Build a Great Dog House
647 critical things to think about before building a dog house
First things first. If you are interested in building a safe, warm, comfortable home for your outdoor dog, here are some things you need to think about.
1. First, consider your local weather conditions. Does your area have very severe winters ? How about summers? Do you have many days in the high '90s or even in the 100s? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, you will want to think strongly about building an insulated dog house. On the other hand, if you live in a mild area such as Southern California, insulation may not be a factor in selecting a good dog house plan.2. Measure your dog's height and length -- so you can to build a dog house that will be the right size. I can't think of any thing more discouraging that spending many hours building a house for your pet only to find it's way too small or too large. And if you are building a dog house for a puppy, be sure to take into consideration how big he will be when fully grown.3. Double check your list of materials and buy everything before you start building. This can save you a lot of aggravation and repeated trips to your building materials center or hardware store.4. Should youk get a friend to help? It is true that four hands are better than two. Plus your friend might spot something that needs to be done that you had missed. However, keep in mind that only one person can be in charge of the project and that one person should be you.5. Don't forget the carpenter's golden rule, "measure twice and cut once. That one rule can save you a lot of aggravation and wasted materials.6. Do you need to worry about building codes? In some cities and towns there are codes that restrict what you can and cannot build on your property.7. Finally, what about your skills as a carpenter? If you are not experienced in do-it-yourself projects, you might be better off either buying a dog house kit or a finished dog house. Also, consider how fancy a dog house you want to build. If your goal is to build a simple snoopy style dog house, you may need only beginner's carpentry skills. However, if your idea is to build an elaborate dog house, for example, something that would match your house's architectural style, you better be a pretty experienced carpenter.
- Dog House Plans 360 - Home Page
Go to this site for more information on dog house plans, dog house kits, dog houses - and helpful information about building a geat dog house.
Free dog house plans
f you want to build a dog house but are not much of a do-it-yourselfer, take heart.. There are free dog house plans available from a number of web sites.
But before you order any plans, make sure you have done your home work and know what to look for, such as.
1. Make sure the dog house plan you order will keep your dog comfortable in any weather. If your area has cold winters or hot summers, you should probably build an insulated dog house.2. Measure your dog's height and length -- so you can to build a dog house that will be the right size. If your dog is a puppy, make size adjustments in the plan so you build a house that fits the dog when fully grown.
3. Are there building codes in your area city or town? If so, be sure you understand them before ordering any free dog house plans.4. The best free dog house plan should either include a partial wall or be large enough that you can add a partial wall. This is so that the dog can escape the elements as necessary.
5. Does the free dog house plan you're evaluating have a hinged roof? If not, would it be easy to add hinges? This is important because it makes for easy cleaning. You see, when you clean your dog, you should make sure you also clean the dog house and bedding.Some good sources for free dog house plansThere are several sources for free dog house plans I think are worthwhile. They are:LowesLowe's has a nice free dog house plan but it is rated Skill Level: Advanced, so treed carefully unless you're a pretty experienced carpenter. This plan has a complete bill of materials, a cut list, information about the paint recommended, and a list of roofing, fasteners and the tools required. There are good instructions for constructing the dog house and a downloadable PDF of the actual plan.All-about-dog-housesThis site offers a free dog house plan rated "intermediate," so the house should be easier to construct than the one offered by Lowe's. It's called the "Sparky I," and features an insulated floor, roof, and walls, a removable roof for ease of cleaning, a cedar deck with roof, and an optional inner wall. The plan includes a drawing and materials list, and information on the four steps required to build it.DIY networkThis page from the DIY Network consists of a free dog house plan and instructions for building it. There are photos illustrating the various construction steps and a list of the materials required. However, there is no cut diagram so I would rate this plan as more for the advanced DIYers.Georgia-Pacific Building MaterialGeorgia-Pacific has a free dog house plan for a dog house designed to provide a sturdy shelter for a medium sized dog. The G-P dog house plan comes as a PDF documents and includes a materials and cut list, a cutting diagram, helpful good illustrations, and step-by-step instructions for building the dog house. A custom dog houseIf you're a serious DIYer and feel up to tackling the construction of a custom dog house, this site offers a free dog house plan may be just what the doctor ordered. Landscape architect Louise Leff created this plan. There are instructions for building this custom dog house and photos illustrating the various steps.How to keep that best friend warm this winter
How will you keep your dog safe and warm this winter?
You see, when it's really cold. In winter in some parts of the country, the temperature gets so cold that a dog's body heat and furry coat is NOT sufficient to keep a dog warm in his doghouse. If that's the case in your part of the country, you need to think about adding a mat or heater to your doghouse - to make sure your dog stays healthy and comfortable no matter the weather.
Heated mats and throws
One popular way to heat a dog house (and the dog) is with a heated mat or pad. The advantages of a heated pad are that they require no maintenance, have no moving parts to get out of whack, are completely safe and can also be used in an unheated garage and basement. Most have an internal thermostat and some manufacturers offer an optional temperature control rheostat for heat adjustment.
Another alternative is to buy your dog its own heated throw or dog bed. A heated throw will cost about $73 for a large size.
The cost of a heated pad varies from $43.59 for the small size up to $66.99 for the large. A thermo throw will normally cost about $73 for the large size.
Heaters
Another good way to keep your dog warm is with a dog house heater. One heater I found, The Hound Heater I, is 5.5" x 5.5" x 5.5") and is said to produce dry, reliable heat. When it's zero degrees Fahrenheit outside, the dog house will stay around 40-degrees F. This manufacturer also offers a small version called the Hound Heater II. It's a smaller version of the Hound Heater and uses a light bulb to keep the temperature at a constant 130 degrees when the outside temperature is below freezing. The manufacturer says, "The best part is, it is so safe and easy to install. It is made out of galvanized metal so it is super strong and will last for many years, unlike your traditional mat heaters." The cost of Hound Heater I is $54.95 and Hound Heater II is $52.95.
Combination heater/cooler
A third alternative is a combination heater/cooler for areas that are both cold in the winter and hot in the summer. I was able to find only one example of this, the portable PetCool unit. This unit looks very easy to install with 2500 BTU heating and cooling capacity. The manufacturer says that it "adjusts automatically to maintain a constant comfortable range of temperatures both as a dog house heater for winter and dog house air conditioner for summer, while also providing additional functionality as a de-humidifier lowering humidity levels 70%. Washable pollen filters control pet dander and hair, and slip out quickly and easily."
Be forewarned that this heater/cooler is not cheap with a price tag of $415.95.
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dog houses says:
6 months ago
I very much agree with what your article says. Every dog needs a home, a shelter on which your dog spends its nights, naps and lazy times, a place to keep them warm on winter seasons. Show your dog how much you care by building his or her home. Dog houses are really beneficial to your pet.