Dog Houses 101
 

Building an attractive and safe doghouse doesn't have to be a complicated project. Just keep a few basic principles in mind:

Principles

• The house should have a floor which sits far enough above ground to prevent water from entering on the rainiest days. Raising the floor will also isolate it from the cold ground in the winter.
• Consider your dog's habits. For example, some dogs like to sit on top of their house. If you suspect that this may be the case with your dog, don't put any roll roofing or shingles on the top of the house since they can get hot in the summer sun. Just use an exterior plywood panel, treated with a nontoxic preservative like linseed oil. (The doghouse in this how-to uses a traditional peaked roof design, but could easily be modified to incorporate a slanted roof.)
• Scale the dimensions up or down as necessary to accommodate your dog. It should be large enough to allow your pet to turn around easily in it. Don't make it too large, since a smaller house is more easily heated by the dog's natural body heat—an important consideration in winter.

Location of your doghouse

When building your dog house or buying it, be sure to have thought about where you plan to place the house.  Do not put the dog house on the bottom end of a slope, no matter how slight, as water could flood in. If you have a large dog house make sure that it is not near a fence that the dog could jump over the fence. Small dog houses can be conveniently concealed in hedges and your dog might enjoy the solitude as well.  When putting the dog house in place make sure that you do not put it inline with the prevailing wind that blows during the winter months.

Weather and the type of doghouse

The types of weather in your region play a part in deciding what type of doghouse to buy as well. If the winter season brings snow and cold temperatures you might want get an insulated doghouse. Normally a doghouse does not have interior walls but if plan to have an insulated doghouse than this will be a necessity.  Keep in mind that if the temperature drops too low, it would be better to bring your canine friend inside. When designing the insulated doghouse remember to keep the walls about a foot out from where the dog will lie down to sleep. This house should not be too big as the body heat from the dog is what warms the insulated doghouse. One more note here: Make sure that the insulation is well out of reach of Fido. If bored, he will want to chew and eat the insulation and no dog, or human for that matter, should be eating insulation.

If you live in a sunnier climate than heat will be more of an issue and you will need to be sure to include plenty of water in your doghouse. If you build the doghouse, you might want to consider installing a self-feeding water dish.  A solar doghouse is the ideal solution for both summer and winter climates, as the solar panes will magnify the heat inside of the doghouse or can deflect the suns rays during the hot season.

Features of your doghouse

Take accurate measurements when building your doghouse. If you plan to buy a fabricated doghouse, you still need to know a few dimensions. First, make sure that the structure has adequate over hang on the roof to allow water to run off from the house. With a small doghouse, it is advisable to raise the structure a little off the ground or make sure that it is at the top of a slope.

Take measurements of your dog while lying down, standing up, and the shoulder width. Then decide whether you are going to have a big doghouse or a small doghouse. Here are a few pointers: Make sure the door is tall enough so that the dog does not have to lower its head much. Next, make each side of the doorway about four inches wider than the dog. You should compensate for a small puppy now that becomes a big dog later. The length of the doghouse should be a foot or longer than when your dog is lying down, and when it is stretching.

If you have more than one dog you should consider if you want to build a large doghouse that will easily fit  two or more dogs, or if you want the dogs to have separate houses. There are many sites on the web for buying houses for two dogs or more. Some have a single door and the larger doghouses have multiple doors and rooms within.

Another consideration is how often you travel with your favorite pet. If Fido really loves his doghouse and prefers to sleep in one, you can buy a travel tent made just for your furry friend. They look just like a regular dome tent but made especially for dogs. That means they are tear resistant and provide adequate shade.

There are many factors to consider for buying the proper doghouse for your loveable four-legged pet. Take the time to get the measurements of your dog and decide where the best spot in the yard to keep your dog happy and safe.