A kennel or dog run is a small enclosure built to fit one spot, and in Mountain View that spot is usually a side yard. Ranch and Eichler lots here have narrow side setbacks, so we build chain link runs to the exact width, with a gate at one or both ends. Galvanized chain link is the standard. Black or green vinyl-coated fabric blends in better and is easier on a dog's coat.
The details depend on the dog. A jumper needs height or a top panel. A digger needs the bottom closed, with a concrete curb, a buried strip of mesh or pavers along the inside edge. Summers on the Peninsula are dry and sunny, so a shade cloth or a solid roof panel over part of the run matters more than rain cover. On the large lots in Los Altos Hills, Woodside and Portola Valley, owners also ask for runs that keep dogs away from deer, coyotes and horses.
Rules still apply to a small enclosure. In Mountain View a non-wood fence needs a building permit, and height limits count for a kennel on a lot line. Los Altos Hills allows chain link only with a dark vinyl coating. Tell us the size of the dog, where the run will go and what the ground is like, and we will bring options to the site visit.
Dog kennels in Mountain View: common questions
How tall should a dog kennel be?
Tall enough that the dog cannot clear it, which for most large dogs means 6 feet. For a climber or a strong jumper we add a top panel. We check the height against your city's fence rule when the kennel sits on a property line.
How do you stop a dog from digging under a kennel?
By closing the bottom edge. A concrete curb under the fabric, a strip of wire mesh buried along the inside, or a paved floor all work. In clay soil that goes soft in winter, a curb or pavers also keeps the run from turning to mud.
Can a kennel go in a narrow side yard?
Yes. That is where most of ours go. We build to the width you have, keep access to the gas meter and other utilities clear, and place gates so you can still walk through to the back yard.
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.