The majority of noise complaints for kennels relate to when the dogs are being fed, exercised, or are out in the external runs, or when dogs are being moved around the site.  The owner will have a greater level of control over noise when the dogs are inside the building.  Control is lessened when the dogs are bought out to the external runs.

There are many factors for how noise can affect neighbouring properties.  Generally the location and the physical distance between the kennels and neighbouring properties have the greatest influence.

Practical Solutions

Neighbours - Site kennels as far away from neighbours as possible.

Dogs should not face exercise play areas - One of the most commonly seen errors - you should NEVER site a play or exercise area where kennelled dogs can watch.  It's extremely frustrating for confined dogs to watch other dogs playing or being walked.  If in this situation, improve it by putting up a solid visual barrier - shrubs and landscaping can be extremely helpful in these situations.

Earth bunds - Look at installing earth bunds (mounds) all around the kennels; on new constructions this can come from the site excavations.  To be effective, the bunding requires to be at least 2.5m high, (tree shelterbelts are not suitable sound barriers). The bunding can then be landscaped to provide an aesthetic, visual barrier for your centre.

Geography - If purchasing a new site, look at the surrounding geography.  Is the site in a valley where strong prevailing winds could carry any noise onto potential neighbours?  If so, can you position any non-kennel buildings in between?  Although this will not stop the problem totally, it will help.

Solid Walls - Install solid partitions to help prevent dogs from seeing each other and racing up and down the exercise runs.

Reduce mesh in walkways/corridors - If you have full height mesh safety corridors, look at replacing these by building a solid wall to 1m with either mesh panels above or, better still acoustic louvers.

Install acoustic materials - Install acoustic materials to the underside of the external exercise run roofing; this will help absorb some of the noise, and provide better shading with cooler exercise runs during the summer.

Manager and zone non-kennel areas - Look at your site management techniques.  Can you isolate any non-kennel works from other procedures?

Minimise disturbance - Try to minimise the amount of disturbance to the animals from non-kennel staff and visitors.

Landscaping - Look at planting trees/shrubs around the site.  Although having some physical effect on noise levels in themselves, they will have a far greater impact on reducing noise levels when used as visual barriers to prevent animals from seeing each other, or visitors walking around the site.  Therefore landscaping can help to reduce noise levels substantially.  Anything you can do to make dogs feel more at home helps them settle, just as in their home garden.

Acoustic Barriers - A wide variety of acoustic barriers/fencing is available (often seen on motorways or commercial applications), and that either reflective or absorptive.  On their own barriers won't totally resolve the noise levels, but they can help.

Source:  Kennel Design by David Key