smelly kennels

[Nightshadows]

Hi everyone-

I have house-sat at a few breeders houses. Their kennels were very nice and were not kept unclean or anything but they still smelled. My question is, what type of kennel layout is best so that the dogs dont have to go to the bathroom in their indoor run? I would constantly clean out all the straw/hay/sawdust but the smell would still be there. I imagine just an indoor/outdoor run would still get pretty smelly and an indoor/totally outdoor (on grass) type run would get muddy and yucky. Any ideas?

[LisaH]

My kennels are outlined with 2'x2' cement slabs with rubber stall mats in the middle.I bleach them and hose every night so that the dog's wake up to a nice clean kennel.During the day I scoope and hose when needed.I must say they very rarely smell.

[Nightshadows]

that sounds really good. I've always thought horse stall mats would be good, and easily available. I wonder if some dogs would chew them though? Do you have the dogs just in an indoor run at night and then outside during the day?

Who am I kidding? I know that when the time comes for me to build some sort of kennels the dogs will be sleeping inside at night but they have to go outside during the day and when Im not home. I am just trying to come up with ideas. Thanks!!

[LisaH]

I have not had anybody chew on the mats,but I have heard of other kennel's complaining of this.