How to Set Up a Dog Yard

If you have multiple dogs for working, racing, or any other reason, you will benefit from a carefully organized and clean dog yard. You will be able to have a dog yard that your dogs will feel comfortable in, and that will provide them with everything that they might need. It is important to set up a good dog yard so your dogs can be healthy and happy, and so that you can have access to your dogs. Read on to learn how to set up a dog yard.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A large yard
• Dog houses
• Metal poles
• Chains
• U-bolts
• Large washer for top of pole
• Food and water dishes

1. Measure out t he room that you will need. Each dog will need a space that can accommodate them running in a circle that is at least 10 feet in diameter. The circles cannot touch each other, so be sure that you have enough space.
2. Put one pole per dog into the middle of each circle that you have measured out. The poles will need to be dug into the ground deeply so that the dogs cannot pull them out. The best way to do so is to get a 6 foot pole and put it at least 2 feet into the ground. Pack the earth around the poles so that they will not come out.
3. Attach a U-bolt to each poll. It should rotate freely around the poll and should not become stuck on it in any way.
4. Attach the large washer to the top of the pole so that the U-bolt cannot slip off the top of the pole. You might need to experiment with different pole-toppers depending on the type of pole that you use.
5. Attach chains to the U-bolts. Make sure that the chain is long enough so that the dog can run the entire circle.
6. Attach a strong dog-clip to the ends of each chain.
7. Each dog should have a house. Set these up on the edges of their circles so that they can run the entire circle without running into the house. Make sure that the chain stretches all of the way into the house so that the dog can get in easily. The houses should also have a flat roof so that the dogs can relax on them.
8. Put a food and water dish in each circle. You might want to attach the food or water dishes to dog houses. Experiment with the best way of doing this task.
9. Fill the dog houses with clean and fresh straw, no matter what the season.
10. Bring the dogs in one and a time and put them in their places. You might have to rearrange them based on temperament.

Tips & Warnings

• A dog yard will need to be scooped once a day, so make sure you have proper equipment.
• To quiet a noisy dog yard, try a garden hose.
• You might need to make adjustments to poles, hooks or chains as time goes on and if dogs get loose.
• Never leave your dogs in a dog yard longer than one full day without checking on them.
• Never with hold food or fresh water at any point in time from dogs in a dog yard.
• Never have a dog yard in an unconfined space, such as a fenced in yard. Dogs might get loose from the dog yard and run away.