Your kennel's general layout can be inspired by the techniques of "share breeding" used for livestock (bovine or porcine, for example). The layout is adapted to the dog's career with the kennel. Areas are required to be designed specifically for dogs at different stages of life (birth, growth, adulthood, pregnancy, nursing, old age) and in varying degrees of health (suspected illness, sick dogs, contagious dogs, etc.). The layout of these areas must be carefully planned to meet the daily requirements of each individual dog. The following guidelines apply:
- Areas likely to be contaminated by people or dogs entering the facility (areas housing dogs to be observed, boarded, trained or groomed) must be isolated and have separate entrances.
- Areas reserved for breeding, so-called "clean" areas, should be situated away from the areas where contamination may occur. The facility should be laid out in the following manner:
- The kitchen should be in a central area so that meals may be distributed quickly (and thus limit barking).
- Living areas should be assigned based on the risk of infection of the dog occupying that space.
The immune system of newborn puppies is not fully developed. Therefore, newborns should be protected from possible infection introduced from the outside.
Layout of the various areas should take cleaning requirements into consideration. At risk areas (maternity) should be cleaned first, followed by living areas for adult dogs. Areas likely to be contaminated (infirmary, quarantine) should be cleaned last. In this way, germs are not spread from contaminated areas into the rest of the kennel.
The most susceptible dogs (pregnant dogs, puppies) should be lodged along the periphery, whereas potentially diseased dogs (dogs in quarantine or coming in from the outside) should be placed downwind from the rest of the kennel.
Another prudent step for preventing contamination is to set up two separate exercise areas, one for boarders and dogs brought in from the outside, and one for dogs being raised at the kennel.
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