[smok'in gun]

I'm planning on buying two 5x10 pens this weekend, I'm looking at buying from tractor supply. Either two 5x10 welded wire Doc Bob pens or getting a 10x10 chain link pen and moving one side to the middle and adding an extra panel with a gate on that side. I'll save 200 dollars on the chain link. I've heard welded was better but also heard over time it will rust and break, I've got 2 big pens on dirt that has housed beagles, bird dogs and others over 30 years and the chain link is still intact. Wanting to put lab pups on concrete. I know there's been alot of threads on this subject but for some reason I can't get the "search" to work. Any reason my idea won't work about making the 10x10 into 2 5x10? Has anybody bought these kennels from tractor supply? One last question, any truth that a bitch can be bred thru a chain link fence? Thanks.

_______
Jeff

 

[Brad B]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. And that would have to be one talented stud too!

 

[Don Smith]

I've read a lot of complaints about welded wire rusting and welds breaking. To the best of my knowledge, the chain link kennels at Tractor Supply are 11 ga. wire. You'll be disappointed with that. All of my kennels are 9 ga. I've had some of them since 1972 and they are still like new except for some surface rust in spots.

 

[Zman1001]

I bought a 10x10 chainlink from Tractor Supply about 4 months ago. I am very pleased with it. Of all of the chainlink fences I could find, it was the sturdiest (when compared to what Lowes / Southern States offered).

It is very sturdy. I placed the pen on a packed gravel base, then I installed pavers inside so that my pup would not be on grass/ground.

I have been very happy with this. I would imagine that you could take the end piece and move it to the middle, but you may need a few modifications. Although these have a horizontal crossbar, I can not remember if mine have the vertical crossbar in the middle (at 5 foot). If they do, you could easily buy an extra panel and convert to 2 - 5x10 kennels, but if not, you may have to work a little harder.

 

[Guest]

The thinner gauge chain link, like the ones at tractor supply are fine unless you have a dog that gnaws on it. We have a pen up here by the house from TSC. Have had it forever; no problems... Until I put a crazy dog in there for just a little bit... And now it has a hole chewed out. I wouldn't mind buying 11.5 ga but I would never buy it for commercial use or to hold an intense dog.

 

[Eddie Sullivan]

Do yourself a big favor and go with a heavier guage wire. The 11ga. will not hold up if you have a chewer or puller. I'm replacing a panel now because of that reason. The replacement wire will be 9 gauge.
________
R75/5

 

[rabersin]

As far as splitting the kennel, it will work. I had a 12X12 kennel and I split it into two 6X6 kennels. I bought one 6X6 panel w/o a gate, and one with a gate. It works great.

 

[smok'in gun]

Thanks for the responses, I'm probably going to go with the tsc kennel, but if I could find heavier ga wire I would consider it, I live within an hour of Nashville, anybody know of any places that sell that type of kennels? Thanks.

_______
Jeff

 

[dnf777]

Thanks for the responses, I'm probably going to go with the tsc kennel, but if I could find heavier ga wire I would consider it, I live within an hour of Nashville, anybody know of any places that sell that type of kennels? Thanks.

_______
Jeff

My dog ate a Kong like it was a milk-bone, and he hasn't given the TSC kennel any trouble. Ours is the welded wire, and it is under shelter, but has shown no signs of rust or breakage.

 

[Joe Brakke]

Watch the rust issue, many neg posts on poor quality metal fences have beeen on rust. I remember that the galv chain link was the way to go. Search for kennel panels and see the past discussion and recommendations.

 

[Dave Brannon]

If you are going to pour a slab for chain link put 2" PVC pipe stubs at the post points down through the slab to install the galvanized pipes. That way you can replace them when the males rust them out. Easy to do before the slab is poured and wil last forever.

 

[George C. Tull]

If you are going to pour a slab for chain link put 2" PVC pipe stubs at the post points down through the slab to install the galvanized pipes. That way you can replace them when the males rust them out. Easy to do before the slab is poured and wil last forever.

Haven't thought of that, great idea! Could easily set them(pvc pipes) up out of the concrete high enough to be able to wash under the panels.

I bought the cheaper paneled kennels like TS sells(funds were low at the time) & split them. I put them together & put the gated panels in the middle & replaced the front with dual gated panels. Ended up with one extra regular panel for a spare that I actually put on top above the dog house barrel where I kennel one of my females cause she jumps up on it & was afraid she'd jump out or have some sort of accident trying.

Just remember....if your going to buy those type kennels be sure they're the ones that have a brace pole (up & down) in the middle of the panel cause you'll need that to bracket to on the back side when you put the middle run panel in. One of my 10x10's were like that & one wasn't.

Also something else I learned, like Dave Brannon mentioned....you preferably want the panels that aren't rounded on the corners(will end up setting flush on the ground). Get the one's that have the poles/legs that stand up & set the bottom of the panel off the ground a couple inches. Even if you pour a pad like Dave mentioned. Easier to wash out that way.

I used the square pavers also & used hook type bent re-bar to anchor the corners down so they wouldn't slide the kennel off them when they jump up on it.

 

[Dave Brannon]

After high winds pushed my kennels off the pad (dogs were in the truck in that storm) I came back and installed anchor bolts. My old kennels had the PVC pipe and I wish I would have gone that way when I built these. The Priefert panels now last about 8 years with males doing their acid wash. Good thing is you can flip them over so the rust is at the roof to double their life span.

 

[Jay Dufour]

I have one of the welded wire from TS that I got in a rush during the summer.It is already rusting in places.I knew I was getting what I paid for.It is still MUCH better than the small gauge hurricane that the dogs stretch out and destroy.

 

[jshea]

I have done the same thing with my pens and the chain link fence. I hated it... The dog pushed the chain links, broke them and made holes in the fence. I tried to wire them back several times. Not good.

I bought a wielded on and it has worked well.

 

[BrettG]

I would suggest calling a fence company and get them to make the panels out of 9 ga. wire. I had some made this past summer and love them. A few years back I had a kennel from lowe's and the dogs unwound the chainlink.

 

[Sabireley]

I had a stray I put up for a couple of hours waiting for the owner to pick it up. It stretched the 11 ga. TSC chainlink until it created a hole to escape. My dogs never did that, but this one did. I have Mason kennels now and they are much sturdier.

 

[double m kennels]

When we moved had to purchase another one kennel we got it from TSC and this kennel is not as good as the other ones we have. We put one dog in it and she pulled at the bottom of the gate and pulled the gate open. I would spend the extra money and get a better kennel. Esp. with puppies. We had another dog work at the bottom and made a hole to go through. Once they figured out they could get out, it was/still is harder to keep them in a kennel.

 

[John Lash]

I would suggest calling a fence company and get them to make the panels out of 9 ga. wire. I had some made this past summer and love them. A few years back I had a kennel from lowe's and the dogs unwound the chainlink.

I agree with the above. You can get 9 gauge and have it made any way you want it. The pvc pipe stubs are a good idea. When I had some made I just had them weld the pipe so there was 1-2 inch feet on the bottom to raise them a little. I anchored plates with male stubs on them that go up inside the corner poles. I had them made with holes in the back panels so the boxes are outside of the runs. 25 years old and only surface rust on the chain link that you can spray with cold galvanizing spray cans or aluminum paint.

I don't know about breeding through the wire, but I did add chain link tops on mine. Since the boxes are outside I was afraid a dog could get in over the top.

John Lash

 

[K.Bolan]

I have done exactly what your talking about all the way down to the concrete pad. It works fine, but I am have a time getting houses to work out.