Getting a comfortable, yet practical dog house for your dog is essential. The right dog house will keep your dog cool in the Summer, warm in Winter and dry all year round. However, there are some other important characteristics that your dog’s kennel should have.
We have broken it down to help you when choosing the best dog kennel for your canine companion. We’ve stuck to wooden and plastic as these are the most popular types of kennels available in Ireland.
Cleaning
Plastic dog kennels are well known for being easy to clean making them a popular choice. As they are made of plastic, to clean them all you are required to do is give them a quick wash. They also don’t harbour any pet smells as wooden kennels do. They require little maintenance because of their easy cleaning aspect making them very economical to keep.
Wooden dog kennels tend to absorb odours. They are not as easy to clean and tend to smell because of the absorbent wood unless cleaned properly. They also can’t be washed as easily as the plastic kennels can.
However, once cleaned regularly and properly a wooden kennel can be kept just as clean as a plastic one!
Care
Wood, being a natural product, will degrade with time unless it is cared for correctly. This is why we recommend that any wooden kennel is treated once a year with an animal friendly wood preservative to help it to keep in good condition.
Plastic kennels require much less maintenance. The only thing that happens them is that they can start to lose their colour a bit after a lot of exposure to sunlight.
Durability
Plastic kennels are more durable and resistant, especially to chewing. This makes them a more suitable choice for a dog who likes to chew as the plastic is less palatable to them.
But, if your dog tends to chew and you wish to get a wooden dog kennel, you need to be sure that you choose one that is treated with a pet safe wood stain to avoid allergic reactions.
As all kennels here at Pets.ie are created with your dogs in mind we have made sure that all our wooden kennels are treated with a dog safe wood stains.
Choice
You tend to have a wider choice when shopping for wooden kennels than you have when you are shopping for plastic kennels. You have a wider choice of colours, sizes and styles.
However, here at Pets.ie we have a wide range of both types of kennels.
Insulation
Plastic dog kennels tend to be much colder in winter and warmer in summer than the wooden ones as they don’t retain the heat as well.
Wood provides good insulation from the heat of summer and the cold of winter meaning that the temperature will be better regulated better.
Looks
Plastic kennels tend to not be as aesthetically pleasing as wooden ones to some people. So, people who are looking for something to look pretty in their garden tend to choose to go for a wooden kennel.
Although both kennels have their advantages and their disadvantages either can make a great choice for your dog.
If you are still struggling with your decision feel free to give us a call on 0404 45930 and one of our many friendly staff will be very happy to help you decide or provide advice.
Size
You may think that the biggest dog house is best for your little Jack Russel or King Charles. However, it’s actually better for your dog to go for a snugger fit so they can retain their own heat in the space. Once your pet has enough space to get in comfortably, turn around and lie down, that’s a good fit! Dogs also feel more secure in a smaller space. Vet bedding can be used to make the kennel even snugger and comfier, and it is really hard to chew. We also offer some kennels with insulation.
If you are buying for a puppy, be sure to check what her adult size is likely to be and choose accordingly!