Your golden retriever just did it again.
And how did my dogs make my day today? Muddy paws on the white rug. Drool on the couch cushions I fluffed. And that look on his face like he knows nothing. Nothing at all.
I’m the same way Girl. My cousin has two labs and it was pure chaos in the backyard… holes everywhere, chewed up furniture, etc. I remember her always telling me, “I just want a real space for them,” and she was right.
And that’s why your dog deserves his own spot – just like your Pinterest-worthy yard.
A well designed kennel will give him room to run and rest safely, and keep your space looking actually cute. Cute outdoor dog kennels? Yeah, they’re a thing now.
These 12 outdoor dog kennel ideas will take your pet’s kennel to a whole new level! And that will mean a happier dog for you!
#1: Built-In Desk Kennel That Makes Your Home Office Work for Both of You
Anyone with a Golden has a dog who is “constantly” under their feet while they are working. Anyone can just roll their chair back and trip over a dog that has claim to every inch of the floor as their nap zone.
This setup fixes that completely. It’s a custom L-shaped desk with a dog kennel built underneath. The desk is painted crisp white with a dark walnut stain on the top. The kennel door uses black metal bar slats with black hardware hinges – it looks like a piece of furniture, not a cage.
The desk is made of a white MDF cabinet base with six drawers on the left side, a wood plank desktop in a dark espresso stain, and a kennel frame made of vertical steel rods that are spaced about 3 inches apart. The metal chair is a Tolix style seat in brushed silver.
One thing to remember: … kennel opening size that you want to build — a golden retriever needs at least 36 inches wide by 24 inches deep of space on the floor to feel comfortable and not cramped.
Make sure the edges of the wood are sanded smooth so as not to snag my dog’s fur. Also make sure you stain the floor panel on the inside so that the golden retriever drool will not warp the wood.
If you are a fan of the indoor approach, then check out 7 Cozy DIY Indoor Dog Kennel Ideas .
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @anawhiteplans
#2: Built-In Under-Stair Dog Den (The Kennels That Look Like They Belong)
Say you’re like me and your dog just needs a place to crash after running around the backyard for hours, only to find him under the coffee table shedding all over the carpet. This is the fix for that.
I have seen this built in under-stair dog den pinned on to several blogs over the last few years but every time I see it I think “wow I’d like to do something like that” and then think “could I really do it?” and the answer is yes and it looks amazing!
This doggie window seat is set up in the dead space underneath a staircase. The window is framed out with a white-painted MDF trim, a black wrought-iron bar door with hardware, and a carpet-lined flooring inside. And there’s a round bolster bed inside, too! These two dogs are living the good life in this photo and I am honestly doing the same.
The door latches with a vintage-style black handle. You can actually open the doors.
Make the opening at least 36″ wide by 30″ tall so the dog doesn’t have to duck to get inside. A recessed LED puck light can be added inside for a “less den-like” feel. For a faster build see 7 Creative DIY Outdoor Dog House Ideas for the interior framing.
PS. The bar spindles should match the staircase railing so it looks intentional, not like some random crap you tacked on.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @beckybarrickrealty
#3: The Furniture-Style Dog Kennel That Doubles as a Side Table
Your golden is gorgeous. She also tracks mud on your entry rug, drools on the couch and always manages to find the worst spot on the couch to sprawl out.
This kennel is giving full living room energy. It is a black powder-coated steel bar kennel with a solid walnut wood surface. It will look so great in your home or pet store. It comes with a 3/4 -in 2-1/4-in solid walnut wood top. Very good for your small pets.
It has vertical steel bars that are wide enough so the dogs can still pass air through but they won’t be able to pull it over. It also has dual-door front panel so it opens with a latch system which is nice because you don’t have to fumble with it. The walnut top can also be used as a surface for books or a small lamp. The frame is steel so it won’t wobble if the dog were to lean on it.
Cut a piece of artificial turf to line the bottom, it cushions my babies paws and can be wiped clean in seconds.
[PINTEREST] If your puppy is still getting used to loving her crate, try feeding her meals inside it. It’ll make the space feel like more of a special place for her!
For more ways to build out your dog’s outdoor setup, check out 10 Heartwarming Outdoor Ideas for a Dog Shelter.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @acanforabox.it
#4: The Covered Dog Kennel With Chain-Link Panels and a Built-In Shelter
Your dog has taken off running outside, found something interesting to roll in and you still can’t bring yourself to leave her outside with no shelter, girl I feel you.
It’s got the feels of a cozy backyard set up here. There’s a white-painted wood panel back wall under a green-trimmed gabled roof, and the whole front face is wrapped in galvanized chain-link panels with a center gate door. And it’s all a dark composite wood deck board, so no muddy paws sinking into soggy ground.
To make your own, we started with pressure treated lumber for the frame. We used chain-link kennel panels for the walls and used the kind that has steel pipe clamps to hold it together. We cut a small pre-hung interior door to go in the back wall for shelter access.
Keep this in mind: My favourite thing about this entry is the raised composite deck floor – it keeps the moisture out, stays cool in the summer and wipes clean in seconds.
If your dog is on the larger side, these panels usually come in 4-ft and 6-ft widths so that you can mix and match to fit your yard exactly how you need it.
And paint the trim a deep forest green as it photographs beautifully and lasts longer than lighter shades.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @cmbuildingssylacauga
#5: Multi-Bay Outdoor Dog Kennel with Separate Runs
That shit stain is back again. Paw prints across the patio. Wet dog smell on the cushions. No space for her to dry off outside without her bolting through the yard.
This is the best answer for all of that.
The three galvanised steel bays sit under one clean, flat-roofed timber structure. Each bay has its own run. The back wall uses tongue and groove treated pine. I chose this, knowing it was a warm wood, and it looks okay in the garden. The concrete base is a ‘chef’s kiss’ easy to hose down, and no mud forms underneath it.
If you decide to make one for yourself, I would suggest starting with heavy-duty welded steel panels (those panels are typically about 6 to 7 feet tall). The wood back section is pressure-treated for weather resistance, which prevents rot for several years. Each bay is separated by a latching gate, so that you can separate dogs during feeding.
Quick note: Make sure your concrete pad is at least 4 inches thick so it holds up to big-dog energy without cracking after the first winter.
Cover the timber frame with a waterproof felt or rubber roof membrane. This will keep the interior dry even during a heavy downpour. This will encourage your dog to use it.
Another great thing about the separate bays, I am boarding a friend’s dog, and I don’t have to worry about the drama of dogs trying to get access to my dog.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @buchans.kennels
#6: The Two-Dog Cedar Kennel That Looks Like a Tiny Cabin (And Your Golden Will Lose Her Mind Over It)
I’m sure you’ve been in this situation before. Your girl comes home soaking wet, tracked mud all over the kitchen, and “immediately” flops onto your cream-colored rug. This setup is here to ensure it never happens again.
Kennel’s energy is giving you cabin in the woods energy. The natural cedar wood frame along with black powder-coated steel wire panels, dark metal gabled roof, and more make this kennel look like something off of Pinterest. Two separate runs means two dogs, no chaos. And your golden can have her own space, without sharing drool territory.
The frame of this playhouse is built out of pressure-treated cedar lumber. The walls and roof are covered with welded wire mesh panels that are finished in black. The roof is covered with corrugated metal roofing sheets. There is a small wooden doghouse built into the back wall so she can have shade, shelter, and a little room of her own.
I split the interior with a center divider panel to give each dog about 4×8 feet of run space. Cedar naturally doesn’t rot, so you don’t have to reseal this each year, and it doesn’t fall apart in the rain.
lay artificial turf inside each run instead of bare dirt. not only is it easier to clean, but i think it will look cleaner in photos too.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @backyarddiscovery
#7: Heavy-Duty Modular Dog Kennel on a Backyard Deck
Finally my golden is getting her very own outdoor space!! I’ve already got lots of feels over this.
This black powder-coated steel modular kennel sits right on a weathered wood deck tucked up against a privacy fence. It is open and airy and big enough for a big dog to stretch out and just enjoy the breeze.
To recreate this, you’ll need a heavy-gauge wire panel kennel, which would be the type with welded steel that’s rust-resistant with a matte black finish. The small panel door on the side is really smart, as it’s a built-in port for easy access to the food and water bowls, avoiding the need to reach over the top and not causing spills. This kennel ships in sections that are bolted together on any flat surface, deck included.
The nice wooden pallet-style floor panel in the corner also keeps paws off the hot deck boards in the summer. We use a 48″ x 48″ slatted wood platform here.
Anchor the legs to the deck with L-bracket hardware to avoid them from shifting when your dog gets the zoomies inside the kennel.
The side access door has bowls attached to a circular ring bracket so that water will not tip over.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @chris_james12
#8: The Dark-Stained Wooden Run That Actually Looks Good in Your Backyard
Your golden is finally calm in the yard, then you turn around and see she’s dug up the flower bed again. This kennel will put an end to that.
This outdoor run has a clean, intentional look. Dark-stained 2×4 lumber frames the run, and galvanized wire mesh fills every panel (the kind that keeps dogs in and predators out). Inside, white pea gravel covers the floor. The run drains rain water and is mud free (no more paw prints to track across your patio pavers).
The frame is made of pressure-treated pine stained in a deep espresso tone. The doors are equipped with black barrel bolt latches and there are two doors so that you can enter one side while the dog remains in the other. The elevated wire top panels allow full sunlight to enter the kennel, but it is still safe for your dog as he is unable to jump out.
Build this on a gravel base that is at least 3 inches deep to prevent digging out from underneath and to keep the inside of the box smelling fresh. Stain the wood before assembling the panels to ensure coverage on all edges.
What this means for you: a kennel that fits into your backyard rather than a kennel that screams “dog prison.” a kennel that you don’t mind putting your dogs in.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @ignacioswoodwork
#9: Built-In Under-Stair Dog Kennel With Storage
Your dog comes in from the backyard, shakes, and spreads mud everywhere. And then they go into their corner to chill, right? Except their “corner” is your living room floor. Yep, we’ve all been there.
Love it! I have a built-in white MDF panel unit under my stairs. It has a lower kennel part with dark wood slatted doors. This gives my dog a little den of her own. It is not an after thought.
The top is two solid cabinet doors that feature brushed nickel hardware. Store leashes, treats, and all the madness of having a dog in here. The kennel opening is approximately 24-30 inches wide and would be wide enough for a golden retriever. The herringbone oak flooring does not compete with the crisp white paneling.
If you are looking for some inspiration for your dog’s nook here’s a good one! Although I would definitely build the frame out of ¾ inch MDF, add some raised panel molding and paint it a nice warm white like Farrow & Ball’s Pointing. It’s a really close match to the yellow in the pictures. The slatted kennel doors allow for lots of air flow, keeping your pup comfy and not so closed in.
Measure your stair depth before framing anything. Most under-stair spaces are 25-36 inches deep, which is more room than you’d think.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @ldl_online
#10: The Military-Grade Steel Dog Kennel That Looks Good Enough to Keep Indoors
finally contained the golden, but he completely destroyed the trunk and the plastic crate is cracked again. i’ve been there too.
This steel dog kennel by Vital Dog is a bit different. The army green powder coated aluminum body with black ventilated double doors reminds me of a box of tactical gear. Or perhaps something I’d pin to my “flat-lay” board. And this dog is getting some serious air through those slotted side panels so he can’t chew through them.
What you’ll need: The Vital Dog aluminum travel kennel (single or double) – a wooden pallet or rubber mat to store the kennel in your garage, and a carabiner clip on the top handle to make loading easy.
The double-door latch system locks shut with one hand, so those muddy-paw funs won’t mean fumbled crate doors anymore.
Attach two D-ring anchor straps to the floor of the trunk. Clip these to the side brackets and this keeps the kennel in place on sharp turns so your dog is more calm and your stress level will be low.
Order one size bigger than normal. Your golden needs to be able to turn around in his kennel. If he is too snug it will stress him out.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @steeldogkennels
#11: Built-In Wall Kennel That Makes Your Dog Feel Like the Main Character
golden looks at me everytime i close the back door on her as if to say, “seriously, you’re going to leave me out here with nothing to do?!” girl, i feel you.
This set-up is absolutely gorgeous. A built-in arched kennel directly recessed into a white rendered exterior wall. The opening of the kennel is framed in a matte black arch and the inside of the kennel is painted a dark charcoal. It’s kind of like a fireplace nook for your dog… It’s stunning.
To recreate this, you’d need a builder to carve a recessed niche (roughly 24” wide x 30” tall) into an exterior wall. Finish the space with smooth render paint in white, add a powder-coated black steel arch frame and line the floor with non-slip rubber matting. Finish it off with a marble-topped outdoor dining table and black powder-coated chairs.
Paint the boundary wall of the corner niche in charcoal or near black. Allow a climbing vine to creep up it. Put a black ceramic water bowl just outside the niche opening.
The built-in plan means no floor clutter. The doggie bed is a perfect place for your dog to enjoy her own space and play in the shade. See 12 Dog Spaces in House Design Ideas You’ll Want to Steal! for more!
The interior niche walls should be sealed with a waterproof exterior-grade paint to keep moisture from seeping in during rains.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @studio_stijl
The One Kennel Mistake That’ll Cost You All Summer (And How to Skip It)
Something no one thinks about when you’re a Pinterest deep hole of kennel inspiration at midnight, and that makes all the difference.
Most folks set their doghouses up facing whatever way looks best from the back porch. Then, when the weather warms up in August and the sun bakes that spot from noon until 6 pm, their dog refuses to go near the doghouse. My neighbor did this with a really nice cedar doghouse. Three hundred dollars worth of materials, and her dog didn’t set a paw in it all summer.
The kennel should open up the face to the north or north east. This will keep the interior of the kennel cool during the hot part of the day, and does not require any work on your part.
It was incredibly important to dig down four inches before laying the gravel base, otherwise we would have a muddy, smelly pit to hose out every week (not the Pinterest kind of vibe either of us were looking for).
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that it doesn’t matter, but it is not going to matter as much as the two previous things I’ve mentioned. If you have those two things in your guest bedroom, your girl will probably spend a lot of time in the bedroom (and it will look absolutely gorgeous doing it).
Your Golden Deserves a Clean Home Too
Pick one thing on the list and just start there. You don’t have to overhaul your whole house this weekend, but you can grab the pet hair roller and throw a washable throw on your sofa.
Well, as you all know, my place is now Pinterest-worthy only a week after I swapped out a few things. Your home can absolutely get there too even with a 70-pound fur tornado living in it.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your dog’s set up, these DIY elevated dog bed ideas are a great way to keep things stylish and functional.
What’s the one dog mess that’s been driving you absolutely crazy lately?
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
