To maximize short- and long-term boarding potential, it helps to understand the various kennel designs and materials, gate options, and available accessories. One of the first decisions to make is whether the kennel will comprise an on-the-floor system with a drain or an above-the-floor system. Generally speaking, the former can provide more flexibility to configure the kennels to fit a building’s footprint and it also is usually less expensive than an above-floor design. There are situations, though, that sometimes require an above-floor system, particularly when digging drains is not an option.