Do-it-yourself enclosure for Alabai (drawings)

Having decided to acquire a new friend, protector and watchman in one “person,” future owners should try to provide him with comfortable living conditions. Alabais - the indigenous "residents" of Central Asia - have long been favorites because of their easy-going nature, devotion and vigilance. However, it is not recommended to keep such a large animal in an apartment; a spacious private house will also seem like a prison to them. A kennel and a leash are a completely inhumane solution. There is only one option left - an enclosure for the Alabai. Such a home will provide freedom and will be an excellent point for monitoring your territory.

What types of enclosures are there?

The variety of options can cause confusion for the owners of Alabai, since in the endless number of photographs found on the Internet, all “apartments” have their own configuration. The design of the enclosures is also very different. The appearance depends on the functions assigned to the enclosure, as well as on the preferences of the animal owners.

All dog enclosures can be divided into main types.

Temporary structures. Since they are intended for short-term residence, the structures do not have a roof and are completely open. The fencing is a mesh or fence. A flooring is arranged inside and a booth is placed.
Closed dwellings. This type refers to intermediate enclosures. There is also a deck and booth inside. It differs from temporary housing in that it has solid walls on three sides. There is only one lattice, it gives the Alabai the opportunity to calmly observe all the events in the yard.
Capital enclosures. These structures have a secure roof and one lattice wall. The rest are solid, they are additionally well insulated. A booth is placed inside the enclosure, which also has flooring. Another option is to equip a special “bedroom”, which is separated from the rest of the space and has a separate entrance.

Enclosures for Alabai - project options

There are many different types of kennel designs, making it difficult for new breeders to know which design will be right for their dog. Some schemes are simple, others add various additional elements. When choosing the best project, it is important to consider a number of requirements:

protection from weather conditions
- when kept outdoors, the dog must be able to shelter from rain and wind, as well as from low temperatures; there must be a place for a booth in the enclosure, and a canopy is also needed for protection from the sun;
convenient operation
- cleaning the enclosure should not cause much difficulty, the structure of the building is designed so as to ensure convenient care for the animal;
wide view
- the enclosure should be located so that the alabai can see the entrance gate to the site and the doors to the house; the best solution would be to arrange an enclosure with a corridor going around the yard - this way the dog can observe the entire territory;
safety for the pet
- the walls and floor are made of materials that do not contain toxins and allergens; the dog should also not have the opportunity to get injured;
reliability
- the walls are made of durable materials that will withstand the effects of precipitation and other negative conditions and will last for many years.

It is necessary to take into account the location of the building. If the enclosure is being built in the courtyard of a private house, you can use one of its walls to protect it from the wind. It is not recommended to install an enclosure next to a garage or buildings for keeping other animals. Strong smells and sounds will disturb the alabai and prevent him from fulfilling his task as a guard.

There are several options for making the floor in the enclosure. The simplest and most economical is to leave the ground covered with grass; this option is suitable for large outdoor enclosures. Often the floor is covered with sand or fine gravel - it is important that the stones are processed and do not have sharp edges. Part of the pen can be covered with wood flooring, which will be a comfortable place for the dog to lie down.

Asphalt is also a popular surface, but it gets hot during the summer heat and requires special equipment for installation. It is not recommended to fill the area with concrete - it freezes easily at low temperatures and can cause hypothermia and illness in the dog.

Requirements for an Alabai enclosure

Central Asian Shepherds are powerful and large dogs, so the “apartment” for them should fully meet their needs.

Dependence on gender

Animals of different sexes require certain conditions for a full life in an enclosure, so the places where males and females are kept are very different.

A female dog requires maximum protection from bad weather conditions: the born puppies will actively move around the enclosure, and any draft can turn into disaster. It is necessary to have other mandatory elements - a maternity room, a vestibule.
The male dog is incredibly strong, so he needs a strong and reliable home. The enclosure, castles and “walls” must ensure that the dog does not go looking for a lady of his heart or adventure when the owners are sleeping peacefully. In this case, the chain-link will not hold him: the male will unravel it as quickly as a knitting enthusiast will unravel a tired sweater.

Suitable dimensions

This is the main requirement. Sufficient dimensions, which will be enough for free movement and problem-free life, are 3x4 m. Minimum - 10 m2 (2x5, 2.5x4 m). In this space it is necessary to equip a booth - a house within a house that protects from bad weather, and a “dining room” - bowls for food and water.

Such spacious housing is suitable for only one dog. If you are planning a quick addition to the family, then the area of the Alabai enclosure must be made more spacious in advance. The minimum for each new furry “tenant” is 5 m2.

Where to place the aviary?

In order for the Alabai to ideally perform security functions, the house must be equipped where the entire territory of the site will be clearly visible. If there is no such place, then you need to at least select priority objects. But it is better when the entire farm is under the constant control of the alabai.

A few more recommendations for a comfortable existence:

if this is feasible, then the Alabai enclosure should be located away from busy roads;
the eastern or western side of the property will save the dog from extreme heat and cold;
A “outhouse-type toilet” or a compost pit located nearby can cause irreparable damage to the watchman’s sense of smell, and this is a synonym for disaster for the alabai and its owners.

Functional Features

To protect the dog from gusts of wind, at least one wall must be solid; its replacement can be a fence around the area.

Alabais are excellent jumpers, so an enclosure without a roof needs to be provided with a fence at least 3 m high, more is better. It is for this reason that Alabai habitats equipped with a roof that protects from rain and snow are more popular.

The door in the enclosure is located on the front side of the structure, so the Alabai will be informed in advance about the arrival of the owners. A door that opens inward will help you avoid surprises (for example, the wild joy of a powerful pet) during your visit. It must match the height of the owner.

Creating an aviary

At the present stage, there are a huge number of projects, ranging from fundamental buildings to simple fences. Regardless of the fact that Alabai is a hardy dog, the pen must protect from cold and excessive heat.

Simple option

Even with a set of minimal construction qualities, making an enclosure with your own hands is not so difficult. And you don’t have to buy expensive materials for this. It is worth citing one option.

Dimensions: length – five meters, width and height – three meters. The basis for the structure will be a frame made of a metal profile. A welded mesh should be welded to it. After completing these simple steps, the enclosure will be completely ready.

Complex option

Metal pipes should be dug into the ground and concreted. After this, you need to weld the grille to them.
All metal elements must be primed and free of traces of rust. After this, they must be coated with enamel.
From the front you need to make a door that opens inward.
The latches should be located outside. They must be equipped with reliable latches.
To create the floor, use sanded boards, which will first need to be treated with anti-rotting solutions.
To create a roof, you should use lightweight beams. The structure itself must be single-pitched. It is best to cover it with ondulin.

In order to protect your pet from the wind, one or two walls should be sheathed with polycarbonate. It is not recommended to close the front part. This will help create a sense of spaciousness in Alabai’s mind. In addition, the dog will be given an excellent overview of the territory.

You can sprout loaches or wild grapes along the wall. This will help create shade in the summer. Above are simplified versions of enclosures. You can easily make them yourself.

Best materials

Dogs, often weighing as much as their owners, require reliable materials. They should be durable, but not too expensive, safe for the animal and easy to use.

Roof

Metal tiles or its soft variety, ondulin, corrugated sheets, and slate can serve as the roof of an enclosure for an alabai. A combination of materials is possible: for example, corrugated sheeting laid on wood will provide additional structural rigidity, as well as protection from precipitation. There are no special requirements, but a large visor is encouraged.

Fencing and support

Massive rocks, which include alabai, need appropriate housing, so the main requirement for fencing is maximum strength. Materials must be reliable, durable, but not contain substances that can harm the health of the pet.

The fence must withstand with honor numerous tests of strength by the weight of the dog, its teeth and paws, so chain-link mesh and wood are immediately eliminated. Welded gratings are made from profile pipes, fittings, metal or galvanized rods protected from corrosion.

Some people prefer forged products, but devoid of decorative curls, into which, like in a trap, the head, jaws or paws of an alabai can fall. The dimensions of the fence row spacing must be large enough, otherwise the outcome will be the same.

The best building materials for supporting frame elements are metal, brick, concrete. The reliability of the enclosure is important, so they are buried in the ground.

Floor

A concrete floor with a drain hole located in the middle of the enclosure is the best option. If you put together wooden panels from boards for free space, then washing and drying them will happen faster, so there will be no problems with ease of cleaning. If a drain hole is not provided, then the floor is made sloping to prevent the accumulation of liquid inside the enclosure. Minimum - 2°, always towards the door.

The floor, made of wood, should be at some distance from the ground. In this case, a frame is first assembled from a metal profile, then it is sheathed with boards, their minimum thickness is 40 mm. The requirements for such a floor are the absence of cracks and the need for a gap between the ground and the boards. This support is provided by brickwork.

Some recommend choosing asphalt, but this is not the best material, since it is short-lived and emits harmful chemical compounds. They are the cause of cancer, most often of the respiratory tract.

Do-it-yourself aviary for Alabai

You can find a ready-made project by studying the entire rich assortment of the World Wide Web. Or make a drawing yourself. The next stage is the calculation of materials. The complexity of the work depends on the project that was chosen. If solid brick supports are provided, then laying the foundation will take a lot of effort and time, which is always in short supply.

The best choice for an Alabai would be an enclosure with metal supports and a welded grille. Pen dimensions: length 5 m, width - 3-4. Construction begins with the preparation of a “springboard” for activity. The area is cleared of turf and leveled if necessary. The next steps are:

In accordance with the drawing, markings are made using pegs and cord. They check the angles by measuring the diagonals, equal distances are proof of impeccable work.
Dig holes, their minimum depth is 500 mm. Then the pillow is filled in: first with sand, then with crushed stone. The total thickness of the layers is 150 mm, but each layer is poured and compacted separately.
The solution is poured into the recesses, then wait until it begins to harden. When signs of concrete setting appear, profile galvanized pipes are installed in the pits, the height of which is at least 3 m. They are leveled vertically. Pause until it hardens.
Keeping an eye on the horizontal position, the supports are connected - a metal corner or pipes are welded around the perimeter from below and above. Distance from the ground 100-250 mm. The bars for the grating are welded in sections: they are fastened between sections of metal profiles, and horizontal crossbars are added if desired.
The door frame is made from the same profile, at this stage it is equipped with door hinges. The finished walls are welded to metal pillars, a corner from below and from above. On the side of the facade - in the center or offset - a section with an opening for the door is installed.
The flooring is made from edged boards, the floor surface is treated with protective compounds, sanded, and coated with varnish or protective paint.
Install (weld) a door - lattice or solid. The door is equipped with eyes for a padlock or a locking mechanism is installed.
All metal elements are primed and then painted.

The roof is often made pitched, providing a slight slope. First, wooden beams are attached, and roofing material is laid on top. The favorite is often ondulin, which has better sound insulation. Having chosen it, the owners do not worry about the comfort of the pet if it is pouring rain or hail outside the window. The last stage is installing the booth, food supplies and introducing the pet to its new home.

Making your own booth

When everything is prepared, there are materials and a drawing, the further process is quick and easy. It comes down to assembling the bottom, creating a frame, covering it and insulating it. Below are step-by-step instructions for creating a booth:

The bottom is made from 4x4 cm bars. They are cut to size and created a rectangle. This frame is covered with floorboards.
Now you can start insulating the floor. The polystyrene foam is placed in the bottom, which has been previously turned upside down by the bars. The bottom and top of the insulation is covered with glassine. Everything is fixed with staples and then covered with boards.
It's time to create the frame of the booth. It is made from four columns of 10x10 cm bars. They are installed in a vertical position at the corners of the finished bottom. Additionally, other columns are fixed between them. A strapping of four bars is made on top in a horizontal position. It should look like in the photo.
Next, the walls of the booth are lined. Lining is used for exterior cladding. Once the structure is sheathed on the outside, it can be insulated. Glassine is fixed to the walls with staples, foam is laid, and then another layer of glassine is placed on top. Now everything is ready to cover the walls with plywood or chipboard from the inside. Advice! Screws or nails are sunk deep into the wood so that the alabai does not get hurt.
All that remains is to make the roof of the Alabai booth. On the outside, the finished top trim is supplemented with an OSB sheet of identical size. Next, the roof is insulated using the already familiar method. But instead of fixing it tightly, door hinges are attached to the back wall and lid. This is how it will open.
The exterior decoration of the Alabai booth remains. Roofing material is laid on the roof, a convenient opening is made and installed in the desired place in the enclosure.

That's all, the aviary booth is ready. Alabai has a comfortable home in which he can spend time. He won't be cold in winter.

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Capital enclosure for alabai and other “heavyweights”

Thanks to the efforts of big dogs, any structure that is not too strong may fail at one “wonderful” moment. However, such a capital structure will last for many years. To build a solid structure you need:

boards, metal profile;
rods, pipes;
roofing material;
corners, channels;
sand, cement.

Foundation

For a comfortable home for alabai, the best option is a strip type of base. It is built like this:

Dig a trench, its depth is 500 mm.
They construct the simplest formwork with a height of 200 mm.
A gravel cushion is placed in the trench.
Prepare a solution from water, sand, cement. Concrete is poured into the formwork.
After the solution has dried, a waterproofing material is laid on the base - polyethylene film or - better - roofing material.

Flooring

The inviolability of the structure is ensured by the following technology:

a channel in the shape of a rectangle is laid on the foundation, its corners are welded;
boards pre-treated with an antiseptic are placed in it, and roofing felt is laid on them again;
make a gravel bed again, pour in the solution;
wooden logs are sunk into it when they gain half their strength;
Wooden boards are attached to the joists with self-tapping screws, at least 150 mm is left between the floor and the ground, and do not forget about the minimum slope of 2°.

Frame and sheathing

A profile pipe is used as a stand for it. It is welded to the channels or bolted. Next, rods are welded between the supports at the top and bottom, and vertical lattice elements are welded to them, their pitch is 50-100 mm. The door is made in the same way. An opening is left in the frame for it. Sheath one or more walls using a material chosen as desired. From the inside, the walls of the enclosure are first insulated, then lined with wood.

Roof construction

The middles of the sides of the upper metal trim are connected, fixing the channel between them. The resulting frame is used for laying continuous sheathing of boards under the roofing material. The pitch of the lathing depends on its type. As in the first option, it is better to opt for a “silent” roof, so the same ondulin or a soft type of tile is optimal.

To prepare the enclosure for use, a booth is installed and a feeding area is arranged.

How to build it yourself

Here we will tell you how to build a warm house for a large pet in which it can spend the winter. First you need to create a project or drawing, from which you should build upon when carrying out further work. The floors of the enclosure are made of wood, since if left earthen, the dog will be able to dig a hole and escape.

Install supports: build them from bricks or use concrete pillars. Fill the space between them with sand or gravel.
Place wooden beams on the supports. They will serve as the basis for the floor. In the areas of contact between the supports and the frame, use roofing felt to insulate from moisture.
Next, fix the flooring from the boards, on which lay a layer of waterproofing and a finished wooden floor. Pre-treat the boards with an anti-rot solution and fasten them end-to-end so that there are no gaps. Use joists and screws for fixation.
Next, build a frame - for this you can use a base made of either metal or wood. Place supports at the four corners and in the center of each side. Attach 3 closed walls made of boards to them, making sure that there are no gaps. Between the inner and outer surfaces of the walls, mineral wool is laid as insulation, and the holes are covered with polyurethane foam. The front wall of the enclosure is open; to install it, stretch the mesh, attaching it to the supports.
Next, the roof is installed. It is better to make it inclined for precipitation drainage. It is worth considering soundproofing, as the sound of rain can unnerve the dog. A rail is secured on top of the mesh from pillar to post. First, they lay the boards, the beginning of which is fixed on the back wall, the end on the chain-link rail. Roofing felt is fastened on top of them with nails. Next, the structure is covered with slate or tiles.
A dog house must be placed inside such a pen. A rectangular kennel is the most convenient option. The wooden floor of the booth is also made in two layers, with insulation laid between them. Next, corner posts are fixed to its surface, to which the chipboard walls are screwed. They can be built double and put foam or mineral wool between the slabs. For the roof, a frame is made of beams, on top of which an OSB sheet is attached.

Features of the feeder in the enclosure

Even such a simple element has its own requirements, they must be taken into account:

the feeder must be raised above the ground;
water and food should be located at some distance from each other to prevent accidental mixing during eating;
food bowls should be within the owner’s reach so that he can pour in a new portion without entering the enclosure.

Some owners make an additional retractable structure in the wall, as it is convenient: both for the dog and for the owners.

Aviary placement

Before you start building an enclosure, you need to figure out where it will be located. It requires allocation of at least 10 square meters. The main function of the alabai is to protect the house and plot. The place where the enclosure will be installed should be clearly visible from different sides. Main nuances of choice:

Common Mistakes

There are typical mistakes that are better to avoid than to correct what was “done” later. You need to consider the following in advance:

saving money on materials and fasteners is unacceptable, otherwise a large dog, and also quite smart, will easily find the weak point of the structure;
a large number of decorative elements loved by people will not be appreciated by the animal, for whom it is more important to observe everything that is happening without unnecessary obstacles;
flower beds, flower beds, alpine hills are not the best neighborhood for an aviary, since during flowering the plants emit ethylene and aldehydes, which are harmful to a dog’s sense of smell;
the pitch of metal rods is 50-100 mm, but no more, all materials are checked for the absence of defects that could injure animals;
the use of nails for a dog house is not encouraged, so it is better to give preference to other types of fasteners - bolts, self-tapping screws, screws;
Regular checking of welds for their integrity is mandatory.

It’s not at all difficult to build an enclosure for an Alabai or other large breeds yourself. In addition, a design created with your own hands will not empty your wallet, will provide your four-legged friend with a completely happy existence, but will stop his attempts to go AWOL.

A decent example of an enclosure can be seen if you pay attention to this video:

Drawings and dimensions

Drawing with the dimensions of the enclosure for the Alabai

To make a drawing correctly, you need to take into account not only the conditions on the site, but also the characteristics of the pet. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is one of the largest breeds, therefore, when developing a project, the dimensions of the enclosure for the Alabai are of greatest importance. Even if the pet is still a puppy, the building area must be at least 10 sq.m. A smaller pen will not give your dog enough room to move around, which can lead to serious health problems in the future.

Doubts often arise about what size the enclosure should be if the pet will be kept more than one or if there are plans to get puppies in the future. If several dogs will live in the pen, you need to add at least 5 square meters for each animal. Even if the plot is small or there is not enough space in the yard of a private house, you cannot reduce the size of the enclosure for the convenience of the owners.

For one Alabai in the enclosure you need at least 5 sq.m.

If the Alabai feels good in the enclosure, there is no risk that the animal will try to escape. But it is still recommended to make the walls of the building from durable materials and high enough so that the dog cannot jump over them. The recommended height of the enclosure is at least three meters. This is especially important when keeping male dogs, which can be more active during heat. If you are building an enclosure with a booth, it is important to place it away from the wall, otherwise the dog will use the roof of the kennel as a springboard for jumping.

The height of the enclosure must be at least 3 meters

The distance between the rods should be no more than 5-10cm to eliminate the risk of injury. It is also important to design the door to the enclosure according to the rules - a small gate will force you to enter the enclosure bent over, which is unacceptable when training a dog. The door must correspond to the owner’s height, and also open only inward, so that the dog cannot knock it down with its weight.

Drawing of an enclosure for an Alabai with the correct location of the gate