Contents
Keeping large dogs indoors is far from the best idea, because they need space and fresh air. They are not bred for living indoors, so it is inconvenient to live with them. But letting the dog into the yard “on a permanent basis” is also not always possible. You need a place where you can close it for a while. Therefore, they build fenced areas – aviaries.
What is an aviary
An aviary is a fenced area for keeping birds, pets and dogs. It may or may not be covered.
An aviary for dogs is a building in which an animal can be constantly kept. For large dogs, it is made on the street, and in such a way that it can withstand the pressure of the animal.
For small domestic dogs, an aviary is usually understood as a portable fence that allows you to limit their movement. Such fences are also needed for older puppies so that they do not wander around the house.
Aviary sizes
To make an aviary with your own hands, you will first need to decide on the size. It all depends on the breed, or rather, on the size of the dog. The larger it is, the more spacious pen it needs for normal well-being. For shepherds, huskies and other not too large dogs, a pen of 6 meters per individual is enough. For Alabai, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, Mastiffs and other large breeds, much more is needed. If the corral is considered only for “lock until someone comes”, then you can fence off all the same 6 squares. Otherwise, at least 8
We proceed from the fact that the depth of the corral is desirable at least 2 meters. The width “looms” from the required area and the available free space.
Usually the aviary is made indoor. You can leave part of the site without a roof so that, if desired, the pet can bask in the sun. But it’s not worth leaving the site without protection: either your dog will run away, or some one will come to visit. Instead of a “normal” roof, there may be a lattice of rods – there is enough light and no surprises.
If the dog will spend the winter in the aviary, you can provide a winter road or put an insulated booth. Most likely, your watchman will like the second option more.
What should be the height of the enclosure for the dog? Since you don’t care to clean up, they take the height so that you can move inside without problems. Usually the height is from 180-185 cm, but depends on the growth of the owner.
If they are going to keep a dog in an aviary only for a short period of time – the arrival of neighbors, construction teams, etc. – they only make a corral with a roof. If the animal is planned to be left behind the fence for a long time, you also need a booth. It can be placed inside or attached.
Choosing a place for an aviary in the yard
You want to make an aviary so that your pet feels good, so you need to take into account the character and his habits. While in the aviary, the dog will continue to guard its territory, so it is best to fence off the area on a hill, if there is one. It is very good if you can see the entrance to the house, the entrance to the site, or at least it will be possible to track one of these important points. When choosing a place, keep in mind that your pet should see you at least from time to time. you or family members. Otherwise, whining and howling are guaranteed to you, especially if the dog is not used to restrictions.
When choosing a place, pay attention to the following points:
- It is better to retreat at least half a meter from the nearest building or fence, otherwise the rubbish will not be cleaned from there.
- The aviary should not be threatened with snow melting. If a huge mass suddenly falls on the roof with a corresponding sound, the dog will get a shock. It will be very problematic to drive her into the aviary.
- It is necessary to unfold the structure so that the open part is facing the southeast or southwest. In the northern regions, it is preferable – to the south. Just don’t go north.
- Not bad if there is a massive bush or a spreading tree nearby – they will cover it from the wind and heat.
It is far from easy to take into account all these wishes, but it depends on how well the pet will feel.
Design requirements and materials
Dogs of large breeds with good hair are not afraid of cold. If they are outside all the time, they grow a thick undercoat, which is excellent protection from the cold. It is much worse for them if they are either warm or cold. What is even worse for them is the draft. Then the thick undercoat does not save. Therefore, one of the long walls of the enclosure must be sewn up – one or two of the short ones may be closed. With such a device, in any direction of the wind, you can find calms and the dog does not need to climb into the booth.
What to make a frame and how to sheathe it
The frame of the aviary is made from a pipe or a corner. It is better / easier to use a profiled pipe – square or rectangular. Wall thickness from 1,5 mm, pipe section for racks 40 * 40, for jumpers – 20 * 40. And there, look at the weight of the dog, the dimensions of the building and the planned materials. Now finding a corner of normal quality, and even even, is a problem, but it will not work to straighten it without special equipment. Therefore, it is better, after all, a pipe. If you take a corner, then with a shelf of 4-5 cm and a thickness of 2 mm.
As already said, at least the back wall must be sewn up, or better, two adjacent ones. In regions where wood is inexpensive, a board or tongue-and-groove molding is usually used – an imitation of a bar, a floorboard, etc. We turn the front side inside the enclosure – splinters in dogs are a very unpleasant thing. You can replace the boards with plywood, only moisture-resistant, sanded, with a low emission class (not construction grade) is required.
Lattice
Often the frame is tightened with chain-link mesh or welded mesh, which is used in road or construction work. The chain-link is very unreliable, because if the dog wants to be free, it is not a hindrance to it. They learn very quickly that if you push hard, it will bend and sag, and if you put enough effort, it can be broken. That’s what usually happens.
Those who are not able to break it with their mass use the cells in the grid as steps. Very convenient, by the way. When trained, they slip away very quickly. And medium and large dogs are usually smart, so escape in this case is only a matter of time. And if the dogs have not yet learned to climb the net, they can get hurt on the welds, protruding edges of the net, etc. The lattice is often attacked, so the appearance of dangerous elements is a matter of time.
If you decide to make an aviary for the dog yourself and are a little friendly with the welding machine, use a rod. Round or square, your choice. You can also install a pipe with a small cross section, but it is usually more expensive. Partitions are welded to the frame vertically. The installation step depends on the size of the dog, so that even a thinner dog does not crawl through, the distance should be less than the width of the chest.
If you just don’t like pipes, you can make decorations like cold forging. Just do not make “steps” and tapering jewelry for the dog – they can be dangerous.
And one more thing: leaving a gap under the roof is not worth it. Yes, it’s easier to do this and less material is used, but again, dogs are smart and, with a great desire, climb into this gap. And in size it is sufficient even for a large dog to climb through.
Gender
When it is planned to make an aviary, the question often arises of what to make the floor from. The best option is flooring from boards, and without cracks. Claws can get stuck in the crevices and cause injury. So a grooved floor board is best suited as a flooring.
To solve the problem of runoff, you can do it with a slight slope – 1-2 cm per meter. It is better not to paint the boards, but treat them with antiseptics and dry them – you can and should. If you want the wood to be darker (less visible dirt), use a wood oil with pigment. It is absorbed into the pores, the pigment and oils penetrate deep. A film does not form on the surface, but liquid and dirt are not absorbed. Then the wood is easy to clean. Yes, the composition is not cheap, but wood becomes much more convenient to use. It is necessary to renew the coating once a year, and the old one does not need to be removed: a fresh layer is applied to a clean, dry base (with a brush or roller).
Yes, in order for the floor boards in the aviary not to rot and to be warm, it is best to raise the floor above the ground by 20 cm. In this case, mice and other animals will not settle there and the dog will be better seen even lying on the floor. So that it doesn’t blow through the floor at all, you can make it insulated. Throw boards from below, you can unplaned, from above – a layer of foam or foamed polyurethane, and on it there is already a floorboard.
Sometimes they decide to make a concrete floor in the aviary, but it is very cold and the dog will be cold in winter. The problem is solved by knocking down fragments of wooden flooring. But they slide and move, which is not for everyone. You can make a double floor – pour a concrete screed with a slope towards the drain, and arrange the floor 10-15 cm higher. Then the problem of seeping “liquid” that will be absorbed into the soil will also be solved. So you can wash the floor in the aviary and the platform, getting rid of the smell and dirt.
Roof
The roof of the aviary can be made any, from any material. It can be single-slope, with a slight slope back, it can be two-slope or four-slope. In order for rain and snow to get inside as little as possible, it is advisable to make overhangs, that is, the roof should be larger than the size of the frame. The minimum overhang is 20 cm. If you need to make an aviary with your own hands at minimal cost, consider the option with a pitched roof. By the way, it can have a bevel not only back, but also to one side.
Any roofing material for a dog aviary can be used. But if you are concerned about the appearance of the site, it is better if, at least in color and texture, it will be similar to the roofing material of the house and / or buildings.
Doors and locks
The frame of the door and the racks to which they are attached are made from the same pipe that went to the frame of the enclosure. Filling is usually the same. Hinges and locks must be secure. The door opens inside – it’s easier to control the dog, and there will be less trouble. If the doors open outward, the dog may accidentally drop you.
Constipation – well fixed. Our alabai did an excellent job with the latch, if you did not lower the latch down. He jumped and tapped on it with his paw until he opened the gate. This is despite the fact that the lock was at a height of about one and a half meters and in order to close / open it, you need to press the sash well. It seems that everything you need to know in order to make an aviary for a dog with your own hands has been described. It remains only to discuss the kennel, but the dog house is a separate issue – there are many nuances.