Sand is a natural filter and the simple act of applying clean water in an amount suitable to "wash" any residue through the initial strata and into the sand base has proven to be a environmental and healthy solution.

Often the rain does this process for us! Water cleans the run without any further need for the application of chemicals or disinfectants. We are situated in an area that has an additional approx. 35' of sand directly over an additional gravel base aquifer - approx. 65'.

The runs are sufficiently large enough, that by volume, the amount of urine that is washed through the sand is relatively insignificant. The sand has an absorption rate of 3 gallons per minute to a dissipated depth of 600mm / 1 min!

Sand is a relatively clean stone product that has very little "dirt" or decomposing plant matter as a component - this significantly reduces the potential for biological growth - either fungal or plant based - therefore reducing bacterial & fungal transfer.

Sand has been & continues to be a major component in the filtering of drinking water for every water treatment plant in the world.

We are particularly blessed in having an abundance of good clean sand and 6 wells worth of exceptional water! Note: this won't work very well if you decide to fill your kennel at home with a 10" of sand --- there needs to be a sand strata below the sand in the kennel and placing sand just on top of soil would cause a "micro" bio habitat that would be "trapped" and would result in bacteria & mold forming below the sand

The difference is like night & day in comparison with the old concrete based runs or runs with "dirt" for a base. You can smell the difference!! The dogs are more a ease as well on the sand - digging, playing and generally lounging in it! We have received countless compliments on the peaceful, relaxing, natural influences of our kennels and that generally the dogs seem to enjoying their stay -- they aren't constantly barking or otherwise agitated. Our own dogs leave the the house and walk over to the kennels and want in - so when we have an empty kennel - we often leave the gate open and theour pooches will settle in for an afternoon nap!! Now that's a dog endorsement of the highest level!!!

Feces in our run are removed as soon as they are detected and the sand has a dehydrating effect on the stool which in very short order renders it as hard product. A hard stool is less likely to attract parasite's, flies, spores and bacterias.

I have had concrete runs in the past -- the runs were easy enough to wash with a hose and disinfect -- however the stains and smell of the urine & feces could never be properly controlled and periodic swabs of "clean" runs indicated much higher levels of cultured bacterial & fungal contamination than I would have expected. Finally, the chemical compounds used to clean the concrete could have further resulted in other health issues with our dogs - not to mention they would have leached into the earth below the concrete which would have caused ground water contamination.

In order to maintain the sand advantage -- we are strictly a seasonal kennel --i.e. warmer months. So we will board only from May to early October --- or as long as it reaches above freezing temps through the day.

Parvo -- like most contractible canine diseases -- requires the due diligence of their owners to prevent -- you are more likely to have your dog contract a disease by allowing it to come in contact with another dogs urine, feces or just playing with another strange dog than to have the dog boarded in a professional kennel.

You would not consider allowing your dog to interact with other dogs at an off leash environment or take her for a walk without protecting her by immunization. Don't kennel your dog unless you take the same precautions. Inoculations are for your dogs protection and only your dog is protected, inoculating any dog will not protect the other dogs around it --- Immunize for your dogs protection!!!! Check out for this site more info --- http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm