Meet Harley/Kennel Build (With Photos)

A few weeks ago the Mrs and I decided to get a puppy. After a little bit of looking around we found a litter here in Palmy - Mum was a 50/50 black Lab/GSP from a hunting background (with a forum member) and dad was a purebred chocolate Lab. We went and met the litter and immediately fell in love with the little black bitch.
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With the pup picked, we got to work building a kennel as she would be outside during the day. Because we were in the dead of winter we decided to go all out and make it fully insulated. Neither of us being particularly skilled or experienced with carpentry it was going to be an interesting challenge.
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We decided to line the interior with 4mm untreated ply and used shiplap weatherboard for the exterior. Insulation was sorted with 40mm compressed polystyrene sandwiched between the ply lining and weatherboard cladding.
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Once the kennel was sorted we moved on to the run. Pretty straight forward - Used fence palings for the deck and a plastic coated pool fence for the mesh.
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With the run constructed we threw on some stain to help weatherproof it and added a corrugated iron roof over the insulated ceiling. stuffed up a bit with the design and couldn't mount the roof on hinges without either checking out a spot for each hinge to sit flush with the frame or leaving a gap where cold air would come in. We decided to flag the hinges and in reality it doesn't need them.
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Needless to say we were pretty stoked with the finished product. Not bad for a couple of amateurs.
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We picked up Harley this afternoon and she is settling in nicely. I am looking forward to getting into the training - Planning on using her as a deer indicator and family dog. Will be using Paul Michaels' Blueprint as best we can, making compromises around the family aspect in order to keep the peace. Mrs Dorkus won't let Harley sleep in the kennel overnight during winter and insists we walk her with a pink collar, but other than that is happy with the principals Paul suggests following.
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Cheers,
Adam

Sorry about that last huge photo - It has randomly chucked it in and I can't get rid of it?

Awesome! Enjoy ya new buddy! Kennel looks mint [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]


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that will be one happy pup. kennel looks good, bit more work in them then people relise.

nice job, might need to extend the run a little in the future

and here I was thinking you are some Harley riding Neanderthal with a huge ass beard , apparently you don't have a huge ass beard like I thought you did in you're profile pic (apparently my eyes are getting really bad)
nice job on the kennel :thumbsup:

Well done all for a first try.hells bells -that kennel is flasher than a lot of state houses-i see one dog whose in for the life of riley!!!!!!

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She seems to like it...

Somehow got a sideways dog:(

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Originally Posted by Dorkus

Somehow got a sideways dog:(

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;)If you decide to get rid of the sideways dog, give me a yell - I could do with some luxury, and I can move out of the dogbox here (Never criticise Mrs Dorkus' cooking, Mate, or you'll be flatting with Harley. And all I said was that it needed more curry FFS.)and take over from the dog in a week. What's the rent?;)Anyway, well done with the pup AND with the kennel. If you were in AUckland you could get $300 pw renting it to a family of beneficiaries - or to me hahaha.

On ya Dorkus, great kennel build.

I'd be proud of that!

Next will be kids...

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Originally Posted by JoshC

Next will be kids...

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Nah, I've got to get my money's worth out of the dog in time on the hill before I start down that track.

Great kennel. I lined mine like yours, but the bloody dogs bit through the lining and pulled all the insulation out!

Great job, @Dorkus...go Harley...

@stug...oh nooooo...

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Originally Posted by JoshC

Next will be kids...

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Puppies are like the gateway drug for kids

Bit of an update:
Harley is now 6 months old. She is walking in front with lots of confidence and her range is starting to bed in nicely. Her stop, go and turn are all second nature and she is eager to please and is very polite. I'm starting to introduce her to loud noises (banging bis of wood together etc) and she is very comfortable close by whilst I operate power tools. She's pretty much stock proof, having been introduced to cows, sheep, pigs and horses.
We walk and train for about 40mins every day and the Mrs fills in if I'm not able to. She spends the work day in her kennel (I let her out for an hour over lunch) and hangs out inside with us in the evenings.

A couple of pics:
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...b61158ce6b.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...4695478b1e.jpg

I'll try and upload a video of tonight's training session for your amusement.

Cheers,
Adam


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https://youtu.be/vFy3KIcTJaA

Lucky dog.

Impressive!

Ssssst. Looking good mate

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Nice job on the Kennel.

I to have been following Pauls videos and starting training with my new pup. Harley is looking really good, cant wait to see her first deer!