Alabais are considered loyal and very friendly dogs; they are good as a watchman or friend. The dogs have a calm, fearless disposition, and their large size gives them an intimidating appearance. All these qualities make dogs excellent guards of the local area or site. Thanks to their dense wool and undercoat, Alabais tolerate heat and cold well, which allows them to live outdoors without any problems.
It is not recommended to keep dogs of this breed in an apartment; they feel best outside. A booth and enclosure for an Alabai is the best option for a dog’s comfortable life.
Insulation
Regardless of the type of wall and roof material, the booth must be insulated. It is best to use environmentally friendly materials for these purposes, such as sawdust. Mineral wool and polystyrene foam are also suitable as insulation materials. But remember that mineral wool needs protection from moisture, and polystyrene foam can be laid in buildings far from sources of ignition. In addition, mineral wool, when ingested by a dog, affects the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. When laying the material, carefully insulate it so that the dog cannot reach it.
If you live in a cold region, in winter the booth must be insulated with additional lining with hay and snow. To do this, the kennel is lined with bales of straw (or other similar material, such as sawdust) and covered with loose snow or cubes of hard crust. To prevent snow from sweeping inside the booth, it is worth providing a curtain or door that the dog cannot tear off and through which he can easily pass inside.
Feeding
A balanced diet is the key to a dog’s excellent well-being and health. If you feed an alabai with forbidden food, it will lose its activity and get sick.
How much does he eat per day?
The amount of food and the number of feedings depends on the age of the pet. Here are the main recommendations:
- Feed cubs up to 3 months 6 times a day. A six-month-old puppy needs four feedings a day, and a one-year-old puppy needs three feedings a day.
- Dogs over 1 year old should eat 2 times a day - morning and evening. Adults eat a lot. So the quantity of one serving reaches 2 kg. The dose of dry food is calculated individually, and strictly according to the instructions on the package.
We must not forget about the dog’s activity. Regular walks after meals will help maintain a normal weight for your pet. If the dog overeats and sleeps for a long time, he will become fat and weak.
Why doesn't he eat well?
Alabai refuses to eat for several reasons. Here are a few of the most common:
- The oral cavity is damaged. For example, there is a bone stuck in the teeth. You should carefully inspect the mouth and remove any fragments. Dental disease is also possible. In this case, the dog is taken to the veterinarian.
- The stomach contains foreign objects. The owner must immediately contact a specialist, otherwise the esophagus will be damaged or the item will cause a dangerous disease.
- Alabai contracted a viral or infectious disease.
Refusal to eat for 2 days is a reason to contact a veterinarian. The faster the better. Avoid forcing food to avoid causing even more serious harm to the dog’s body.
What to give?
The type of food depends on the preferences and financial capabilities of the owner. You can feed the alabai with dry food or natural food.
Dry food
Manufacturers produce a variety of dry dog foods. Which one to choose is up to the owner to decide. Canned food and treats will help diversify your diet. But it is important to select food from only one manufacturer. The portion portion should not exceed one tenth.
Natural nutrition
Still, Alabai love fresh and tasty food. A correct and healthy diet includes the following products:
- Raw meat.
- Sea fish fillet. It is not recommended to feed your dog fish bones, tails and heads.
- Milk, cottage cheese.
- Offal.
- Various cereals.
- Vegetables.
- Chicken eggs.
You can cook porridge with the addition of meat, fish fillet, and vegetables.
Eliminate the following ingredients from your diet:
- Pork and poultry.
- Sweet and spicy.
- Smoked and fried.
- Legumes and bones.
Food should be fresh and warmed to room temperature. Veterinarians recommend replacing 10% of natural food with dry food. This will not harm the dog, and the body will receive the missing microelements and macroelements.
Roof structure
The dog's kennel is constantly clogged with wool, supplies and waste products. To avoid the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, the booth is cleaned every 1-1.5 weeks. For easy cleaning, it is optimal to install a removable roof on your home.
The way of life of the Alabai obliges him to use the roof of the booth as a place for observation and rest, so the roof structure should be flat with a slight slope towards the rear partition.
Advice! The slope will allow water to flow down the booth without flooding the entrance.
Alabais are watchdogs, so they simply need to have an open view of the entire yard. It is best to place the booth on a hill. If there is no elevation on the site, you can make a small embankment that will allow the dog to easily monitor the site.
Installation location
First, the optimal location for the dog kennel is selected. It is better if the site is located in the shade of trees. It should be a small hill. Residential buildings should be 10 m away from the booth. A good solution is to build an enclosure.
If the booth is located in the sun, the dog may become ill due to heatstroke. You should not build a kennel in a dark place. Alabais constantly monitor the protected area. Therefore, from the place where the kennel will be located there should be a good view of the site. During rains, the area where the booth will be located should not be flooded with water. Alabais cannot coexist with other animals. They are settled far from farms. The booth cannot be placed in a barn. Once the location for the kennel has been chosen, you can choose a design model.
It is possible to figure out how to build an enclosure for an alabai only by taking into account all the features of the site.
Booth design and size
Turret roofs and gable structures are not suitable for alabai. You can’t lie on them and watch the world around you.
Note! A booth with a flat roof structure would be ideal.
You should not make too much of an incline; the dog should be comfortable constantly lying on the booth. It is better to arrange the ramp at the back wall. If the booth is located on a slight hill, dig a small trench to drain water from the Alabai’s home.
The removable roof will allow you to clean the kennel and monitor your dog during illness. If you have a bitch, then this design will be convenient during the birth of the dog or while feeding the puppies.
For covering the roof, soft roofing materials such as roofing felt, bitumen shingles or non-slip rubber are optimal. The material should dampen the sounds of rain so that the dog feels comfortable inside in any weather. In addition, it is more convenient for Alabai to climb and move around on the soft upholstery.
Booths with flat roofs are made in two different ways:
- single partition design;
- a booth with a vestibule and a place to sleep.
Both structures can be insulated so that they are warm in winter. However, a booth with a vestibule is more convenient for year-round use (an example is shown in the photo).
In a kennel with two sections, the vestibule acts as an air cushion. It protects the sleeping area from drafts, precipitation and wind. The slightest breath of wind, dust and dirt will remain in the first compartment. In addition, the bulk of the dirt from the dog’s paws and fur will remain in the vestibule. A kennel with two compartments will be much warmer in winter and drier in spring. If you are taking the Alabai indoors for the winter, then a booth with one section will do. You can install an additional canopy with a bed so that in the summer the dog has a place to rest in the shade.
Tips for use
Kennel with a folding roof
It is easy to care for the kennel.
- The bedding in the kennel is changed as it gets dirty. It is not allowed to become damp.
- To insulate the floor for the winter, it is allowed to use sawdust. The material needs to be changed, since over time the sawdust becomes compressed and loses its quality.
- In very severe frosts, the booth is insulated from the outside: bales of compressed hay are placed around it.
- It is not allowed to feed the Alabai in the kennel.
Building a doghouse for a shepherd is not so difficult, but you need to take into account the characteristics of the dog: its size, character, inclinations. Otherwise, the animal will be bored, nervous and sick.
Dimensions
It is very important to choose the right size dog house. A cramped house in which an alabai barely fits cannot be called comfortable. However, too large booths are not very practical. The heat from the dog's body and from the insulation will not be enough to maintain a comfortable temperature in freezing temperatures.
If you are planning to buy a kennel, choose a design for a large dog. These houses are made specifically for large breeds. Many offices and companies are engaged in the manufacture of dog booths according to individual measurements. If you plan to build a dog house yourself, use the following calculations for the design:
- the height of the booth inside should be the sum of the dog’s height and 5-6 spare centimeters;
- the width is made equal to the length from the tip of the nose to the tailbone of the dog + 7-10 cm;
- the hole for the booth is made slightly smaller than the size of the dog at the withers, and the width is made according to the size of the chest +5-10 cm.
If you adopted the dog as a puppy, then the above parameters should not be taken into account. In such a case, it is optimal to use standard dimensions:
- length – 13-135 cm;
- width – 100 cm;
- height 85-90 cm;
- entrance – 50-55 in height and 35 in width.
If you are planning to build an enclosure around a booth or a fence for walking, decide on the material and height of the fence. The length of the fence must be at least two meters. To prevent the dog from undermining, dig the fence 50-70 cm deep. It is optimal to make not a fence, but a full-fledged enclosure in which the Alabai can run around calmly.
For those who are planning to build an Alabai enclosure with their own hands and do not know how to make the correct design, it is better to use the recommended dimensions of an Alabai enclosure. The optimal area of the enclosure for a large dog is 10 square meters, height – 2.5-3 meters.
Construction stages
The work of creating a kennel is carried out in stages. There are several main stages in constructing a dog’s home:
- Preparation. At this stage, the material, installation location of the kennel and its dimensions are selected.
- Creating a drawing. He must take into account the design features of the booth and its dimensions.
- Bottom assembly. Bars with a cross section of 40x40 must be cut to the width and length of the bottom. The frame is assembled from them.
- Insulation. The prepared bottom is mounted with the bars facing up, and then waterproofing is laid on it. Insulation material and again a waterproofing film are placed on top. The insulation is attached using brackets. Then the finishing is done with floorboards.
- Frame assembly. It is necessary to prepare 4 pillars of bars. They must have a cross-section of 100x100 mm. The bars should be fastened at the corners of the bottom. Longer products are installed in the corners of the front wall. This is needed for the stingray. Additionally, bars should be installed in the center of higher walls. In addition, bars should be installed that will limit the entrance to the booth.
- Wall cladding is done using lining. At this stage, the insulation of the structure is also carried out. The walls must be covered with waterproofing, and thermal insulation panels must be installed in the free space between the bars. The waterproofing layer must be reattached on top. The interior walls are covered using plywood. The heads of the nails are recessed into the wood.
- Roof installation. The frame is made of bars with a section of 40x40 mm. It will be equal to the perimeter of the booth. An OSB sheet is stuffed onto the frame from the inside. It is necessary to lay insulation between the bars and cover it with waterproofing. Plywood is mounted on top. It should be larger than the frame. At the entrance you should make a protrusion of 20 cm. At the back and on the sides - 10 cm.
Cover the roof with bitumen shingles. The outside of the finished building is treated with an antiseptic. Boards are attached to the bottom of the booth, raising the structure above the ground. Then the kennel opening is made. You can not only build a booth, but also build a full-fledged enclosure for the Alabai (as in the photo below).
Drawing and materials
It is more convenient to assemble if all materials and tools are purchased in advance. To calculate the amount of building material for a structure, build a schematic drawing or take a ready-made diagram.
To assemble a standard kennel for alabai you will need:
- timber 10 by 10 cm, 4 by 4 and 10 by 5 cm;
- planks for cladding;
- sheets of particle boards;
- floor boards 2-3 cm thick;
- insulation (sawdust, mineral wool, etc.);
- rolled roofing material;
- OSB board and other particle boards;
- glassine;
- sand;
- antiseptic treatment for wooden structures;
- metal staples;
- fasteners.
Before assembling the booth, carefully sand the wooden structures. Apply antiseptic impregnation only to the outside of the booth; a dog’s sense of smell is stronger than a human’s. Therefore, the dog may not like the strong smell of the impregnation.
What should an enclosure be like for an Alabai
It's no secret that the Alabai is one of the largest and most powerful dogs. What does it mean? And the fact is that the dimensions of the enclosure must be appropriate. It is very important to provide enough space for the dog to move freely. What else is important to consider before building an enclosure? Here are the important factors:
- Aviary area.
- Dimensions of the enclosure (height, width).
- Aviary floor.
- Roof.
- Door.
- Materials from which to make an enclosure for an alabai.
Alabai enclosure area
Let's start with the square. You must understand that the dog in the enclosure will not just run, but live. She will have to make several zones: for eating, for relaxing, for playing. This breed loves freedom, so the area of the enclosure must be appropriate. The minimum permissible area is 10 m2. If it is bigger, it will only be better.
Now regarding the height of the enclosure for the Alabai. Alabais have one peculiarity: they have a strong reproductive instinct. This means that in search of a bride, he will be able to jump even a 3-meter fence without any problems. This means that the walls of the enclosure must be quite high. Then the dog will stand on its paws and not hit its head on the roof. In addition, the pets use the booth as an observation point, which doubles their growth.
Alabai enclosure floor
It is very important to consider the design of the floor. After all, it is precisely on it that the dog has trouble running, lying and sitting on it. This is why the flooring is made from a material with good thermal insulation. The bat is not quite suitable for this purpose. It is better to make the floor combined. The base or foundation is asphalted, and softwood boards are laid on top. The tree will retain heat and the pet will not get sick. Unlike metal, it will not overheat in the sun and will not freeze in the cold. And to make the enclosure even warmer, the floor is insulated with foam plastic. You just need to lay it under the boards between the joists.
Roof of the Alabai enclosure
Now we smoothly moved to the roof of the Alabai enclosure. As you understand, it is better to make a design with it. There is no need to invent a bicycle and create a roof of complex design. It is enough to build a pitched roof. This is the easiest and fastest option. The main emphasis is on the choice of roofing material. You can select a material from the following list:
But what exactly to choose, everyone decides independently according to their capabilities and preferences.
Alabai enclosure door
Separately, we would like to highlight the issue of the door structure. It must be done in any case so that the owner can take care of the enclosure. Only you need to install it from the front side of the structure. It is important that the dog’s owner’s arrival is not a surprise. She must see him. And for safety reasons, it is made to open inward. Plus, it is equipped with strong metal valves.
Placement of the Alabai enclosure
Alabai is a guard whose main task is to protect his territory and warn owners about unexpected guests. This means that you need to install the enclosure in a place from where you can see the entire yard. You cannot hide the enclosure behind other structures. The dog must see the entrance to the house, and people must see the dog.
Materials for the Alabai enclosure
Everything is simple here. The walls of the Alabai enclosure are made of metal. Chain-link mesh is not an ideal option for him. The dog is strong, so he can gnaw through it and harm himself. It is recommended to use metal rods for the enclosure. And the supports for the structure go deep into the ground by a third of their length and are concreted. It is better to choose wood as a floor. The same goes for the roof.
These are the kind of enclosures that should be built for Alabai. Before making it, it is important to familiarize yourself with these rules, create a design drawing and get to work. From this video you can understand how to make an aviary with your own hands.
How to build it yourself
Here we will tell you how to build a warm house for a large pet in which it can spend the winter. First you need to create a project or drawing, from which you should build upon when carrying out further work. The floors of the enclosure are made of wood, since if left earthen, the dog will be able to dig a hole and escape.
- Install supports: build them from bricks or use concrete pillars. Fill the space between them with sand or gravel.
- Place wooden beams on the supports. They will serve as the basis for the floor. In the areas of contact between the supports and the frame, use roofing felt to insulate from moisture.
- Next, fix the flooring from the boards, on which lay a layer of waterproofing and a finished wooden floor. Pre-treat the boards with an anti-rot solution and fasten them end-to-end so that there are no gaps. Use joists and screws for fixation.
- Next, build a frame - for this you can use a base made of either metal or wood. Place supports at the four corners and in the center of each side. Attach 3 closed walls made of boards to them, making sure that there are no gaps. Between the inner and outer surfaces of the walls, mineral wool is laid as insulation, and the holes are covered with polyurethane foam. The front wall of the enclosure is open; to install it, stretch the mesh, attaching it to the supports.
- Next, the roof is installed. It is better to make it inclined for precipitation drainage. It is worth considering soundproofing, as the sound of rain can unnerve the dog. A rail is secured on top of the mesh from pillar to post. First, they lay the boards, the beginning of which is fixed on the back wall, the end on the chain-link rail. Roofing felt is fastened on top of them with nails. Next, the structure is covered with slate or tiles.
- A dog house must be placed inside such a pen. A rectangular kennel is the most convenient option. The wooden floor of the booth is also made in two layers, with insulation laid between them. Next, corner posts are fixed to its surface, to which the chipboard walls are screwed. They can be built double and put foam or mineral wool between the slabs. For the roof, a frame is made of beams, on top of which an OSB sheet is attached.
Required measurements
begins with taking measurements. For a German Shepherd, a Caucasian Shepherd (Alabai), for any guard or large dog, when building a kennel, it is necessary to take into account its individual dimensions. Namely:
- Shoulder width or chest width - value “B”.
- Height at the withers - value “h”.
- Overall height or height - “H” value.
- Body length - “L” value.
When building a kennel for a German shepherd, it is very important that the room is adapted specifically for it, since if the kennel is small, the dog will be cramped and uncomfortable in the new “apartment,” and it will be cold in a too large one. Ideally, the size of the interior of the kennel should allow the dog to enter, roll over and lie down, and in winter, warm the air of the kennel with its breath.
If the guard dog is still in the tender, puppy age and urgently needs to be “housed”, you can build a small kennel with a reserve “for growth”. But you can immediately build a booth with your own hands for an adult animal, taking into account the dimensional parameters of this breed, taking into account the specific physique features of its parents.
Common Mistakes
When creating a design, you need to avoid the following miscalculations:
- do not skimp on materials and fasteners;
- avoid additional decor;
- do not install housing near flower beds and flower beds - flowering plants negatively affect the dog’s sense of smell;
- maintain a spacing between the rods of 50 to 100 mm;
- do not use nails to avoid injury;
- regularly check the structure for the integrity of seams and joints.
Important! If the owner does not have experience in building such structures, then it is better to turn to professionals, or purchase a ready-made safe product.
Diseases
Alabai boasts good health. But there are diseases to which the Central Asian Shepherd is suddenly exposed.
Common
Here is a list of diseases common among Alabais:
- Joint problems. The considerable weight of the dog negatively affects the structure of the cartilage. Arthritis, arthrosis, dysplasia, and so on occur.
- Problems with the cardiovascular system. If the dog leads an inactive lifestyle, then the performance of the heart decreases and the elasticity of blood vessels is impaired.
- Excess weight and poor functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle are not good for your dog.
If the Alabai has become indifferent to the outside world and does not want to communicate with the owner, then you should immediately consult a veterinarian. The specialist will examine the pet and prescribe treatment. It is not recommended to select medications on your own, much less test traditional medicine on a dog.
Rare
Such diseases can occur due to a gene defect, or the owner’s neglect of the dog.
Here is the list:
- Skin. For example, the Central Asian Shepherd dog suffers from ringworm and demodicosis. Infected from other animals, or due to living in poor conditions.
- Genetic. These are infertility, diabetes and cryptorchidism. The treatment is long, and is selected only by a veterinarian.
- Parvovirus enteritis. A contagious and practically untreatable viral disease. Very often the animal dies.
Self-medication is not encouraged. Otherwise, all attempts will lead to sad consequences.
Nose becomes swollen
A swollen nose indicates the presence of some disease. The reasons why a dog's nose swells can be different. Here are some of them:
- bite of a wasp, bee, mosquito or other insect;
- allergic reaction;
- runny nose;
- viral diseases;
- poor nutrition;
- immunity disorder.
A swollen nose is a cause for concern and a visit to the veterinarian. For example, a bee or wasp sting causes the dog to have trouble breathing. May be accompanied by swelling of the nasopharynx.
