An aviary is necessary not only for trips with a pet to nature. A home playpen is equipped in a number of other cases: for example, for a newly introduced young dog or when a puppy appears. It is also needed in a situation where there are a lot of animals in the house. Making an aviary for a dog in an apartment with your own hands is not difficult. A variety of materials at hand are suitable for this.
Features of homemade models
The designs can be divided into two groups. The first is simple pens that can be moved from place to place. They are well suited for females with babies. Puppies in this design will not be able to leave the fence, and their mother will be able to walk around the house. The second is spacious cages or booths that restrict the movement of the dog both from the sides and from above.
Do-it-yourself york aviary can be made of metal, wood or plastic parts. If the structure is intended for home use, and not for walking, it is necessary to equip it with a toilet, and, if possible (if size allows), feeders. Miniature breeds (such as Chihuahuas) can be housed in such a cage in adulthood, and for larger breeds they are used while the puppy is still young and not used to a new apartment.
Before making an aviary for a puppy in an apartment, you need to prepare a drawing indicating the dimensions of the structural elements. They are selected depending on the size of the animal, but the room should not be too cramped. The minimum height of the cage for a puppy is 0.5 m, the area is 0.5 m². But it is better if the aviary is more spacious. Otherwise, the animal will begin to carry the smell of urine throughout the room, making it a breeding ground for infectious agents. In the spacious design, the puppy will sooner learn to use the toilet in one corner and relax and play in the other. For an adult dog of miniature size, the minimum height is 0.8 m, the area is 1.5 m².
Keeping an animal in a cage all the time is not worth it, even if it is very large. From the age of 6 weeks, the puppy is released twice a day for at least half an hour.
Varieties of aviaries in the apartment
A home enclosure for a Spitz or other breed can be made from different types of materials. They differ in reliability and properties.
- Aviary made of mesh and metal rods. The structure frame is formed from the latter. It is covered with a net (except for one wall), which is fixed with wire fragments. The free wall sits on hinges - this is how the door turns out.
- Wooden structure, made on the principle of a frame house. Wall cladding can be made from plywood sheets or planks. Raw materials require impregnation with a non-toxic antiseptic for animals.
- Soft corral made of PVC pipes. They are cut to the required dimensions (+5 cm in reserve) and connected with tees for the pipeline.
- The construction of chipboard plates, which are cut to the required dimensions, are fastened with a bar in the corners and fixed in the upper part with corners. This arena should be made as spacious as possible. Do not forget about the hinged door.
A large cardboard box can serve as a temporary enclosure. An entrance is cut through it, and the bottom is covered with linoleum. It is impossible to use such a structure for a long time, since the cardboard abundantly absorbs moisture and discharge. In addition, the beast will easily tear through the cardboard with its teeth. You can use the box for no longer than a week.
How to make a home aviary
Structures such as a cage or a booth, designed for long-term operation, are usually made of metal or wood. The location of the toilet and other devices must be thought out in advance, based on the size of the enclosure and the animal itself.
Frame sheathed with mesh
This is an easy-to-implement option, the manufacturing process of which is similar to the construction of a frame house. In this case, it is important to choose the right mesh. It must be free from defects and breaks. A chain-link for this design will not work, since its movable cells predispose to injury. The frame itself can be made not only from a metal profile, but also from a bar or polypropylene pipes. For the door, you need to buy hinges and locking fittings. The frame is assembled in accordance with the drawing. It is almost entirely covered with a net (except for the place of installation of the door), not forgetting to fix it. Then the door is mounted. On the floor, you need to place a special pillow or just a thick fabric folded in several layers.
Plywood or batten construction
Its assembly is also carried out according to the frame principle, while the base is created from a bar, and the slats serve as sheathing (for the floor - plywood sheet). All wooden elements are processed with sandpaper so that there are no sharp parts. Self-tapping screws and metal corners are used for fasteners. When screwing in, make sure that the pointed parts do not stick out from the inside.
Before assembling, it is worth considering in advance the location of the feeders, drinkers and other containers. It is advisable to fix them to the floor of the enclosure so that the animal cannot overturn them. This is especially true for drinking bowls, since water has a bad effect on the condition of the wood.
From tools for assembly, you will need a hacksaw and a screwdriver. The walls and ceiling of the frame are sheathed with slats with a step of 7-10 cm between them. The door is attached to the hardware. In addition to the floor, the back wall can also be sheathed with plywood.
Useful Tips
In order not to stain the surface of the floor of the room with urine or secretions, it is worth placing a fragment of a cut of linoleum under the aviary. Its edges should go beyond the boundaries of the house. It is advisable to fix them to the walls. It is not worth making the flooring from several parts: when the puppies find the joints, they try to tear and bite the material. In an unheated room under the linoleum, it is worth placing a piece of rolled insulation. If the cage contains small puppies, you can organize a "pie". At the same time, a rag or newspaper is placed on the linoleum, and a foamy rug is placed on top of it, allowing moisture to pass into the lower layers, but keeping the surface dry. Then the paws will not slip, and the animals themselves will not experience discomfort from wet bedding.
The aviary should be cleaned and sanitized regularly. If it contains puppies, this is done every day, if an adult - every 3-4 days. Dirty diapers and bedding are removed and disposed of, and the room itself is washed with a cloth with clean water. If a disinfectant is used, after it, it is necessary to rinse three times with plain water, after which the aviary is wiped off and left to dry completely with the door open. This is to avoid the risk of animal poisoning. Then fresh bedding is laid inside.
To accustom the puppy to the enclosure, you can bring it inside with the uttering of the command "place!" It is also necessary to put treats and toys inside so that he understands that this area is safe for him. You should not lock the animal in a cage tightly, otherwise he may perceive being in it as a punishment. He should be able to go out when he wants.
If an adult animal has to be taught to a structure, it cannot be punished at the time of being in it. After a week of this habituation, the cage can be locked up for a short time (about half an hour). Then it is necessary to open it so that a further visit does not cause discomfort in the dog.
