Inside our kennel building: A space designed for dogs and staff
One of the biggest projects we completed in the summer of 2024 was our kennel building. It was actually one of three major projects that summer, and it has become an important part of daily life here at Bearhill.
This building was designed to make life better for both our dogs and our staff. It supports the practical side of kennel life, from feeding and equipment care to routine health checks and recovery.
A building that supports the whole kennel
On the ground floor, one of the main features is our large dog kitchen. This is where we prepare the dogs’ meals exactly as they need them. Right next to it, we have plenty of dry storage space for dog food, as well as a walk-in freezer where we keep different kinds of meat that are part of the dogs’ diet.
On the other side of the building, there is a large drying room with special ventilation. This space allows us to hang equipment overnight so that it is clean, warm, and dry for the next morning. That includes the dogs’ harnesses, jackets, and booties, but also customer blankets and reindeer hides. In kennel life, dry gear is not a luxury. It makes a real difference for both comfort and hygiene.
Upstairs, the building also gives our staff a better daily working environment. There are lockers where staff can store their belongings, as well as office space for management.
The vet room: Small treatments, fast response
One of the most important parts of the building is the vet room.
It is exactly what the name suggests: a dedicated space where we can give our dogs the basic veterinary care they need. If a dog gets a minor injury, we can do small wound care ourselves and administer medication when needed. For anything more serious, we still work closely with our local veterinarian, of course, but having this room means we can respond quickly and handle the smaller things properly on site.
The room is equipped with storage space, a fridge for medication that needs to stay cool, basic veterinary tools, a scale, and a treatment table. It gives us a practical and calm space to care for the dogs in a structured way.
A quiet space for recovery
Connected to the vet room, there is also a separate indoor recovery space for dogs who need rest and observation. This gives them peace and quiet while they recover.
Just outside, there are two outdoor fences where recovering dogs can go out to do their business and get some fresh air under our watchful eye. It may sound simple, but these details matter. When a dog is healing, having a calm, controlled environment makes a big difference.
More than emergencies
The vet room is not only there for injuries or recovery. It is also a very useful space for routine care.
This is where we can do things like:
- deworming
- teeth checks
- weighing each dog
- body condition scoring
Body condition scoring helps us adapt each dog’s diet to its changing needs. It is a practical way of assessing body fat and overall condition, helping us see whether a dog is underweight, in ideal condition, or carrying too much weight. It is one of the many small routines that help us keep the dogs healthy over time.
Making annual vet days easier
This facility also makes our annual vet days much more efficient.
Once a year, our local vet comes to the kennel for two to three days. During that time, all of our dogs receive updated vaccinations, and the vet also performs procedures such as teeth cleanings and castrations. During those days, the vet room is in constant use, and having a purpose-built space makes the whole process smoother for both the dogs and the people caring for them.
More than jut a building
At the end of the day, this kennel building is much more than just another structure on the property. It helps us feed the dogs properly, dry and organize equipment, support our staff, and give better day-to-day care to the dogs.
A lot of kennel work happens behind the scenes, and this building supports exactly that kind of work: the daily routines, the practical tasks, and the small details that help everything run the way it should.
And in a place like Bearhill, those details matter.
Watch the video below to see what the kennel building looks like and to learn even more!
