The Above Ground Pen

[Dansgrizz]

The above ground pen. It is said that this is a necessity for every dog man/woman with a large yard of outside dogs. I agree. Some reccomend 1 above ground pen for every 5 dogs on your yard. The advantage of you having an above ground pen is 1) your dogs you put in it will not be reinfested with worms once you worm them. 2) Being 3 ft above the ground, they are protected from snakes, coyotes, and if your bitch is in heat she will be safe from stray dogs.

Above ground pens can be used for new born pups, for bitches in heat, dogs you are trying to isloate for working focus, and for dogs you are nursing back to health.

Below i have included a picture of an Above ground pen for your reference. Included in the pen is a house for the dog. It is covered with tin roofing, the bottom is 2x4's and the posts are 4x4's. It is reccomended that you put a sheet of plywood between the Tin Roof and the frame to stop the heat from radiating onto the dog, some insulation would not be a bad idea either. You can buy pre insulated ply wood with a layer of fiberglass insulation and a metalic coating on one side. If you notice there are two barriers on the outside of the pen, a layer of small animal fencing, and a layer of 9 gauge fencing or hog panel. This is to protect curious noses from going into or out of the pen.

On a side not above ground pens may keep pacing dogs or hard keepers more confined and easier to keep cool on hot days.

Hope this will help some of you improve your yard in the future.

ENJOY!


http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/1281285938.jpg

[SMThe]

Good design for flood-prone areas too, I imagine. Thanks, Dan.

[APBTMOMMY]

Very nice posting Dan. Thanks for sharing this information with us. Makes me think of building one for Ms. Brie-Anna.

[MCS]

Good post, thanks

[pitbullgirl]

Hey I've actually started one. I'll show pics when I'm done.

[quickfire]

Here is a nice one

[quickfire]

Here are a few others. my only worry would be a bulldog pulling up the 2x4's and wood tends to soak urine right up.

[MCS]

Couldn't one replace the wood bottom with the synthetic recycled plastic wood?(know what I mean)

http://www.timbertech.com/

That would be easier to clean and no soaking. might be a little more cost wise but less time and maintenance in the end.

[quickfire]

Yeah probably but I would imagine a Pit would chew right thru it. I have one of these designs I keep a Jack Russell. Never tried one with a pitbull.

Justin

[Sad Eye Pits]

That is realy nice Dansgrizz--we are actually in the process of redoing our yard and that looks like an idea I may just have to make my husband attempt to build. I think it would be great for Heaven and her pups in a few weeks. Thanks for the tip. :)

[MCS]

Yeah probably but I would imagine a Pit would chew right thru it. I have one of these designs I keep a Jack Russell. Never tried one with a pitbull.

Justin

Yeah I was thinking about that too. Some of the composite is way tougher than the softer plastic, still either are pretty thick. And I think there would be time to correct the dogs behavior before they are through it. Depends on the dog too, if you got one that is not a chewer then no worries.

[quickfire]

A few other designs I found.

[CHATNJACK]

Well Dan, I think I’ve already posted this before but just incase I haven’t here it is again. My oldest son built this “SKYBOX” (for his younger brother) out of scrap wood and an old wire kennel that was missing the plastic pan for “Hazel”. She stays in it during the day while my youngest son is in school. When he gets home from school he brings her inside and gives her a bath, takes her outside with him everywhere he goes, she sleeps on his bed (the top bunk bed, and yes she even climbs up and down it all by herself). Every morning when he gets up, takes a shower and gets dressed for school, he then puts her back in her skybox, feeds her, gives her fresh water and off to the bus stop he goes with his brother. He hates the fact that when we move she is going on a chain spot, lol. The picture of the skybox (above ground kennel) was taken before my oldest son finished it ( a while back). Since then he's put a piece of 3/8 thermotech 21 structural insulated panel on top of the OSB roof, then a piece of scrap corrugated metal on top of that, that I hade just laying around the yard. The 3 rear enclosed sides are now covered in white vinyl siding. The flooring is ripped down from industrial pallets made out of a type of African wood that will never rot and also doesn’t have any type of formaldehyde or any other chemicals in it therefore its as safe of a surface you’ll ever get for an above ground kennel next to stainless steel. I use it in all of my “SKYBOXES”. Hazel's box has an electric fan on it now with a thermostat due to our heat and humidity but most of the time we bring her inside when it gets about 90 degrees outside, only because her box is the only one not set up with a self watering system and automatic sprinkler like the other 3 and my kennels are (because my son built it out of scrap). Its not the HILTON but I don’t think he did bad for his first time building a skybox (above ground kennel) on his on with absolutely no help from me (except using my tools). He was actually 12 when he built it and most 12 year olds can't even drive a nail straight or tell the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver!


http://mypitbullpro.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=159&pictureid=1732http://mypitbullpro.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=159&pictureid=1733

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[wallyblue]

I am going to start building one of these in a month. Thanks for the information on how to go about it, it's not as easy as I had previously thought. I like the idea of using synthetic wood, but I am sure my dogs would chew right through it. Thanks for the instructions.