Kennels

The first consideration on becoming possessed of a dog is where to keep him, and even if intended to be in the house he should have his own corner, mat, basket, or other place in which to sleep, and to which he can be sent at any time when he is in the way. For out-of-door dogs a kennel is absolutely necessary, and on its construction the health and comfort of its inmates largely depends. Some people seem to think anything good enough for a dog, and make shift with an old box or rickety barrel for a sleeping place, where the wind and the rain both beat on the inmate. It is the duty of every man who keeps an animal of any kind to look after its health and comfort, and warm dry housing is essential to that end; barrels, however sound and impervious to rain, are unsuitable, on account of their shape. A dog should have a flat level surface to lie upon. When a dog coils himself round for sleep in a barrel, the centre of his body must be considerably lower than the rest, and that is unnatural, and must cause discomfort if no worse effects.

The ordinary wooden kennel used for single yard and other dogs is an abominable contrivance, as cold and comfortless as it is ugly, and when it has to be moved from place to place, costs about as much for carriage as it is worth.

I some years ago, in the columns of The Country, suggested and described a portable kennel suitable to one-dog men, and since then I have got a carpenter to carry out the idea, and in this he has admirably succeeded. The following is a description of the kennel referred to:

The Portable Folding Kennel

This is made of wood, and when fixed for occupancy resembles the old fashioned kennel, except that the door is placed at one side of the front end instead of in the centre, thus giving the dog a better chance of being sheltered from cold, wet, and draughts. It consists of seven pieces, the bottom (E), two sides (BB), two ends (CC), and the two sides of the sloping roof (AA), and these are so fitted that no nails or screws have to be withdrawn, but when it is necessary to take it to pieces to scour or disinfect, or to pack for travelling, the roof (AA), fitted with metal plugs which go into corresponding holes in the upper edge of the sides (BB), is simply lifted up, and the two pieces being held together by a long hinge running their extreme length, fold together. The two end and two side pieces (BB) in like manner work on such hinges, which are similar to those used in pianos; the end pieces (CC), when free from the metal plugs of the sides, which fit into holes in their edges, are folded down on to the floor piece (E); between the floor and the side pieces runs a piece of wood (DD, DD) to raise the position of the hinge, so that when released from the bolts and screws binding them to the bottom and end pieces, the side pieces fall flat over the end pieces, which have been already folded down, without straining the hinge; under the bottom piece at each corner is a large brass knob (FFFF) to serve as feet to keep the kennel off the wet ground, and these feet are fitted with screws, which work through the intermediate piece referred to into female screws let into the side pieces.

This very materially strengthens the kennel when made up, and, when unscrewed, although they do not come out of the bottom piece, they relieve the sides and allow them to be folded down.

Plan of Kennel.

Kennel Complete and Fixed.

Kennel Packed for Travelling. PORTABLE KENNEL FOR ONE DOG.

It will thus be seen that the kennel may be said to consist of two parts only, and that these can be taken to pieces and put together with the greatest ease, no nails and no screws, except those of the feet, having to be undone, and these latter only partially; and when these two parts are laid on each other and strapped together the whole kennel occupies no more room than a large book.

The great convenience of this arrangement for those who are moving, or wish to travel, taking their dogs with them, is obvious, and it is equally plain that dogs, being subject to a variety of contagious diseases, the facility and thoroughness with which these kennels can be cleansed and disinfected is also a very great advantage.

There is another point yet to be noticed, and that is the fitting of one side of the roof with a hinged lid of nearly its full size, so that in cases of illness or a bitch having whelps in the kennel they can be examined and help given when required with the greatest freedom and ease.

Any intelligent carpenter can make these from the drawings and description, and the kennel may no doubt be improved upon in some of its details, but in principle of construction, utility, and convenience it will be conceded that it is a great improvement on the old fashioned cumbersome dog box in common use. Mr. William Holland, builder, New Thornton Heath, Surrey, makes these kennels in a great variety of woods, and of several sizes, at very reasonable prices.

The following plans and descriptions of other portable kennels to accommodate half a dozen dogs were given by a correspondent in The Country in 1877, and will, I think, prove of considerable use to others who purpose erecting small kennels with a view of exhibiting and occasionally breeding:

"If dogs are to be thoroughly clean - and upon this depends their health - it is absolutely necessary that you should be able to get inside of their sleeping house, and if breeding is attempted this is more than ever important. I give the plans which I have adopted, and although they may contain many errors, as I am not an architect, still I think they may be found a groundwork to start from. Of course, the idea is to have them in every respect portable, and, keeping this in view, to make them as comfortable as possible.