Is it ok to keep my keep my dogs on concrete

[George Streepy]

It is so wet where I live that I prefer to keep my dogs on concrete. Cleans up easier and the dogs stay cleaner. I don't have a problem with soft feet, long toenails, skin irritation or bad joints. I have dogs that have passed the ten year mark with none of the problems that are being spoke of. My dogs get out a lot 6 months out of the year. During the summer months they spend quite a bit of time in the kennel. Dirt around here gets flat out muddy and nasty. I think it has a lot to do with where you live, but concrete is the only way to go in my neck of the woods. I do have plans for an acre fenced area that they are free to roam. Excluding when females are coming into heat, at those inconvenient times some one is going to be locked in a kennel. Some of the dirt areas I have seen looked nasty and flat out cruel. Some have been not so bad.

[pegleg]

I've seen cruel conditions on all types of flooring. if a animal is confined in a space to small the problems just multiply. generally folks can afford more dirt then concrete so the dog ends up with more room. now if you can afford enough space on concrete that lessens the impact but I've been to enough "kennels" to realize the truth people expect hounds to live healthy lives in a space to small for them more then not. the big box stores may have a impact with their 6x10 kennels or maybe it's something else. but people often complain about barking dogs and the smell when hounds or any breed are housed in these conditions. people don't smell or behave any better in similar circumstances give them room and the ability to stay out of their own filth and everything works better. as far as digging out of dirt pens that is rarely a issue if the pen is large enough to prevent boredom and the hounds are worked with often enough to keep the energy levels down. I can see where some weather conditions and soil types would argue for a different surface type. in that case it will also require extra effort in some areas to make the most out of the pitfalls of concrete. wire floors have their draw backs as do slat floors or anything else for that matter.

[dukes71799]

i just built my first kennel for my 2 new pups. i live in town on .33 acres. the kennel is 18 by 25 with 18 by 7 asphalted and a path to the gate with concrete powder on top that filled all the voids in. it was 20 percent of what concrete would of cost. the pups bathroom on the chips and i clean daily when i feed and watter. i put 1 ft of asphault around the border so they cant dig. this week i should have the 18 by 7 area covered were their houses are. i havent had a winter yet to see how the chips hold up. we get alot of rain. i plan on bringing chips in about evey 6 weeks or so.

[grouse]

I would be real concerned about asphalt in the summer ,it gets super hot unless it's shaded real good . I've had concrete run's for over thirty years and my dogs never had any issues from it . I't also helps keep worm problems from happening .

[Gary Roberson]

Keeping on them concrete better be okay as that is what I am offering mine. They can get upon plywood if they want. I do hunt or let them out of the kennel most everyday so they can stretch their legs.
Adios,
Gary

[dukes71799]

i relize asphalt gets hot. that is why i put concrete dust on the top of it. it fills the voids and turns it grey. also 90 percent of the asphault will be covered.

[nmplott]

I have stock pannels on the ground near the edges of the kennel, through out the rest they can dig if they want and I have noticed they are more comfortable in the dens they build. I asked because I know my set up is a bit wierd but it keeps them healthy and happy.

[Nolte]

It all depends on the dog as to what you can keep him on. Some need to have more room and tied out while others are fine in a kennel. We've got both tie outs and kennels. We usually keep the pups in a kennel till they get to be 6-7 months and then put them on a chain for awhile until we've got kennel space. Usually the females will get into a kennel quicker so we don't get any unwanted pups.

The vast majority of the time my dogs are out laying around. Either on the cool concrete, in the sun, or in the house with just their head poking out. If it's real hot they will go inside the insulated house. I bet they don't jump around or be active on the concrete for a max of an hour a day. If this is too rough on their joints and pads, I better get some different dogs. I'd love to have an enclosed pen to let them run but I don't really have the room. And I know that can't be my only option because we have males/females. I can't even fit one pen, so two seperate ones isn't an option.