To keep a dog like the Central Asian Shepherd in a private home requires a lot of space. Since the breed is very large, it will be useful for those interested to learn how to make an enclosure for an Alabai. What size should the structure be and what materials can be used. And also how to independently assemble a sleeping place for a four-legged watchman.
Aviary made of wood and metal Source tiu.ru
Where should a dog's enclosure be located?
The regulations require:
- installing housing away from the road, if space allows;
- being on the western or eastern side - for protection from cold and heat;
- absence of an outdoor toilet near the enclosure.
Important! Is it possible to keep an Alabai on a chain all the time? Dog experts do not recommend this approach. The pet should feel comfortable and not be limited in movement.
The location of the structure on the site must meet several requirements
Photo gallery
Photo 1. Enclosure for a shepherd dog
Photo 2. Aviary for the Central Asian Shepherd
Photo 3. Semi-open enclosure for alabai
Photo 4. Insulated enclosure for a shepherd dog
Photo 5. Alabai in an enclosure
Photo 6. Shepherd in an enclosure
What should an enclosure be like for an Alabai
In addition to the size of the Alabai enclosure, the owner must take into account the following requirements:
- the structure must rise above the ground;
- created from warm materials - wood, etc.;
- be convenient for cleaning, giving water and food;
- protected from rain and snow.
Important! Alabai should not sit on a chain; he has the right to walk freely around the closed perimeter.
Dependence on gender
In an enclosure for a CAO, the sex of the animal is taken into account during construction:
- females - must protect themselves from bad weather, with an eye on future offspring;
- males need strong and reliable housing to prevent unauthorized absences.
Important! A cage for an Alabai boy should not be made of chain-link mesh. Otherwise, the pet will destroy it in a few weeks.
Housing for 2 individuals
Alabai enclosure area
During construction, the construction of several separate zones is envisaged:
- for food;
- recreation;
- games.
The minimum size of the building is 10 sq.m., and if you are counting on future offspring and want to keep them, you will need at least 5 sq.m. for each new member.
Alabai enclosure floor
After concreting the base, foam plastic is laid on top, then boards. This approach will allow for additional insulation of the structure and prevent hypothermia of the animal.
Roof of the Alabai enclosure
Experts prefer the single-slope option. The main focus is on roofing material. The top of the structure is lined with ondulin, slate, tiles, corrugated sheets or metal tiles.
Alabai enclosure door
The door is installed from the front, it should open inward. Additionally, the structure is equipped with metal valves.
The process of creating an aviary structure
Placement of the Alabai enclosure
The cage is placed in an open place from which the dog can view the entire territory.
Important! Dogs must warn owners about visits from strangers, so their homes cannot be installed behind other outbuildings.
Materials for the Alabai enclosure
When creating a design use:
- for walls - metal rods;
- for the floor - wood;
- for the roof - a waterproofing material that covers the top wooden cover.
Important! The supports of the dwelling must be concreted.
Aviary diagram
Materials and tools
Before starting work, it is important to decide what the fence will be made of. For construction it is necessary to choose strong, durable and safe materials. The CAO breed represents dogs with great physical strength and powerful jaws. Therefore, the building must be stable and strong, able to withstand the weight of the animal, as well as attempts to gnaw through the fence. Wood and chain-link mesh are not the best options and cannot provide sufficient structural strength. Mesh can also damage your dog's teeth and mouth when chewing.
The supporting elements of the frame are best made of concrete, brick or metal; they must also be reliably buried in the ground. The walls are usually made of lattice so that the dog has a clear view. It is better to choose welding from metal rods, fittings, or order a forged fence. Choosing galvanized rods will protect against corrosion; you can also coat the metal surface with special enamel.
IMPORTANT: When installing a fence, it is better to avoid additional decorative elements. Forged curls and other decorations can pose a danger to the animal. If a dog's paw or jaw gets stuck in them, the situation may end in a fracture.
To complete the work you will need various tools:
- building level, tape measure;
- containers for mixing the solution;
- shovel;
- welding machine and mask;
- protective gloves;
- hacksaw, jigsaw;
- grinding set;
- hammer;
- grinder and metal wheels;
- drill and drill bits.
You can buy door hinges and a lock at a hardware store. The locking mechanism must be strong enough to open and close quickly, so using a barn padlock will not be very convenient. To increase reliability, it is better to equip additional latches at the top and bottom of the door. An internal latch should also be installed to lock the door while exercising in the kennel.
The locks must be strong so that the Alabai cannot knock them out
Making your own booth
The design is created using ready-made patterns. The initial option depends on the choice of the owner.
How to choose flooring
Experts prefer wooden blocks, boards, glassine and polystyrene foam. The latter are used as insulation.
Walls
The basis of the home is wood, which retains heat and does not heat up in hot weather. The outer side is covered with clapboard, the inner side is insulated with glassine, polystyrene foam, and additionally covered with plywood or chipboard.
Roof and door
The upper part is created from a frame equal in size to the internal perimeter of the home. From the inside it is reinforced with OSB sheet, insulated with glassine and covered with plywood. The roof is secured with door hinges and covered with roofing felt or tiles.
Important! The door can be hinged or solid, made of wooden material.
Rules for calculating sizes
Requirements
During the first time of living in a new yard or apartment, the Central Asian Shepherd Dog, and especially the puppy, needs a calm and cozy place that separates it from the scary unfamiliar world. An aviary will also be useful if:
- your dog is a large breed and needs to be kept outside;
- you are going to take the dog when going out into nature;
- where a dog already lives, other pets or children appear;
- the dog will whelp soon;
- The pet has grown, and the old booth is not suitable.
When installing an enclosure in the yard, it must be built according to certain principles and have the following characteristics:
- You should definitely place a booth inside;
- the structure is designed and assembled so that it is convenient to put things in order;
- provide protection from precipitation and strong winds;
- the length of the structure should be at least 2-2.5 meters;
- The area and height are calculated taking into account the breed and size of the pet.
Yard enclosures are open, covered with a roof, with little insulation, and completely protected from precipitation and dampness. For a small animal, the area covered usually does not exceed 6 m²; for medium-sized pets, 8 m² is enough. For large breeds, a structure up to 12 m² in size will be equipped in the local area.
If there is free space, place an enclosure with a walk, make a bed not only on the floor of the booth, but also outside, in the air. The house is placed so that the covered part is in the shade, and the rest of the space receives direct sunlight.
Choose a place convenient for viewing the entire yard: then the structure will become a security point, and the dog will be able to perform its guard duties.
Inside the structure, the pet must move freely, stand, lie down, with its paws outstretched. A new house for dogs is located away from drafts, heating appliances, gas supply, and areas where all family members spend active time. Fastenings are provided on the walls of the enclosure to place containers for food and water. The floor where the dog will rest is covered with a warm, thick cloth.
If the enclosure is equipped for two pets, then its size is increased by one and a half times. A whelping dog needs the same territory. For a child, the height of the fence usually does not exceed 40–50 cm, the area is 1 m².
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.
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.
Tips for use
Experts recommend:
- regularly clean the booth and enclosure from accumulated dirt;
- periodically disinfect accessible surfaces;
- check the roof and waterproofing material for integrity.
The owner must remember that the enclosure and house are the animal’s permanent place of residence. Monthly general cleaning of the home will help avoid problems with your pet's health, and daily washing of bowls will help prevent intestinal infections.
The litter should also be changed and washed in a timely manner. With the arrival of the warm season, preventive work is carried out, including treating wooden surfaces from pests and cleaning the internal parts with disinfectant solutions.
The owner of a Central Asian Shepherd can make an enclosure and a booth independently, with his own hands, or buy an inexpensive finished product. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the degree of surface treatment - otherwise the pet will suffer from splinters in the paws and body.
Step-by-step instruction
You can make an enclosure for an alabai with your own hands in hundreds of variations. But all of them ultimately refer either to the simplest option or to the relatively complex one.
The simplest option
It doesn’t even make sense to dwell on it in detail. You already know that this is a structure without a roof. It is enough to fence the area around the perimeter with a metal frame of sufficient rigidity, and that’s it – the enclosure is ready with your own hands. You already know what materials to use.
One caveat. To prevent the dog from digging into the pen and getting out, it is necessary, again, to concrete the perimeter. You don’t need to go deep, 30-40 cm is enough. Instead of concrete, you can use, for example, slate, which is dug to the same depth. This will be a good obstacle for the Alabai.
The best option
It is optimal in the most general sense. The specifics can be very variable. Let's give an example of one of the options. You can easily replace some stages of DIY work and materials with other, similar ones.
- The stage of developing a drawing that takes into account the size of the shepherd and other nuances. At the same stage, the necessary materials are purchased.
- The floor is concreted. To be safe, you should go a little deeper into the ground - 5-7 cm to form a foundation. Using formwork we fix the concrete silhouette, the total height of the floor is about 15-20 cm.
- Next, you should insulate the floor with boards. It is advisable to make a slight slope.
- The walls are made of metal lattice. The corner elements are dug into the ground, after which the gratings are welded to them. A door is made on the front side, the latches of which are located on the outside.
- If this does not interfere with the view, the side walls are sheathed with lightweight material - corrugated board or polycarbonate. This will protect the shepherd from the wind. The back wall is sheathed by default.
- The roof is being installed. First, wooden beams are attached. Then corrugated sheets, slate or ondulin are laid on top of them. The latter is characterized by better sound insulation - drumming rain will not irritate your pet as much. The roof must have a slope.
- The metal is primed and painted.
You can do it as in the next photo.
That's it, you made the enclosure with your own hands. You can install a booth and accessories, and invite your favorite shepherd to a housewarming party.
How to make a dog house for the winter: work order
The construction of a winter booth begins with the floor, which is made double and warm. Then they make the frame, walls, ceiling.
Necessary:
- saw off two 40x40 bars, the length is equal to the width of the booth,
- sew a floorboard on them;
- turn the structure over, install a 100x100 beam in each corner with a length of “booth height + 45 mm”;
- Place 2 40x40 bars in the place where the hole is installed;
- secure the intermediate posts on which the roof-ceiling will rest. Their length is equal to the internal height of the booth;
- cover the outside of the booth with clapboard;
- make a warm removable ceiling: put together a perimeter from 40x40 cm bars and sew on a sheet of plywood. For the ceiling, intermediate blocks must be cut into the large booth to prevent sagging of the plywood;
- insulate the ceiling with mineral wool, foam plastic or other insulation, sew a second sheet of plywood on top, make a roof;
- waterproof the bottom of the booth by treating the wood with a special compound. Roofing felt can be secured to the bottom with a stapler and two pieces of 100x50 timber;
- insulate the floor, make a finished floor;
- insulate the walls.
We made the inside of the booth from fiberboard which was nailed to a 50mm block, and 50mm PPS was placed in the resulting niche. They decorated it with clapboard.
The dog will be comfortable in such a booth at any time, but in severe weather conditions the opening should be closed with special curtains.
Take any durable material slightly larger than the entrance to the booth. It is cut into wide strips, which are overlapped together at the top. The top is secured with a bar above the entrance to the booth. Show the dog once that this is not a solid wall, and he will climb in and out without any problems.
Here is a winter booth made by our member with the nickname Shamilich. There are two rooms in the booth: a “winter road”, the dimensions of which were calculated based on the size of the dog, and a vestibule.
We are ready for the cold, which I personally am sincerely happy about. I am sure that the dog will also appreciate our efforts!
In severe frosts, a winter dog house can be filled with straw. There is no need to feel sorry for the straw: the dog itself will throw away the excess and arrange an ideal bed for itself.
How to make a dog enclosure for the winter
When constructing an enclosure, the following rules should be observed:
- The enclosure is made away from the street fence.
- Part of the walls of the enclosure should be blank to protect from the wind. You can make a completely enclosed enclosure with a fenced walking area.
- A strip foundation will help avoid undermining.
- Part of the enclosure must be covered with a canopy so that the sap can hide from precipitation and, in summer, from the sun.
- An aviary is a rather expensive design; it is better to do it thoroughly right away.
Requirements for insulated enclosures depend on the breed of dog. So, enclosures for Caucasians or Alabai are made on a slab or other massive foundation, with concrete frame pillars, and no chain-link for fencing the enclosure - only reinforcement. Enclosures for dogs of other breeds are subject to less stringent requirements.
Sat-Electric participant made an enclosure without a foundation, so that if necessary, it could be moved to another location.
To build such an enclosure for a dog, you need:
- level the surface;
- Lay out sheets of waterproofing roll material overlapping and with a margin for deflection. Glue the overlaps with a torch;
- make a frame from 150x100 timber.
cover the frame with a thick board, bend the waterproofing.
lay an OSB board on top (or better yet, a tongue-and-groove board).
assemble a frame from 100x100 timber.
- Attach temporary diagonal struts to stiffen the frame.
- Assemble the rafter structure and cover it with metal tiles.
Sheathe the walls and insulate the area of the built-in booth (the booth is also insulated).
- treat the floor and walls with decorative and protective material.
- secure the mesh (or lattice, depending on the breed of the dog).
FORUMHOUSE has many successful examples of warm dog enclosures. The thorough project of our user with the nickname rombikk deserves attention. This warm winter enclosure made of brick is made with your own hands.
The OSB booth is insulated with foam plastic, the roof is made of metal tiles. In the photo, the winter enclosure is in varying degrees of readiness: during operation, it was modernized several times: a sun awning and a metal-plastic window for the winter appeared. Then the building was completely glazed.
In winter, the dog was not entirely comfortable; there was snow. Now the pet is very happy, she has her own glass house.
This is an enclosure with an insulated camping booth for our user with the nickname Oksana.
A booth with a red roof is a summer one, and a white one is a winter booth for an Alabai. It has two rooms with a partition that can be rearranged to change the layout of the room and a folding roof for cleaning. There is a window in the booth through which the dog observes the situation on the site in winter.
The enclosure is not particularly high, but because the bars are bent inward, the dog cannot jump over it.
