How to Build a Dog Run in Boise, Idaho

As the population of Boise, Idaho and the surrounding suburbs grow, there's an increasing number of families who own dogs and need a safe space for their dog to run free. As dog lovers ourselves, we love and are onboard with the increasingly popular trend of installing dog runs into yard in residential areas. Advantages of a dog run include: 

• Reducing the time you spend cleaning up after your pupper--because your dog has a designated area to do their business, you quite literally have less ground to cover, decreasing the time you need to spend walking around looking for poop to scoop
• Giving your four-legged friend its own space to run, play, and sleep that is removed from the family's lounging space--this is especially good for the pup if you have young and active kids
• Providing a safe and designated area for your dog to expend energy and be active unsupervised. Exercise is extremely important to canine health and happiness, so having an easily accessible space for them to exercise is a must. 

Many families choose to use a side yard for a dog run as it encroaches less on space for the family, but there are a number of things to take into consideration as you try to decide where the dog run should be. These include: 

• Does your yard get a lot of sun? Will your dog be spending a good portion of the day outside in the dog run? If so, you will need to consider whether to add a roof over part of the dog run, and ways to make sure your fur baby has constant access to water. 
• Do you have a dog door? Is there a section of your yard that your pup could access freely without you having to open the door for them? 
• How do your neighbors feel about dogs? While you can do whatever you want with your yard, if your dog barks at the children or the neighbor's cat, you may want to install your dog run on a side of the yard that's not adjacent to them. 
• Do you have a large dog? Dog runs should be long enough to allow your dog to sprint from one end to the other; this is how dog runs help them get in some exercise. We recommend a rectangular shape, but a larger dog will need a longer run.

We recommend putting flooring in your dog run in order to maintain cleanliness. The most popular options are concrete and mulch, but if you use mulch, remember that it will need to be replenished and sometimes replaced to eliminate odors. 

The most popular material to enclose a dog run is the chain link fence, as this allows dogs to see what's going on in the yard--dogs love this, especially if you have kids who love to play in the yard. Installing a gate or two can also increase accessibility from the dog run into the yard, or from run to front yard if you're likely to use that route to take your puppy on walks. 

Installing a dog run is a great way to give your pup a place to zoom around and have a little bit of independence. At Certified Fencing, we are excited to help our clients with fence installation needs and more in Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star, Middleton, Idaho, and all surrounding areas. Give us a call at (208) 449-2040 for more information today!