Custom Dog Runs, Built for Your Home
Not a cage in the yard — a predator-proof, architecture-matched outdoor space your dog actually lives in. Site-built by our licensed crew in AZ, MD, PA & NC.
Why a Catio Company Builds the Best Dog Runs
Fair question: why would you hire a catio builder for a dog run? Because a catio is the hardest outdoor enclosure problem there is. It has to be escape-proof from the inside — cats are professional climbers, squeezers and gap-finders — and predator-proof from the outside, against coyotes, hawks and raccoons, at the same time.
A dog run is the same engineering with a bigger door. The mesh that a bobcat can't tear open isn't troubled by a determined husky. The dig guards we bury for desert coyotes work exactly the same under a fence-line in Frederick. After years of catio clients asking us to "build one for the dog too," we made it official.
Every Monument dog run inherits the full catio build system: framed lumber, 14-gauge galvanized steel mesh, real roofs, and hardware a raccoon can't open — from a licensed dog run builder, not a kit shipped on a pallet.
A Licensed Dog Run Builder, Not a Kennel Kit
Search for a dog kennel and you'll find products. Search for a dog run builder and you'll find almost nobody — prefab shippers, fence companies doing side work, and kits with an instruction sheet. We're the missing option: a licensed builder whose crew designs and constructs your run on site, under one contract.
Actually Licensed
AZ ROC #364641, MD MHIC #167535-02, PA HIC #PA214722 — real contractor licenses you can verify, plus insurance. In North Carolina we operate under the state's licensing threshold for projects of this size, and we'll tell you exactly how that works for your build.
Matched to Your Home
Rooflines, stain, trim and footprint are designed around your house and yard — slopes, patios, trees and existing fences included. When it's done, it reads as part of the architecture, not something parked next to it.
Built On Site, By Us
No crane delivery, no "some assembly required," no subcontracted mystery crew. The same dog kennel builder team that designs your run constructs it — which is why the details survive contact with real yards.
Not a Kennel in the Cage Sense
We build these because our clients asked for them — for the dog who eats the drywall when left inside, the escape artist who's beaten three fences, the new puppy in a coyote neighborhood. What they wanted wasn't a cage. It was an extension of the home.
- 14-gauge galvanized steel mesh — welded, rigid, and rust-resistant; not chicken wire, not chain link
- Framed structural lumber — built like a room addition, stained or painted to match your home
- Real roof options — full mesh, polycarbonate panels, or solid shingled roofs that match the house
- Doors sized for humans — walk in, clean up, hang out with the dog; add a doggie-door connection to the house or garage
- Ground done right — turf, pavers, gravel or natural grade, with drainage planned before the first post goes in
Coyote-Proof Dog Runs: The Published Specs
"Coyote-proof" gets thrown around by companies that won't tell you a single measurement. Here is exactly what it takes, and exactly what we build. In Phoenix and across Arizona, coyotes take small dogs out of fenced yards in daylight. In Maryland and Pennsylvania the fox and hawk pressure is constant, and coyotes are now established in every North Carolina county. Partial protection is not protection.
| Threat | How it gets in | The Monument spec that stops it |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote — bite & tear | Bites through chicken wire and light welded wire; pushes through chain-link gaps and stretched fabric | 14-gauge galvanized steel mesh, fastened to framed lumber with screwed fasteners — not staples that pop under load |
| Coyote — digging | Tunnels under fence lines in a single night, especially at corners and gates | Dig guard on every run: mesh buried at the base or run outward as an anchored horizontal ground skirt, so digging leads to more mesh, not soil |
| Coyote — climb & jump | Clears 6-foot fences with a jump and scramble; climbs corners and gate hardware like a ladder | Full roof coverage — mesh, polycarbonate or solid roofing over 100% of the run. An open-top "coyote-proof" run is a contradiction |
| Hawks & owls | Strike from above in open yards — a real risk for the smallest dogs and puppies | The same covered roof ends the aerial threat entirely; shade panels double as heat protection in hot climates |
| Raccoons & clever paws | Open simple slide bolts and lever latches; test every gate nightly | Two-point, self-latching hardware on every door — closes behind you, and can't be worked open from either side |
Those five lines are the whole game. If a quote you're comparing doesn't specify the mesh gauge, the dig defense, the roof, and the latch hardware, you're not comparing dog runs — you're comparing fences. Bring us the toughest yard you've got: we've coyote-proofed enclosures in Phoenix desert backyards, wooded Baltimore-area lots, and everywhere between.
Covered Dog Runs, Shade and Real Weather
A covered dog run isn't an upgrade — in our markets it's the difference between a space your dog uses year-round and one they avoid ten months of the year. In Arizona, the roof is shade engineering: we position solid panels against the summer sun path so the run holds usable shade all day, and surface choices matter (turf and pavers can scorch paws; we plan for it).
In Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, the roof is about rain, snow load and mud. A pitched polycarbonate or shingled roof keeps the run dry, keeps paws clean, and means the run works in January, not just June. Every roof is framed to match your home's lines — this is where "built by a licensed builder" shows.
Dog Run Sizes and Pricing
Most builders make you book a call to hear a number. Here's ours up front.
Custom dog runs: $3,500 – $10,000+
Where you land in that band depends on footprint, roof type, ground treatment, and how much predator-proofing your site needs. Every project gets a fixed written price before we build.
Covered runs for one dog or small breeds — full mesh, dig guard, self-latching door, natural or gravel base.
Room to actually run. Partial solid roofing, turf or paver base, house- or garage-door connection, finishes matched to your home.
Multi-dog footprints, solid shingled roofs, lighting, misters or heaters, custom gates and full architecture matching.
From Yard Photos to Finished Run
Tell us about your dog, your yard and your worries. Photos and a rough footprint are enough to start.
We design the run around your home and site, spec the predator-proofing, and give you one written price.
If your city or HOA needs paperwork, we handle it — we're the builder of record, and it's our job.
Our crew site-builds most runs in one to three days, walks you through every latch, and leaves the yard clean.
Where We Build Dog Runs
Our crews design and build custom dog runs across Arizona — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Mesa and the surrounding Valley — and throughout Maryland, from Baltimore to Frederick, Annapolis and the DC suburbs. We also build across Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Outside these states? We offer design-only services for other states — ask about a design package.
What Monument Clients Say
Real five-star reviews from our Google Business Profile — including the covered dog pen we designed and built for two four-pound Yorkies in coyote country. Same crews, same predator-proof engineering.
"We've actually had a coyote jump over our block wall into the backyard, and we've even had an owl sitting on our patio cover — so we knew we needed something more secure than a typical dog run. They designed a safe, secure, covered dog pen… built on-site by skilled carpenters using high-quality materials. It gives us peace of mind knowing our little Yorkies are protected."
Ruth M. — Google review
"If you want a catio built, hire this company. They did a fantastic job. The entire crew was professional, organized, and kept the workspace super clean. Their communication was next-level… The final result is amazing and my cat is already obsessed with it. Five stars!"
Jeff M. — Google review
"Monument Catios will get you right the first time, my fur babies have never been happier and it's SO nice only connecting with a single contact for a project."
Olivia C. — Google review
"I have a smaller space in Scottsdale and honestly wasn't sure a cat wall would even be possible. Monument Catios proved me completely wrong… My cats are obsessed! If you're on the fence because of limited square footage, don't be — these guys will figure it out."
Elizabeth L. — Scottsdale, AZ
"We asked them to design a custom cat shelf system that would allow our cats to make their way around the living room without ever having to touch the floor, and they really took the time to get it right… Our cats absolutely love it. I would absolutely recommend Monument Catios."
Brian — Google review
"We hired Monument Catios to give our two kitties a forever playground from kitchen through dining and living room walls. We've had tons of compliments already… Thomas and Luz were wonderful, accessible, and very open to changes. Our kitties couldn't be happier!"
Elizabeth D. — Google review
"I had seen a bunch of cat walls on TikTok and wanted to add one for my cat Stormi, but just had no idea how and couldn't find anyone to help. I then found the team at Monument Catios and it's been such an amazing experience planning and designing a set up for my chonk!"
Jenny A. — Google review
"I got in touch with Monument Catios to design an enclosure for my parents' two cats at their house, and it's been a great experience. The team have been super responsive, transparent, and are clearly cat lovers."
Marc G. — Google review
"The team is extremely kind, caring and responsive. I've had a great experience speaking with them, I would highly recommend to my other friends."
Abigail M. — Google review
Verbatim excerpts from public reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Dog Run Questions, Answered
How much does a custom dog run cost?
Most Monument dog runs land between $3,500 and $10,000+, depending on footprint, roof type, predator-proofing depth, and site conditions. A small covered run on level ground sits at the low end; a large architecture-matched run with a solid roof, buried dig guard, and turf or pavers sits at the top. Every quote starts with a free design consultation and a fixed written price — one contract, no surprises.
Who builds custom dog runs in Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina?
Monument Catios designs and builds custom dog runs and outdoor dog kennels across Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. We are a licensed builder — AZ ROC #364641, MD MHIC #167535-02, PA HIC #PA214722 — and our own crew does the construction under one contract. We started as catio builders, which means every run is engineered to a predator-proof standard most kennel companies never attempt.
What makes a dog run coyote-proof?
Four things, working together: 14-gauge galvanized steel mesh a coyote cannot bite or tear through; a dig guard — mesh buried at the base or run outward as an anchored ground skirt — so it cannot tunnel under; full roof coverage, because coyotes climb and clear six-foot fences; and self-latching, two-point hardware raccoons and clever paws cannot open. A roof also protects small dogs from hawks and owls. We publish these specs because partial protection is not protection.
How is a custom dog run different from a prefab kennel?
A prefab kennel is a product that gets dropped in your yard; a custom dog run is a small building designed for your yard. We site-build with framed lumber and galvanized steel mesh, match rooflines and finishes to your home, work around slopes, trees, patios and existing fences, and engineer predator-proofing into the structure instead of bolting panels together. It looks like it belongs, and it holds up.
Is a dog run better than chain link fencing?
For containment and protection, yes. Chain link flexes, gaps at the base, can be climbed by predators, and has no roof — which leaves diggers, jumpers, and anything hunting from above unaccounted for. A framed run with welded galvanized mesh, a dig guard, and a covered top closes every one of those routes, and it looks like part of your home rather than a cage in the yard.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval for a dog run?
Sometimes. Requirements vary by city, county and HOA — setbacks, height limits, and attached-versus-freestanding rules all come into play. Because we are a licensed builder in Arizona, Maryland and Pennsylvania — and build in North Carolina under the state licensing threshold — we handle the permit and HOA questions as part of the design process and build to your local rules from day one.
How long does a custom dog run take?
Design and quoting typically take one to two weeks. Once approved, most dog run builds are completed in one to three days on site, depending on size, roofing and ground work. Larger runs with solid roofs, electrical, or extensive dig guards can run longer — your written timeline is part of the quote.
Can you build for large dogs, diggers, or escape artists?
That is exactly who we build for. Escape-proofing is our home turf — we spent years designing catios, where the animal inside is a professional escape artist. For big dogs we spec heavier framing and taller walls; for diggers, buried mesh or an anchored ground skirt; for climbers and jumpers, a full roof. Tell us the breed and the habits and we design to them.
Let's Design Your Dog's Run
Tell us about your dog and your yard. You'll get a custom design and a fixed written price — no pressure, no obligation.
- Custom design for your yard and your dog
- Fixed written price and timeline
- Permit & HOA guidance included
- Licensed & insured, one contract
AZ ROC #364641 · MD MHIC #167535-02 · PA HIC #PA214722