How to Build a Kennel for a Bullmastiff

A powerful, domestic dog breed, bullmastiffs can grow up to 150 lbs. Their incredible musculature and strength makes them a popular work and hunting breed, as well as a loyal companion and guard dog. Due to their size, however, bullmastiffs often create problems for owners to find a safe and comfortable place for them to live. Building a kennel for a bullmastiff requires strong materials and a lot of planning and prepartion.

Things You'll Need

  • Hole digger
  • Support poles
  • Cement
  • Pre-fabricated kennel walls
  • Working partner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select building materials for your kennel. A wide variety of fencing and pre-fabricated kennel options exist. Because bullmastiffs are a large, powerful dog breed, you need to select materials strong enough to keep your dog contained, such as chain link or steel rod.

    • 2

      Measure and lay out the perimeter of your bullmastiff's kennel with stakes and ribbon, or string if its outdoors, and with painter's tape if its indoors. Include markers indicating the location of doors, corners and walls. This enables you to visualize the space your kennel takes up.

    • 3

      Establish the corners and "strength points" of your kennel. If building an outdoor kennel, dig post holes with a post-digger for the main corners, as well as on either side of the door. Sink support rods in each post hole and set in place with cement. If building an indoor kennel, establish connection points between a wall or two of the kennel, and a wall or corner of the inside space. This include hooks to which you can tie corners or walls.

    • 4

      Erect the walls of your kennel and secure them to the support posts or connection points with heavy rope or with metal clips. You may need a working partner. Pre-fabricated kennel walls have hooks or latches that fit snugly into adjoining pieces, forming a strong connection between each wall. Kennel walls for a bullmastiff should be at least 6 feet high.

    • 5

      Install any kennel doors or roofing when the walls are erect and secured in place. Several bullmastiff breeders featured in Dan Rice's "Bullmastiffs: Complete Pet Owner's Manual" recommend keeping the dogs in kennels with ceilings, as some members of the breed have proven to be excellent climbers, capable of escaping roofless kennels.