This page is a list of ideas that you can use. Sometimes the simplest
little trick will save a lot of money or time. It isn't always necessary
to spend a lot of money to go first class.
Carpet the Yard---During the drought,all the grass died and the dust
got so bad the dogs were having problems with their eyes. We purchased
marine carpet made of 100% Olifin and put it in the dogs play area. Works
like a charm!!! We have a heavy grade "filter type paper" underneath to
keep the dirt from getting on the face. It washes down beautifully and
dries as quick as a wink.
WHELPING BOXES -------We buy the plastic cat litter pans, drill a few
tiny holes in the
bottom so they won't hold moisture, place a soft towel in it
and it makes a perfect whelping box for toy dogs. They are easy to spray
with clorox water and wipe out to disinfect.
In Winter you can purchase the plastic storage
bins with snap on lids, cut a round hole in one side and put a soft towel
in the bottom. The toy dogs love these as they think they are hidden in
them. With the lid on, it also holds the mothers body heat in to keep the
puppies warm. These are for "inside" use only and should never substitute
for dog houses.
KENNEL RUN FEEDERS -----You can make a feeder to mount on the fence
of a run by purchasing a 10 ft section of vinyl rain gutter and 3 sets
of snap-on ends. Divide the gutter into 3 equal section ( or whatever length
you desire) cut it with a saw. Then drill the bottom full of tiny holes
so moisture will drain out. Drill a hole in the back top edge on each end.
Snap the end plates on and fasten to the fence with aluminum fence ties.
Then pour it full of dry kibble. All of the dogs and stand side by side
and eat at the same time without crowding each other. It resists chewing
and can be flushed out with clorox water to clean and disinfect. With the
holes in the bottom it drains and dries quickly.
AUTOMATIC FEEDERS (Homemade) These automatic feeders are great for feeding
your dogs for a few days in a row. (Like while you are away at shows or
out of town). There now seems to be an abundance of items being sold in
large 5 gal. plastic buckets with a snap on and off lid. Once these buckets
are empty, they can be altered to make fantastic auto feeders.
AUTOMATIC FEEDERS--New Improved Version
As it turns out, we found some problems with
the old feeder. The food fell out of the sides onto the ground and was
wasted. Also with time, the bucket seemed to shrink and the lids would
not stay on.
Then we found a new bucket. It is still square
but slightly shorter than before and is simi-clear softer pliable plastic.
The lid snaps on and stays on and does not warp. We also found a new way
to cut and fasten them that keeps the food inside where it belongs.
First step is to cut across the front
bottom all the way across and around the corners just about an inch or
two to give good corners for attaching the flap. Then cut up to the front
top corners (make sure you stop exactly in the middle of the corner) so
the flap will pivot correctly. I use my Roto-zip to make these cuts but
you can do it with any kind of power saw or Dremel tool. (TIP # 1) Make
sure the buckets are warm. If the plastic is cold, it will shatter when
you try to cut it.
Next you should drill many holes into the bottom with a good sized
bit to let moisture drain out in the event of wet weather or if you just
want to wash them out. At this time, it is also a good idea to drill two
holes at the top back corners to attach the feeders to the fence runs with
wire ties.
Now you need to push the flap "inside" of the bucket (on the old feeders
we attached the flap on the outside which was the problem) and drill one
hole through both the outside of the feeder and the corner of the flap.
Make sure your drill bit corresponds with the size of the rivets used to
secure the flap. Place a rivet through both holes and secure. Repeat on
the other side.
You can remove any melted plastic from the edges of your cuts by scrapeing
the edges with a pair of utility scissors. This makes the edges smooth
so the animals won't have their facial hair damaged while feeding. Snap
the lids back on and you're ready to hang it on the fence or just sit it
on the floor. (Tip #2) Before hanging them on the fence, rotate the handles
to the back and secure between the feeders and the fence. Otherwise the
handle could be a source of problems as it hangs across where the animals
feed.
NEW
FEEDER
OLD FEEDER
With the simi-clear sides of the container, you can see from a distance
when the feeders need to be refilled. The lids snap on so tightly that
rain can not get inside to spoil the feed, but are easily removed for filling
and cleaning. This same procedure can be used on the old buckets for a
much better feeder.
RUST PROOF FENCE RAILS-- Having problems with the fence rails and gate
frames rusting and flaking? Simply replace them with 1 inch schedule 40
PVC pipe. (Toy dogs only) The PVC pipe fits all your fence fittings perfectly
and it is easily cleaned and it doesn't rust. We have even built a lot
of our gates out of PVC pipe. The fittings glue together easily and the
white color is very attractive. Cover this with vinyl coated fence fabric
and it is virtually maintenance free. Not to be used for large animals
as it can be broken if hit hard enough.
