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I use chains. a 10ft chain is 3X more space than a 10ft kennel. They are also less work with cleaning them out, and you can interact with the dogs with less effort. Less impact on hyperactive dogs joints versus concrete. Kennels are fine, but I prefer chains.

I keep all mine in kennels on concrete slab. and have had kennels all my life and the myth of keeping dogs on concrete is bad for them is simply not true! If that was the case,shelters,animal hospitals,and zoos wouldnt allow it.....If anything the benefits out way the risks with keeping parasites down,dogs cleaner,and toe nails perfect,then a dog on a chain.....Would anyone that says that lay them self in dirt that was pee'd on and shit on and want to eat food that falls out of the dish on? That's simply false......Maybe folks that cant afford a slab say that for there own sake.....I've had hounds all my life and never a problem with legs or bones or feet.....If anything my dogs feet are tougher then hounds that stay on dirt.....Plus super clean and easy to keep....

I have both concrete and dirt, 12x60 concrete pen with 10 pens, 1 dog to the pen, then I have 3 dirt pens, 1 being about a half acre, and the other 2 being 20 x 40 I like the concrete, I built the houses in the back at the same exact height of the tailgate on the truck, so they know how to jump , and its cheaper feeding them cause a hog cant eat it all up, and you can see whats coming out, dirt is for raising pups, think its better on their joints than concrete or a brooder, gravity pulls down on them and in my opinion will make them coon footed, and wont stand on there toes right, but I use 1 for raising pups till they get 5 or 6 weeks old, it has a/c and heat, they think there at the holiday end when one gets in there

I keep mine on chains. I honestly don't think I will ever own kennels. My dogs know which chain is theirs, it makes virus control much easier, one dog to one house/water bucket/pan/area.. I've never had parvo or anything at my dog yard so that doesn't concern me.

They each have a house, water bucket, food pan, shade board, and a good life. The only time they get to sleep with eachother is when we are hunting and I don't feel like chaining them out, then they sleep in the box together like good doggies.

Anderson-HOTD69,
Can you explain why you think..... "It makes virus control much easier"?

over the years I have delt with everykind of sickness virus or what ever there is out there, and just him being alone will not stop them from getting anything, my opinion hollaback, you have been very luck, all viruses can be passed from one to the other by man, and airborn, we can tote it on our feet from pen to pen, parvo, coccidian, distemper, your friends can bring you a good mess of all of it, including worms, and fleas, your very lucky not to have had anything , when I raise pups everybody that comes to my kennel gets to step in a pan of bleach, and do not get to touch anything, just look, if they buy anything, I do all the getting them out the pen and putting them where they go, some of those viruses can wipe you out in 3 days, I have raised lots, and have battled everything I believe, I can tell what he has in just a short time, and know what it takes to cure them

southern fox,
Keeping dogs vaccinated and kennels bleached are key.....Dont matter if on chain or in kennel viruses live on everything.....These are'nt boarding kennels......Strange dogs dont rotate here.....How do you treat dirt? All I'm saying is concrete is easier to clean and dis-infect....to each is own,whatever works for ya......I think kennels on concrete are easier to maintain and cleaner overall.....especially when it rains and during nasty weather......
Since I've never delt with any sickness in my Kennel and you've delt with Quote: "Everykind of sickness" You might wanna reconsider your thoughts.......

I think it is a lot harder to control most of these illnesses in South Georgia and here in Fla. than in Maine, it only gets below freezing a few times a year and than its only for a few hours at night, for two or three days when a front comes thru than its back to the 60s. You can do every thing right down here and still have problems with diseases, I think worm and flea control is a LOT easier on concrete though. When you are catching fox and coyotes that may be sick, I know for a fact that sometimes the vaccines don't work.

I've lost entire litters to parvo and cocidia on concrete and dirt. Some would even been on their second round of vaccine. I have parvo here at my house. I have never raised any pups here that at least one didn't get sick or die or all sick and die form mainly parvo but cocidia is a big issue also. I've bleached , vaccinated you name it. Fact is I've got it here and have to deal with it.

holla back I messed up with the name I was posting for the guy that posted above you sorry, Anderson-hotd69, I keep all mine on concrete, and your right, easier to keep one up in my opinion, worms, and seeing what the feed is doing I believe is the best, just so much easier to clean, as for something to kill it all in the dirt, I believe watersoftner salt from the hard ware store, put it on very thick its big pieces of rock salt, and I let it melt before I put them back in, I have both concrete and dirt pens, 60x12 concrete pens with 10 of them and 3 dirt pens 1 being quarter of an acre, and the other 2 maybe 20x 40, vet said also spray a lot of bleach, but keeping them vaccinated will remedy the prob except for coccidia , sulfidimentox, abt a half cc in the mouth will straighten that out in 12 hrs,

I use sulmet in drinking water and Albon to the female while pregnant and have Albon mixed in my pup wormer. What I know of cocidia it's a secondary problem and usually only shows up when they been stressed by some other sickness like parvo. Vaccines aren't 100 % effective on the parvo either. The cocidia is a bad deal and can look like parvo but your right it can be cleared up pretty easily if you know what it is.

im probably wrong, but I think cocidia come from pups eating sour feed, it gets really hot here, and leaving feed that has milk replacer on it is a bad deal, several years ago seemed like every time I raised a litter they came down with it, boy that stuff will drain the life outa one quickly, until I found the sulfidimentox, its a lot better than albon works really fast a lot faster than albon, and albon is made from that, its really nasty but it works good and fast, vet told me cocidia is a lot different than other stuff theres nothing that will kill it in the dirt, so he said the wetter the ground gets and with the heat it keeps coming to the surface, and every litter I got it in was in a brooder, so I was thinking the feed being wet had something to do with it, I stoped leaving it, they ate everything they wanted , and took the rest out, that ended my problem

How are coccidia transmitted?

A puppy is not born with the coccidia organisms in his intestine. However, once born, the puppy is frequently exposed to his mother's feces, and if the mother is shedding the infective cysts in her feces, then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop within the young animal's intestines. Since young puppies, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in great numbers and parasitize the young animal's intestines. Oftentimes, this has severe effects.

From exposure to the coccidia in feces to the onset of the illness is about 13 days. Most puppies who are ill from coccidia are, therefore, two weeks of age and older. Although most infections are the result of spread from the mother, this is not always the case. Any infected puppy or kitten is contagious to other puppies or kittens. In breeding facilities, shelters, animal hospitals, etc., it is wise to isolate those infected from those that are not.

What are the symptoms of coccidiosis?

The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease.

Most infected puppies encountered by the authors are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of coccidiosis should always be considered when a loose stool or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a diagnosis.

It should be mentioned that stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at his new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the new home for less than thirteen days, then he had coccidia before he arrived. Remember, the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about thirteen days. If the puppy has been with his new owner several weeks, then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred after the animal arrived at the new home.

What are the risks?

Although many cases are mild, it is not uncommon to see severe, bloody diarrhea result in dehydration and even death. This is most common in animals who are ill or infected with other parasites, bacteria, or viruses. Coccidiosis is very contagious, especially among young puppies. Entire kennels may become contaminated, with puppies of many age groups simultaneously affected.

What is the treatment of coccidiosis?

Fortunately, coccidiosis is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon®) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen®) have been effective in the treatment and prevention of coccidia. Because these drugs do not kill the organisms, but rather inhibit their reproduction capabilities, elimination of coccidia from the intestine is not rapid. By stopping the ability of the protozoa to reproduce, time is allowed for the puppy's own immunity to develop and remove the organisms. Drug treatments of one to three weeks are usually required.

How is coccidiosis prevented or controlled?

Because coccidia is spread by the feces of carrier animals, it is very important to practice strict sanitation. All fecal material should be removed. Housing needs to be such that food and water cannot become contaminated with feces. Clean water should be provided at all times. Most disinfectants do not work well against coccidia; incineration of the feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water, or a 10% ammonia solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing.

Cockroaches and flies can mechanically carry coccidia from one place to another. Mice and other animals can ingest the coccidia and when killed and eaten by a dog, for instance, can infect the dog. Therefore, insect and rodent control is very important in preventing coccidiosis.

The coccidia species of dogs and cats do not infect humans

Cocidia is a parasite that most all dogs chickens and cattle have all the time. It usually lies dormant in the intestine but it will flare up when stressed with other sicknesses. Most of the time a healthy dog doesn't get just cocidia. It's usually secondary to other problems. Goats probably get it worst I seen. And yes it can be transmitted threw feed.