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Viewing entries tagged with "kennel design"
Dog Kennel Designs and Configurations: Part 2 – Dog Kennel Panels
In part 1, we covered the kennel door. Part 2 in our Dog Kennel Designs and Configurations is all about dog kennel panels (side and back). The look of your facility is a personal preference, unless you are an animal shelter/control organization then you may be limited on your input, but let’s assume the decision making is yours. You can choose from stainless steel panels (which are usually used for isolation), or something more colorful, usually some form of plastic. Most kennel manufacturers offer a couple of different types of material. It’s important to educate yourself on what these materials are and how well they will hold up in an animal care facility. It’s also important to ask how the kennel panels are installed. Is it one piece of solid material or is it thinner pieces of material sandwiched together with foam or wood in between? Construction is just as important as material selection when it comes to dog kennels and always ask your potential manufacturer for a long list of references, preferably some local to you so you can drive out and look at the equipment up close and ask the individual what they like and what they do not like. What they do not like is often where the kennel differs from others.
Dog Kennel Designs and Configurations: Part 1- The Door
Having worked with so many individuals on their dog kennel plans, we’ve discovered there are limitless possibilities when it comes to the best dog kennel designs. When discussing dog kennel configurations, you have to consider all of the various parts that make up the dog kennel. You have the door, the sides and back, often referred to as dog kennel panels, the dog kennel floors and the dog kennel covers, or overhead enclosure. Drainage is another very important component when it comes to dog kennel design, but there are so many variables that we’ll tackle each component in a separate blog. I highly encourage you to do your research when it comes to kennel manufacturers. I know it’s tempting in this economy to go with the lowest bidder, but a manufacturer who is offering you high quality for a bargain basement price (don’t walk, run).
Why Glass Kennel Doors
There are so many benefits to glass kennel doors. The most obvious is how nice they look, they reduce anxiety in animals by eliminating the caged in feeling they get from rod doors and also reduce noise from animals barking by containing the noise somewhat. It’s a common belief they cut down on the spread of disease which occurs when humans touch dogs’ noses going down a long row of kennels and finally glass doors are easy to clean. It’s a misnomer that glass doors are harder to clean than rod doors. You can see when the glass is dirty and you can’t really see when the rod is dirty, as a result the rod doors don’t truly get cleaned and disinfected properly. If someone wanted to take the time to clean the rod doors it would take quite a bit longer than spraying down and squiggying the glass. Now if you have rod doors, all is not lost. They are extremely durable and will last and last and last so they are a perfectly good investment, which is why most animal shelters gravitate toward them. However these days most architects are specifying glass doors even in animal control environments for all the reasons stated above. Recently we posted a picture of one of our rod doors on our Face Book page with the caption “This is a great example of the all-stainless units being used in animal sheltering environments today. Stainless is very sanitary and easy to clean.” The first comment was from Animal Arts, a highly respected architectural firm, specializing in animal shelter design and they commented “We'd prefer to see it specified with full glass doors and upper divider panels, but regardless, nice installation!” Another great option for animal shelters is the swivel bowl feeders. They allow shelter or boarding personnel to feed and water without opening the door. This eliminates the chance of an animal trying to rush the door and in an animal shelter environment can be an added safety measure against an aggressive animal. We use ¼” tempered clear glass which is a durable and holds up well in these type settings. There are some companies that use 3/16” which is a thinner glass but for the most part ¼” tempered clear glass is an industry standard. Others still use Lexan or plastic in their cat condos for instance, but we have always used the ¼” clear tempered glass simply for the fact that is a longer lasting and more durable product. There are many pros that glass doors provide for both employees and animals, so consider all of this when it comes time to build a new facility or remodel an existing one.
