How to build an enclosure for a German Shepherd – varieties

In private homes, German shepherds are usually kept for protection, since this breed is universal and specially bred for these purposes. Due to the presence of a thick undercoat, the German Shepherd can be kept outdoors throughout the year. For a comfortable stay, a shepherd dog needs an enclosure with a booth, where it will be as comfortable as possible. You can, of course, purchase a ready-made product, but there is also the option of creating an enclosure for a shepherd dog with your own hands.

What kind of enclosure is needed for a shepherd dog?

To keep a German Shepherd, you can build an enclosure on your property. An outdoor house for a dog should be made based on the climatic conditions of the region. In the southern regions, the enclosure can be open; in more severe conditions, the building must have a winter road. The winter part of the enclosure is a closed room with a booth.

The dog is able to withstand temperatures down to -20 ºС, thanks to the thick undercoat, but if the animal is sick, or the room is designed for a bitch with puppies, then a winter road is necessary. A warm room will allow your pet to feel comfortable even in cold weather.

Types and how to choose the optimal project

The owner of the animal has the right to independently choose the design and appearance of the kennel for his pet. Manufacturers offer booths of a wide variety of shapes, often in fantasy shapes. For example, you can buy a booth in the shape of a mansion or even a royal palace. Another popular solution is to style the kennel to match the design of the dog owner’s home. Many shepherd owners believe that such a booth looks very original and interesting.

However, when choosing a suitable design project, you must first remember that the doghouse must first and foremost be comfortable and functional. If it consists of several parts or has an overly complex design, then the animal may not feel very comfortable in such a “house”. And such a kennel can take up a lot of space. This may be appropriate in a large country mansion, but is not very suitable for the small yard of an ordinary private house.

What types of dog kennels are there and how to choose the most suitable one for your pet? Below are 4 options with photos and brief descriptions.

Single-pitch

The roof in such booths consists of a horizontal surface set at a slight angle. This design allows rainwater to flow down, but at the same time gives the shepherd the opportunity to use the roof as an observation point, from where it is very convenient for the pet to monitor what is happening on the site.

Gable

Two halves of such a roof, placed end-to-end, form an acute angle. This ensures faster water drainage and melted snow removal, which increases the wear resistance of the kennel and extends its service life.

With vestibule

Such a booth retains heat better due to an additional compartment that prevents cold air or precipitation from entering the room.

With an aviary

A kennel equipped with an enclosure gives the shepherd greater freedom of movement. In addition, this design prevents the animal from leaving the territory it protects without permission.

If you are going to breed German shepherds, then choose a booth equipped with an enclosure. In it, the bitch and her puppies will feel comfortable and at the same time be completely safe.

The same design is also suitable for keeping several dogs. You also need to take into account the climatic characteristics of your region. For example, for areas where it is often too cold or windy. In this case, a booth with a vestibule would be an ideal option. And if your region has high humidity and often rains, then a kennel with a gable roof would be the best choice.

Enclosure dimensions for a German Shepherd

A German Shepherd will feel comfortable in an enclosure if the room area standards are met. One of the walls of the enclosure must be at least 2 m long. Depending on the size of the dog, the area of ​​the structure is calculated.

If you build an enclosure with a booth, then the kennel should be of such a size that the dog can sleep in it with its paws stretched out.

Types of enclosures

Depending on the building material used, enclosures are:

1. Wooden. This is the most affordable and easiest to manufacture option.
2. Metal. Such enclosures are the strongest and most durable, but their construction is expensive. Metal enclosures can be stationary or collapsible.
3. Mixed. Both wood and metal are used in the construction of these enclosures.

To build an enclosure, it is recommended to use as many natural materials as possible and less metal.

Design Features

According to the type of construction, enclosures are:

1. Open. All sides of the enclosure are covered with metal bars.
2. Half open. This type of construction involves one or two lattice walls, the rest are completely covered with material. For cladding, choose any material - wood, slate, corrugated sheet.
3. Closed. All walls are covered with building material.

The optimal solution is to leave the viewing side of the enclosure open, blocking it with a wall-length lattice, and cover the rest with the selected material. This is done so that the dog can keep watch freely, and in cold weather it is protected from wind and precipitation.

Dimensions

The shepherd's enclosure should not be too spacious, as in winter it will not retain heat well. But the design should not be too tight. The size of the enclosure is calculated based on the size of the dog. For a shepherd dog with up to 50 cm at the withers, a cage with an area of ​​6 square meters is suitable. m. For dogs that reach 65 cm or more at the withers, an enclosure with an area of ​​8 and 10 square meters, respectively, is built. m. If the dog walks freely around the site at night and is in the enclosure only during the day, it is enough to make the structure with an area of ​​6 square meters. m.

If the cage is small, the shepherd feels constrained in it. This has a bad effect on its protective qualities.

The optimal size of the booth for a German shepherd is 100*135*100 cm, and the hole is made with a size of 60*40 cm.

How to choose a place for an aviary in the courtyard of a private house

The German Shepherd is focused on contact with the owner, so it is impossible to completely isolate such a dog. The room should be in a place where the pet can see everything that happens in the yard.

The enclosure should be located on a hill to avoid stagnant water. The structure must be closed from:

• rain;
• wind;
• extraneous noise;
• pungent odors.

Trees and shrubs can serve as protective fencing for a dog's home. The pet will be disturbed by sharp noises from the street, the proximity to a pigsty or a repair shop. The distance from the barnyard or garage with gasoline vapors should be at least 500 m.

The area must be fenced off with a fence of at least 3 m to prevent unauthorized animals from entering the private territory.

Video “DIY aviary booth”

When making a doghouse for a German Shepherd with your own hands, you need to take into account the following nuances:

• It is better to use coniferous wood to make a booth;
• if the enclosure is located in an area with a cold climate, then additional insulation of the booth will be required;
• it is not necessary to make a very spacious booth - it will be cold;
• the size of the booth for a German shepherd must be such that the dog can turn around freely in it;
• It is better to equip the kennel with a removable roof - this will make cleaning easier and will help you easily reach the dog in case of illness;
• The kennel is the place from which the dog observes the area, so a flat roof is better suited for it.

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The recommended booth sizes for a German Shepherd look like this:

• height - 0.95 m;
• width – 1 m;
• depth – 1.4 m.

To make your dog feel comfortable in the kennel, it is better to take the measurements yourself. Measure how much space your shepherd takes up while sleeping and keep in mind that dogs like to stretch before getting up. Add a few centimeters to the length of the “pull” - this will be the optimal size of the doghouse for a shepherd dog.

Having measured the height of the shepherd's withers, add 5 cm - this will be the height of the booth. The width of the entrance opening can be determined by measuring the width of the dog’s chest and adding 5 cm, and the height, on the contrary, by subtracting 5 cm from the height of the withers.

The frame of the booth is assembled from bars and covered with boards using self-tapping screws so that there are no gaps. The place where the hole is cut into the booth is carefully cleaned of burrs. To protect your dog from drafts, you can fill the walls of the booth with roofing felt. This will reliably protect the structure, but will ruin the appearance; to fix this, the roofing material can be sewn up with clapboard or any other finishing material on top. Additional insulation must be done not only on the walls of the booth, but on the floor and roof.

When choosing a place to live for a German Shepherd, it is necessary to solve two problems: comfortable conditions for the dog and the ability to guard the territory, since the dog is a guard dog.

The booth should be located in a place where you can see the entrance to the house and the gate. If you can place it on a hill, the dog will have a good view. In addition, the kennel will not be flooded by precipitation.

It is necessary to position the structure so that the dog and owners do not interfere with each other. She should see the owner's yard, but not demand increased attention from the household.

Everyone knows about dogs' sensitive sense of smell and hearing. The constant presence of strong smells and sounds can make your pet nervous and ruin his sense of smell. Therefore, you should not place the booth near the garage, toilet, cesspool, or where pets (birds, rabbits, goats) live.

If you have no experience building anything from boards and plywood, you can choose the simplest option: a box-like kennel. This is a sample, with a sleeping place and a flat removable roof. Talented craftsmen create booths that replicate their homes in miniature; such a product becomes a decoration for the owner’s yard. Whether it's a simple kennel or a work of art, it should be appropriate for the size of the German Shepherd breed. You shouldn’t make the booth too big, since the dog will have to warm it with his body, but you don’t need a small one either, the animal should lie down freely in its favorite position. Therefore, even before drawings and sketches, it is necessary to measure the shepherd.

The size of the pet is noted from the nose to the base of the tail, fifteen centimeters are added for a comfortable stay in the kennel. Next, you should measure the width of the dog's chest. In addition to the dimensions that make up the height of the dog from the ground to the top of the head, measurements should also be taken from the floor to the withers. To do this, you can bring the animal to the door frame, apply a ruler in the area of ​​the shoulder blades and make a mark on the door frame, then use a tape measure to measure the distance from the floor to the mark made. The height of the booth should be 10–15 cm higher than the dog itself. The dimensions of the pet from the floor to the withers and the width of the chest will be needed to determine the hole.

This method is used to measure an adult dog (two to three years old) whose skeleton is already fully formed. If the kennel is made for a puppy to grow into, you will have to use the standards developed by breeders for German shepherds:

• length – 120–130 cm;
• height – 85–100 cm;
• width – 70 cm;
• the volume of the inlet is 60x40 cm.

Having calculated the dimensions of the booth, a drawing is drawn up. A sketch of a single building is made, with a vestibule or enclosure, with places for feeding or boxes for toys, with upper viewing platforms. Any model is selected for which the owner has enough materials and skills.

In addition to the fact that the shepherd dog does not need to be chained, it is important to provide it with freedom of action. This means it’s time to think about the size of the enclosure. Here you need to determine that golden mean in order to create the ideal enclosure. After all, if you make it very large, you will constantly have to clean a large area.

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You need to understand that the dimensions of the enclosure depend on the dimensions of the pet itself. The smaller it is, the less space it will require. Below is a list of sizes for dogs:

• if the height of the shepherd dog at the withers is 50 cm or less, then an enclosure with an area of ​​6 m2 will be enough for him;
• when the height of the shepherd dog at the withers is from 50 to 65 cm, then the optimal size is 8 m2;
• and if the height of the shepherd at the withers is 65 cm or more, you will have to build a 10 m2 structure.

Note! These figures refer to the residence of one individual inside. If there are two of them, then the indicators increase by 1.5 times.

Another nuance concerns where the shepherd spends the night. When the owner lets the pet out to walk around the yard at night, it is quite enough to build an enclosure measuring 6 m2. Now let's look at some rules regarding the maintenance and design of the enclosure.

It often happens that the owner does not want to make an enclosure for a German shepherd with his own hands. In this case, he can buy or order a ready-made structure from a specialized company. You just need to pay for the materials and creation. What exactly the enclosure will be like is up to the owner to decide. You can even give the specialists a drawing according to which they will do all the work.

When the structure is ready, or before starting construction with your own hands, it is important to take care of a convenient place for the structure. She is not small, so she should not disturb anyone. The place for the enclosure should be dry, away from the road, drainage pit, residential building and pens with strong odors (stables, chicken coops).

As for the territory that the shepherd guards, you need to make it well lit and surrounded by a fence, the height of which is up to 3 m. It is imperative to place a booth inside. We will look at the dimensions of the shepherd doghouse later. The presence of bowls in the enclosure is mandatory. The ideal placement of bowls is shown in the photo below.

With this design, feeding dogs is quite simple and quick, and the owner can see when the water in the bowl has run out. After a good feast, the pet will relieve itself. In order not to clean the enclosure so often, a dog toilet is installed in a certain place. It will be cleaner inside with him.

After the theoretical component, we proceed to practice. Here is the sequence of work when creating an enclosure for a shepherd:

1. Material preparation: wooden beams to make the floor, boards as flooring, metal pipes as supports, and rods as lattice. And also roofing material and beams to create a roof.

2. To simplify the task, a detailed design drawing is created. It indicates the location of the building, exact dimensions and type of construction. The height of the enclosure is chosen taking into account the fact that the pet will stand on its hind legs, resting against the wall. And to save material, you can use the building as one of the walls.
3. Next, a site is made for the future enclosure. Some create it from concrete, but this option is more expensive. An alternative is the following method: the surface is leveled and several layers of roofing material are spread on top. A low border is created along the perimeter, onto which the floor joists are installed.
4. Using wood is beneficial not only because it is easy to work with, but also because it is a warm material. In winter, your pet will be more comfortable. The boards are nailed close to each other to the joists. It is important to avoid gaps to prevent the shepherd's claw from getting into them.
5. Next, the walls of the structure are created. Since one of them can be an agricultural building, the other two or one are also created from wood. It turns out to be a solid wall. But the remaining side (one or two) is made of metal rods so that the shepherd can control what is happening. The recommended space between them is 10-15 cm. It is in the grille that the door is made so that the pet can see when you come to him.

6. All that remains is to create the roof. The simplest option is a pitched roof, made at an angle to drain precipitation. Slate is most often used as a roofing material. It's simple, cheap and gets the job done.

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This enclosure is suitable for both German and Asian shepherds. It's just a matter of sizes, which are chosen depending on the size of the dog. But, there is one more irreplaceable attribute, without which not a single enclosure can do - a booth. And the first thing you need to know to build it is the size of the doghouse for a German shepherd. What are they and how to build a structure yourself?

Aviary housing is optimal for raising puppies. They have enough space where they can run and frolic, which has a positive effect on the health of the pets. An adult dog that lives permanently in an enclosure needs to be walked outside for at least 30 minutes. Staying in a confined space around the clock has a negative impact on the mental and physical state of the animal.

How to make an enclosure for a shepherd

After choosing a location for the structure, you need to make a drawing with dimensions. It can be done schematically, making adjustments as construction progresses. The next stage is the selection and purchase of materials, the third is the stage-by-stage construction of the structure.

Drawings and dimensions

A design diagram for a winter room might look like this.

The aviary consists of three parts:

• A winter road is an insulated room, closed on all sides, with a booth, which is connected to the open part by a manhole for the dog.
• The platform is a wooden flooring made of boards, slightly raised above the ground. This room has a common wall with a warm winter road and is lined with boards on 1 or 2 sides.
• The open area is intended for walking and performing natural needs. The floor may be in the form of soil, which must be raised to the level of the wooden platform.

For a central climate, you can combine a platform and an open area. The floors should be made of wood.

For the southern regions, you can make an aviary without a winter room. The diagram shows a structure where the open area is separated from the platform by a wall.

The roof of the structure has a slope to drain rainwater and a canopy.

Material selection

It is difficult to properly build an enclosure without understanding what each part of the structure will be made of. The structure of the room consists of: base, frame and roof. The base can be made of concrete, on wooden logs or a metal frame. In this case, the flooring must be made of boards. The frame can be made of wooden beams, metal pipes or iron slats.

A welded mesh made of reinforcement is quite suitable for a large dog, but a chain-link mesh is dangerous: a strong animal can tear it and get injured.

The walls must be insulated with OSB and sheathed with boards. On a winter road, mineral wool or another version of heat-retaining material can be laid between two layers of OSB. Slate, corrugated sheeting or ondulin are suitable for the roof. Ondulin provides additional sound insulation, which helps the dog avoid stress when hitting the roof. It is better to connect the structure with self-tapping screws: nails can injure the dog.

Structure base

The base can be made like a floor lag. The procedure is as follows:

1. Clear the site of soil to a depth of 30 cm and fill it with small crushed stone. Install frame supports around the perimeter. These can be concrete or brick pillars.
2. Attach a frame made of 150x150 mm timber to the posts. Reinforce the frame with several beams to prevent the floor from sagging. The additional beam may be a little thinner.

   
   base of the enclosure on wooden logs

3. Lay boards 30 mm thick. They need to be pre-treated so that the pet does not get splinters on its paws. The treatment will also serve as protection against rotting.

treating the floor with protection against rotting.
The boards must be carefully adjusted. If a gap forms, the dog may injure its paws. For wooden parts, it is better to choose coniferous wood.

The metal frame is also made. It is better to cook it separately in the form of a lattice. The metal must be treated with anti-corrosion agents. In this case, it is necessary to lay a moisture-proof material between the grate and the boards.

base of the enclosure on a metal frame

It should be taken into account that in the case of a concrete base, a moisture-resistant material is also needed. Wooden planks should not be placed on bare concrete. Floors can be made with a slight slope to drain liquid.

aviary with concrete base

Building a frame

The estimated height of the enclosure must be at least 180 cm. The frame can be made of timber or metal pipes. First you need to put 4 pipes in the corners.

frame for an aviary made of metal beams

Then make a strapping at the top and bottom with 2.5 cm metal corners. Then you can use reinforcement or a grid made of a metal rod. The approximate distance between the rods is 8-10 cm. In the center of the grate you need to weld a metal strip around the entire perimeter. This “girdling” will give additional stability to the cage bars.

aviary lattice

Two of the four walls must be covered with boards. OSB should be laid between them as additional protection from the cold. If the enclosure has a winter road, it is lined with wood on all sides. You can make the building adjacent to the wall of the house, then you won’t have to build one wall of the enclosure.

wood paneling of the enclosure

When designing the frame, you need to make room for a door that will open inward for security. The winter road and the open part must be connected to each other with a manhole for passage into a warm room. A frame with fastening rings for food and water bowls should be placed on the front grille.

frame with rings for a bowl of water and food

Erection of the roof

The roof should be made with a slope. To do this, you need to raise one side by 15 cm.

The choice of coating is quite wide, but you should give preference to sound-insulating ondulin or make an additional layer on both sides of the roofing material. The roof can be insulated using fiberboard, and a layer of foam between the two slabs will muffle sounds.

Making a doghouse for a shepherd with your own hands

It is in the booth that the dog will spend most of its time. Therefore, it is very important to do it correctly and taking into account all the recommendations. Let us note some design features that can be implemented:

1. Let's start with the floor of the booth. Since it will take on the main load, hardwood is used as the material. At the same time, the quality must be at its best, without any roughness, rotting or burrs. In addition, it is recommended to protect the tree from negative influences in order to extend its service life.
2. To prevent the shepherd from being cold in winter and hot in summer, the floor and walls are made double, and an insulating layer is laid between them. The best option would be polystyrene foam. It's a cheap material, but with amazing performance. It will not make the structure heavier, but will make it quite warm.
3. As for the roof, it can be not only gable, but also flat. Only in this case will it be necessary to make a slope of several degrees so that precipitation that may get inside flows to the drain.

Well, one of the important questions is the size of the booth for a German shepherd. Let’s say right away that there is no specific size and no one will tell you it. Everything is selected individually, depending on the size of the shepherd. If you build a booth in an enclosure that is too large, it will be colder, and if the size is small, the pet will feel constrained. Inside, the shepherd should be comfortable in standing, sitting and lying down. So, here are the rules for choosing a size for a shepherd:

• depth - 10-15 cm more than the length of the pet;
• height - the height of the shepherd from head to paws, plus the thickness of the bedding layer and 10 cm on top for free space;
• width - the size of the dog from the withers to the tips of the paws +10 cm;
• I would like to say separately about the entrance hole. There are also certain rules for its creation. For example, the width of the entrance to the kennel is equal to the width of the dog and +5 cm additionally. But its height is equal to the height at the withers -5 cm.

Note! It is also important to take into account what time you are making the shepherd doghouse. If she is still small, then no current dimensions will help, since after a while she will already grow. Then the average dimensions of an adult are taken into account.

A do-it-yourself doghouse for a German Shepherd is made quite quickly. But to make your task easier, it’s better to think through the drawing in advance. An example of such a booth is shown in the photo below.

And now the owner must take care of having everything necessary for the work, namely: prepare wooden beams, polystyrene foam, boards for the floor and walls, plywood, roofing felt, screwdrivers and screws, roofing. Next, the process of creating a doghouse for a shepherd is as follows:

1. Let's assemble the base from previously prepared bars. It is advisable to choose bars without knots and cracks.

2. Then a layer of foam plastic is laid between them, which will serve as insulation. After which everything is sheathed with boards using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws. Some use clapboard.
3. At the corners of the finished pedestal, 4 support beams are installed in a vertical position. They need to be made 45 mm longer than the height of the booth. In the place where the entrance hole will be located, two more beams are installed in a vertical position and one in a horizontal position. After which the upper harness is performed using four beams. The frame of the booth is ready.

4. Now boards or lining are packed around the perimeter from the outside. A layer of insulation is laid into the space that has been created and again sheathed with boards, only from the inside. The screws need to be slightly recessed inward so that the pet does not get hurt in the future.
5. To waterproof the bottom, roofing material is fixed to it using a stapler.
6. And in order to create a gap between the ground and the bottom, which will serve as ventilation, two more bars with a cross-section of 100x50 mm are nailed to the bottom.
7. What remains is the roof of the shepherd's doghouse. Ideally, it should be made flat and removable for cleaning and improved ventilation. Shepherd dogs often climb out onto the roof, making the booth a kind of observation post. Making a flat roof is quite easy, since you just need to create it from four bars with a section of 40x40 and boards. That's all, the shepherd dog's kennel is ready.

In winter, it is recommended to cover the opening to the booth with thick fabric or a curtain to prevent heat from escaping from it. There is only a little left - a decorative component. You can paint the booth any color using wear-resistant wood compounds. Upon request, the booth can be equipped with additional elements. This design is suitable for any breed of shepherd. All that remains is to install it in the enclosure and watch how the pet gets acquainted with its new home.

How to set up an enclosure for a shepherd

There should be nothing superfluous in the room for a German Shepherd: a kennel and two bowls for water and food are enough. When it comes to an open enclosure, the insulated booth should be placed in the corner of two blank walls. If the structure has a winter road, then the booth must be placed in it.

Food utensils must be secured to a metal frame that can be opened without entering the enclosure. This will make it possible to feed the dog to trusted people during the owner’s absence. According to the rules, the height of the feeder should correspond to the height of the dog. It is necessary to provide several levels for bowls, taking into account the maturation of the pet. Usually the distance from the floor to the bowl is 20-30 cm.

On the open part you can provide a place for a toilet. This could be a section of lawn or a metal sheet with crushed stone. Provide such filler so that it can be easily removed. There are artificial lawn toilets on sale, but the best option is to take the dog outside the enclosure at least 2 times a day.

How to make a dog feeder with your own hands

How to make a dog feeder with your own hands

Many people at some point decide to get a dog at home. However, you need to understand that when a “bundle of happiness” appears in your home, it is not only joy, but also certain responsibilities, as well as responsibility for a small pet.

A person who keeps a pet must constantly take care of his four-legged friend so that there are no problems with his health and he feels great. And for this you need to know about the rules of caring for a dog and follow them. In addition, in the process of keeping an animal, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the pet, as well as its desires.

It is obvious to everyone that regular feeding of the dog is a prerequisite for the health of the pet. If a pet regularly receives food, this does not mean that it will be full of strength and develop well. The pet's diet must be selected in such a way that it contains sufficient quantities of useful substances and microelements.

The feeding process is fundamental, without which normal animal care is simply impossible. It doesn't matter much what your pet eats. It is extremely important to have quality food in your pet's bowl every day. Then the animal will demonstrate good physical activity. When a person gets a dog, many people pay attention to the food, but forget about the dishes for the pet.

And this point is no less important, because if the bowl is chosen correctly, it provides convenience for the pet and allows the owner not to encounter additional problems. It should be said that each bowl has its own purpose, so you need to approach the task of purchasing dishes for your pet with all seriousness.

You need to know in advance how to use the bowls.

For many novice dog owners, the process of choosing a bowl for a pet may seem quite simple. However, this is not the case. There is a certain set of requirements that dishes for a pet must meet. You need to know about them before you go to the pet store to buy dishes for your pet.

Determining the optimal size

When choosing a place, you need to pay special attention not only to what size it is, but also to its depth. It is a pointless exercise to use saucers to feed animals. Even if your pet is an ornamental breed, you should not purchase such feeding containers.

The dishes you buy to feed your animal should be suitable for the dog's height and size. In addition, you need to focus on the shape of the muzzle. When consuming food, your pet may become sloppy. This also needs to be taken into account when choosing a bowl.

If you know that your pet eats without much care, then in this case, when thinking about which bowl to buy, you should opt for dishes that have high sides.

In this case, you will not have to constantly clean up pieces of food that your dog will scatter near the cup during a meal. However, if you keep an animal of a small breed, then if the bowl is too deep, it will simply not be able to get food out of the bowl. This point also needs to be taken into account.

If dry food is the predominant component in the pet's diet, then you should not use saucers as feeding utensils. When food constantly crumbles, it makes the animal nervous, and also causes a lot of problems for the owner himself. If the cup is shallow, then you can use it only if you feed the animal with cereals and canned food.

When choosing a bowl for your pet, you need to purchase several containers at once. You need to check which container your pet likes best. Then you must leave the one chosen by your dog and use it for feeding in the future.

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Types of dog bowls

When choosing a bowl for your pet, you also need to take into account the material from which the bowl is made.

Many people are attracted to plastic bowls. Beginning dog breeders see their main advantage in their low cost. Another advantage is that they are light in weight. Another advantage is mobility. However, plastic utensils also have certain disadvantages. It is characterized by fragility.

Another disadvantage is that such dishes break quite quickly. From the moment it starts using, a short time passes and it becomes unusable. There are some models on the market that give off a chemical smell. Naturally, you should refuse to purchase such containers.

In pet stores you can also find dishes for dogs made from ceramics. It is characterized by high strength. These bowls are reliable containers for feeding animals. You can heat your pet's food directly in them. Most bowls are resistant to damage.

In addition, when using such bowls, it is not difficult to wash off food residues. However, if you decide to purchase ceramic containers, you should understand that bowls made from this material are not cheap.

Among pet bowls, metal ones are the most reliable. However, a roar may accompany the process of a pet eating food from such dishes. The noise will be especially loud if your pet is large and has a playful character.

Currently, the most common utensils are bowls shaped like a trapezoid. Such dishes expand from below. When exactly such a container is used to feed the animal, then during the meal, food or other food will not spill out of the animal’s bowl. And if the dishes are used for water, then splashing of water will be eliminated.

Types of feeding accessories

There are currently several types of dog bowls:

single element; double accessory; sippy cup; travel bowl; automatic feeder; single double accessory.

The most popular among dog breeders today are single containers. There are no problems with washing such dishes, and in terms of cost they are more than affordable. Therefore, every dog ​​breeder can afford such dishes for their pet. Another advantage of such accessories is that they are easy to use. In addition, during the feeding process they provide convenience for the pet.

Double feeding bowl

Compared to the previous type of dog dishes, double bowls are less popular. However, they are quite convenient for feeding the animal. Such dishes allow you to reduce your costs, since you do not have to wash two accessories. When you finish feeding your pet, you will only have to wash one accessory, and not two as is the case with other types of feeding containers.

However, such dishes provide less comfort for your pet. When feeding him in such a bowl, situations will arise when food from one part of the bowl ends up in another. Usually the second section contains water. As a result of part of the feed or other food getting into the water, its taste will change, and not for the better. Such dishes are the best option only in cases where the owner keeps two dogs in his home.

For messy pets

If your dog is messy or you have a large breed animal at home, then a sippy cup would be a good option. Such a container is able to hold water even if you accidentally touch it. Water is supplied from a large compartment using a special membrane.

You can also use a sippy cup if your animal has long ears or a beard. The advantage of such dishes is that they can be used on the road.

Read more about cages and transportation

Bowl for traveling with pets

A special design is typical for a travel bowl. By its appearance, it represents a bottle that has a device through which a dog can drink water. During long trips, such a capacity will be very useful. You can also use it at exhibitions or during long walks.

Automatic pet feeding option

If the owner is too busy and does not have time to feed his pet, then in this case you can use an automatic feeder. The peculiarity of this accessory is that food and water are placed in separate compartments. From these they will be fed into feeding containers. In addition, the advantage of an automatic feeder is that you can determine where food is supplied, as well as its quantity.

Automatic feeder with additional functions

There is an automatic feeder, which is equipped with a heating system. For puppies, such dishes will be very useful. Thanks to the automatic feeder, even if the owner is busy, the pet will not go hungry, and he will not have to eat cold food in the absence of the owner. It will always be warmed up and his meal will be quite pleasant.

In addition, automatic bowls are equipped with a voice notification system, and in addition they are equipped with various other features.

Using bowl stands

The dog should lean towards the bowl while feeding. Therefore it is necessary to use special supplies. Using them, you can ensure the stability of the dishes and the optimal position for the animal. Thanks to them, you can change the height of the dishes as your pet grows.

The convenience of bowls on a tripod is that the dishes can be used to feed several dogs at once, even if the dogs are of different ages. If you have a small dog, then you can do without a stand.

It is enough to buy a low structure that is made of metal. Currently popular among dog breeders are stands that have a mount that allows you to mount the bowl on the wall.

Double tripod accessory

By using special rubberized mats, you can provide your pet with comfort when eating. Being on such a mat, the bowl will not slide much. In addition, thanks to this accessory, the process of cleaning up pieces of food scattered after a meal is significantly simplified. Alternatively, you can use a tray or install a stand.

The bowl can be easily removed from the stand and washed if necessary. You won't have a big problem with this.

Dishes for your best friend. Which bowl is right for your dog?

Making your own feeder

You can make a feeder for your pet yourself. If you have such a desire, then you need to make a bracket using welded elements. This will allow you to position it at a height that is comfortable for your pet.

Some dog breeders make a bowl stand using wood as the main material. However, ensuring waterproofing in this case will be quite difficult. If this is not done, the structure will not last long, because if the dog often spills water, the stand will rot quite quickly and will require immediate replacement.

To create a delivery, you can use chipboard. However, you need to be aware that screws in this material do not hold well. In addition, a stand made of this material may become unusable due to water that the pet will splash. Also, a pet owner can make a large chest of drawers designed for their dog. You can store bowls and food in it, as well as put toys and other accessories that your pet uses.

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Aviary for two shepherd dogs

The design for several dogs is no more complicated than an ordinary room for a German shepherd. Usually, the drawing of the enclosure is made so that two dogs have one wall in common. This wall should be blank or half covered with boards. The closed lower part of the partition will not allow animals to fight among themselves. The top of the wall can be lattice.

aviary for two shepherd dogs

Each room must be equipped with a separate entrance, a booth and, if necessary, a winter road. In fact, enclosures for shepherd dogs are one partitioned room.

Aviary design

When a location has been chosen, make a drawing of the future enclosure - this will help avoid possible mistakes during construction. At this stage, it is necessary to take into account all the needs of the watchdog - the structure must be equipped with a booth, a bed and an area where the dog can warm up. According to accepted standards, the size of an enclosure for a German Shepherd for dogs with a height at the withers of up to 65 cm must be at least 8 m².

On the diagram, show the location of the doors, which must open into the enclosure, since a strong dog can simply knock it down. Indicate the location of the feeder and water container. If this is a rotating feeder, then it is necessary to indicate the depth of entry into the enclosure and the height of the location, which should be calculated in such a way that the dog does not have to lower his head much.

The minimum dimensions of the enclosure are indicated for those animals that will be in it permanently. If the shepherd dog spends most of its time free, then the size of the structure can be reduced by 1-2 m². If it is planned that two dogs or a bitch with puppies will live in the enclosure, then the area must be increased by one and a half times.

To reduce the cost of building materials, the enclosure can be attached to a fence or barn, thereby making one wall common, as shown in the photo.

Outdoor cleaning for dogs

The aviary requires care. You need to sweep it twice a day. Wet cleaning should be carried out no more than once a month. The flooring must be dry. If possible, you can sprinkle the floor with sawdust: this will make cleaning easier. Bowls should be washed after each feeding: rotting residues can lead to illness in your pet.

In the spring-summer-autumn period, it is necessary to spray a tick repellent in the enclosure. Using hay in the kennel as insulation, the kennel must be treated in winter as well: ixodid ticks living in the grass wake up from the heat even in cold weather.

How much money do you need to spend on building an enclosure?

Ready-made structures will cost at least 55 thousand rubles, and structures with a winter road cost about 100 thousand rubles. The cost of the cheapest DIY project can be 10 thousand rubles. This is an open enclosure with two blank walls, a rebar grill and a booth.

Building an enclosure is a troublesome task. You can do it yourself, but it’s better to involve family or friends in the work. Even using good material, you can greatly reduce the cost of housing for your pet.