Choosing the right flooring for your dog kennel is a crucial decision that affects both the comfort and health of your animals. Whether you’re a dog breeder, manage commercial kennels, or are setting up a home kennel, selecting the right kennel flooring can make a world of difference. Today, we’ll compare two popular options: kennel decks and RACS kennel flooring by Ridglan Animal Care Systems, to help you determine the best fit for your needs.
Kennel Decks: What Are They?
Kennel decks are raised platforms with slatted surfaces, designed to keep dogs off the ground, ensuring better hygiene and comfort. Commonly made from wood or plastic, these platforms elevate dogs above wet, cold, or dirty floors.
Benefits of Kennel Decks
- Improved Drainage and Hygiene: With slatted surfaces, kennel decks promote good ventilation and proper drainage, keeping the kennel floor dry and the dogs clean.
- Joint Health for Dogs: Raised platforms reduce joint stress for dogs, offering a more supportive surface for resting.
- Easy Cleaning: The slatted design of kennel decks allows debris and water to pass through easily, making cleaning straightforward.
Downsides of Kennel Decks
- Cost: Kennel decks can be pricey, especially for larger or commercial setups.
- Breed Limitations: Smaller dogs, particularly those with delicate paws, may find kennel decks uncomfortable as their paws can slip through the slats, making them a less suitable option for all breeds.
- Maintenance Requirements: While kennel decks are designed to be easy to clean, debris can sometimes get trapped between the slats, requiring more frequent maintenance to ensure proper hygiene.
- Temperature Control: Depending on the material, kennel decks may retain heat in the summer or become cold in the winter, making it more difficult to maintain a comfortable environment for your dogs without additional climate control solutions.
- Limited Customization: Unlike modular flooring systems, kennel decks offer fewer customization options in terms of size, shape, or materials. This could limit flexibility for kennels with unique space requirements or for those needing more tailored solutions.
RACS Flooring: The Premier Kennel Flooring Solution
At Ridglan Animal Care Systems, we offer a range of raised dog kennel flooring options that combine durability, ease of use, and comfort. Our RACS flooring is made from first-rate steel, completely coated with plastisol (polyvinyl plastic) for superior performance in both home and commercial kennels.
Benefits of RACS Kennel Flooring
- Durability: RACS flooring is constructed using a very durable poly material, which ensures long-lasting performance even in high-traffic areas like grooming shops or kennel facilities. Our premier kennel flooring options are built to provide superior stability and strength.
- Ease of Cleaning: With a non-porous plastic surface, RACS flooring is bacteria-resistant, making it simple to keep your kennel hygienic. This is particularly useful in commercial kennels, where maintaining cleanliness is a top priority.
- Comfort for Dogs: The raised flooring helps keep dogs off wet surfaces, and the smooth rounded finish ensures that the floor is gentle on their paws. Plus, with proper drainage and air movement underneath the kennel, dogs stay cool and dry, improving animal comfort.
- Versatility and Customization: RACS flooring can be tailored to any kennel size with unlimited configurations, whether you’re outfitting a small home setup or a large-scale commercial operation. The system is designed for fast and easy installation, saving time and effort.
Downsides of RACS Flooring
- Initial Cost: While RACS flooring is highly durable and offers a cost-effective solution over time, the initial investment might be higher compared to more basic flooring options. However, this upfront cost is quickly offset by its longevity and proven performance in maintaining a safe surface for pets.
- Customization Options Can Feel Extensive: With the wide range of choices for unlimited configurations and materials, some customers might feel that the selection process requires careful consideration. However, this extensive flexibility allows RACS flooring to be perfectly tailored to meet individual needs, whether for a small home kennel or a large-scale commercial facility. Our experienced sales team can walk you through the selection process in very little time.
Kennel Decks vs. RACS Flooring: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kennel Decks | RACS Flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Wood, plastic | Steel with plastisol, polyvinyl |
| Drainage | Excellent | Excellent |
| Joint Health for Dogs | Good | Excellent |
| Cleaning | Easy | Easy (with smooth, non-porous surface |
| Cost | High | Varies depending on typ and configuration |
| Assembly | Typically involves more work | No assembly - Just set in place |
Why Choose RACS Flooring?
RACS flooring offers a cost-effective and customizable solution for dog breeders and kennel owners who need a system that’s not only durable but also comfortable for their animals. With a variety of materials, including smooth non-porous, and raised flooring options, RACS provides the ultimate flexibility in creating the perfect kennel environment.
What Sets RACS Flooring Apart?
- Durability: Built to last with steel, aluminum, and plastisol material, RACS flooring is ideal for home or commercial kennels.
- Comfort and Safety: The smooth rounded finish ensures that dogs’ paws stay safe from injury, while the elevated surface keeps them dry.
- Versatile Configurations: With unlimited configurations, you can build a flooring system that meets your exact needs, whether it’s for a large kennel facility or a small home setup.
Conclusion: Which Option is Right for You?
When it comes to choosing between kennel decks and RACS flooring, it ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you require excellent drainage and a straightforward solution for a smaller space, kennel decks might be the better option. However, if you’re looking for a highly durable, customizable, and easy-to-clean solution for a larger or more demanding setup, RACS flooring is the clear winner.
No matter which flooring you choose, ensuring that your dog kennel is outfitted with the best possible flooring will keep your pets happy, healthy, and safe. Explore our full range of RACS flooring systems today to find the perfect solution for your kennel.
