Round Pen for No Chain Situations

[TFX]

In spite of the one liner, moderately disrespectful quasi-request; for those who are interested, I am posting a photo of my lone remaining kennel setup. It has been raining around here, I've been out of town for Christmas, and for about 14 hours per day it is dark. This is my first opportunity to post a visual on what I was describing above. Very simple really, but far better than many other kenneling concepts that I have seen, and all of those that have been shared here in my judgment for the reasons outlined above.

[TFX]

Just a thought on chains vs. kennels. These kennels are quite large 8x24, which is 192 square feet. If I extend them into 8x32's they will be 256 square feet. If I took the middle out and went 16 x 24 today they would be 384 square feet, or if I left the middle out and extended the 2 sides I could have a very large 16 x 32 kennel that would measure a whopping 512 square feet. However, my simple 20' chains give the dogs 1256 square feet of living area. Granted, I don't have a building for them to have the additional shelter and so forth, but it is a lot more area for a lot less money. I believe it makes for happier dogs. My kenneled dogs act like caged lunatics just set free when I cut them loose, running around with boundless, pent up energy. When I cut chained dogs loose, they just want to hang out with me and cruise around, they don't act like they were just set free. I believe a large chain area gives the dog a feeling of already being free.

So, just to point out the absurdity of no chain laws, the dog can have a 5' x 10' kennel of 50 square feet with a doghouse taking some of that space up and that is OK, but my 1256 square foot chain runs that are over 20 times the living area are not OK. Some real geniuses behind that one eh?

[No Quarter Kennel]

TFX, I love your setup man. Very nice.

Question, I noticed in Jack's Bible, he mentioned a 12-14' chain setup but mentioned that he noticed most dogs only utilize 10' of it really. What is your experience with the 20' Chains?

[SGC]

Just a thought on chains vs. kennels. These kennels are quite large 8x24, which is 192 square feet. If I extend them into 8x32's they will be 256 square feet. If I took the middle out and went 16 x 24 today they would be 384 square feet, or if I left the middle out and extended the 2 sides I could have a very large 16 x 32 kennel that would measure a whopping 512 square feet.

However, my simple 20' chains give the dogs 1256 square feet of living area. Granted, I don't have a building for them to have the additional shelter and so forth, but it is a lot more area for a lot less money.

I believe it makes for happier dogs. My kenneled dogs act like caged lunatics just set free when I cut them loose, running around with boundless, pent up energy. When I cut chained dogs loose, they just want to hang out with me and cruise around, they don't act like they were just set free. I believe a large chain area gives the dog a feeling of already being free.

So, just to point out the absurdity of no chain laws, the dog can have a 5' x 10' kennel of 50 square feet with a doghouse taking some of that space up and that is OK, but my 1256 square foot chain runs that are over 20 times the living area are not OK. Some real geniuses behind that one eh?

Nice kennel set up and thank you for posting a photo of it. Hope you had a nice Christmas too.

I agree with you 200% about the chains Vs kennels, as my old dogs in chains were much happier than the few times I tried a kennel pen. They got more space and more exercise on the chains.

It is just modern day stupidity that leads to those anti tether laws, and yet nothing is done about dogs that sit in a crate in a basement 24/7.

[Black Hand]

not a lot is done about these laws cuz we are relatively quiet about it. those who do fight it usually have had success. the problem lies with us not wanting to make a big splash lol. you got a bunch of bulldogs on a chain last thing ppl wanna do is alert everybody to it so I think that's why nothing changes. those are nice kennels though for sure.

I can tell a major difference in my dogs, just from my pups from the ones that get put out on a chain oppose to one of them I kept in a brood pen. she will bang on the paneling all day if I let her and don't let her out for a good portion of the day. her littermate are much more content and quiet.

[Black Hand]

In spite of the one liner, moderately disrespectful quasi-request; for those who are interested, I am posting a photo of my lone remaining kennel setup. It has been raining around here, I've been out of town for Christmas, and for about 14 hours per day it is dark. This is my first opportunity to post a visual on what I was describing above. Very simple really, but far better than many other kenneling concepts that I have seen, and all of those that have been shared here in my judgment for the reasons outlined above.

they don't try to dig out?

[pig mad]

Im starting to noticevwith knowledge comes an ego there was nothing distespectful about my request as i said a picture says a thousand words and id rather see the picture than read the 1000 words that kennel is nothing like the mental picture i was picturing in my head. If i had the room i would go chains infact i actually already have the chains i just need the land but i feel there is nothing wrong with kennels if you exercise your mutts daily my kennels are 1m x 3m and i have no drama.

[TFX]

Starting in reverse;

No, there is no ego Pig Mad. There is a way to carry yourself both in person and online so that you show respect and decorum, and so that you don't present yourself as an asshole. That process generally doesn't involve one-liner type communication. I doubt that your intent was to come across as an asshole, but that is kind of what happened truth be told. Now, that isn't the first time I have seen it on this forum from you. The other times I didn't say anything about it, and just let it slide. This time, I still tried to drop a subtle hint to get you thinking, but then you had to come back and accuse me of having an ego. A true double whammy for you my friend! Try this on for size as an example: "TFX, I am having a hard time visualizing what you have described here, is there anyway you could post a picture of your kennel setup for us?" Big difference in that request versus a smart ass, one-liner. Think about it.
I give what I get, in person as well as online, end of story. There are people on this board who have known me, or known of me for decades. In general, I think if you asked them they will tell you I am honest, friendly, and helpful. Don't mistake friendly for weak. So before your ego gets the best of you, stew on that for awhile and think about changing your approach a little bit, it will serve you well in person and online.

Black Hand, great question. Yes, they do try to dig a little bit, but I keep throwing bricks, blocks, stepping stones etc. in there, so they have about given up on it. Also, I have one of the 16 foot panels laying flat on the outside, so they can't get out anyhow even if they dig. You will have that same issue with any kennel setup that does not have a concrete floor or border. I am basically out of the dogs, so the kennel really hadn't been getting used much until I had a litter last March. Since then I have kept growing pups in there. One is shipping out soon, and the other is going on chain. I am going to do the fix I mentioned above by setting those panels on 2 courses of cinder block on a footing to both stop the digging and raise the sides to about 6 1/2 feet. I already have all of the block here to do it, just need to find dry weather and the time.

Thanks SGC. I hope you are enjoying your back to back holiday week too. BTW.....The best Christmas gift you could give me; and this whole board, would be to post my old Clouse dog article. I don't know if I can ever duplicate it, but one day I might try. I regret not saving some of those veritable masterpieces. We can all thank Jack for wigging out and shutting down a board with no warning! These anti-tether laws are nothing but a loophole for BSL. Most pinheaded breeds could not be put on a chain, as their neck is bigger than their heads and they can very easily pull out of collars. The douche-bag humaniacs figured that out, and found a way to screw the bulldog folks indirectly.

Thanks NQK. I actually built this thing after an idea from a full indoor/outdoor heated kennel I visited in Illinois. My weather isn't really that extreme to where I needed them heated or anything, but I liked the idea of a building attached to the runs as a dry space and windbreak. So, I decided a makeshift shelter like this could work on a budget. I think I only have $300-400 in that whole building, so less than $200 per kennel before adding the panels. The most expensive part was the roof. I originally went with rolled comp for the roof, but it has been a royal pain in the ass. I am going to reroof it any day now with 10' galvanized tin, which will leave a 1' overhang in the front and back. I think they are $13 per 2' wide sheet, so on this deal I would need 8 sheets. After buying tar paper and rolled comp, and then all of the repairs I have had to do because of that crap blowing off, I would have been money ahead just going with the tin to begin with. I did my horse shelters with the tin and have had no problems for 7 years now. I am also going to get rid of the siding, and do the sides with full 8' planks of 1"x 6". I recently did that to a chicken house I built. It's very durable, and I like the rustic look of the raw wood over the painted to match the house look. About the chains, brother they use every damn bit of the 20' chain! Jack and I originally decided to up our chain lengths at the same time. I was running 9'-10' chains like I had used forever. He and I talked about 12'-15', and I decided "screw it I am going to go with 20' and see how it works". It's not like I am short on land, so I did 3 of the 20' chains and it was the best thing I ever did for the dogs. At the time I still had 8 or 10 dogs here, and the difference of the dogs on the 20' chains was noticeable. They were just calmer and happier, not as keyed up all the time. Now, there is technically an anti-tethering law where I live, although it isn't going to be enforced around here because most folks actually have common sense. That notwithstanding, I am in the process of hooking the 20' chains to some 1" cable I have in order to have ground cables to circumvent the stupid law. The ground cable is like 8'-9' long, and will run a massive forged O ring as the slider. That will significantly increase the square footage again by like another 40%+, so each dog will have like 2,000 square feet or more of living area. Many people don't even have a back yard that size.

[CRISIS]

hey TFX i have a question.........i hear cable "tolley/runs" are actually indeed legal in CA,.....although i havent done the homework on all the details myelsf...ive been told, that even a 1-2 ft cable is still considered a legit "trolley run".......do you know of the details behind this? if so would you be able to share any ideas of the the runs themselves?? the only thing i can think of (other than the classic overhead hang style) is having 2 axles in the ground with a cable running between them....attched to that cable is the steel ring that attaches the chain & collar..

if i can figure this out, this will save an amazing amount of money from having to buy kennels with every new addition.

[pig mad]

Tfx i am an asshole there is no doubt about that in person and on forums hahaha but no that was not how i intended to come across as i said to you in pm long winded storys loose me it just turns into a mess in my head not to mention i realy like to see pictures of things mainly so i can steal ideas give me written plans i may have trouble following but show me a picture and ill duplicate it to a t.
I do appolagise if i offended you to be honest id probably like to pick your brain i have asked people who you are as it is obvious your very knowledgable but no one answers me.
While i have everyones attention start posting pictures with your pedigrees and storys i know i like to see them and doubt i am alone showing a pedigree and dog is shit might look good on paper and dog be a retard buck tooth twisted leg inbred mutt hahaha.
Sorry again tfx im alright once you get to know me ( im an asshole but youll get use to me) hahaha