How To Build A Doghouse
Thinking of making a new kennel for your dog? Knowing how to build a doghouse is not difficult, but there are a number of essential design elements that all dog houses should have, and you need to consider these at the planning stage.
Outdoor dog houses are usually quite basic, but must 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 be both functional and smart.
If you are thinking about making the kennel yourself, you will probably need a good set of dog house building plans to help you do the job properly. We will show you where to get these, but first we should examine what makes a well-designed home for your dog, including:
- Shelter
- Ventilation
- Construction materials
- Access for maintenance
- Size
Click here to check out great plans to build a doghouse
The kennel must, first and foremost, be a good shelter from all sorts of weather – rain, wind, hot sun. This will mean proper sealing of joins and seams, insulation from damp, cold and heat. Perhaps provide 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. Wooden dog houses are very good at protecting your dog from both hot and cold weather, because of wood’s ideal insulating qualities.
Good ventilation is essential. Dogs overheat easily so must have a flow of air in the kennel at all times. In cold weather their breath can cause condensation, leading to damp inside a wooden dog house. Good for mould, not good for healthy dogs. You must build in good vents to allow a flow of air into and out of the dog house.
Do not use treated wood to build a dog house, it is not a safe material for animal housing.
Even the best dog house will need cleaning out occasionally so build in suitable access for maintenance. 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. There must be room for the dog to enter, turn around and lie down comfortably. It should be a snug fit so that the dog can use his own body heat at night to keep warm. If the kennel is too large the dog will not be able to do this.
Cheap dog houses are perfectly possible and do as good a job as the more expensive varieties. Making a good, sound dog house should cost you no more than about $100 and take you perhaps a day or so to do. Although a basic wood dog house is simply four walls, a roof and a floor, you will most likely want to see a range of designs to get ideas for a more professional model.
This is where our 10 Best Dog House Plans come in. They are part of the huge range of plans produced by Woodwork4Home, all of which are good quality and strongly recommended by us.
In this plans kit you will find a good selection of dog house plans (currently 10) to choose from, as well as clear step-by-step instructions and detailed materials lists that will show you how to build a doghouse right first time. There are lots of helpful drawings and diagrams to show how to make any obscure parts, in case you are a beginner at this. These plans for wood dog houses are surprisingly cheap and come with a good full-refund guarantee, which we demand for any online product we recommend.
Hopefully you will now know the basics of building a dog house. It can be done cheaply, quickly and easily using a good set of dog house plans. You will be able and keen to make a really professional standard house for your favorite dog. Why not give it a try this weekend?
Click here to check out how to build a doghouse for yourself
