Building a Dog House - 5 Easy Tips

Are you interested in building a dog house for your best friend? Here are some easy tips to think about when considering the type of shelter you want to provide for your dog.

The first thing you need to think about is how big you want your new shelter to be. The house needs to be big enough to accommodate the size of your dog. We as humans are comfortable with about 2 feet of air above us in a room. This allows us to not feel claustrophobic. Your dog will most likely enjoy this same comfort in his new environment too.

In order to determine how much room your dog will need you will simply need to measure him. You want to measure him while he is standing up, sitting down, and also measure him while he is stretched out and relaxing. He needs to be able to see out the front of the house both while sitting and while standing. If the entrance is not high enough, your dog will have to lower his shoulders and may even scrape his belly. Be sure to measure the width of the widest point of his shoulders.

When building the dog house, you want to make sure that it is raised several inches from the ground. This allows air and water to flow underneath the house. You also want to make sure to ventilate well by putting holes underneath the eaves of the dog house. Make them small, about the size of a nickel.

If you live in an area that is prone to high winds and extremely cold weather, consider installing a wind block. This will allow your dog to warm the area inside the dog house with the heat of his own body.

It is also a good idea to slant the floor slightly toward the doorway of the house. This will help avoid rain from coming in.

Consider the direction that you build the dog house facing. Most storms come in from the West and the South. You want to face the house in a different direction. Most professionals recommend facing the house to the East. This will prevent cold air and rain from coming through the door of the dog house.

Finally, it is a good idea to put hinges on the roof of your new dog house. It will make it easy to clean the inside and change out the bedding. It is always a good idea to keep your new dog's home clean and tidy.

Remember that you want your new dog house to be a comfortable place for your dog, and one that provides protection from the harsh weather. Follow these simple steps and you are on your way to building the perfect new home for your dog.