How to Build a Wood Dog House

by Andrei Smith

Most dogs adapt well to outdoor living as long as they have access to
shelter. They also need to have a good place to escape from the
weather, and unless you’re willing to let him in the house.

Building a doghouse is a great family project, and may be a good
opportunity to involve the kids in a construction project.

Here are some of the tools you need in building a wood dog house:

•   Hammer
•   Table saw or Circular saw
•   Pen or pencil
•   Plywood
•   Paintbrush
•   Hearing Protection
•   Drill and Safety glasses.
•   Carpenter’s square
•   Tape measure
•   8′ 2×4 (to be cut into 2×2’s)
•   4′x8′ sheet of 5/8″ exterior siding
•   10′ 2×4, rated for outdoor use
•   Shingles (optional)
•   Finishing material (paint or nontoxic wood preservative)
•   Nails—16d for base, 8d for house, and short roofing nails if using shingles

The first step you will have to take on this project is consider your
dog’s habits. For example, some dogs like to sit on top of their wood
dog house. If you suspect that this may be the case with your dog,
don’t put any roll roofing or shingles on the top of the house since
they can get hot in the summer sun. Just use an exterior plywood
panel, treated with a nontoxic preservative like linseed oil.

The next step is to measure the size of your dog, his or her height
sitting up, stretched out, length laying down, and measure his or her
width at its widest body part which is its shoulders. When your dog is
standing up, measure her from the top of her front shoulder to the
ground, tell her to sit and measure her from the top of the head to
the ground. Then just add about four inches to these measurements and
then you are ready to proceed. Figure out how much and what lumber you
will need.

Thick plywood is a suitable choice for the floor, roof and side walls.
After you have purchased your materials and measured and cut them, you
are now ready to build the
dog house
.
Insulate the doghouse. A wood dog house should protect your animal
from the elements and keep him warm. Use weatherproof plywood exterior
panels to build the outside walls. Then insulate the ceiling, floor,
walls with 1.5 inch Styrofoam sheets.

You may also want to paint your doghouse with black or white color. If
you live in a cold climate, paint the doghouse black. Black doghouses
absorb heat and stay warmer. But if you live in a warm climate, paint
the doghouse white. The color white reflects heat, keeping the
doghouse cool.

Outdoor living is not for every dog. If your dog is old and has lived
inside your house for a number of years, it will not adjust to living
outside, even with a doghouse. Acclimatize your dog to outdoor living
when it is young and the weather is warm. And once your dog starts
sleeping in a doghouse, she should stay there. Don’t bring her into
your house on some nights and leave her in the doghouse on others
because then she will never fully adjust to outdoor living.

The author is a pet lover connected to a company that provides a wide variety of wood dog house products, dog proof fencing and dog pens at affordable rates.