The floor of dog runs must be made of materials that will not retain urine or wash water. It must be non-slip, durable enough to resist detergents and daily scrubbing and disinfecting, and be as smooth as possible, in order to prevent the sporulation of the coccidium's oocysts or the transformation of the ascaris eggs into infesting larva. The dusty surface of plain cement can cause skin allergies wherever the dog comes into contact with the floor (pads, elbows, hocks, genitals, sternum). Therefore, vibrated concrete is a better choice. It resists humidity better, is less likely to crumble or chip, and causes fewer allergies. Smooth concrete (with ridges draining toward gutters) is also a good choice. For ease of cleaning, the floor should be waterproofed with a resin epoxy, though it limits to use most of the thermal treatments for cleaning the kennel.
Separating walls must be washable and solid, so that a dog standing up on his hind legs cannot come into direct contact with neighboring dogs.
Health authorities recommend that the junction of wall and floor be rounded rather than square (ninety-degree angle).
Gutters must never pass through the dog runs, as toxic products used to clean and sanitize the gutters must be kept away from the boarders.
Cement blocks are not a good choice for this application, because they retain water and the lower portion of the blocks is an excellent environment for growing mold and mildew.
Smooth concrete may be used if covered with waterproof vinyl paint or chlorinated rubber. A mixture of lime and white cement spread over the concrete is also effective. The upper portion of the wall may be of welded mesh, which is easier to disinfect than woven mesh. The best choice is vertical stainless or galvanized steel bars.
Ideally, the walls of each individual run should be made of thick, unbreakable glass allowing dogs to see each other (and allowing staff to keep an eye on all dogs in the area at once) without risking contamination. Maintaining this type of wall is also much easier. However, this type of construction is expensive.
Use of mesh or bars for the entire separating wall is not acceptable unless empty space is left between the walls of each individual run to prevent direct contact and to limit the spread of air-borne elements. However, this type of wall is not as effective for preventing the spread of air-borne contaminants, nor does it protect the dogs from cold or drafts. Even in the absence of a breeze, just a simple cough or sneeze can spray secretions from the nose and throat up to 1.5 m.
The exterior wall of each run should be made of stainless or galvanized steel bars with a door providing access for cleaning and allowing the dog access to play areas. Bars, though more expensive than other materials, can appear prison-like to uninformed visitors. Bars, however, have fewer places for the dogs to bite in, and therefore reduce greatly the risks of claws and teeth injuries.
A roof must compulsorily cover at least a portion of the run in order to provide shade and protection from the elements. It also keeps the area between the box and the run dry.
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