Your facility design directly impacts animal welfare, operational efficiency, and customer perception. A well-designed kennel reduces stress for dogs, minimises injury risk, and makes daily operations smoother for staff.
Planning your facility layout alongside the right kennel software from the start will save significant rework later.
Space Requirements
Minimum Standards
Most licensing authorities specify minimum space per dog:
| Dog Size | Minimum Kennel Size | Minimum Run Size |
|---|---|---|
| Small (<10kg) | 1.5m² | 2m² |
| Medium (10-25kg) | 2m² | 3m² |
| Large (25-40kg) | 2.5m² | 4m² |
| Giant (>40kg) | 3m² | 5m² |
Note: These are minimums. More space is always better for animal welfare and customer perception.
Beyond Minimums
Premium facilities typically provide:
- 50-100% more space than minimum requirements
- Indoor/outdoor access
- Separate sleeping and elimination areas
- Room to move, stretch, and play
Flooring Considerations
Flooring affects hygiene, safety, comfort, and maintenance.
Recommended Options
Sealed concrete: Durable, easy to clean, affordable. Add rubber mats for comfort and traction.
Epoxy-coated concrete: More durable than standard sealant, easier to clean, slip-resistant options available.
Commercial rubber flooring: Comfortable, slip-resistant, sound-dampening. Higher upfront cost but excellent for play areas.
Specialised K9 flooring: Purpose-built for kennels with drainage, durability, and comfort features.
Flooring to Avoid
- Untreated concrete: Absorbs urine, harbours bacteria
- Carpet: Impossible to properly sanitise
- Smooth tile: Slip hazard
- Wood: Absorbs moisture, splinters, hard to clean
Drainage
- Slope floors toward drains (1-2% grade)
- Use drain covers that prevent paw injuries
- Ensure proper trap maintenance
- Consider trench drains for larger facilities
Ventilation & Climate Control
Air Quality
- 10-20 air changes per hour recommended
- Separate HVAC zones for isolation areas
- Filter systems to reduce allergens and pathogens
- Fresh air intake where possible
Temperature
- Maintain 15-24°C (60-75°F) for most dogs
- Consider breed-specific needs (arctic breeds vs. short-nosed breeds)
- Monitor temperature in all areas
- Backup heating/cooling for system failures
Humidity
- Target 30-50% relative humidity
- High humidity promotes bacterial growth
- Low humidity can irritate respiratory systems
- Dehumidifiers in wet climates
Noise Control
Barking is inevitable, but uncontrolled noise stresses dogs and staff.
Acoustic Strategies
- Sound-absorbing materials: Acoustic panels on walls and ceilings
- Layout design: Separate kennel blocks with buffer spaces
- Solid partitions: Between kennels rather than chain-link (reduces visual stimulation)
- White noise: Masks sudden sounds that trigger barking
- Music: Calming music reduces barking and stress
Soundproofing Priority Areas
- Kennel sleeping areas
- Reception/client areas
- Neighbouring property boundaries
Kennel Types & Layout
Individual Kennels
Standard kennel: Enclosed space with solid walls on three sides, gate on fourth. Good for overnight boarding.
Guillotine-door kennels: Allow access between indoor and outdoor runs. Dogs can move freely.
Suite-style kennels: Larger, room-like spaces. Premium positioning for customers wanting âhome-likeâ environment.
Layout Considerations
- Double-entry gates: Prevent escapes during entry/exit
- Isolation area: Separate from main kennels for sick or aggressive dogs
- Staff sightlines: Design for visibility across kennel areas
- Traffic flow: Minimise dogs passing each other in corridors
- Client separation: Reception area away from kennel noise
Exercise & Play Areas
Indoor Play
- Non-slip flooring
- High ceilings if possible
- Good ventilation
- Adequate lighting
- Easy-clean surfaces
- Removable play equipment
Outdoor Areas
- Secure fencing (minimum 1.8m height)
- Double-gate entry
- Shade structures
- Water access
- Grass, turf, or rubber surfacing
- Proper drainage
- Shelter from wind/rain
Size Guidelines
- Minimum 10m² per dog in active play
- More space for large dog groups
- Separate areas for size/temperament grouping
Safety Features
Essential Safety Elements
- Secure fencing: No gaps, buried base or concrete footer
- Double-entry systems: All external access points
- Rounded edges: On all fixtures and equipment
- Fire safety: Extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinklers
- Emergency lighting: Battery backup
- First aid station: Accessible location
Common Hazards to Eliminate
- Sharp edges on gates or kennel components
- Gaps where paws can get caught
- Toxic plants in outdoor areas
- Accessible electrical cables
- Cleaning chemical storage in animal areas
Cleaning & Sanitation Design
Design for efficient cleaning:
- Hose access: Throughout facility
- Proper drainage: In all wet areas
- Seamless corners: Wall-floor junctions that are easy to clean
- Equipment storage: Dedicated cleaning supply area
- Laundry facilities: On-site washer/dryer
- Waste management: Covered bins, proper disposal
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a kennel facility?
Costs vary dramatically by location, size, and finish level. Budget ÂŁ50,000-200,000 for a small facility (10-20 kennels) and ÂŁ200,000-500,000+ for medium facilities. Renovating existing buildings is typically 30-50% less than new construction.
Can I convert my home/garage into a kennel?
Potentially, but youâll need planning permission, licensing approval, and significant modifications for drainage, ventilation, noise control, and fire safety. Consult your local authority early.
Whatâs the best flooring for dog kennels?
Sealed or epoxy-coated concrete with rubber mats in resting areas offers the best balance of durability, hygiene, and comfort. Commercial rubber flooring is excellent but more expensive.
How do I reduce barking in my kennel?
Acoustic panels, solid (not chain-link) kennel partitions, calming music or white noise, and good facility design that reduces visual triggers all help. Proper grouping and exercise also reduce stress-related barking.
Do I need separate areas for different dog sizes?
Yes. Separate exercise areas for small and large dogs prevent injuries. Kennel areas can be mixed if dogs are individually housed, but play must be size-appropriate.
Technology and Software Considerations for Your Kennel Layout
Your kennelâs physical design affects how well your management software integrates with daily operations â and itâs worth thinking through both together during the planning phase.
Check-in desk placement matters more than it seems. Staff need access to a screen or tablet to review incoming bookings, verify vaccination status, and complete the check-in process in the system. Positioning the reception desk where staff can see the entrance and access the booking system simultaneously reduces bottlenecks during busy arrival periods.
Staff-facing screens in the kennel area allow staff to view feeding schedules, medication alerts, and care task lists without returning to a central office. A mounted tablet near the kennel block enables staff to mark tasks as completed in real time, which keeps care logs accurate without requiring trips back to reception.
Camera placement for report cards. If you send daily photo updates to owners â a feature of modern kennel software platforms â plan your lighting and camera angles during the design phase. Good natural light in the play areas and kennels makes report card photos better and requires less staff effort.
WiFi coverage across the full facility is not optional if youâre using mobile devices for care logging. A single router in the reception building rarely covers outdoor runs or back kennel areas. Budget for access points in the kennel block itself during construction â retrofitting is significantly more expensive.
Kennel Design Mistakes to Avoid
Insufficient ventilation per run. Under-specifying ventilation is one of the most common and costly mistakes. Poorly ventilated kennels have higher disease transmission rates, stressed dogs that bark more, and staff working in an unpleasant environment. 10â20 air changes per hour is the standard for kennel areas. Getting this wrong during construction means expensive remediation later.
Shared water bowls or feeding stations. Individual water and food stations for each run are not a luxury â they are the single most effective barrier against disease transmission between boarders. Shared water bowls transmit kennel cough and other pathogens directly and efficiently.
No isolation unit. Every kennel should have at least one run completely separated from the main kennel block â with separate ventilation, separate traffic flow, and separate staff procedures â for sick or newly arrived dogs whose health status is uncertain. Facilities built without this are structurally non-compliant with AAL guidance in England.
Poor drainage causing cleaning bottlenecks. A kennel that takes 45 minutes per run to clean because of inadequate drainage or poorly sloped floors will always be understaffed relative to the time available. Drainage design is among the highest-ROI investments in the build phase.
No staff-only areas. Staff need somewhere to change, store equipment, and take breaks that is completely separate from both clients and animals. Facilities that donât have this create cross-contamination risk and fail welfare standards for staff working conditions.
Inadequate lighting for evening checks. Evening and overnight checks are significantly harder â and more likely to miss health issues â in poorly lit facilities. LED strip lighting at kennel level (not just overhead fluorescents) makes it easy to observe each dogâs behaviour from the walkway without entering the run.
Conclusion
Good kennel design requires balancing animal welfare, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and budget realities. Invest time in planning before constructionâchanges are expensive after building. Visit successful facilities, consult with licensing authorities, and work with designers experienced in animal facility construction.
