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I just happen to have one of these. I have 3 kennels in my garage with doggie doors out into 6'x18' runs, all of which have gates that open into a large fenced yard. (Obviously, the indoor kennels also have gates that lead into the garage so that you can get in and out for feeding and watering.) All fencing, indoors and out, is chain link. The kennels and runs are 6 feet high, and approximately 5'x6'. I use rubber stall mats (available from Tractor Supply and elsewhere) to keep them off the cement. My doggie doors are heavy duty plywood (or you could probably use rubber, maybe metal) with heavy duty brass two way hinges at the top (or you could put them on the side I guess). Even my 8 week old pups have been trained to use them within less than a week (I tie them up for a few days so they can just go in and out, and then show them how to use the door). My yard has a lot of shade, but also has sunny areas (I have found that Saints like to "sun themselves", especially in winter. I also have a kiddie pool for their comfort in summer and a large outside water container. My outdoor faucet (frost free) is just outside one edge of the kennel yard. I also have two different gates into the yard from the outside world - one is a small one for people or perhaps a lawnmower - the other is a larger gate that a pickup could get through (dump gravel, haul away leaves, branches, whatever). My runs started with 3 inches of sand and 3 inches of pea gravel on top of the sand.

Marge