The Best Outdoor Dog Kennels Review in 2021

Dogs love to run and outdoor dog kennels are a great way to give your dog access to fresh air and sunshine without having to constantly supervise your dog. Large breeds and working breeds especially enjoy the chance to be outdoors and get more exercise than they would on a traditional walk. Many dogs prefer being outside when an owner is at work instead of being left indoors.

A secure kennel will make sure that your dog is safe from cars and other dangers. If you are planning on leaving a large dog outside for any amount of time you need to buy a well-constructed outdoor dog kennel to keep your dog safe and happy.

What To Look For in an Outdoor Dog Kennel

There are a lot of factors that you need to consider when you are looking at outdoor dog kennels such as:

• The material the kennel is made of.
• The size of the kennel and the size of your dog.
• Is the kennel all-weather?
• Does the kennel have a roof?
• Does the kennel have mat floors or does it just sit on the ground?
• Where will the kennel be placed in the yard?
• What kind of shelter can be placed in the kennel for the dog?

Generally speaking, you should plan on placing the dog kennel in a flat area of your yard where the kennel will be somewhat sheltered from both bad weather and direct sunlight. You should plan on keeping a dog house or some type of shelter in the kennel to give your dog a way to get out of the elements if your dog is going to be in the kennel for more than an hour. When you are considering what size kennel to buy, remember to take into account what size your dog will eventually be if the dog is still growing. Puppies can grow up pretty quickly and your puppy may outgrow a kennel in a few weeks if you don’t think ahead.

Metal dog kennels with smooth edges are the best kind to get for your dog. Just make sure that the metal doesn’t become too hot when it’s left in the sun. Also, you should be sure that it’s heavy duty and able to stand up to the weather outside. There are lots of ways that you perform a little DIY to turn a commercial dog kennel or dog run into the perfect custom kennel for your dog’s needs. Here’s a quick look at some of the best large dog kennels on the market:

Top 5 Outdoor Dog Kennels – Individual Reviews

Lucky Dog Uptown Welded Wire Dog Kennel with Free Cover

The Lucky Dog Uptown Welded Wire Dog Kennel is a very solid kennel. It’s made from 10-gauge steel. It weighs about 100 pounds and is made from heavy-duty metal that won’t fall apart during the weather. The panels are changeable so you can move the panels around to create the configuration that works best for you.

You can place the gate panel anywhere so you can change the access point of the kennel easily. This model comes with a large plastic tarp like a cover that secures over the top with ties and clips and extends down the sides of the kennel. However, there is no actual roof on the kennel.

If you wanted to make this kennel a little more weather proof you could add plywood to the top to create a solid roof that wouldn’t let in the elements instead of just using the cover that is provided.

Overall, this kennel is easy to put together and very sturdy which makes it a great fit for most dogs. However, it’s not huge, so a bigger dog probably wouldn’t have enough room to be comfortable in this kennel for a long period of time. If your dog is over 100 pounds, you should look for a larger kennel.

Advantek Pet Gazebo Modular Outdoor Dog Kennel

The Advantek Pet Gazebo Modular Outdoor Dog Kennel can actually be used indoors as well. If you have two smaller dogs that don’t like to be crated separately when you’re not home this kennel can keep them secure inside the home as well as outside the home. Its octagon shape gives the kennel a little more room than a square or rectangular kennel.

The tarp cover fits securely onto over the entire top with a top piece that screws in and clips to hold it down along the edges of the octagon.

However, the closure on this kennel and the clips that hold the panels together are plastic and not very strong. A large dog could probably break the clips loose pretty easily. If your dog is an escape artist this kennel definitely isn’t secure enough to keep your dog from getting out.

It also can be difficult to put together if you are putting it together without help. If you have small to medium dogs and you want a dual purpose kennel that can be used indoors or outdoors this would be a good choice. But if your dog is over about 80 pounds, this probably isn’t the best choice for you.

Lucky Dog 6’Hx4’Wx4’L Uptown Welded Wire Kennel

The Lucky Dog Uptown Welded Wire Kennel is made from the same high-quality 10-gauge steel that other Lucky Dog kennels are made from. The shape of this one is more rectangular than square and with about 6 feet of height it’s a good fit for tall dogs that may feel too cramped in other kennels.

This large dog kennel can be used indoors or outdoors and it does have a cloth roof that can be added. Although keep in mind that the cloth cover piece isn’t going to be enough to keep the elements out of the kennel if you live in an area that gets extreme weather. If you are going to use it outdoors you will probably want to create some type of solid roof for it.

This kennel can easily fit a larger dog or two smaller dogs comfortably. It’s heavy enough that it won’t get knocked over by a dog pushing on it or by the wind or weather. The price is a little higher than some of the other kennels that are similar but because of the heavy steel construction, the extra cost is worth it if you are going to be putting your kennel outdoors or if you have a dog that likes to escape.

Lucky Dog Modular Welded Wire Kennel

The first thing you’ll notice about this Lucky Dog is that the price is a few hundred dollars more than other kennels. That’s because this kennel is quite large and roomy and because it’s made of 100% commercial grade steel. Even the most dedicated escape artist is not going to knock this kennel over. And it will stand strong even against rain, snow, or high winds. If quality is the most important factor to you when you’re buying a kennel this is the one to get.

This kennel can easily accommodate two or more large dogs. It’s roomy enough to give the dogs the chance to run and play inside the kennel. You can also fit a doghouse or shelter inside to give your dog some extra protection from the elements.

Because of the size, this is an outdoor only kennel. It doesn’t come with any kind of roof or tarp cover, but it would not be difficult to make one. This kennel is easy to assemble and the gate panel can be placed wherever you want it to be. If you have enough room in your yard for this large dog kennel this heavy duty kennel will keep even very large dogs safe, secure and comfortable outdoors.

Yaheetech Heavy Duty Foldable Metal Dog Playpen

The Yaheetech Heavy Duty Foldable Metal Dog Playpen is very sturdy because it’s made from galvanized steel. But it’s only 4 feet high so if you have a bigger dog, you will definitely need to construct some type of top to keep the dog from jumping or climbing out. One of the nice features on this playpen kennel is that you can combine multiple playpens together to make as large of a chain link dog kennel as you need. But, because of the small size, this kennel is much better-suited for indoor use or use on an apartment balcony or condo patio.

The Yaheetech Heavy Duty Foldable Metal Dog Playpen is also a multiple use pet pen and can be used to create a catio or even a chicken coop. So if you are planning on adding other animals to the household or if you have cats or other animals as well as dogs, this would be a good choice because it can be used for different types of animals.

The price is a bit high for a small kennel. If you are only going to use this indoors, you can probably find one that is more affordable. But if your budget isn’t quite so limited, this is a great choice for an indoor kennel.

Images credits: Amazon.com