Okay, so I’ve been meaning to upgrade my dog’s kennel situation for a while now. He’s a good boy, deserves a good home, you know? So I finally got around to doing it. Here’s how it went down.
The Search Begins
First, I started poking around online. Just seeing what’s out there. Lots of options, it’s kinda overwhelming. I checked out some big box stores’ websites, looked at some specialty pet places, even browsed some handmade stuff. I really wanted something sturdy and something that wouldn’t look awful in my backyard.
Narrowing it Down
I decided pretty quickly I didn’t want one of those plastic igloo things. My dog likes to chew, and I figured he’d turn that into a pile of plastic shards in a week. Metal seemed like a better option, but some of those looked super flimsy. I needed something that could stand up to some serious weather, too. We get some crazy wind and rain here.
The Contenders
- Option 1: A basic chain-link kennel. Cheap, readily available, but kinda ugly and I wasn’t sure about the security.
- Option 2: A welded wire kennel. Seemed sturdier than chain-link, a little pricier, but still not super attractive.
- Option 3: A heavy-duty kennel with thicker metal bars and a covered top. This was the most expensive option, but it looked like it could survive a hurricane.
Making the Choice
After a lot of back and forth, I went with option 3. Yeah, it cost more, but I figured it was worth it in the long run. I didn’t want to have to replace the thing in a year or two. Plus, the covered top would give my dog some shade and protection from the rain.
Assembly Time!
The kennel arrived in a HUGE box. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little intimidated. But I grabbed my tools and got to work. The instructions were surprisingly clear, which was a relief. It was mostly just a matter of bolting the panels together.
It took me a couple of hours, and I definitely worked up a sweat, but I finally got it all assembled. It looked pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. And more importantly, it felt solid. Like, really solid.
The Final Verdict
My dog seems to love his new digs. He went right in and started sniffing around. He’s got plenty of space to move around, and I feel a lot better knowing he’s safe and secure when I’m not home. All in all, I’m calling this a win!
