Still at 50%

A reader reminded me that I had promised pictures of the kennel project, so here they are. Lucky for you I swept out the dog hair and dust this morning - a constant battle in the desert. I'm posting no pictures of the outside, as it needs some trim around the door and a good coat of paint. There's a HUGE pinon to the west of the kennel, providing late afternoon shade. The inside remains a work in progress, I haven't decided how much insulating to do yet. Probably the ceiling before winter, maybe the north wall. Or maybe not, the budget will decide.

First up, the reasons I wanted this shed for a kennel building. One, to stop sleeping in a kennel myself (see earlier post on this topic). Two, it's only two dozen steps from the house, much closer than the barn. Three, it's very well built. Concrete slab, industrial-strength built in shelving, and already has power. In fact, the only thing lacking is a doggie door to the puppy paddock and a water supply; one of those will be very easy to add. The other necessary item is a smoke detector with a remote alarm; anybody knows where to get one, please drop me a note.

This first shot is the NW corner; as you can see the built-in shelving has been put to use storing crates and trial supplies. To the left some metal shelving was slid in; each tub contains gear for a specific sport (Rally, coursing, racing, CGC, agility, etc.). The bottom space is roughly the size of a 700 crate; the left side has been fitted with hog panel, the front (above the date stamp) has a top-hinged piece of hog panel to make the front of the "crate." Add a platform bed or thick padding, and voila: sleeping space.

Continuing our tour to the right, is the window. This is set into the north wall of the building, and has been fitted with a bi-directional fan made by Honeywell. We have several of these in our house to move air around during the summer, and they are great. Mechanical (not electronic) controls, so they come back on after a power hit (frequent during our monsoon season); variable speed; independently reversible (for example, one blowing in, the other out).

Out the window you can just make out the perimeter fence of the puppy paddock (so called because that's where the puppies started out this spring). It's about 1,700 square feet, with 5' field of welded wire fence, and has digging deterrent items. The doggie door will go under this window, once I can figure out how exactly to prevent the blasting winter wind from getting in.

Opposite the window is the door, so this is facing south. The red thing is a battered space blanket, necessary to keep out the sun. It's both reflective (on the other side) as well as creating shade. I have a half dozen and use them for an endless variety of things - fence shade, shade on the outside of the van, a waterproof barrier under an x-pen, insulation under same... they are easy to clean, easy to store, and incredibly versatile. A new one will have to be put up every year, which is fine as they're pretty inexpensive.

Just under the red you can see the van; how simple it is now to grab a tub of gear, load dogs, and go for the weekend. Wahoo!

I wanted to be able to leave the door open, for ventilation, but not have the bugs take over. Luckily I found an affordable walk-thru screen. Just to the left, on the wall, you may be able to make out a wall switch; that's for the overhead light. On either side of the door are power outlets, I think there's four, total. The screen keeps out the bugs, but the dogs can walk through it as they please. I, however, have to duck to miss the shade.

Below: the left picture is the NE corner; Py and Ren are having breakfast. (Which reminds me, winter is coming and critters are looking for shelter, I need to get some more RatZappers.) There's ample room for these two 700-size crates, or smaller sizes could go in 3 wide and even 2 high. Options are good... To the right is the SE corner, with the raised, heated platform with edging:



Speaking of options, if Oxota is ever blessed with a litter, we will of course whelp and rear in the house (the space in the family room has long been identified), but when the puppies are old enough to start exploring, this area looks like it could be a good destination. I'm thinking we could take out the crates and run an x-pen from the doggie-door, across the length of the building, to the left of the main door. Access to the fenced puppy paddock via the doggie door, access to shelter and warmth via same. Of course yet more work needs to be done (as well as finding a new home for the ladder - maybe the barn?) before it could go into effect, such as an escape for the dam needing a break, but I have visions of happy puppies... racing out the door, making piles to sleep, and growing up strong and fit. Someday...

Opposite the raised heated bed (installed by the previous owners, who had outside-only dogs), on the other side of the door, is another built-in crate. This would be the north-west corner. Here you can see (because the door is closed) the "finished" product, with the hog-panel door in the "down" position and held in place with snapbolts to the eye-bolts. There's currently sleeping spaces for four dogs, with ample room for two more.

I don't need it all right now, and might never, but the arrangement has already proved its merits with visiting bitches over the past few months. The shelving above is the same industrial-strength as the first picture (which is to the right of this) and holds crates, miscellaneous supplies, and - temporarily - tools being used for the project.

And one of these days I'll get off the 50% bubble and can claim 100% done.