Tired of your dog getting dirty in their outdoor dog kennel? Looking for ways to keep them dry and warm. We’ll cover the top options for Flooring for both outdoor and indoor dog kennels.
Note: If you click some of the links in this article we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Top Pick For Outdoor Dog Kennels – DuraGrid Evergreen Interlocking Tiles
DuraGrid tiles are game changing, crazy simple ways to cover your dog kennel’s dirty floor.
They look great, are super easy to wash, and are UV resistant – meaning they will last a long time outside.
Plus they are super easy to install. You can level, rake, and install 120 square feet in 1-2 hours. They go in faster if you don’t need to level the ground.
Lastly, these are great bang for the buck flooring tiles. You can buy them as single tiles but the real value comes when you buy the 40 pack.
They’re also trusted and commonly used to prevent slips and falls in wet gym locker rooms. Great drainage and soft on bare dog feet (because they were designed for bare human feet).
What We Like
- Mold and mildew resistant
- Good drainage. Easy to wash down.
- Easy to build interlocking tiles
- Comes in 40 packs – helps save money for larger kennels
- Soft enough for human bare feet – perfect for your dog
- Non-slip and Built for high traffic – you’ll see these in gym locker rooms
What We Don’t Like
- Pricing changes often – check the cost per unit when buying. Prices are subject to change at any time based on availability. Some have been burned buying a larger quantity (though that’s not usually the case)
- Durability makes them a little hard to snap together
- Come assembled as 2’x2′ squares. If you need something smaller you have to take them apart which is a pain.
Top Pick For Indoor Dog Kennels – PeePeeGo Non-Slip Extra Large Dog Pads
I think the brand says it all – PeePeeGo non-slip Pads are the ideal high end flooring material for indoor dog kennels.
Originally designed for puppy training, these pads work great even for house trained dogs. Why? They are tough, long lasting and machine washable.
Plus they are the go to for geriatric, dogs that have trouble holding it in between walks. Did we mention they are easy to machine wash and dry? Consider them a huge indoor cloth diaper.
They beat cloth diapers though in that they have a rubber backing that won’t let pee or liquids seep through and mess up your floor.
Lastly, we love these units because they are non-slip. Let your dog run at will. They protect the paws, won’t slip, and all the while protect your floors.
What We Like
- Absorbs pee without getting soggy
- Keeps floor dry
- Easy to remove and clean dog poop
- Machine washable and dry-able
- Great for puppy training
- Great for incontinent, geriatric dogs
What We Don’t Like
- Higher cost for indoor flooring (due to better absorption and keeping floor dry)
- Too good at holding pee – If you pickup the mat to clean it and tilt it on yourself pee tends to drain out (and onto those that aren’t careful!)
Best Artificial Grass Kennel Flooring – Artificial Grass Turf by Pet Grow
Has your dog been destroying the grass with his or her acid pee? Worry not, Pet Grow’s Artificial Grass Turf has you covered.
For less than what you’d typically pay at hardware stores you could easily line your dog kennel this weekend. Note, prices change often so tap/click below to see current rates.
Installation is easy. The best thing about this turf is how easy it is to cut it to any shaped dog kennel.
It’s also super easy to clean (or vacuum) like most fake grasses.
Be careful though. The turf drains super fast but your soil underneath might. Check your soil drainage! If it drains poorly or you have large dogs (that pee alot) and you don’t get a lot of rain your kennel could smell super bad (like stale pee). This is because you need a good amount of rain to run through this and clean it out.
If you live in the arid west you might want to try other options or wash it often to soak the pee through.
If you live in the east then this artificial grass might be the best you ever find. Just skim through all the other things we love about it below…
What We Like
- Looks colorful and clean (no more brown spots from acid pee)
- Drains well – the heaviest rains soak through in an hour (depends on your soil type underneath though!)
- Easy to clean (or vacuum with a shop vac)
- Stays in place
- Looks realistic like freshly cut lawn
- Fast to install – cut with garden shears and use lawn pegs to stake in place
- Cut to any dog kennel shape easily
- No more weeding, no more cutting the lawn, no more brown spot mysteries
What We Don’t Like
- Light green shade. We prefer a darker green.
- Tiles can be slightly different shades of green.
- Doesn’t solve poorly drained soils
Best Outdoor Kennel Flooring For Comfort – Kennel Deck Revival Floor System
This flooring system is ideal for bigger, heavier dogs. The pieces are made of wide plastic slats that more evenly distribute your dogs weight.
Plus they are raised higher off the ground than other models. This makes them both easy to clean as water runs through and away easily. Plus they are warmer since they aren’t in close contact with the cold, wet ground underneath.
The clips that hold them together leave something to be desired. They pretty rigid and do well over uneven ground.
What We Like
- Elevated off the ground – drains better and doesn’t let pools of urine sit and rot (better smell)
- Looks like a faux wooden porch
- Good for heavy dogs – wider slats are easier on the paws than other options
- Warmer than concrete, soil, or wet grass
- Easy to install on uneven surfaces – They have a lot of self-supporting structure
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than other options
- Clips that hold them together aren’t the strongest
Best Indoor Kennel Flooring For Comfort And Warmth – SincoPet Washable Pee Pad
This quilted, warm, dog print filled pad is ideal to keep your pet warm and happy.
The model itself comes with 4 different layers. Why? The top layers provide warmth. The middle layers absorb pee and other liquids. The bottom layers prevent liquids from seeping into your floor.
Plus the paw print design looks pretty decent. Most of the other models just look like a big lifeless carpet. Boring!!!
Get this now before your current pee pads leak through and you have to replace the carpet or wood floor.
Oh, and like the other pee pad – take this away for cleaning careful. Yes, it’ll hold some urine. And if you’re not careful – you’ll dump it all over yourself if tip it when you pick it up. Watch out!
What We Like
- Washable
- Attractive paw print design
- Warm top – “It’s like sleeping on a blanket”
- Waterproof and non-slip bottom
- Absorbent middle layer
- Sometimes it comes with a free grooming glove extra – check the listing to see if it’s still available!
What We Don’t Like
- A little small for big dogs – Time for a larger model SincoPets!
- A little too absorbent – Wash these pads often, they can hold some urine! Don’t let stale urine sit in the pads – you won’t like the smell.
Best High End Kennel Flooring That Looks Like Wood – 3rd Street Inn Deck Pavers
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! You’ll love the look of these panels. But ouch, watch that cost!
Yep, these tiles look awesome. Want something high end? Want something with great drainage, warmth, and feels great on bare paws.
Look no further you found it!
Just watch out. These things are cheap.
If you want something that looks great and does the job look no further than 3rd Street Inn’s deck pavers.
What We Like
- Gorgeous
- Gorgeous
- That’s right – they look great! At least we think so.
- Lots of color – red, black, grey, wooden (colored)
- Made for people, made for beauty
- Easy to install – easy to take out – easy to move
- Great customer service from the product owner
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive!
- Some complaints on longevity
How To Choose Flooring For Your Outdoor Dog Kennel
Choosing the best flooring for you dog kennel can be tough. There’s a lot of options and a lot to consider.
We’ve boiled it down to 3 main items:
- Indoor vs Outdoor
- Drainage
- Style and Materials
- Comfort and Insulation
Indoor vs Outdoor
First thing to consider – is this for an indoor dog kennel or an outdoor dog kennel?
Most indoor kennel floors are simply giant pee pads with non-stick bottoms. Don’t discount them so easily though.
That’s just what you’re looking for – something comfy for your dog that can also absorb a bit of urine. Plus they wash easily.
The two indoor flooring models we reviewed above both do that.
Need an outdoor floor for your kennel? Giant pee pads will not do. Yeah, they’ll be something for your dog to walk on other than mud. But they’ll quickly absorb a boat load of urine and get to the point you never want to see them again.
Instead you need something with drainage.
Drainage
All of the models we discuss above have great drainage. What differentiates them is look and feel.
Of course, with drainage you still need to check the underlying soils. Why? Clay soils will hold moisture.
Even with the best drainage you could have pools of urine sitting under your flooring. Those stagnant pools get stinky fast.
Best way to deal with it? Wash often! And consider flooring height.
Some of the models above rest on the floor – like the artificial turf models.
Others have a bit of structure. They are designed to look like wood or permanent flooring. They rise an inch or more off the ground.
The value of a little rise? It gives space underneath for air to flow and dry things out.
So let’s sum up drainage really quickly…
Do you have?…
- Clay or badly drained soils? Get the elevated flooring. See 3rd Street Pavers or the Revival model above.
- Well drained sandy soils? Consider one of the Pet Grow turf cover above
- Live in dry areas west of the Mississippi? Get either, just wash it down often – stale urine stinks!
Style And Materials
Category #3 – style and materials – the subjective one.
Here you’ll simply want to scan through the top picks above and choose the one that looks the best to you.
Keep in mind drainage first! Not all models do well in all environments. Some, like turf in the arid west, need a bit more wash downs than others.
Still, are you in the arid west? Do you miss grass? Do you have some lovely boulders around the yard that would look good complimented against short cut turf? Then artificial turf might be best for you.
Live in the east and your yard is mainly grass already? Looking for some contrast and a way to cover up those pee-killed brown spots? Then 3rd Street’s pavers or Revival’s faux deck option might look great in your kennel.
In general, for style, try and bring in some contrast with the flooring you choose. It should complement and add new textures to the color and textures already in your yard.
Comfort and Insulation
Lastly, when choosing a flooring you should consider comfort and insulation.
Do you live somewhere cold? Want to keep those dog paws warm?
The higher elevated models from 3rd Street and Revival are like building a mini porch. They’ll elevate those paws off the cold, wet ground. Plus you can still wash them down easily.
They need less water pass through to keep the smells down than other flooring elements that rest right on the ground. That let’s you add blankets and bedding in between washes without the fear of those blankets soaking up urine and getting nasty.
Few flooring models, other than the indoor quilted pee pads offer any insulation on their own. But with the right elevated variety and some extra blankets, you can provide the comfort and warmth your pup needs.
How to install dog kennel flooring
Dog kennel flooring is either super simple or a little complex to install. Let’s cover both.
Super Simple Install for Indoor Kennels
Got in indoor dog kennel? Through down one of our recommend indoor dog pads above. Done. Easy peezy.
Artificial Turf Kennel Install
Installing turf requires strong scissors (garden shears are best) and some patience. The cool thing about turf is you can cut just about any shape. This also makes it a little difficult as you can’t really measure things.
Turf is great for oblong or circular pens. You can even cut out holes to go around boulders in your yard.
One thing to be wary of with turf install – panel colors. Even if you order the same panels from the same supplier lay them out in a clean area (no mud, dirt, etc.) and check the colors. Are they all the same? No worries then. Do they have different shades? See if you can arrange them so they work together.
If that fails return them. Just keep in mind that cheaper panels often have slightly different shades. Make it work and keep the savings or return for an upgrade.
Grid Install
The next category to install are grids-shaped panels. Generally you install these without cutting them as cutting them can be difficult and dangerous.
One thing to note is that these panels often come in as 2×2 or larger sections of the tiles. You may need to separate these to get them to fit into smaller areas of the kennel. This can be difficult to do and you may need a small screw driver or similar tool to carefully pry them apart without breaking them.
Again, if you can, keep the pre-snapped panels together. Underlap the kennel walls if need be.
Faux Wood Panel Install
The last category of panels look like faux wood or wood deck materials. These come in square or rectangle shapes and clip together at the edges.
FAQ
What Do They Make Dog Kennel Flooring Out Of?
Artificial turf flooring is made of plastic, green fibers sewn into a rubber mat or similar porous mat.
Faux wood deck panels are made of metal supports with plastic fake wood panels attached.
Indoor flooring is usually made of several layers:
- A quilted, warm top layer
- Porous urine absorbent central layers
- Waterproof liner near the bottom
- Non-stick rubber material attached to the bottom (think non-slip bathroom mat)
How Many Flooring Pads Do You Need For Different Sized Kennels?
This greatly depends on the different pads or panels you plan to use for the floor. Each of the top models reviewed above includes panel sizes. Click the check availability button to see if that size or others are available. Most models come in either different sized single panels or different packs of small panels (10 pack, 20 pack, etc.).
Measure your kennel twice to double check then check the listings both in the description and at the end at checkout.
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