subject: Tips On Building A Backyard Dog House [print this page] Dog houses are designed to protect your four legged companion from rain, snow, and wind. By having a dog house in your backyard will be giving your best friend his own home. However if temperatures get extremely cold or hot, be sure your dog has access to an area with moderate temperatures. A dog house will not give protection from extreme temperatures.
If you decided to build your own dog house, then you will need to look for dog house plans. By having a blueprint for your dogs house you will undoubtedly make the project easier. Some things to consider before you build will be size, roof design, location, what type of dog, and type of material to use.
Your dog house shouldn't be too large, however it shouldn't be too small either. Build it big enough for the canine to stretch and turn around in. It's good to know that if it is to big the dog's body heat will be lost when temperatures are cold.
The two most favored dog house designs include the gable roof as well as the sloped roof. With a sloped roof the dog is likely to lay on top. If your dog uses the sloped roof to lie down, do not add shingles. Shingles tend to get to hot throughout the summer, plywood will be more appropriate.
When designing your own dog house, make sure you have easy access to the inside. This will make it much easier for cleaning. If it is big you should have enough access, but if it's small, adding hinges to one of the sides might prove to be smart.
Be sure to build it off the ground. This keeps the dog out of contact with damp soil. It also prevents the wood from rotting and extends the life of the doghouse you worked so hard to build.
Pressure-treated wood is fantastic at standing up to moisture and rot because it's impregnated with arsenic and heavy metals. It's therefore best (as these are poisonous to pets and people) to avoid using it for the floor, walls or other areas of the dog house which will come into contact with your dog.
