If your dog lives outside, the first step to ensure good health is to provide good housing. A clean, dry, well-ventilated but draught free dog kennel, with comfortable bedding, is vital. It should be constructed of weatherproof materials, preferably with sufficient insulating properties to allow the kennel to be cool in summer and warm in winter. The entrance should be facing away from the prevailing wind. The dog should be able to get under shade, perhaps from a wall or tree, on a hot, sunny day. A water bowl for the dog needs to be kept filled regularly, and should be regarded as part of the kenneling set up. A raised wooden floor for the kennel is more hygienic and warmer than either bare dirt or bedding on the ground. Bedding should be placed in the kennel, such as a blanket or straw. This bedding should be changed regularly to combat parasites, especially fleas, which breed in these materials.

An ideal arrangement is to have an enclosed yard, which must be fenced well enough to prevent your dog jumping or digging its way out. Remember it has all the time in the world to work on its escape plans! Traditional kennels more commonly require the dog to be chained up. A rope is not secure, of course, as it is easy for a dog to chew through. A common arrangement is for the chain to be linked to a wire that allows the dog to move along a run. This is beneficial both for exercise and hygiene. The important water bowl is likely to be tipped over when the dog is on a chain, unless it is carefully placed or heavily weighted. An alternative is an integrated dog kennel and enclosed wire netting run, with separate access from the back for you to clean out the kennel. Hygiene will be helped if there is a raised slatted wooden floor under the run. The dog does not need to be chained up when it is enclosed in this way, and can be more easily secured against theft if it is a valuable dog.

A water container can easily be fixed to the side of the run, or even piped into a constant water supply. If the unit is raised over a concrete base it is easy to hose down under the run to maintain hygiene in the area. If you own several dogs or breed from them, several such units can be joined together. This arrangement makes it easier to manage a bitch on heat and to secure a litter of pups. If you have several male breeding dogs you may need to have better separation between than just a netting barrier, to prevent damage from fighting. A temporary sheet of roofing iron, for example, inserted between their runs during the breeding period may suffice, if a permanent solid wall is not installed or separation is not practical. Another dog housing variation is a warm dog box placed within another building, such as a storage shed or garage. If the building is secure there is less need for chaining the dog. As it is inside, there is less need for the dog box to be constructed of weatherproof materials. Proper attention to how you house your dog will pay dividends in better health, cleanliness and security.