin with, a drawing with dimensions is selected for the manufacture of a feeder in an aviary for a dog.
- The markings in accordance with the drawing are transferred to the wood. For this, a furniture board or board can be used.
- Using a jigsaw, the material is cut according to the marking.
- Holes for screws are formed (drill 3 mm).
- With a jigsaw, circles are cut out for bowls and the corner parts of the parts are rounded off.
- All elements are sanded and connected with screws, after preliminary gluing.
An example of an enclosure design for four dogs with a separate feeding entrance
To make the feeder look neat, all slots and screw heads must be wiped with a putty designed for wood. Then the surface is again processed with sandpaper and painted in any color you like. For these purposes, only safe and environmentally friendly formulations are used so that the dog's health does not suffer during operation.
Multi-dog enclosure sizes are based on the breed and size of adult animals
Calculation of the size of the dog enclosure by the main parameters
To create a drawing, you need to know the dimensions of the structure. In this case, not only the area is important. The size of the dog enclosure also depends on a parameter such as height. The structure is designed in such a way that the animal can stand freely on its hind legs, without resting against the roof.
The dog cannot be kept in a small enclosure all the time, so it is necessary to determine the purpose of the building before construction begins
The minimum permissible length of the side of the enclosure is 2 m. This is enough for the animal to move freely, but for full comfort it is better to increase this parameter. In a large enclosure, the dog can live permanently. If it has a minimum size, you will have to release the animal twice a day or at night so that it softens and runs in the yard.
As soon as the dimensional parameters of the future design are determined, you can begin to develop a drawing of the dog enclosure. To do this, you can use ready-made projects or draw up a construction scheme yourself, taking into account personal preferences.
The size of the booth must correspond to the size of an adult dog
When developing a drawing of an aviary for a husky or a dog of a different breed, you need to add the required elements to the scheme of the future construction:
- Sleeping place is an area where a sleeping place is equipped or a booth is installed.
- A walking area is an area where the animal can actively move around, relieve its natural need and play. The larger this zone is, the better.
- Place for food - a couple of bowls are set up in this area. One of them contains water, the other contains food.
Scheme of the floor structure in the enclosure for year-round keeping of the dog
Useful advice! To simplify the feeding process in the aviary, you can provide a window to serve food without going inside. If the dog is tall, the bowls should be placed on a platform to accommodate the animal's height.
In the drawing, in addition to dimensions, you need to indicate:
- winter road border;
- open area for walking;
- the border of the platform;
- opening area of the wicket or front door.
Layout of the platform, booth, feeder and exit to the aviary
Preliminary drawing up of the drawing will allow you to rationally distribute all the elements of the aviary and calculate the required amount of materials, as well as avoid mistakes.
Common mistakes when building a dog enclosure and expert advice
You should not save on materials, especially for fasteners and amplifiers. The structure must be strong and reliable. It is not recommended to use slats, jibs and similar materials to strengthen the walls. A large dog will break such a structure at once.
The net must be fastened in such a way that the dog cannot be injured.
When developing a project, you shouldn't go deep into design. A decor that a person likes will create inconvenience for the animal. It is highly undesirable to use forged items and other decorations that can become a source of injury to the animal. A dog's head or paw can easily get stuck in metal curls, which can lead to fractures and other unpleasant consequences.The aviary must be installed so that the dog has an overview and can control the situation.
The presence of a flower garden, alpine slide or flower bed near the aviary is undesirable. Flowering plants release aldehydes and ethylene. These substances cause irreparable harm to the health of the dog, disrupting its scent.
When using a net for an aviary, you must use special bolts to attach it to the frame
It is imperative to take into account when building walls for an aviary, the size of a shepherd or other breed if these surfaces are lattice. In this case, metal rods are installed with a step of 5-10 cm. After the construction is completed, it is imperative to check whether there are any defects on the surfaces of the structure that could injure the animal. In metal enclosures where the elements are fastened by welding, be sure to check the seams for reliability.
To reduce the likelihood of injury during operation, during construction, it is advisable to use other options for fasteners instead of nails.
When building an enclosure made of wood, all boards and other elements must be carefully cleaned to avoid injury to the dog.
Suitable for these purposes:
- bolts;
- self-tapping screws;
- screws;
- screws.
It is very important that the roof has a good rafter system and is sloped. Thanks to this, the structure will be reliably protected from the wind, and precipitation will not accumulate on its surface.
When keeping several dogs in one enclosure, it is necessary to equip special windows for feeding
Before making an aviary, it is advisable to make a foundation or form a base so that the wooden flooring does not shrink and rot. The presence of such a hill will provide the necessary ventilation.
Useful advice!In addition to the shutter on the door to the aviary, it is advisable to install eyelets. When it breaks, these elements can be used to install a padlock.
Aviary with a dog walking area
How to build a dog enclosure in the yard of a private house
Large dogs need a large enclosure that will last for many years.
For construction you will need:
- sand and cement;
- boards and metal profiles;
- corners and channel bars;
- pipes and rods;
- roofing material for the roof.
An open-air cage without flooring is considered a temporary solution, since it is not used in winter.
The simplest base option for a homemade aviary is a strip foundation.
Its construction is carried out in the following order:
- A trench 0.5 m deep is dug.
- A simple formwork structure with a height of 0.2 m is made.
- A gravel pad is forming.
- The filling is being prepared based on water, sand and cement.
- The formwork is filled with mortar.
For the construction of an aviary, a strip foundation is best suited
When the fill dries up, a layer of waterproofing material is laid. For these purposes, roofing material or plastic wrap is suitable. Waterproofing material will protect metal parts of the structure from corrosion, and wooden elements from fungus.
Decking manufacturing technology:
- Channel bars are laid on top of the strip foundation and connected by welding in a rectangle.
- The floorboards are treated with an antiseptic and placed in this rectangle.
- Insulating material (roofing felt) is being laid.
- A gravel pad is formed and concrete is poured.
- When the solution reaches half of its strength, logs made of wood are recessed in it.
- A covering is formed from wooden boards, which are fastened with self-tapping screws.
Diagram of the construction of wooden flooring for the aviary
Leave 15 cm between the floor and the ground for air circulation, which will facilitate the rapid evaporation of moisture. It is advisable to tilt the floor 2 ° towards the front door. This will make it easier to clean the enclosure.
How to build an aviary for a shepherd dog with your own hands: assembling a structure
As a basis for the construction of walls, a profile pipe is suitable, which is bolted or welded to the channels. The bar is laid inside the enclosure from one corner to another. It is necessary to ensure that all elements are located exactly. For this you can use the building level. Next, vertical rods are attached with a step of 5-10 cm. Then the door is made. To install it, you need to leave an opening in the welded frame of the aviary.
Aviary design and location of the required zones
Useful advice! Square metal bars are more durable than round bars.
Depending on the purpose of the aviary, one, two or even three walls can be sheathed in the structure. Any material you like can be used for outdoor decoration. From the inside, the walls must be insulated and sheathed with wood.
Simple prefabricated shepherd enclosure
Roof construction technology:
- A metal corner or pipe is attached on top of the walls along the entire perimeter, which will serve as a connecting link.
- In the central part, between the side walls, a channel is installed, which will strengthen the structure.
- The resulting frame is used to secure the boards. The recommended size is 5 cm.
The structure is covered with profiled sheets, slate or soft roofing (the latter option is more desirable). The aviary is almost ready for use. All that remains is to equip it by installing a booth and a feeder.
For the construction of an open-air cage for dogs of large breeds, you must choose reliable, strong materials
Making a dog booth with your own hands: drawings and description of technology
To properly make a dog kennel, you need to determine the optimal size and shape. You should not select too complex a design. The presence of such elements as ladders, ledges and partitions will create inconvenience for the animal. The ideal option would be a rectangular kennel with a pitched roof. The entrance is best placed on the side.
Useful advice! It is desirable that one of the walls or the roof is removable. Thanks to this, the structure will be easier to clean and disinfect.
DIY construction of a doghouse: drawings and dimensions
The size of the structure is selected taking into account the needs of the dog. This takes into account the basic parameters of the animal.
Diagram of the construction of a doghouse made of wood
These include:
- height at the withers;
- length from nose to tail;
- the total height of the animal;
- chest size (width).
The size of the booth, taking into account the height of the animal at the withers:
| Height at the withers, cm | Booth dimensions, cm |
| <50 | 60x70x50 |
| 50-65 | 80x120x80 |
| >65 | 100x140x100 |
How to determine the parameters of the frame part of the booth:
- the width and height of the structure corresponds to the height of the animal;
- the depth corresponds to the length of the animal;
- the width of the hole is equal to the width of the chest;
- the height of the manhole corresponds to the height of the animal at the withers.
When painting a dog booth, you must use only safe products without a pungent smell
It is imperative to add 5 cm to each value. After the dimensions are determined, they are applied to the drawing.
Do-it-yourself dog house construction technology from scrap materials
Wood is the most readily available material at hand. For the construction of the booth, you will need bars with a cross-sectional size of 40x40 mm and boards (25 mm).
A lightweight wooden booth is easy to move from the aviary to the garden or, if necessary, to the house
Construction is carried out in the following order:
- On the basis of wooden bars, a frame part is formed, equipped with both vertical and horizontal stiffeners.
- A zone is formed where the hole will be located.
- The bottom of the booth is knocked off.
- Wall cladding is in progress.
- A retractable roof is produced. It can be flat or gable.
- From the outside, the wood is impregnated with linseed oil.
The process of building an insulated booth for a dog in an aviary
The manhole opening must be protected from wind and drafts. To do this, it is enough to fix a piece of foam rubber, tarpaulin or thick fabric in the upper part of the exit.
For the construction of self-made aviaries, any available materials can be used. On the network, you can find a lot of visual photos and videos with detailed descriptions of the technologies for creating these structures. By following these instructions and professional advice, you can create a beautiful and comfortable enclosure in your yard, which will become a wonderful home for your dog and protect it from bad weather.
