A kennel is a structure or shelter for
dog
The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...
s. Used in the plural, ''the kennels'', the term means any building, collection of buildings or a property in which dogs are housed, maintained, and (though not in all cases) bred. A kennel can be made out of various materials, the most popular being wood and canvas.
Breeding kennels
This is a formal establishment for the propagation of dogs, whether or not they are actually housed in a separate shed, the garage, a state-of-the-art facility, or the family dwelling. Licensed breeding kennels are heavily regulated and must follow relevant government legislation.
Breed club Breed clubs are Voluntary association, associations or Club (organization), clubs with activities centered on a single, specific breed of a particular species of domesticated animal. The purpose of the association will vary with the species of anima ...
members are expected to comply with the general Code of Ethics and guidelines applicable to the breed concerned.
Kennel clubs may also stipulate criteria to be met before issuing registration papers for puppies bred. A ''kennel name'' or ''kennel prefix'' is a name associated with each breeding kennel: it is the first part of the
registered name of a pedigreed dog which was bred there.
Boarding kennels
This is a place where dogs are housed temporarily for a fee, an alternative to using a
pet sitter
Pet sitting is the act of temporarily taking care of another person's pet for a given time frame. It commonly occurs at the pet owner's home, but may also occur at the provider's home or at a pet sitting place of business or organization. Pet sitti ...
. Although many people worry about the stress placed on the animal by being put in an unfamiliar and most likely crowded environment, the majority of boarding kennels work to reduce stress. Many kennels offer one-on-one "play times" in order to get the animal out of the kennel environment. Familiar objects, such as blankets and toys from home, are also permitted at many kennels. Many kennels offer grooming and training services in addition to boarding, with the idea being that the kennel can be the owner's "one-stop shop" for all three services.
In the United States the term boarding kennel can also be used to refer to boarding catteries and licensing agencies do not always differentiate between commercial boarding kennels for dogs and other animal or cat boarding kennels. In 2007 market surveys showed that $3.0 billion was spent on these services. Annual kennel boarding expenses for dog owners was $225, and for cat owners was $149 according to a 2007–2008 survey.
See also
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Animal shelter
An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals – mostly dogs and cats – are housed. The word "pound" has its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities, where stray livestock would ...
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Dog camp
Dog camp is a form of vacation for owners accompanied by their dogs with dog-centric activities ranging from casual recreational playtime to serious obedience or sport training. In many dog camps dogs can play and socialize throughout the day ...
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Doghouse
A doghouse, also known as a kennel, is an outbuilding to provide shelter for a dog from various weather conditions.
Background
Humans and domesticated dogs have been companions for more than 15,000 years, beginning with the wolf and hunter–ga ...
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Pet House The Pet House, also known as Monroe Hall, is a residence hall at Washington & Jefferson College that allows students to live with their family pets. It has been identified as part of a growing trend of pet-friendly dormitories
Pet-friendly residen ...
References
External links
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* {{Wiktionary inline, kennel
Buildings and structures used to confine animals
Dogs