How to Build a Temporary Dog Kennel for a Mother & Her Puppies

The birth of a litter of puppies can be a joyful experience. Humans have been raising litters for centuries, and care for the mother and puppies has greatly improved as dogs have become a fixture in many cultures. Building a temporary kennel for a mother and her litter not only protects them from the elements; it gives the new puppies a place to call their own as they grow and explore.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 48-inch-tall by 12-foot-long chain link panels
  • 1 48-inch-tall by 6-foot-long chain link panel
  • 1 48-inch-tall by 6-foot-long gate panel
  • Measuring tape
  • 8 6-foot-long T-posts
  • Large hammer
  • Chain link connectors
  • Doghouse
  • Bedding
  • Food and water bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a location for your dog pen. You should build your pen on flat, level ground that has trees or tall bushes to provide some sort of cover for your dogs. Make sure the area is free of thorns or stickers that can cause injury to your dogs.

    • 2

      Space your T-posts every six feet around the perimeter of your enclosure as shown in the diagram listed under the References section. Hammer your posts at least two feet into the ground to make sure they do not move or shift when you attach the fencing.

    • 3

      Set your first fence panel against the outside of your T-posts and attach it at the top and bottom with a chain link connector. Connect the fence to the two remaining T-posts to complete the first side of your pen.

    • 4

      Repeat the process with the remaining 12-foot-long panels, taking care to tighten the connectors firmly to keep your dogs from moving the fence. Attach one connector at each corner of your panels as well to reinforce the corners of your fencing.

    • 5

      Attach your 6-foot-long panel to one side of the remaining opening, connecting it to the corner post and center post. Place your gate panel in front of the last open section, making sure that the door in the panel opens and closes freely before attaching it to the posts.

    • 6

      Place the doghouse inside the pen and fill it with an old blanket to provide adequate cushioning for mother and puppies. Poace a water bowl with clean water and a bowl full of food near the doghouse to keep the new mother fed and well-hydrated while she raises her new litter.