Aviary for a German Shepherd

Is it possible to keep a shepherd dog outside in winter?

Large dogs like German Shepherds love long walks. But they can only be kept in a spacious, insulated enclosure in winter, otherwise the pet may die from hypothermia. Even though these dogs have a thick undercoat and can withstand frost, they need a warm home.

Shepherd needs a warm and safe enclosure

Features of an enclosure for a shepherd

Dog breeders living in rural areas should take care of an insulated home for their German Shepherd. The best option for such housing is a spacious, warm enclosure. This is much better than a kennel in which the dog sits on a chain. The animal will be able to move in the enclosure, but it cannot be locked up around the clock.

For your information! If the shepherd is constantly in a closed room, it may develop mental problems. She will rush out, begin to constantly whine and bark, and become nervous and irritable.

When kept in an enclosure, the owner will need to walk the dog for 30 minutes. or 1 hour. You can simply let the dog run around the area for a while.

It is necessary to accustom a shepherd dog to being kept in an enclosure from childhood. A small puppy can be placed in an enclosure, then he will quickly get used to such a home.

A warm enclosure with a winter road will become a reliable shelter for your pet

Pros of the aviary:

• the dog does not sit on a chain, but moves freely around the enclosure;
• For animals of large breeds, which include the German Shepherd, it is important to have their own space. It's also a great place for watchdogs;
• The dog considers his house a safe place. This is especially important for females during the period of birth and raising puppies. In a shelter you can protect your pet from unwanted mating;
• Living in an enclosure, the animal will not chew corners in the house and make noise.

Keeping a dog in an enclosure will require some effort and daily responsibilities from the owner. This cannot be called a disadvantage of kennel keeping, but, nevertheless, dog breeders should be aware of these nuances.

Minuses:

• the dog needs time to get used to its new habitat. During this period, she will break out of the enclosure;
• The enclosure needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain cleanliness.

How to make a roof

How to train a dog to crate

Dogs do not like confined spaces and do not go there voluntarily. Use a trick - start feeding her inside the enclosure, and release her after eating. Sometimes you can throw your shepherd’s favorite toy there so that he can run after it on his own.

Increase the time spent in the enclosure gradually.

How to train a puppy

Keeping puppies in enclosures has a positive effect on their health. This contributes to the prevention of rickets, the possibility of unlimited physical activity, hardening, and good coat condition. By the way, read our article about vaccinations for German Shepherds.

Some simple rules will tell you how to accustom a puppy to an enclosure:

• Throw your favorite treat inside the enclosure, deeper each time.
• Praise the puppy when he enters the building, not when he leaves it.
• Place your favorite chewing bone inside, which will keep your pet occupied for a while, allowing him to get used to closed doors.
• Having achieved calm behavior in the enclosure in front of you, begin to leave the puppy there, first leaving for a short period of time, each time increasing the interval.
• Don’t let them manipulate you; if the baby whines and is indignant, don’t rush to run and let him out. Otherwise, he will understand that his desires are fulfilled upon request.
• Try not to punish your ward inside the enclosure, because for him this is a future refuge.

If you follow these rules, you will definitely achieve a positive result, and your German Shepherd will like its new home. After moving into the enclosure, follow the rules of keeping it. These include grooming the dog and cleaning the area. But even if kept in an enclosure, do not forget to let the dog out for a walk for 30 minutes a day at least once.

This is necessary to communicate with the owner, to expend accumulated energy, otherwise the shepherd will try to get out of there or start running in circles, as animals do in zoos. If the enclosure is comfortable, your German Shepherd will be healthy, active and will delight you with reliable protection for many years. See the addresses of nurseries in Moscow and Moscow Region here.

How to choose a place for an aviary in the courtyard of a private house

DIY enclosure for alabai: dimensions

The dog cannot be isolated from the outside world and especially from its owners. An enclosure for a German shepherd in the courtyard of a private house needs to be built in a place where the dog can see everything that is happening.

Note! It is necessary to choose a place on a hill so that rainwater does not accumulate in the dog house and it is not damp. You can build an enclosure near bushes or trees so that the shepherd dog is not disturbed by noise.

The shepherd's home must be reliably protected from wind, rain, and snow. You cannot build a house near a noisy road, garages or places where varnishes and paints are stored. The dog needs to be protected from noise and pungent odors, so the enclosure is built at a distance of 500 m from the barn, garage or workshop.

A dog house consisting of a winter road, a platform and an open area

Types of enclosures

The German Shepherd is a fairly large animal. For a normal life, she needs a spacious territory through which she could move without interference. The best option is an enclosure - an area enclosed by a net with a shelter-booth.

Depending on the material used, enclosures are:

• made of wood;
• made of metal;
• mixed.

According to the internal arrangement they are distinguished:

• open enclosures, fenced around the perimeter with bars;
• semi-open enclosures, in which only 2 sides are lattice;
• closed enclosures.

The photo shows an enclosure for a German shepherd.
A dog kennel is placed inside the enclosure. In it, the animal can hide from bad weather and sleep. It is especially important to have a reliable shelter for bitches. In a place protected from the weather and from prying eyes, the dog and its offspring will feel reliably protected.

What kind of enclosure is needed for a shepherd dog?

Building an enclosure for a shepherd dog with your own hands is quite simple. The owner must know what kind of house his pet needs.

Guard dog breeds for a private home

The height of the booth should be 50–60 cm greater than the height of the dog at the withers. The length of two parallel sides must be at least 2 m. The enclosure must be placed on an elevation of 50 cm so that the floor is not at ground level.

Important! It is advisable to make a gutter in the corner for draining water. Then you can wash the floor by watering it with a hose, and the water will quickly flow down the gutter.

It is best to make three walls from wooden boards so that they retain heat in the house. Instead of the fourth, you need to stretch the mesh or put a grate so that the shepherd dog can see everything that is happening nearby. The house must have a window through which the owner will serve food to the dog.

Under no circumstances should you make a floor from concrete slabs, as the dog can get sick and even die in a matter of days. The floor in the enclosure must be made of planed wooden boards, cleared of knots and treated with special solutions to prevent rot. Planks with cracks cannot be used.

Aviary floor

Which should it be? Not earthen, because this will cause the coat to be dirty and the dog may dig a hole and run away. Concrete and asphalt can be used, but only if combined with wooden flooring, because in cold weather such a floor will provoke diseases of the joints of the limbs.

Use a board without knots or cracks, at least 2-4 cm thick. It is advisable to treat it with an antiseptic against fungal damage.

The base for the floor can be wooden or metal structures.

What materials are needed for construction

Guard dog breeds: the best for a private home

An enclosure for a shepherd dog consists of three structures: a frame, a base, and a roof. Each part of the house will require different materials.

For your information! Instead of nails, it is better to use self-tapping screws so that the dog does not get hurt.

The base of the enclosure can be made of a metal frame or concrete, but on top it must be tightly covered with wooden boards in several layers.

The frame can be built from iron slats, wood or metal posts. It is better to put a lattice on the open wall of the house, rather than a chain-link mesh.

The walls must be upholstered in several layers of boards, oriented strand board and insulation.

The roof is covered with corrugated board, slate or ondulin. The latter of these is often used as a soundproofing material.

List of materials:

• tongue and groove board;
• wooden boards;
• corrugated sheets, slate;
• OSB;
• profiled pipe;
• ondulin;
• felt, penoplex;
• beam;
• lattice or mesh;
• self-tapping screws;
• Fiberboard;
• bolt, hinges;
• wire;
• primer, paint.

Drawing (top view)

Tools for work:

• welding machine;
• screwdriver;
• drill;
• jigsaw;
• roulette.

Calculating the size of the enclosure and preparing a drawing

Every dog ​​breeder will be able to draw up a construction project. The dog enclosure consists of three parts. Shepherd sizes:

• winter road - a closed, insulated space measuring 2x1.5 m on which the booth is located;
• platform - wooden flooring with an area of ​​2x1.5 m;
• a walking area measuring 2x1 m. You can compact soil on the floor or put together a wooden flooring.

A small manhole should connect the winter road to the platform. Through it, the dog will be able to climb into the kennel, and the owner will put bowls of food for it. You need to make an entrance door on the outside wall. The width of both holes should be 80 cm.

Drawing (side view)

The height of the house should be 180 cm or more. The roof must be placed at an angle so that rainwater drains from it. You will also need a visor.

Knowing the requirements for building an enclosure, the owner will be able to design the correct drawing and build the house with his own hands.

The diagram above shows the location of the booth in the winter road, as well as the outer and inner doors.

Important! If two dogs live in the enclosure, then the area needs to be increased by 1.5 times.

How to build an aviary with your own hands

You can build an enclosure for a German Shepherd with your own hands. To do this, you need to choose a suitable place, prepare the soil, then build a base, frame, roof and insulate the structure. All work is carried out strictly according to the drawing.

Structure base

First, they place the base of the enclosure and make a small foundation for it.

1. A frame made of metal or timber measuring 150×150 mm must be secured to posts.
2. Treat 30 mm thick boards with varnishes and solvents.
3. Lay and secure the boards tightly to the base.
4. If the frame is metal, it must be treated with anti-corrosion solutions. A layer of material should be placed under the boards to protect against moisture penetration. First, a moisture-proof layer is placed on the concrete base, then insulation and only then boards.

How to make a foundation

Before building the base, it is necessary to build the foundation of the enclosure.

1. At the selected location, remove the soil and dig a small hole 30 cm deep. Its length and width should correspond to the dimensions of the enclosure.
2. Fill the hole with small crushed stone. Install supports made of low brick or concrete pillars along the perimeter of the building.

After this, the base frame is strengthened on the pillars and the base is built.

Requirements for the winter road

Building a frame

Strong beams or metal pipes are perfect for the frame.

1. 4 pipes or beams are fixed at the corners of the base.
2. At the top and bottom, these pipes are tied with metal corners measuring 2.5 cm.

Note! The frame must be secured very tightly and evenly.

Wall installation

One or two walls are covered with bars, and the rest (2–3) are sheathed with boards and insulated. The most important thing at this stage of work is to insulate the walls. The dog will feel comfortable in a warm enclosure.

1. One wall is covered with a lattice. There should be a space of 8–10 cm between the longitudinal rods. An additional yard is welded across the rods.
2. The same structure is installed on the adjacent wall.
3. The other pair of walls is sheathed with boards in several layers. The outer layer is made from block house or oriented strand board (OSB). The next layer will be made of a material that retains heat for a long time, for example, mineral wool. The inner layer can be made of OSB or wooden planks.
4. You can sheathe three walls with boards, and install the lattice only on the fourth.
5. All sides of the winter road are sheathed with insulated boards.
6. It is necessary to make a hole in one of the external walls for the entrance door.

How to make a base

Door installation

The door can be made in a wall covered with a lattice, then you do not have to cut a hole in the wood and install hinges there. It is necessary to make a door that opens inward and locks both from the outside and from the inside. You will need a strong bolt.

Erection of the roof

To make a sloping roof, one of the walls must be 15 cm higher than the others. All openings must be tightly closed.

Several longitudinal and transverse beams are fixed to the top of the building. Insulation (fibreboards, fiberboard) is fixed to them, and the top is covered with flooring.

Roof decking

Materials such as ondulin, slate, and corrugated sheets are perfect for roofing. It is advisable to choose ondulin because it has soundproofing properties.

The boards are tightly fixed to the base

Construction of an aviary

Building an enclosure for a German Shepherd will require a lot of effort. The main thing is to be patient and calmly do the work. In just a few days, a new home for your pet will be ready. Consider a wood frame option with a floor, metal mesh, and slate roof.

Choosing a place in the yard

To make your dog feel comfortable, it is better to choose a space where there is a minimum number of distracting elements. You should not place the enclosure near the road or fence. The animal will constantly be distracted in attempts to defend its territory, and therefore bark around the clock. In the worst case scenario, your pet could jump over the fence and get lost.

A good place for a dog is the yard near the entrance to the house. This way the animal will be able to monitor current events and not be distracted unnecessarily.

Important! It is advisable to choose a place with shade so that in hot weather the inside of the building will be cool for at least part of the day.

Aviary dimensions

The Shepherd is a large breed dog. Its height at the withers is more than 60 cm. Such an animal needs at least 10 m2 of space for movement. After determining the location, the territory is marked. Measure 5 m wide and 4 m long, drive in pegs, and pull a rope over them. This will help you better understand the dimensions while working.

The height of the enclosure should not be lower than human height if the dog lives in it permanently. This is necessary to restore order inside and bring food to the animal. The Shepherd is a large dog that can easily jump over a low fence.

Aviary walls

The most durable materials for the walls of a dog house are brick and wood. To lay bricks, a foundation is first laid to avoid the building subsiding under its own weight. Then the room is laid out along the designated contour.

To build a wooden structure, a foundation is also made. They dig holes in the places of supporting elements. Then a columnar foundation is erected in them. At these points, releases are left, to which a metal frame is later attached.

It can then be covered with mesh or pipes. And also lay out the walls from wooden beams or boards. Secure them to the screws with a hammer drill.

Lattice

The grating is welded using a welding machine along the contour of the frame. Installing a chain-link mesh will not take much time. However, this option is the most unsafe for the pet. If the dog is active, it will often jump on the fence and cling to its fur, skin, paws, causing injury to itself.

It is better to use metal rods. This is a more labor-intensive process, but it will last much longer and will not harm the dog. The fittings are installed at a distance of 10 cm from each other. Make 1 or 2 walls in the form of a grid.

Floor

Most often, floors in enclosures are made of concrete. This is the most undesirable option. In summer it is very hot from the sun, and in winter it is cooled by frost. It will be uncomfortable for the animal to live on such a surface.

It is best to use boards. This is a natural material that maintains optimal temperature regardless of the time of year. You can make a wooden floor in several stages:

1. Prepare rectangular timber and boards with a width of at least 4 cm.
2. All boards are sanded smooth.
3. The material is treated with an antiseptic and allowed to dry.
4. The frame and logs are made from beams.
5. Using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, secure the boards to the frame.
6. At the end, the floor is coated with varnish or wood paint.

Important! Sometimes asphalt is used for the floor. It also gets very hot in the heat and requires special styling.

Roof for an aviary

Laying the roof is quite simple. A wooden frame is constructed in advance. Then, using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, the roofing material in the form of slate or corrugated sheets is screwed on. They do the work carefully, attaching each sheet one by one. For softer materials, OSB sheets are pre-stuffed, then a layer of roofing felt is made and soft tiles are covered.

Aviary doors and locks

Aviary doors should always open inwards. This way, the owner will always create an obstacle for the dog to escape when the fence is opened. For this purpose, different materials are chosen. Both a mesh with a frame and a regular wooden door will do. It is important that it rests on high-quality hinges. Otherwise, the shepherds may break down such a door.

Also, the enclosure must be closed with a lock or bolts. The option can be any:

• latch;
• padlock;
• door lock with key;
• chain with lock.

The main thing is that the dog cannot open the door and run out of the enclosure. Therefore, you should not skimp on choosing a lock.

Feeders and drinkers

When keeping a dog outside, it must be provided with constant access to water and food. To do this, food bowls are placed inside the enclosure. When installing them, you should follow a few simple rules:

• feeders should be raised above the ground;
• water and food should not mix;
• It is better to place the bowl on the edge, next to the door, so that it is convenient to feed the dog.

Making an enclosure for a shepherd dog with your own hands is not so difficult. There are many drawings and options for manufacturing. In just a few days you can build an entire enclosure. It will serve as both a temporary home and a permanent home for the dog. When choosing materials for the design and drawing, you should study the characteristics of the pet.

DIY shepherd doghouse installation

When working with boards, you first need to drill holes in them, and then insert screws and screws into them. If you screw screws into boards, the wood may crack, and this should not be allowed.

For your information! To secure the metal pipes of the frame you will need a welding machine.

Material selection

It is necessary to choose only dense wooden boards without cracks. They are coated with varnish to prevent decay. Before starting work, they need to be planed so that the dog does not catch splinters in his paws. The door needs a strong bolt. These are relatively inexpensive materials.

How to arrange

In the winter road you need to make an insulated hut and put bowls for food and water there. You should not place foreign objects in the enclosure. You can secure the bowls to a support or stand. To make the dog comfortable, the feeder must be suitable for the height of the animal. As a rule, the height of the stand is 20–30 cm.

Note! A toilet needs to be installed in the open area. You can pour filler there or lay down part of the lawn.

Frame

Choosing a location for an aviary

The place where the pet will live must be dry, protected from the wind and at least five hundred meters away from the toilet, garbage disposal, manure storage facilities, boiler rooms, fuel and lubricant warehouses, car parks, noisy and dusty roads, industries with hazardous waste, cesspools, pigsties , stables and other objects that emit harmful fumes and gases into the air.

It is best to locate the building on a hill where it will not be at risk of spring flooding. The structure must be located outdoors so that the pet can receive a sufficient amount of warm sunlight. If you place the structure between trees or bushes, it will be protected from the wind. To protect the shepherd from unnecessary disturbance, the enclosure is installed away from roads along which a large number of strangers pass.

Aviary care

The enclosure is swept with a broom or broom twice a day - morning and evening. Once a month it is necessary to wash the floors with water and a cleaning agent. Some dog breeders sprinkle the floor with shavings or sawdust.

After each feeding of the dog, the owner must wash the bowls. Dog dishes should be kept clean at all times. It is necessary to periodically spray anti-tick aerosol in the enclosure. It is especially important to do this in spring, summer and early autumn.

The feeder can be mounted on a grill

Arrangement of the enclosure

Dog bowls should be placed at the level of the German Shepherd's muzzle. It is best to secure the dishes on a rotating or hinged metal frame, which can be taken out and filled without entering the enclosure.

Bowls on a metal frame allow you to feed the dog to trusted people during the owner’s absence - the dog will not attack, since you can pour food and pour water without going inside the enclosure

In winter, the floor of the booth must be covered. You can use simple straw or sawdust, which will then have to be changed every 10 days. The advantage of straw and sawdust bedding is low cost, the disadvantage is that it is prickly. A shepherd dog will find bedding made of woolen cloth more comfortable. The disadvantage of this covering is that it is difficult to clean, so once a month you will have to completely replace the blanket.

Inside the enclosure there should be a place for the animal to rest and sleep. The easiest way to arrange a bed is from a wooden pallet covered with soft bedding. But it’s better to make a booth inside the enclosure 90–95 cm long, 70 cm wide and 70 cm high. The optimal size of the entrance to the booth is 45x35 cm.

Tips for keeping a dog in an enclosure

The floor of the enclosure must be clean. Cleaning must be done daily (if the dog is taken outside to relieve itself, then sweeping and washing the “room” once a week is sufficient). Disinfection is carried out 2-3 times a quarter. For this, weak solutions of creolin or formalin are used (after treatment, the enclosure should be well ventilated, only after that can the shepherd dog be allowed in there again).

A shepherd dog in an enclosure needs to communicate with its owner. She needs walks and games with a person 2-3 times a day. Without contact with the owner and regular jogging, the pet will feel sad and perceive being in the enclosure as a punishment. The result of this may be a deterioration in the animal’s well-being or manifestation of aggression towards humans.

The German Shepherd is a lively dog; you cannot keep it in an enclosure all the time, as then the animal will begin to feel sad and may get sick.

Of course, you can purchase a ready-made dog enclosure design. Specialists will come and quickly assemble everything. But it will cost from 22 thousand rubles and more. You can save money if you make a fence for a shepherd dog yourself. The downside is that you will have to spend several days on this. Plus - spending on materials will not exceed 8 thousand rubles. In addition, with independent construction and installation, you can change the design to suit the characteristics of the dog and the site.

It is not difficult to build an enclosure for a German Shepherd with your own hands if you have some skills. The outdoor space should be comfortable for the animal and protect it from bad weather. There are a number of other rules for arranging dog housing.

Zoological norms

The size of the building depends on the size of the dog. There are strict zoological standards that must be followed during the construction process. A spacious home should correspond to the dog’s height at the withers:

• a shepherd dog under 50 cm tall can live in an enclosure with an area of ​​6 m²;
• with a height of 50–65 cm you will need 8 m²;
• dogs taller than 65 cm need a house of 10 m².

Important! Two dogs will need 1.5 times more space.

Inlet grille

The aviary will be an excellent gift for your beloved dog. In it she can feel safe, move a lot and stay warm in winter. Every owner will be able to build a warm enclosure for their pet if they follow the instructions above.