What your pet parents want from your business is the passion you bring to giving their fur children a safe, and great time. Using animal housing that is flexible and adjustable will give you the extra time you need to help your staff give more attention to your animal clients.

With this in mind, there are three areas where you can find more space quickly: going up, using your existing wall space in a play or training room, and using a folding kennel.

Reaching Higher with a Double Decker
If you run a couple of vigorous play sessions each day, chances are the dogs need to rest, sleep, drink, and eat in a den-like environment during the break time. A Double Decker kennel provides plenty of space to move around as well as a corner to curl up for a nap.

Most facilities place the larger dogs on the lower sections and the small and medium dogs on the top. For most staff members, the upper level is a comfortable working level.

Look for sturdy construction of stainless or galvanized steel for longevity and pet security. Most manufacturers provide colored panels, tempered glass, or grill sides. Your staff can save time with swivel feeders that allow them to quickly fill the water bowls.

Building in a drainage system makes it easy for kennel workers to hose down when the dogs are at play, so it is clean when they return. You can’t underestimate how important it is to make cleaning your facility easy!

Adding transfer doors to these kennels will give you flexibility. It gives you the option of making one large kennel into two smaller kennels, giving you the ability to increase openings for more boarding space. If you are boarding a family group, it also gives you options if the dogs get into a “family argument.” You can separate them until they cool off.

Making Wall Space Work
If you are fortunate enough to have a large play or training area, there might be room for a single or double row of kennels. These kennels can carry through your luxury theme with tempered glass, colorful panels, and side-to-side transfer doors.

Another option people have been using lately is temporary rolling panels that are essentially the same size as kennel side panels, and made of the same materials. These panels are on wheels and you lock them into place, forming a temporary barrier. This is especially helpful during busy boarding periods.

Folding Kennel Options
For years, schools have used the idea of bleachers that fold up against a wall and then expand out when the school hosts events. Think of the Folding Kennel as the same concept. Daycare providers have found it to be a good solution where you could turn a training room or play area into a multi-use space. It folds up within inches from the wall and pulls out easily.

The “cage free” movement has considerable support. However, daycare managers can tell you that their guests sometimes need some space or down time. In many cases, it is the difference between a dog being able to participate in daycare or not.

Most daycares will keep it folded up unless there is an issue. Then, they can remove the “high energy” dog for a period of time, only needing to pull out one of the three or four folding kennels, leaving plenty of space in the room.

Building and Expanding with Flexibility
Pet Boarding and Daycare will always be a business with peaks and valleys. When you look at adding space, purchase with the greatest possible flexibility.

Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers yourself. Sometimes calling a team meeting and asking your team what they wish they had and how it would work in your busiest and slowest times of the year will give your great guidance.

Most animal housing manufacturers work with customers to develop custom solutions to meet your needs. Take advantage of the free counsel to help grow your business.

Holly Gibson is the innovation manager at Shor-Line, a company manufacturing high-quality cages, kennels and animal housing equipment. She also is a foster parent to dozens of dogs over the years at the Unleashed Pet Rescue in Mission, Kan. Her two fur children frequent a local daycare as often as mom lets them.

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