Outdoor Dog Kennel: How to Build an Exercise Pen for Dogs

Exercise is a primary need for dogs, but many of them don’t get enough of it. Although experts recommend at least 30 minutes a day (and more for some dogs), it can be hard to fit in walking and playtime—so why not build an outdoor exercise pen?

Building an outdoor dog kennel for your pet business offers other benefits aside from exercise, like controlled socialization and prevention of destructive behavior. Dogs can enjoy natural sunlight and fresh air, engage in physical activities, and interact with each other in a controlled environment.

An outdoor exercise pen might be just what you need to entice more customers to your pet care services. Keep reading to find out how to build one!

What are the benefits of building an outdoor dog kennel?

There are numerous benefits to building a dog kennel outside your pet care facility.

Kennel training.

It’s good for dogs to learn to be in an enclosed space. Most dogs will encounter situations in their life where they don’t have any choice—such as travel and overnight stays at the vet—so helping them learn how to be in puppy kennels at a young age can be beneficial for them and their owner, especially for those who aren’t sure how to crate train a dog.

To do this successfully, you’ll want to keep an eye on the dogs under your care and ensure they aren’t exhibiting signs of stress while in there. Make sure to provide lots of positive reinforcement and give them breaks from the kennel.

It’s especially important not to leave them in a crate unsupervised if they’re with unfamiliar dogs. 

Socialization.

Socialization is another great benefit of having an outdoor exercise pen in your dog kennel business. With an enclosed kennel, you can put pups with similar temperaments together and supervise their play. With a much larger outdoor space and no enclosures, there are likely to be more dogs with different personalities, and separating them becomes harder to do. 

You can also rotate dogs in and out of the outdoor kennel, so your clients get peace of mind knowing their dog is getting safe playtime.

Exercise.

An outdoor kennel can also provide exercise for dogs. Although it’s an enclosed space, you can include equipment and toys in there to make sure the dogs are still getting plenty of exercise in the sunshine rather than lying around indoors all day. 

What features should an outdoor dog kennel include?

Here are the features to consider when building an outdoor dog kennel.

Dog training equipment.

Having dog training equipment close by can be a lifesaver if you’re running a dog training pet business. Clickers for dogs that are clicker trained as well as teething toys and chew toys to keep their attention during training are useful to have in a box outside the kennel.

Agility equipment.

Agility is a great activity for dogs that need to build their confidence or run off some excess energy. Having some tunnels and tires placed around the kennel can be beneficial for many reasons, including reducing anxiety and increasing enrichment.

If you do have agility equipment for dogs, however, it’s important to note that puppies under 1 should not be jumping on and off obstacles. This is because their growth plates likely haven’t closed yet, so intense jumps with hard impact can do a surprising amount of damage.

Exercise equipment.

The types of dog exercise equipment are also important to consider for your outdoor exercise pen. While that may tie in with agility equipment, there are other items you can buy—for example, herding balls, if you have the occasional border collie or Australian shepherd passing through! 

Mental stimulation.

Environmental enrichment has proven to be very important for dogs in reducing stress and keeping them happy. Fun toys and new smells are great for providing dogs with mental stimulation. Puzzle toys where the dogs can forage for treats are great for mental exercise, though be careful of resource guarding when multiple dogs are present. 

Food and water.

As well as all the dog activities mentioned above, you’ll also want to consider adding food and water to your outdoor exercise pen.

Food may not be necessary if dogs are only in the kennel temporarily but if it is, you should be careful of resource guarding. This can cause dogs to snap at each other, though it can also happen with toys too.

Water should always be freely available in a dog exercise pen, especially when the weather heats up outside. In residential kennels, it should be available 24/7.

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How to build an outdoor dog kennel in 5 easy steps.

If you would like to add outdoor dog kennels to your pet care business, here are 5 easy-to-follow steps.

1. Choose a location.

When building your kennel, you’ll want to consider a few things in terms of the location. The first is the ground. Most businesses should look for a space with grass, as this is comfortable and will absorb anything quickly if the dog needs to relieve themselves.

Secondly, consider the climate. If you live in a hot state with a blazing sun, avoid having an outdoor kennel with no shade. Conversely, if you live in colder climates, be sure to have shelter. Consider building your kennel underneath natural shade like large trees or building in the shelter as part of the kennel structure.

Additionally, choose a location that has enough room for all of the utilities you want to put in the kennel. Will you have smaller dog houses inside the larger enclosure for shelter or will you build large shade structures to cover the whole enclosure?

2. Survey the outdoor space.

Once you’ve decided on your location, you may be asking yourself “How big should a dog kennel be?”

The size will depend on how many pets you plan to host at once. Additionally, certain local laws will have regulations as to how many dogs you can have in a space at one time. You will need to check that your kennel will be big enough to comply with these requirements.

At this step, you should make sure you have the necessary permits to build on the land you’ve chosen. You will also need to check the local zoning laws to make sure your pet care business is allowed to have dogs outside the main facility building. 

Lastly, decide who will be building the structures. If you plan to have someone else come in and build your kennel, start to research local companies and their prices to see who will be the best fit.

3. Identify kennel features.

The next thing you should do is identify the features you would like in your kennel. For example, is the kennel going to be one enclosure or multiple enclosures? 

Consider how you will fit all of the features into your kennel. Will you have enough room for:

• Training Space
• Exercise equipment like a dog run
• Fresh water 
• Toys 
• Storage for anything you need for the kennel (water hoses, cleaning supplies)

4. Inventory building materials.

Now you know how big the outdoor exercise pen will be, you can make a list and purchase all of the building materials you’ll need. This will likely include:

• Fencing Materials: This includes chain link panels or welded wire mesh for the sides, wooden posts or metal poles for support, and gates with secure latches.
• Flooring: Choose if you’re going to use natural grass or want to buy astroturf, and consider rubber mats around agility equipment to prevent slipping.
• Roofing Materials: While this may not be necessary, consider roofing and shade materials such as polycarbonate panels for weather protection or shade cloth for sun protection.
• Fasteners and Hardware: You’ll need screws, nails, hinges, and locks for gates, and concrete if setting posts in concrete.

5. Purchase supplies.

Lastly, you can go ahead and purchase the supplies for the dog kennel. What you need specifically will depend on the primary purpose and your budget, but here are some ideas.

Agility and exercise equipment.

Dog exercise equipment is one of the main things you will need to buy for your exercise pen. Remember to avoid equipment that might encourage or require dogs to jump on and off, especially if you plan on having puppies or giant breeds in there. Instead, focus on tunnels, tires, and low-impact equipment.

If you have the budget, a dog running machine is a fancy addition that can also help tire out dogs who are trained to use it. 

Enrichment.

Examples of environmental enrichment might include scent trails, varied textures on the floor, and puzzle feeders and toys. 

You can also include water features, like a small paddling pool or water splash section. Dogs not only love this, but it encourages them to cool down when the weather is hot.

Dog toys.

When choosing dog toys, try to find indestructible dog toys that can be left outside. While plushie toys are often cute and ideal for some dogs, they can be a problem with those who are quick to rip apart anything soft and can be a health risk if they swallow parts of them like the squeakers. 

Food and water.

If you plan on feeding dogs in the kennel, having bowls and various types of food handy (unless the food is generally owner-supplied) is a necessity. It’s also important to have various water drinking sources with easy access.

While water bowls work well, consider a fountain too, as dogs might be more encouraged to drink from running, fresh water. Make sure to clean the water bowls regularly and ensure fresh water is added. 

Maintenance equipment.

Don’t forget to have maintenance equipment on hand, such as poop bags, a hose, and other cleaning supplies. Having dogs rotating in and out of a small space means a mess, so having those supplies close on hand means you can stay on top of things.

Increase profitability and client satisfaction by running your kennel with PetExec.

Running an outdoor dog kennel is a task that requires lots of thought, from building it to welcoming dogs in and out of the space every day. 

Let PetExec help you out with the rest. Our software has the ability to:

• Assess dogs with a temperament test and assign pet advisories, allowing compatible dogs to be placed together in the kennel for socialization
• Monitor the dog kennel in the software to ensure you know where every dog is at any moment in time and ensure there’s always a staff member on board to supervise
• Set occupancy limits to make sure the dogs are never over-crowded and you’re never overwhelmed
• Integrate with webcams so dog parents can watch their pups have a blast outside!

Aside from that, we can also help with taking deposits, settling payments, and allowing your clients to book their own spaces. Get your paws on PetExec today! 

Commonly asked questions.

How much daily exercise do dogs need?

Dogs generally need at least 30 minutes of exercise, but this can depend on breed and size. If you’re in doubt about how much exercise a dog needs, it’s a good idea to research the specific breed and take cues from the dog. If the dog is often restless and destructive, that’s a sign they need more exercise—but if they start to slow down during a 30-minute walk and seem tired, they may need less. 

How much room do dogs need to exercise?

Dogs usually need quite a bit of room to exercise, though it very much depends on their size and breed. Smaller dogs can get a lot of exercise in a 200-square-foot space, whereas medium to larger breeds might need up to 2 to 3 times that to really get their zoomies in!

How much does it cost to build a dog kennel?

Dog kennel building costs will vary depending on materials and features, but you can expect it to cost roughly $25-$50 per square foot. This is such a wide range because it depends heavily on materials used, facilities within the kennels, and specific quotes given from contracting companies.

How to get a dog to stop barking in the kennel?

Treats, toys, and distractions can all help to stop dogs barking in your outdoor kennel. However, hosting dogs generally means that you should expect some noise as they rile each other up, and some may be nervous in a new environment.