Dog breeders who have a cottage or a country house sooner or later face the need to build or install an aviary for their pet. Here you can use two options: buy ready-made or build it yourself. However, most prefer the second option. This is not only more economical, but also allows you to adapt the structure to your conditions and the needs of your pet.
General principles for the construction of enclosures
Just before you build a dog enclosure with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with the general principles of its construction and with those parameters that will need to be taken into account. First of all, the enclosure should be comfortable and safe for the dog. An important role in this is played by the fact that its dimensions should be taken into account during construction. In general, the minimum area of the fence should be about 6 square meters.
When building, you don’t need to try to save space, but it’s also impractical to build too large an aviary: in the cold season, heat will be badly concentrated in it, the dog may freeze.
Choosing the floor for an aviary
Before you build an aviary for a dog, you need to carefully consider which floor is relevant in this building. The fact is that in this matter, even the opinions of specialists cannot come together. Some believe that the coating should be the same, while others are of the opinion that an uncovered piece of soil should be left in the aviary.
Many recommend the standard type of floor in this type of structure - this is the floor of the boards. However, it can be very unusual for a dog to relieve himself on such a floor. Therefore, other recommendations come down to leaving part of the space free from the foundation and from the boards. However, in this case, your pet can begin to dig under the aviary and get out into the wild. In this case, one should take into account the peculiarities of his character and behavior.
Wall Recommendations
If you have already briefly familiarized yourself with how to build a dog enclosure with your own hands, it's time to think about arranging the walls. They should never be made deaf. The fact is that dogs are terribly curious creatures, so they need to watch what is happening around. At least one or two walls must be made of lattice material. It is not recommended to use a mesh netting for walls, because with it a dog can easily injure itself and catch on its weave. In order to build blind walls, it is better to choose a breathable material. An example of this can be all the same boards or bricks. In general, the ideal option is if the aviary will be made of wood and forged lattice.
In the enclosure, a booth must be present, and in some modifications it can become part of the enclosure.
Preliminary preparation for the construction of an aviary
Building an aviary for a dog with a booth is not so difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to approach the solution of this issue correctly and to think over a work plan well. Ideally, he will draw a drawing with a plan for the future construction. If you are thinking about how to build a warm aviary for a dog, then the booth may not be needed in it, because its function can be fully performed by the insulated block.
It is necessary to determine what the entrance will be, height, from what material the building will be carried out, at what place it will be located.
Choosing the location of the aviary
Building enclosures for dogs is not so difficult to build for yourself, however, one of the most important points is the choice of the location of this building.
Aviary should not be located near the fence, especially if there is a busy street nearby. In this case, animals passing vehicles and people passing nearby will constantly distract and annoy.
An ideal option would be to place the dog house so that the front door of the house is in the field of view of the pet. And if there is an opportunity to erect it in an elevated place, then this is generally a fairy tale. With this option, the dog will be able to monitor everything that happens on the site. It will also avoid flooding in the event of rain.
No need to place an aviary next to compost pits or other strongly smelling objects. This can harm your pet's sense of smell.
The best option would be if the entrance is located in the west or east, because the dog can be very hot on the south side, and if you place it from the north, then in winter you will often have to clear the snow.
To build an aviary for a dog with your own hands, a photo of which can be seen in this article, is possible even for an ordinary amateur who does not have professional skills. The main thing is not to be afraid to get down to business and bring it to the end.
Start of construction of an aviary
The construction of an enclosure for a dog begins with the most elementary: laying the foundation and laying the floor. They are the foundation of the foundations in this process. If you intend to build an aviary for a dog, a photo of which can be seen in this article, then you need to pay attention to the fact that the floor in it is built with a certain bias. This is done with the aim of facilitating the cleaning of the room and preventing the accumulation of water in it.
After laying the foundation and arranging the floor, they begin to install the fence. Material for this is selected in advance. Initially, a frame of pipes is installed, and only then they begin to fill it, equipping the walls.
One of the last actions is the construction of the roof. It can be made from any material. The roof, as a rule, has a gable roof, less often a gable roof. Fastenings are made so that the dog could not get hurt about them.
Wooden parts of the structure are usually treated with sandpaper and varnished. In this way, not only is their service life extended, but their appearance is also significantly improved.
Some safety issues when building an aviary
Anyone who decides to build an aviary for a dog with their own hands should always take into account the fact that the animal in his house should be safe, but at the same time comfortable. The main nuance that is often forgotten during the construction of these structures is that the floor boards either bend or are not very tight to each other. This is fraught with the fact that a pet can easily get a claw into such a trap and get injured.
So that the dog does not get hurt, you need to carefully monitor that there are no protruding knots and nails in the structure. The tree needs to be treated with special solutions in order to prevent fungus from starting on it. Otherwise, they will rot and become traumatic.
An approximate calculation of the size of the aviary?
The parameters of the enclosure, as mentioned above, directly depend on the parameters of the dog. If your pet is up to 50 cm high at the withers, then an aviary of about 6 square meters will be ideal for him, but if his height is more than 65 cm, then the size of the structure should reach 10 square meters. As for the height of the enclosure, it should be such that the dog could easily stand on its hind legs and not touch the roof.
If there is a booth in the aviary, then it is advisable not to make it too big. The dog should warm it with its warmth in cold weather. However, in this house she should be able to fully stretch out and stretch her legs.
If you are considering how to build an aviary for a large dog, you should not deviate too much from the proposed proportions. The only thing that can be added is the materials with which the construction will be carried out. Stronger ones must be chosen because large dogs are usually very strong physically. They can easily break or deform fragile material, and then, as a result, get out or get hurt.
Insulation aviary
To make your pet as comfortable as possible in his apartment, it is important to know how to properly build a dog enclosure. In summer, air circulation and shade should be provided there, and in winter this place is isolated from drafts and insulated as much as possible.
In order for the floor to be not so cold, it is better to build it on a warmed rubble concrete base.
To keep the heat better in winter, you should not build a structure of too large a size. Also, the place for construction does not need to choose one that is located in an open draft.
Consideration of climatic conditions during the construction of the aviary
In different climatic conditions, warming can be done in different ways. For example, in regions with very cold climates, blind walls can be made double and with insulation. If constant cold winds blow in your area, you can make a blown wall out of windproof material.
When constructing the roof, care must be taken to ensure that there is a ceiling directly under the roofing material (for example, wood). It will contribute to the accumulation of heat.
Aviary installation
If you have more or less figured out how to build an aviary for a dog, and planned everything down to the details, as well as conducted preliminary preparation, you can proceed directly to the installation. For this, the ability to work with a welding machine and wood is useful.
All structural elements are first prepared separately, and then, in order of priority, mounted in a finished aviary. At the same time, you need to take into account that you will need the help of at least one other person who will hold the attached parts and fix their position. Alone, these operations are extremely difficult to perform, and the reliability of the structure may be in jeopardy. It is better to prepare everything yourself in advance, and then at least a few hours to attract an assistant.
Aviary construction and hygiene standards
If you are seriously thinking about how to build an aviary for a dog, you must not forget that in this building you will need to periodically clean and disinfect to comply with hygiene and sanitation. For this purpose, it is necessary to plan the construction in such a way that it has free and easy access for both the animal and the owner.
The roof of the booth can be made removable, which will greatly facilitate the process of cleaning and disinfection activities inside. In addition, if your pet gets sick, you can get it through the roof and provide him with the necessary help.
Boards can be opened with varnish. This will not only protect the dog from splinters, but also facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the floor: bacteria will not multiply in the tree. Slots in the floor should be repaired or minimized to prevent the accumulation of debris and waste in them, as well as to prevent injuries to the dog.
Before you build an aviary for a dog, you need to think about where it will eat and drink water. For these purposes, it is necessary to equip a separate place with the necessary utensils and equipment, which is periodically cleaned and disinfected.
Aviary care during operation
The dog’s bed and its toys, which are in the enclosure, also need to be shaken from dust from time to time, washed. You need to remember that the hygiene of your pet is to some extent your own hygiene. After all, you also periodically visit his enclosure, feed him, play with him, touch his things. And your own health depends in part on how responsibly you approach dog care.
In addition, proper care of the dog will help to maintain its health, avoid unnecessary trips to the veterinarian and treatment costs. Therefore, try to consider everything to the smallest detail in order to ensure maximum comfort and convenience for both yourself and your pet.
Periodically, it is necessary to inspect the aviary for damage or deformation, replace or repair damaged parts.
Even from a spacious and well-equipped aviary, the dog needs to be periodically released for a walk, and if this is not possible, then the dog should be led out with a leash and appropriate safety equipment. After all, an aviary is still a cage, and a dog is a freedom-loving animal. And not every dog can get used to relieve the need for an aviary. For this, most need much more open space and greater freedom. This is partly good, since the enclosure is kept clean and tidy, but, on the other hand, it can take extra time from the owners.