San Francisco is a dog city, and both homes and businesses ask for kennels and runs. At home, the request is usually a secure run in part of a small rear yard, so the dog has a safe place while the rest of the garden stays intact. Businesses such as daycares, boarding and grooming shops, veterinary clinics and rescues need rows of runs or divided play areas that stand up to daily cleaning. We build chain link and welded wire kennels to the size of the space.
A city yard brings its own details. Rear yards here are shared on every side, so a run should sit where barking and smell bother neighbors least, and solid lower panels help with both. In the sandy soil of the western neighborhoods a determined dog digs out quickly, so the bottom needs a concrete curb, pavers or buried mesh. On a sloped yard the run is stepped or built on a levelled pad so there are no gaps under the frame.
Tell us the size of the dog and whether it climbs, jumps or digs. That sets the height, whether the run needs a top, and what goes along the bottom. Galvanized or vinyl-coated wire handles fog and constant washing. A shade or rain cover is worth having in a climate this damp. If you rent or live in a building with shared grounds, get the owner's or the association's approval in writing first.
Dog kennels in San Francisco: common questions
Can you build a dog run in a narrow San Francisco yard?
Yes. Runs are built to measure, including long narrow ones along a side fence or the back of the lot. Materials usually have to be carried through the house or garage, and we plan for that when we quote.
How do you stop a dog digging out in sandy soil?
Close the bottom. A concrete mow curb under the frame, pavers set along the inside edge, or wire mesh buried and turned inward all work. Sand is easy to dig, so a bare bottom rail on the ground is not enough.
Does a kennel need a top?
For climbers and jumpers, yes. A wire top stops a dog going over, and a solid cover adds shade and keeps rain and fog drip off. A dog that does neither can do without one if the sides are tall enough.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit, measure and talk through options.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with material choices side by side.
- Permits & planning: We check local rules and help with permits before we dig.
- Install & clean-up: Our crew installs, cleans up and walks the finished fence with you.