Kennel/ˈkenl/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Physical Structure Refers to the dog's shelter, typically made from wood, plastic, or metal. The stray dog found refuge in an abandoned kennel. Pro Tip 2/3Size Varies Kennels can vary in size, fitting small puppies to large breeds. The Great Dane barely fit into the oversized kennel. Pro Tip 3/3Outdoor Use Kennels are often used outdoors to give dogs their own space. She placed the kennel under a tree for shade.