How To Build A Dog House

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So you’re wondering how to build a dog house for your furry friend? Building a dog house can be a simple, fun project. But on the other hand if you get it wrong, it can be really frustrating, expensive and even a bit traumatic.

Everything is easy when you know how to do it. But if you do not know what you are doing then the simplest of tasks can seem like a rocket launch project. Believe me I know.

‘How to Build a dog house in a day’ was the sign at the local diy store. Yep right, three weeks later, marriage shaken, children asking ‘is it nearly done? for the hundreth time, and dog had bags packed threatening to sign himself into the local resuce centre!!. The all round winner was the DIY store who must have made millions from sales to people like us who kept getting it wrong and ruining the rawa mterials with each attempt.

Of course, there are several things that you need to think about before you start planning, or even learning how to build a dog house. Here are our tips, and also the reading materials and books we used. (We read hundreds, but we really can’t recommend them as they were useless).

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A do it yourself dog house has a big advantage over a ready made one. You can design it specifically for your own dogs needs. You will know your dog better than anyone. You will know what type of house will make them happy, and you will especially know their likes and dislikes when it comes to their every day habits. Like for example how much time you think your dog will spend in its new home.

If it is just for sleeping in then your furry friend may not need as much room or as many facilities. However if you are building a dog house for a dog that will spend a bit more time in it, then you will want to know how to build a dog house that will accommodate the dog during those times. You will probably need more space, and room for those items that you will want to put in their to keep your dog stimulated, entertained and stress free when you are not there with them.

After all if you are going to spend the time and love effort and build your own dog house then you will want Fido or Fidette to be happy in it. Remember if your dog is happy then you will be too.

Dogs are pack animals, and in the wild they never sleep out in the open… they always find or create a den. This gives them a safe, secure place to sleep, lie around with their family group, and raise and nurture their young. So when you are planning and building your dog house, keep in mind that this is going to be their den. Generally, they will eat and sleep inside, but will not want to defecate or urinate inside it. Make sure that they can easily access a place to go to the bathroom outside of their dog house.

How To Build A Dog House: Size

Your dog house needs to be large enough for him to easily and comfortably enter and exit, to stand up in, turn around in, and stretch out to full length in. However, you also don’t want to make it too big. If it is too large, then your dog will not be able to rely on his own body heat to keep it warm when the weather gets chilly.

Of course, you have to take in to account how easily you can get in to the dog house as well. Your dog can’t clean up after himself, and you will need to get in there once in a while to clean up. And if you feed your dog in the dog house, you’ll need easy access to get in and change the water and resupply the food. The easiest way to accomplish this is to build your dog house with roof that can be removed, or one of the walls can be removed or opened wide.

How To Build A Dog House: Location

It’s always a good idea to place your dog house close to or underneath some form of shelter. Usually, placing the dog house underneath a tree that provides lots of leafy shade in the warmer months and stays bare in the winter months is sufficient, and will help keep the dog house cool in summer and warm in winter. You don’t want to put it under a tree that stays ‘evergreen’ in winter, as the tree will hold snow and ice, which can then drop on top of the dog house.

You can also locate your dog house next to your own house, or against another structure such as a shed. The only thing you need to be aware of is that the sides of the building can either defend against heat and cold, or make it more intense.

How To Build A Dog House: Insulation

You need to insulate your dog house against wind, and of course against the cold. Simple things to do involve keeping the dog house elevated above the ground, so that the floor is not sitting directly on top of cold or wet grass, soil or cement. In the winter, cover the door with a thick curtain. Using thermal-ply insulation on the floor and walls will add warmth.

A word about the door. While you want it large enough for your dog to go in and out of comfortably and easily, you also don’t want it to be so large that the wind, rain and snow comes flying in. Your dog will need enough room to get away from the door, so that he isn’t forced to lie down or sleep right in front of the opening. Keep any supplemental heating at a distance from the door as well.