Concrete or Dirt?

[Teaspoon]

Reading the "how old is too old" post sparked this thought.....Does a dog kept on concrete (or wood) age faster than the dog that is kept on dirt? I don't mean in appearance, but in performance. Do they suffer from joint pain and muscle pain at a younger age? I do keep my dogs concrete, but i have 2 - 12' chains i alternate them on just to give them a little exercise. I know that some joint and muscle trouble in humans are attributed to working long hours on concrete and was wondering if any of you have any words of wisdom on this matter.

[Mike]

I think the concrete is harder on them over time... all mine are on dirt.

[hyan]

Our dogs have always bin on concrete dogs are lazy in a kennel all ours do is lay on there bed in there kennel during the day walk around when they get board I the way I see it makes no difference if you fall on dirt you will brake bones just like concrete its all hard but don't think it makes dogs feel any older

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[DCHD14]

I haven't kept one on concrete long enough to tell a down play really. Had a kennel on concrete once and the dog stayed there about 4 years, I never saw a difference. But like hyan said they are lazy. As of right now all mine are on dirt but I'm about to  build some kennels with a wood floor so we will see how that works. I've heard good things from multiple people.

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[Reuben]

if I had a choice I would choose concrete for several reasons...easier to keep the fleas under control...as well as the worms...

[parker49]

concrete is harder on a dogs joints over time ....... simply there is just no give its solid impact ...... I like the concrete for keeping parasites  down and keeping toe nails filed down seems  to keep pads tuffer .....but  most dogs kept on concrete  are way out of shape to hunt ..... I am about to take my squirrel dog out and chain him so he ill get back somewhat in better  shape  to hunt .......also recover  time  dogs kept on chains don't break down  do to hunting (running ) near like a dog out  of a concrete pen ....that's  just what I see  myself .... all my chains are full and half my pens empty .......

[DCHD14]

I do agree with the dog's on chains are better shape to hunt. I notice that they move around more and once they get off that chain it's like Katy bar the door! 

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[Goose87]

I think they both have their perks and dogs should be alternated between the two, I was considering building some outa wood and went to two different yards and saw dogs that were in treated wood kennels and on both yards some dogs had skin issues, I got a Bulldog from one of them that had scabs all over him from his skin being agitated by the chemical in the wood I guess, he's been on a chain at my place and his scabs were cleared up with in two weeks of being on the dirt...


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[Jason Dunn]

 I have built my pens 16'x16' and 8' tall used cattle panels and lined the floor with cattle panels then poured p-gravel 4" thick they still try to dig a little but a garden rake will fill the holes easy and I use a stall rake to pick up the poop easy to clean and urine drains through the gravel they seem happy and have plenty of room to run around these are by far the best setup to date I have had I still use a chain on a couple of male dogs that only because I have 3 pens and need to build 3 more. I plan on running a hot wire around the top because I have one gyp that will climb out shes a pain in the ass.

[Cajun]

  I normally keep my females & hurt dogs in kennels & my males & younger dogs on chains & runners. The only negative things I have noticed in other kennels, dogs will get scar tissue from lying on concrete after a while. I have carpet or pads for the dogs to lie on & plan on putting a shelf up for them to jump up on.
  As far as activity, it just seems some dogs no matter what age will exercise more then others no matter what they are in.  I have some dogs that just lay around, even on a chain & not get much exercise. I have had a couple of young dogs injured on my runners this past year. My running pen is about 75 yards from where I keep my dogs & the hog will run the fence line in the evening & the dogs just go balistic. Had one get the chain up under his front leg & he pulled a muscle under his elbow & another wrapped the chain around his back leg injured it.
  There are pros & cons to both.

[justincorbell]

Back in 2010 or 11 i spent some money on building off the ground wood kennels......my dogs HATED them....they would mope ariund all day actin depressed.....soon as i went back to chains they went back to acting normal....and my kennels have slowly fallen apart since lol.

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