Kennel Duties

Ok, so I actually meant to post this prior to the accident but never got around to it. Before then, It was that time of year.. yep, annual dog duties. Mostly just fixing some old chewed and dug holes along with scrubbing and cleaning every one of the doghouses. You would be amazed how much nastness can cling on a house in just a year! the good thing about this is that was ALL I had to do, the dogyard was (and still is) in remarkable shape, and I believe it has to do alot since I switched mostly over to stakeouts last summer. Most people don't believe me untill they visit and notice how tidy the dogs keep their circles. The buckets on a dusty spell will get a little dirty, but they keep the bedding inside the doghouses and if shavings or straw is put down in a muddy section it actually lasts and stays longer. I actually would like to keep all of the areas filled with pine shavings, but I don't reckon a little bit of dirt ever hurt anybody and it usually stays mild enough that I only spread flooring if we've really had a gully washer. Scooping up after the dogs is sooo much easier as they all chose a certian spot to do their business instead of just anywhere, making it faster and easier on me. It's more open, so the dogs get to interact and play with each other with just enough reach to not get tangled, as well as allowing adequate drainage when storms pass through. I had a major problem with that last year before switching over, when I had kennel runs instead of stakeouts and it was horrible! The kennels flooded and all the dogs were ankle (or more) in sloshy, irritating mud. I moved them and can see from a whole course of seasons how much of an improvement it has made, and could'nt be happier with the change :)

Anyways, I just use a plain ole scrub brush to clean the houses with a little bit of lysol and a whole lotta water (atleast whats left after I chase the dogs around the yard with the hose ;p) and its remarkable to me to see them so clean and white again! Some people may wonder, why paint them white? Some people use light charcoal, or whatever but I use it to reflect the sun off the houses. Which come to think of it, really doesn't apply to my dogyard because the entire thing is in shade all day long except in winter, when sun is welcomed and embraced. I do like the little 'spark' of color it adds to the kennel though, kinda gives it an extra spiffy touch ;) I guess when the time comes around to repaint them, I might coat them in my team colors - teal and burgundy. I actually bought some materials to build more of the "single board sled dog houses" so I wouldn't have to use so many of the plastic 'ruff-haus' ones I seem to have so many of. The plastic houses are good, don't get me wrong.. I just really like the design and ease to clean of the wood houses. Plus, on another note the dogs really seem to enjoy the flat roofs so they can sunbathe and relax on top. The problem is, those 'materials' like so many of my other projects, never really went anywhere because everything else kinda got in the way.. but we all know how that is. Maybe soon (after I heal and can walk again) I can get in gear and get some new houses and new stakeouts up for the Skynyrd kids, mostly.





The gang relaxin' watching me scrub and work on the puppy kennel (Kajunn and Tuesday's current home)

It's halfway there...

In kennel attire, with the doo-rag that Breeze was obsessed with trying to nab, haha

Satin on her clean house..

Well I'm glad I got that stuff done before the accident, because it could be several more months before I can walk again, moreless get back into the swing of repairing things everyday. Luckily, my mother and grandmother who have been feeding & scooping for me have been doing a pretty good job and the only problems they have seen so far is constant fence repair with Tuesday and Kajunn gangin' up and having a fence tie eating contest (lol) and Hatter & Breeze's digging. But I am thankful, and do get to see the dogs every saturday as I find my way down there and let them woller all over me :)
Hope everyone is having a good summer and I know yall are lookin' forward to training season! ~