When considering a dog kennel for your dog there are a few things you will have to think about to make sure you get the right one. Choosing a dog kennel seems a simple enough task but getting the wrong size kennel could cause you no end of problems to your sanity (trust us) and your dog's health!

Will you need a kennel or do you want something a little more contained like a dog kennel AND run? If you decide a dog run is a good idea then make sure there is enough room for your pet to exercise. It might be tempting to buy a smaller run to cut down on cost but if this leads to a frustrated dog who will take it out on the kennel forcing you to pay for repairs or replacement then we'd consider it to be a false economy.

Most kennels are made of wood so check that the wood has been properly treated - you want the kennel to last the lifetime of the dog and bear up to the vagaries of Winter weather. Make sure the preserving treatment is animal friendly, cheaper kennels may use stains that could cause your dog irritance or worse serious injury to their coat or skin.

Make sure if your dog is confined to their dog kennel and run for a good portion of the day that they can do their business well away from any food and water.

The kennel should be easy for you to access to keep it clean, failure to do so could lead to your dog suffering all kinds of nasty diseases and illness culminating in expensive trips to the vets.

Take care to check that the kennel's roof easily sheds snow and rain. You don't want your dog in a kennel that leaks or worse collapses on to your dog from all the snow weighing down on the roof!

Good quality kennels have raised floors made from strong layers of wood so they do not wear out, bend or break with your dog on it. Having a raised floor will help to keep damp out of the kennel, crucial for your dog's well being.

If your kennel and run comes with doors or windows then do give thought to how "escape-proof" these are. Badly designed accessories can allow the dog means to escape when it suits them! A good tip is to check for double hinges and steel sliding bolts are included at no extra cost.

Finally do make certain there is adequate ventilation in the kennel, you'll want enough to allow air to easily move around.