Kennels and Kenneling: A Guide for Hobbyists and Professionals (Howell Reference Books) [Hardcover]

Joel M. McMains (Author)

Book Description

Series: Howell Reference Books | Publication Date: December 26, 2000

Everything you need to know to build a palace for your dogs—From drawing up the plans to buying the lumber to sinking the fence posts to nailing the utility hooks to the wall, everything is covered in this comprehensive look at building a home for your best friend. Tips on kennel operations, and how they should shape your plans, help readers choos the design that's right for them and keep their kennels running smoothly once they have been built. There are separate sections on hobby kennels and boarding kennels, with ideas for each type that can be put to good use in both.

Dog World called this book, "A first-rate practical guide for anyone who loves dogs.... It is also a splendid essay on what it means to keep a dog—your own or someone else's."

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Kennels & Kenneling, 2nd Edition, brings you exciting, updated information on the business and hobby of kenneling. Whether keeping multiple dogs is one of the basic requirements of your livelihood or the natural result of an absorbing pastime, you need a practical system in order to house, handle, and manage all the dogs in your care.

That's exactly what you can expect to find out with all the reliable advice and wisdom available in this second edition of Kennels & Kenneling:

• A Guide for Professionals and Hobbyists.
• Discover: Strategies for planning, designing, constructing, and operating a successful kennel
• Information on how to make running any kennel easier and more enjoyable
• Solutions that you can use for both hobby and professional kennels
• Tips on keeping all your visitors happy and healthy
• Quick answers to the most common kenneling and client problems
• Easy ways to maintain the information and records necessary to run your kennel smoothly
• Tried and true policies that are sure to keep your canine guests visiting your kennel again and again

About the Author

JOEL M. MCMains, an award-winning author for Howell Book House, has trained dogs professionally for over 30 years. Along with offering professional obedience and protection-training services, Joel operates his own boarding kennels and holds public obedience classes and training seminars. For 12 years, Joel was the coordinator of Wyoming's Sheridan County 4-H Dog Program.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 2 edition (December 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582451516
• ISBN-13: 978-1582451510
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable, instructional reference, April 24, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kennels and Kenneling: A Guide for Hobbyists and Professionals (Howell Reference Books) (Hardcover)

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Kennels & Kenneling: A Guide For Professionals And Hobbyists continues to be an indispensable, instructional reference for anyone keeping multiple dogs either as a business or as a pastime. The reader is provided with strategies for planning, designing, constructing, and operating a successful kennel; instruction on how to make running any kennel easier and more enjoyable; solutions for problems common to both hobby and professional kennels; tips on keeping visitors happy and healthy; answers to most common kenneling and client questions; easy ways to maintain the information and records necessary to running a kennel smoothly; as well as effective and practical policies to ensure repeat visits and placements of canine guests. If you intend to create your own kennel, whether for personal satisfaction or for profit, begin with a careful and thorough reading of Joel McMains' Kennels & Kenneling.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A how-to book with strong ethical standards, June 13, 2002

By 

b.caffey (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kennels and Kenneling: A Guide for Hobbyists and Professionals (Howell Reference Books) (Hardcover)

I've read at least 80 books on kenneling and dog care so far and this book is the best I've read. Period. As I read the book, I kept saying "yes!...yes!" Because I had finally found a business owner that is *really* in the business because of a true love of dogs. Many people say they love dogs, but Mr. McMains lives that through his kennel design, ideas, and actions. You can't fake that kind of affection. The book was full of helpful hints, ethical solutions to dilemmas, and a common sense that any potential kennel owner should have. If I find myself in Mr. McMains neck of the woods, I am definately going to ask for a tour of his facility and ask for any new ideas or suggestions he might have!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book. Lots of insights and information, May 21, 2003

By 

Claudiano (Sao Paulo, Brasil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kennels and Kenneling: A Guide for Hobbyists and Professionals (Howell Reference Books) (Hardcover)

OK, there are not so many books on the subject. From the few available, this one is probably the most comprehensive. Just behare that it was primarily designed with the professionals in mind. I think that there is still a large market for the hobbyists, that is, breeders that just want a simple kennel with 4 or 5 runs. By the way, with the help of this book, and some extra research, I was able to build a really nice kennel, used as a reference by many other breeders in my area.