Unleashed on 42
One of the biggest decisions is where to place your kennel building on the site? There are lots of factors to consider, but here are some of ours when we get started!
Noise
– this is really important to maintaining neighbourly relations, and likely your personal sanity. Depending on how many dogs you have, there is a complex exponential mathematical equation to determine how far away you should be from the property lines and neighbours’ buildings. If the municipality doesn’t provide basic setback guidelines, it is helpful to hire a noise consultant to do this and provide proof for neighbours, especially if you are anticipating challenges.
Noise impact Diagram to show neighbours they are protected.
Access
—You need a number of types of access to your kennel. The public needs easy access for drop-offs and pickups, staff access, and parking. You need convenient access to operate the kennel, both for walking and vehicles. Zoning will have things to say about parking requirements, and you will need to determine where on the site it works without disrupting other functions on your property.
Privacy
—While allowing access, you will also want to maintain your personal privacy and separation if you live on-site or if someone does. There will be noise to separate you from. You will want a bit of work/life separation, keeping staff and the public away from easy access when you are “off duty.”
Solar
– At VELD, we always like to apply passive strategies to building siting. The south sun will keep a play yard warm or shine into the building and provide free heat. North play yards will be cooler.
Ventilation chimneys on this kennel help provide natural ventilation to the spaces without the need for costly air conditioning.
Natural Ventilation
—This can be very helpful if you want to avoid AC costs and use cross ventilation to cool spaces during the summer. Consider your prevailing wind direction and make sure you can capture it. Provide openings and paths in the building to move air through.
Topography
– also, make sure that the building site is not located in a low spot on the property. No one likes wet, muddy dogs, so keeping the outdoor play yards dry is critical.
Septic
—You will need a septic system, so it needs to go on the site somewhere. For a larger kennel, get your numbers and sizes early, as it's bigger than you think. But be wary of getting too big. When you cross the magic number of 10,000 litres in a septic system, you have to get the Ministry of Environment approval, which takes time and costs a lot more money.
Future
—Do you want to consider whether you might grow in the future? Would there be room for the expansion of building space, outdoor yards, and other value-added opportunities? Plan for the potential future so that you don’t close any doors to opportunity.
Authorities
—If you didn’t check in with the authorities, the zoning by-law, kennel by-law, or conservation authority may have a say about where you can site your building. Check out that blog HERE. There are lots to consider when sitting in a building. It’s a big decision and likely permanent for your lifetime. Every site and operation is different, so always take your time to make decisions. Consider all your options.