The "Dog Mahal"

[Huskerplowboy]

One of my projects from this past spring.

The problem: The dog's kennel wound up sitting smack dab in the middle of a major portion of the snow runnoff. The result: One very muddy German Shepherd.

 

[Huskerplowboy]

Solution Stage 1: "The barge"

To get the dog up on solid (and dry) footing, I built a 10'6" x 10'6" platform on skids. The skids have eyebolts on each end so it can be pulled around with my tractor to move it as needed.

Specs:
Skids: 4x6 treated with 45 degree cuts on each end
Joists: 2x6 treated on 2' centers
Decking: Menards' cheapest composite decking
Kennel: New welded panel 10' x 10' kennel.

 

[Huskerplowboy]

Solution Stage 2: The Roof

To provide shade for the summer, A roof was added in May to the original platform. It's a lean-to style to avoid making custom trusses. The corner posts are made of two 2x6's and one 2x4. The 2x6's are nailed to form an L-shape. The 2x4 is shorter and sits inside the "L" The 2x4 rests on the top of the decking to carry the weight of the roof. The 2x6's extend down past the decking to allow lab bolts to hold the posts to the deck framing. At the top, the side 2x6's were longer than the 2x4s so the roof beams could be bolted to the posts. The roof beams are 2x6's. In between the beams, 2x4's were set in on 2' centers as purlins. The roofing is stuff called "Ondura" which is sort of a corrugated asphalt type stuff. I was not impressed with the Ondura material at all, but chose to use it because it was quite windy on the day I put the roofing on, and I did not want to handle steel roofing But, that weekend the temps jumped up to the point where I felt she needed some shade ASAP.

The theory was that the kennel itself doesn't carry any of the weight of the roof. It is completely attached to the deck framing. This was for two reasons. The first was that I wanted the structure to be flexible if the kennel ever needed to be replaced, or revised somehow (like if we needed to split it into two 5x10 runs or something). Second, for resistance to wind, I didn't want to have to rely on being able to firmly attach the kennel panels to the plastic decking...

 

[Travelover]

Nice job, but wouldn't it be easier to just install a dog door at your house?

 

[Huskerplowboy]

This setup has made my life a lot easier. The dog does come in the house, spends a lot of time in here. But, she has to stay outside while we're at work (still way to energetic to just sleep in the house all day). So, now when I get home and let her in, I don't spend 10-15 minutes with an old towel trying to get the half-dried mud off her paws and side/front. The little mud she picks up on the way in the house now is fresh and wipes off the paws pretty easy... I'd much rather spend a couple days building the deck/roof than 15 minutes a day trying to clean the dog!

 

[foggy1111]

Nice work. Very resourceful! Lots of people could use this set-up....especially when building new homes, etc.

 

[Travelover]

This setup has made my life a lot easier. The dog does come in the house, spends a lot of time in here. But, she has to stay outside while we're at work (still way to energetic to just sleep in the house all day). So, now when I get home and let her in, I don't spend 10-15 minutes with an old towel trying to get the half-dried mud off her paws and side/front. The little mud she picks up on the way in the house now is fresh and wipes off the paws pretty easy... I'd much rather spend a couple days building the deck/roof than 15 minutes a day trying to clean the dog!

I'm just pulling your leg. With all that mud, I completely understand.

 

[Tony_S]

Since it is Dog Mahal, where's the privy? You should at least cut him a little hole to poo in, then when it gets full you just hook it to the tractor and pull it a little ways! :laughing:

 

[Unregistered2013]

why not leave the pup inside when you're at work in a crate?

I'd imagine it's a lot nicer inside in the winter and summer for your pups --

 

[MMagis]

why not leave the pup inside when you're at work in a crate?

I'd imagine it's a lot nicer inside in the winter and summer for your pups --

What's so hard to understand here? Many of us keep our dogs outside and that's how we like it. There's no need to question why he keeps his dog outside.