Kennels or large dog runs
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:31 pm
I've been a huge advocate for keeping my dogs together in a large (1/2 acre) run. I've been keeping my dogs together now for almost 20 years. Prior to that, I kept my dogs in separate small kennels. I hated it for many reasons. When I had my dogs in kennels, they would bark a lot. That was caused because they were bored. With the large run, they never bark. My dogs overall health is 100% better. I also started feeding meat every day back about the same time. I have not had a single bloody foot which was a common problem with kennels. Feeding and watering is easier. I keep one heated bucket for all the dogs and feed them in separate bowls but they eat only a few feet from each other. It takes a new dog about two days to figure out where his spot is and when I go up to feed, all the dogs are waiting in they're spot.
The only real argument that I've heard against keeping them together is the concern about fighting. I haven't had any fighting. I've only kept male dogs together, both cut and intact. I don't run any females and don't think I would try keeping males and females together.
I've never kept a dog that shows any aggression towards another dog and as new pups grow up with the older dogs, they take on the same mellow disposition as the older dogs. If you keep aggressive dogs, the younger dogs will pick up on that aggression and you can end up with an aggressive pack.
My dogs spend a large part of the day chasing and playing with each other. Something that was impossible when I kept them separated. This keeps them in shape. Keeps their feet conditioned and allows them to socialize with each other. All of this keeps them occupied when we're not hunting.
Here's a short clip that shows what happens several times every day.
http://youtu.be/7KHKkccBG58
The only real argument that I've heard against keeping them together is the concern about fighting. I haven't had any fighting. I've only kept male dogs together, both cut and intact. I don't run any females and don't think I would try keeping males and females together.
I've never kept a dog that shows any aggression towards another dog and as new pups grow up with the older dogs, they take on the same mellow disposition as the older dogs. If you keep aggressive dogs, the younger dogs will pick up on that aggression and you can end up with an aggressive pack.
My dogs spend a large part of the day chasing and playing with each other. Something that was impossible when I kept them separated. This keeps them in shape. Keeps their feet conditioned and allows them to socialize with each other. All of this keeps them occupied when we're not hunting.
Here's a short clip that shows what happens several times every day.
http://youtu.be/7KHKkccBG58
Right now I have 4 dogs, 3 males (only one male is intact) and one female (Intact). They all play together like that as well... usually on days that I am not able to take them hunting.