Best Dog House for a Large Breed Dog

Badger, my great big dog, needed a great big house. He stands 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs 92 pounds, so he doesn't fit even in large dog houses.

We had already bought Badger an outdoor kennel. Even though it's covered with a tarp, heavy rain can blow in, and there's a shallow runoff all over the yard. Badger loves the cold and rain, but I still didn't want him lying down in running water!

So we needed a house big enough for a tall, long dog. It had to be slightly elevated so the water wouldn't get in, and with ventilation so Badger wouldn't overheat in the muggy southern summers. And solidly constructed and easy to clean, too.

Well, there weren't many choices to match all these criteria. But we finally found a great one!

[Photos by Valerie Proctor Davis]

The Petmate Indigo extra large dog house is made for dogs up to 31 inches at the shoulder and 42 inches nose to tail,and up to 125 pounds, so there's plenty of room for my big guy. It's an igloo style, with a covered offset entrance to keep off rain and sun, and a round interior so the dog can circle and curl up.

It has a covered ventilation opening at the top, so the body heat can rise and be dissipated. Note that this can be opened or closed - make sure it's set to "open". A small space needs ventilation, especially in this climate.

I liked the fact that it's only two pieces, with heavy built-in clips joining them. There's very little to break! It's not heavy, though the large size makes the dome a bit awkward to carry. Since it's made of a heavy composite, it can be hosed out. The water runs out of the drain channels and holes.

The base is elevated about an inch on the inside, and has good drainage. Badger stays nice and dry even during heavy rains and winds.

You can get additional amenities to fit the extra-large Indigo dog house. A padded mat softens the floor; a clear door flap provides even more rain protection; and a covered heating element keeps the area toasty warm.

Scroll down for more pictures and details!

The house has only two pieces, a base and a dome. They both feel strong and solid. First I set the base in place, then aligned the dome over it and clipped them together.

The base has a channel all around, with drain holes in the front and back. Any water that blows or is tracked in will run right out.

The top is held to the base by four sturdy clips. When I got the top aligned properly over the clips, its own weight snapped it into place. There are release catches so it can be taken apart for cleaning.

Badger likes to lie and watch the rain from his new house.