10 Best Dog House Plans

Has your dog outgrown his present backyard accommodation?  Has he had it for a long time, so that it is beginning to look a bit cruddy and – pardon the pun – dog-eared? Or a bit too weathered? Is it time you thought about new living quarters for your pet canine?

Perhaps it is time you looked at some dog house plans.

Outdoor dog houses tend to be fairly simple structures, but need to be rugged and weather-proof.  Most people also want their dog houses to reflect the respect and affection which they have for their pets, so the building should look good and be a healthy place for its occupant as well.

If you are thinking about building a dog house yourself, you will probably need a good set of dog house plans to help you do the job properly.

We can show you where to get these, but first we should examine what makes a well-designed retreat for your dog.

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The primary consideration must be protection from the weather, mainly wind and rain but also shelter from a hot sun.  This will mean proper sealing of joins and seams, insulation from damp, cold and heat, perhaps provision of shade above the doorway (dogs often like to doze just outside their house). It is a good idea to design the floor to be off the ground, to stop it from rotting and to prevent rising damp.

Proper ventilation is very important.  Dogs can overheat easily, so they must have adequate ventilation in an outdoor dog house during hot periods.  In cold weather their breath can cause condensation, leading to damp inside the kennel.  Good for mould, not good for healthy dogs.  You must build in good vents to allow a flow of air into and out of a wooden dog house.

Do not use treated timber for dog houses, it is not a safe material for animal housing.

Remember that you will need access for cleaning out the dog house from time to time.  Perhaps have a removable wall or hinged roof, or at least a large door or panel that can be opened for this purpose.

Lastly, choose the right size of house for your particular dog.  He will need to be able to walk in, turn round and lie down fully stretched.  Do not make wood dog houses too large, because dogs need to snuggle down in cold weather and use their body heat to keep warm.  Too much space will make this harder for him.

Cheap dog houses are perfectly possible, especially if you use the dog house building plans we recommend.  Making a good, sound kennel should cost you no more than about $100 and take you perhaps a day or so to do.  Basic wooden dog houses are simply a floor, 4 walls and a roof, but you will probably want to see a range of dog house designs for making a more professional looking building.

This is where our 10 Best Dog House Plans come in.  You will find a good selection of designs to choose from, together with detailed materials lists and, of course, the plans themselves.  There are also sketches and diagrams to show you exactly what to do, if you are a novice at this. The dog house blueprints kit costs only a few dollars, and there is a money-back guarantee if you are not happy for any reason, which we think is essential for any online purchase these days.

You will also get over 13,900 other great plans as well, for lots of other backyard projects, but that is another story!

Click here to check out the best dog house plans online