Now that your cute little puppy is growing, you are thinking it is getting close to time that the puppy has a dog kennel. This guide will hopefully help you know what to consider as you purchase a new little home for your puppy.

Probably the number one concern of most dog owners when it comes to buying dog kennels is the size of the kennel. Dog owners don’t want their dog to be too cramped, but they also don’t want the kennel to take up an unnecessary amount of space. Besides, dog owners may have heard that is actually a bad thing if the dog has too much space in the kennel.

To determine the proper size of dog kennel, the dog owner must first ask what the kennel will be used for. Will this be a kennel that is stationary? Or will this be a kennel that is used for traveling?

If the kennel is used for traveling, then it should at least be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and then lay back down (you may have seen other dogs do this while in a kennel). If a dog can at least do that much, then they are generally happy while in the kennel.

Dog Crates, Dog Kennels, Dog Houses

Before the discussion on size can be finished, it is important to distinguish between a dog crate, a dog kennel, and a dog home. Dog kennels usually refers to a larger area (5 feet by 10 feet) that is fenced off for the dog to play in. Dog kennels are commonly called dog runs, although in some dog owners’ minds a dog run is larger than a dog kennel. A portable dog kennel is much smaller and can best be explained as a small box that contains the dog.

Dog crates are for all intensive purposes the same thing as a portable dog kennel. The two can be used interchangeably and most people note no difference between the two.

When the term dog house is used, this usually refers to a dog crate that is spruced up in some way to look homier. For example, you may have seen dog igloos or dog cabins.

Now that we have the three distinguished, we can return to the size debate (who would have thought that so much goes into dog kennels?). For an at home dog kennel you will want to consider the size of the dog, the level of activity of the dog, and the dog’s waste habits.

For a larger and more active dog, you will want a large dog kennel (5 X 10 or 10X10). This will of course all depend on the space available within your yard or home. Another very important consideration is the dog’s waste habits. Most dogs will use the outside reaches of the kennel as their restroom. The dog owner must ensure that the kennel is large enough so that the dog doesn’t have to eat, sleep, and play in its own waste. This will prevent the dog from becoming sick.

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