Please help me with ideas/suggestions for a dog run

[Laura & Chewie]

I don't have a fenced yard, so would like to find someone to construct a dog run for Chewie. I am thinking a fenced area with a gate. He would enter right from the back door to my garage which in turn comes right back into the house (attached garage). I really would welcome details on your run if you have one, including options for fencing, materials on the ground, etc. Two suggestions I have gotten for the ground are pea gravel and cement. I'm sure pea gravel would be much more affordable. I know there is artificial grass for dogs also. If you think I am sounding vague, you're right...LOL. I'm just not sure what will be best and want to come up with something good for Choo Choo.

Also, will it be a problem transitioning him from "going" only on grass to another surface?

[Adina P]

I have never had a dog run, but I'm curious (and it might help you figure out the best materials)...how do you want this dog run to be used? Will it be mainly a potty area? How large will it be?

[Laura & Chewie]

Yes, it will be mainly a potty area and I am thinking it will measure about 5' by 15'. Chewie is not predicted to be a hugh doodle...probably 30-35 lbs. He will still be taken for walks, weather permitting. I also looked into an invisible fence, but not sure I like that idea.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Most of my property is fenced with deer fencing. This consists of poles sunk into receptacles which are pounded into the ground. Then heavy duty plastic mesh is attached.This has worked very well for keeping the dogs in and the deer out. It is less expensive and less of a visual eyesore, I think, than regular fences. Of course it helps that I have lots of vegetation around it in most places. The picture is actually a place where there is less vegetation. You can get an idea from Benner's. You can do this kind of fencing yourself or get someone to do it less expensively though. With this fencing my dogs can roam mos of the property and have grass to run and use for dog "purposes".

[Kyoko]

Wow! This is beautiful!

[Doug]

Fairly inexpensive, Deer Fence & Garden Fence or Deer Fencing for do it yourself applications. Kits are reasonable.

[Sue & Willy Babe]

At my house we are only fenced in at the sides and backyard so what we did was too buy two volleyball nets and we hooked them up to my neighbors yard and to our deck on one side and the other side to my neighbors fences and some of our hearty bushes, we only use the nets for playtime with other pups and has worked out very well other wise Wilson goes out with us and he is fine but by himeself I have him on a tie out and thats only for early in the morning to do his "business"

[Kyoko]

At the shelter I volunteer, we have brand new and older dog runs. The older dog runs are covered with pea gravel, and they are fenced with chain link fence.
Only thing that I don't like about the pea gravel is that, it can get somewhat muddy like with rain, and freeze to the ice surface when it is really cold. ( I am in Pittsburgh. We get a lots of snow.) I think cement is tough on their legs plus it can get hot during the summer.... The brand new dog runs have real grass surface and use chain link fence. I really like these new dog runs... I think dogs like them too, with the real grass surface... I think since it will only for Chewie, you can use grass surface and does not have to worry about too much about wear and tear.

[sandy b]

We bought 2 exercise pens, hooked them together and secured them to the ground w/metal rods for support. I think it measures 4x12 and is approx 3ft high. This is for potty only and we always walk Max to it and he is never left unattended. We started out using grass and duh!! it died from the pee and then he was bringing in dried grass stuck to his fur!! So we switched to very small rock and it's much better. This has always been his potty area from 8 wks to now 1 yr. He's about 30 lbs.

[Laura & Chewie]

Thanks so much everyone! The quotes I got all turned out to be much more costly than I expected. I have one more option to consider, but for the time being, I think we will just go with a tie-out in the yard when he can't be walked.