How to Build a Perfect Dog House
Building the perfect dog house for your dog is not only a fun family project, but also a great way to protect your dog from the elements. Here's how to build a perfect dog house.
The American Humane society recommends making the doghouse relative to the size of your dog:
House Height = dog’s height + 9”
House Width = dog’s length + 12”
House Length = dog’s length + 18”
Once you have the dimensions, purchase the appropriate amount of materials.
You want to raise the house on a platform to better insulate it from the elements. So your first step, after figuring out the length and width of your doghouse, will be to make a base frame out of pressure treated 2x4. Add floor joists for stability, and then butt the joints together with weather resistant screws. Cut a piece of ¾” plywood as your flooring, and screw it to the frame.
Next you will cut your sides to match. Creating a slanted roof design, higher in the front and lower in the back, can be achieved by laying the wood for the sidepieces on top of each other, and using a straight edge mark the desired angle for the roof slope. Cut using a circular or saber saw. Secure the sides to the base frame. Cut front and rear pieces to match the height and width.
You may want to brace the corners with extra plywood, to strengthen the frame and eliminate drafts.
You can insulate the walls with rigid foam, but if you do so, be sure to cover it up with a secondary piece of plywood, so that your pet does not ingest any of the foam.
Have your dog stand in front of the house, and mark its height and width. Cut a door, which runs 2” taller and 3” wider than your dog.
The roof should be cut with a slight overhang to aid in rain falling away from the house. You can use a hinge on the low end to provide easy access for cleaning, or simply screw it to the walls. You should shingle or otherwise waterproof the roof.
Furnish the inside with some sort of bedding: straw, dog bed, blankets, etc.
