9. Dog Daycare, Kennels & Commercial Use Setup

Best for

Dog daycares, boarding kennels, breeders, rescue centres, grooming facilities, training centres, and supervised dog yards

Main problem solved

Managing enrichment, chewing, hygiene, dog competition, bone mess, and staff supervision in high-use environments

Primary setup

BoneZone® installed as one or more controlled chew stations using fixed bases, wall mounts, post mounts, or suitable commercial mounting points

Best dog type

Small to large dogs, provided each dog is matched to the correct station, height, bone type, and supervision level

Setup style

Fixed, repeatable, cleanable, staff-managed chew station system for structured commercial use

Video

🎥 Add setup video link / icon here

BoneZone® alloy Clamp-Post / pole

Main vertical support for the jaw assembly

Fixed BaseMount, Versatile Wall Mounts, or suitable post mount

Supports the Clamp-Post depending on the chosen commercial location

Suitable screws, bolts, anchors, or straps

Secure the setup to the selected surface or structure where appropriate

Tamper-resistant or upgraded hardware, where suitable

Helps reduce interference, loosening, or unauthorised adjustment in commercial areas

Plunger pin / height-locking pin

Sets and locks the working height

BoneZone® jaw assembly

Holds the bone, chew, or treat

BiteLock™ jaw insert, where suitable

Helps grip irregular bones, round bones, or awkward chew shapes

Spill mats, trays, or wash-down zones

Helps contain mess, drool, blood, crumbs, marrow, and bone fragments

Cleaning bucket, disinfectant, and stiff nylon brush

Supports cleaning between dogs, bones, and sessions

Optional signage or staff checklist

Helps staff follow the same process every time

Dog selection

Not every dog should use a chew station in a commercial setting. Screen for guarding, aggression, anxiety, chewing style, and dental suitability.

Staff supervision

BoneZone® should be used as part of a supervised enrichment program, not as an unattended yard feature.

Mounting strength

Each station must be strong enough for the strongest dog assigned to it.

Station spacing

Dogs should not be able to reach another dog’s bone, crowd another station, or stand over another dog while chewing.

Cleaning process

Staff need a clear process for removing leftovers, washing jaws, disinfecting surfaces, and resetting the station.

Bone policy

Decide which bones or chews are allowed, which dogs can use them, session length, and when items must be removed.

Flooring and drainage

Washable flooring, concrete, sealed surfaces, or designated wash-down areas are preferred.

Hardware inspection

Check mounts, fixings, plunger pins, jaw assemblies, and inserts regularly for wear, looseness, or damage.

Record keeping

Commercial sites may benefit from recording which dogs used BoneZone®, what chew was used, and any behavioural notes.

Supervision

BoneZone® is a controlled chew station, not an unsupervised feeding device.

1

Choose the commercial use area

Select a supervised area such as a rest zone, enrichment yard, kennel run, grooming waiting area, training yard, or designated chew zone.

2

Decide the station layout

Use one station for individual sessions or multiple stations spaced far enough apart to prevent crowding, stealing, and competition.

3

Choose the mounting method

Use a fixed BaseMount, suitable wall mount, solid post mount, or other strong commercial arrangement that matches the surface and dog strength.

4

Avoid weak structures

Do not install into loose fence panels, weak rails, thin walls, unstable posts, hollow panels, rotten timber, cracked concrete, or lightweight fixtures.

5

Check what is behind or underneath

Before drilling or fixing, make sure there are no pipes, cables, waterproofing membranes, irrigation lines, electrical services, or hidden hazards.

6

Install the mount securely

Secure the BaseMount or mounts using suitable screws, bolts, anchors, or fixings for the surface or structure. Upgrade hardware where needed for commercial use.

7

Insert the Clamp-Post

Drop the alloy Clamp-Post into the mount and confirm it is seated correctly and locked where required.

8

Set the height

Use the index plunger pin fixed to the lower jaw frame to set the jaw assembly at a comfortable chewing height for the assigned dog.

9

Add spill or wash-down control

Use a washable mat, tray, sealed floor area, concrete wash-down zone, or other cleanable surface beneath the chew area.

10

Test before use

Pull the pole and jaw assembly firmly by hand from different directions. If anything moves, stop and improve the fixing before allowing dog use.

11

Add the bone or chew

Load the bone into the jaws using the bone-loading instructions below.

12

Supervise the session

Staff should monitor dog behaviour, chewing pressure, station movement, bone condition, mess, and any signs of guarding or stress.

13

Remove the dog before resetting

Where practical, remove or secure the dog before removing leftovers, adjusting the jaws, or cleaning the station.

14

Clean and reset

Remove leftovers, wash the jaws, disinfect where appropriate, inspect the station, and reset it before the next dog.

1

Choose a suitable bone or chew

Use an appropriate bone, raw meaty bone, air-dried chew, or pet-safe chew suitable for the dog’s size, chewing style, dental condition, diet, and facility policy.

2

Match the item to the dog

Consider the dog’s size, jaw strength, age, dental condition, breed traits, chewing history, and behaviour around food.

3

Use facility-approved items only

Staff should only use bones or chews approved by the business, owner, vet guidance where relevant, and the dog’s feeding instructions.

4

Find the best clamping point

Choose the thicker or more stable section of the bone. Avoid clamping only the thinnest, sharpest, or most brittle end.

5

Select the jaw face

Use the jaw face or BiteLock™ arrangement that gives the best grip without crushing the bone unnecessarily.

6

Place the bone into the jaws

Position the bone so the dog can chew naturally without biting too close to the clamp faces, striking the pole, or pulling the setup sideways.

7

Tighten the jaws

Tighten until the bone is firmly held and cannot be easily pulled free by hand. Do not overtighten fragile bones.

8

Check dog access

The dog should be able to chew from a comfortable stance with all four feet on the ground and its neck/back in a natural posture.

9

Confirm station clearance

Make sure the dog cannot reach another dog’s bone, interfere with another station, or become trapped against a wall, fence, gate, or corner.

10

Supervise the first session

Watch how the dog interacts with the setup. Adjust clamp, angle, jaw position, station spacing, mat position, or height if needed.

11

Remove leftovers

Remove bone remnants when the session is finished, especially raw bones or anything that may spoil, splinter, smell, or attract pests.

12

Clean the area

Wipe down the jaws, Clamp-Post, mount, mat, tray, and surrounding floor. A bucket of warm soapy water and a stiff nylon brush is great for cleaning clamp parts. Disinfect where required by facility policy.

Dog screening

Do not use BoneZone® with dogs that show serious guarding, aggression, panic, uncontrolled chewing, or unsafe behaviour around high-value food.

Staff supervision

Commercial use should always be staff-managed. Do not leave dogs unattended with bones or chews.

Owner permission

Facilities should consider owner approval before offering bones, raw food, marrow bones, or long-lasting chews.

Diet and allergies

Check dietary restrictions, allergies, vet instructions, and owner feeding notes before giving any bone or chew.

Dog separation

Dogs using BoneZone® should have enough space that they cannot steal, guard, crowd, or pressure another dog.

Children and visitors

Keep customers, children, visitors, and non-staff members away from active chew stations.

Hardware inspection

Inspect mounts, fixings, jaws, plunger pins, inserts, and base points regularly. Stop use if anything is loose, worn, damaged, cracked, or sharp.

Hygiene

Raw bones should be treated like raw meat. Clean and disinfect according to facility standards after use.

Cross-contamination

Clean between dogs, especially in daycare, kennel, grooming, rescue, or multi-dog environments.

Waste control

Dispose of leftovers promptly to avoid pests, smell, contamination, and dogs fighting over remnants.

Commercial liability

Each facility should assess BoneZone® use under its own safety procedures, insurance, staff training, and animal-handling policies.

Dogs crowd around one station

Stations are too close, too visible, or not separated from other dogs

Use individual sessions, increase station spacing, use barriers, or move the chew station into a controlled area.

One dog guards the station

Dog is resource guarding or feels pressured by other dogs nearby

Stop the session. Use one-on-one sessions, greater separation, or exclude that dog from chew-station use if unsafe.

A dog finishes early and pressures another dog

Dogs are being run too close together or staff have not removed the finished dog

Remove early finishers immediately and keep active chew stations separated.

Staff are unsure which dogs can use it

No screening process, owner notes, or facility chew policy exists

Create a simple approved-use checklist covering dog behaviour, diet, allergies, size, dental condition, and owner permission.

The dog can pull the bone loose

Bone is clamped on the wrong section, jaw face is not gripping well, or jaws are not tight enough

Reposition the bone, clamp on a thicker section, use a better jaw face/BiteLock™ arrangement, then retest by hand. Try to trap bones between two large ends to prevent slide-out.

The mount moves under load

Fixings are weak, surface is unsuitable, or dog is too strong for the installation

Stop using the station until it is properly secured. Upgrade fixings, move to concrete, structural timber, fixed base, or another stronger mounting scenario.

The dog targets the hardware

Bone is too close to the clamp, dog is frustrated, or hardware is within easy mouth reach

Reposition the bone, raise or adjust the jaw assembly, and supervise closely. Stop use if the dog targets BoneZone® parts.

Dogs fight over leftovers

Bone fragments are falling, being missed during cleanup, or left in shared areas

Remove all remnants immediately. Inspect mats, floors, jaws, corners, drains, and surrounding areas before releasing dogs together.

Cleaning takes too long

Station layout, bone choice, or cleaning process is not efficient

Use designated wash-down zones, lower-mess chews, removable mats, staff checklists, and a dedicated cleaning kit.

Smell builds up in the area

Raw bones, poor airflow, slow cleanup, or absorbent surfaces are holding odour

Use better ventilation, faster removal, disinfecting, lower-mess chews, and avoid porous surfaces.

Ants, flies, or pests appear

Bone residue, raw meat smell, or scraps remain after sessions

Remove leftovers immediately, clean thoroughly, dispose of waste securely, and avoid leaving raw items in warm areas.

The station becomes loose over time

Repeated use, vibration, dog impact, or cleaning movement has loosened hardware

Add regular inspection to the staff checklist. Retighten, upgrade hardware, or pause use until repaired.

Dogs become overexcited when stations appear

The station predicts high-value food and dogs are not being managed calmly

Bring dogs in one at a time, use calm handling, load stations before bringing dogs in, and keep sessions structured.

Staff forget to clean between dogs

Process gap, no checklist, or unclear responsibility

Add a simple reset procedure: remove dog, remove leftovers, clean jaws, inspect hardware, clean floor/mat, record use, reset station.

A dog looks uncomfortable

Jaw height is too high, too low, too close to the wall/fence, or the dog is restricted

Adjust the jaw to chest/shoulder-friendly height and create more clearance around the chewing area.