Dog pen construction instructions (Article Sample)

Name Professor Subject Date Dog’s pen construction guide
Figure 5: Complete outside run with a wooden pen. (Source:  HYPERLINK "/gear-accessories/how-to-design-the-perfect-dog-kennel/" /gear-accessories/how-to-design-the-perfect-dog-kennel/) Every pet deserves a roof over its head. A dog pen helps the dog feel comfortable and keep safe. The structure also serves as a home or a castle for the pet, a private place for rest without the need to watch their back. More so, dogs are social beings, probably the most sociable animal in any home. Numerous dog keepers let their pets free in their compound, yet there are surely times they should limit them. Puppies have a tendency to expend everything that falls along their way, which inclines them to illnesses, and, in this way, they have to limit them. Moreover, the pet owners may travel once in a while, and dogs ought to be left controlled in their pens. What is the ideal location for the pen? This is the most important step when building a dog pen. The location determines the final design and the materials used in the construction of the pen. The spot picked will contribute specifically to the outline of the structure and impact the decision of materials and strategies for development in delivering the last item. A dog pen built far from the house will have diverse components when contrasted with a pen associated with the proprietor's home.  SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT 
Figure 1: Location choice for pen ( HYPERLINK "http://dogsaholic.com/care/how-to-build-a-dog-pen.html" http://dogsaholic.com/care/how-to-build-a-dog-pen.html) The Ideal location is chosen by considering ; lighting in case security lighting is needed, proximity to water sources for ease of access, ease of cleaning , safety and security reasons (Stevenburg). What materials and tools are needed? Materials and tools include ; Circular saw or hand saw, power drill and bits, electric jigsaw, a claw hammer, spanner, a pair of pliers, a measuring tape or ruler and pencil, carpenter’s square, exterior grade plywood sheets, wooden frames, treated pine, Silicone sealant and construction grade adhesive, boltsclout nails and insulation, galvanized nails and Iron or steel mesh wire, Screw gun door Hinges, wooden posts each measuring 2 inches wide.
Whar are the measurements, construction plan, and features? The run for outside dogs should measure 12 feet or more in length and 4 feet in width. These dimensions will allow the dog to defecate and urinate naturally on the periphery of the run. The pen run must be slanted to permit free water keep running off to abstain from running puddles (Lawson). A dry well, which is 48 inches wide and 3 feet deep, is located at the far end must be filled with stones that are 3-4 inches in diameter. This will drain wash water thus keeping off flies. The floor should be made of concrete or wood. Other alternative materials include the gravel, which, though less expensive makes cleaning up of feces on the floor quite difficult. The walls of the kennel should be made of the plywood sheets and roofing made of iron sheets to ensure no leakage of rain water.
Use chain linking for fencing of the outside pen. It is easy to install, cheap, durable and efficient to use. The fence should be buried 1 foot under the soil to prevent the pet from escaping. To enhance security, both sides can be screened off all other sides (Stevenburg). Placing privacy slats on the fence is helpful in cutting down the overall stress and barking. Welded wire with powder coating should be considered because it is resistant to dog teeth and urine. The initial installation may be higher as compared to other fencing options. Its resistance to rust and water makes chain linking a viable option. The living environment must be maintained, clean and comfortable since dogs will spend most of their time training for outside run. Shading of the pen is constructed using suitable material. Dogs require enough shading from harsh weather elements such as rain, water and drought. Windbreakers and durable roof should be installed. Dogs withstand certain levels of cold, but excess rains and winds can be detrimental to a pet’s health (Lawson). This can be achieved by installing elevated coat which plays a huge role in preventing the pets from freezing. Another shaded area for the dog in addition to the pen is required. The pen should not be located in the corner to avoid cases of the dog using the pen’s roof as a launching pad to jump over. It is preferable to place it few meters from the corner. What is the estimated Cost and time needed? It is advisable to lease the tools required for the construction. Dog owners should only purchase consumables such as nails, hinges, chain linking fences, chicken wire, building material such as cement, sand, iron sheets and gravel. Leasing or borrowing the tools would reduce the total cost by 70%. Item Quantity Unit PriceTotal costRoofing galvanized iron sheets  2 Meters$10$20Chicken wire10 M Long$4$406 wooden posts 2 Meters long each$1$1Hinges3 Hinges$1$1Nails1 Kilogram$5$5Door1$10$10Mortar(Mixed cement, gravel and sand ) for flooring4 Wheelbarrows $25$100Labor2 Workers( trained and untrained)$200+$100$300Grand Total $477 Instructions Step 1: The first step is to measure and mark the desired area for installing the pen. Spots designated to be corners are marked using stakes as well as the gate spot. The pet’s size and the amount of resources available determine the size of the pen. The amount of time spent by a dog in the house will impact the size of the pen. Kennels for confining the dogs for only night hours or sleeping hours are not big (Alstrain). Step 2: After marking the desired spots, holes are dug; they should be 2 feet deep and 3-5 inches in diameter for each corner. Two diagonal holes for the kennel’s gate are dug.
Figure 3: A chart illustrating the recommended measurements of different sizes of dogs (Source: http://dogsaholic.com/care/how-to-build-a-dog-pen.html) Step 3: Cement is poured into the holes, and the mortar should follow mixing instructions on the bag. Wooden fence posts are then installed in the holes, when the cement is still wet. Step 4: The Precut wooden posts, purchased at wood supply stores, are installed. The posts selected must meet the desired height of the pen. Step 5: After installation of the corner posts, the chicken wire is laid along the perimeter of the pen. The bricks can be used to hold chicken wire in place to prevent the pet from digg...