How To Make a Dog House

Get Tips for Building a Small or Large Dog House

Building a dog house can provide your dog with a comfortable place to sleep when outdoors. The dog house can provide shade in the summer, protection from rain or snow during inclement weather and simply a place for your dog to relax any time of year.

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Before attempting to build an outdoor dog house, you should consider a number of factors including the following:

  • Size of the dog
  • Location of the dog house
  • Climate of the location.
  • Budget of the project

All of these factors are important because they will help you to determine the size of the dog house you will build, the materials you will use in construction and other considerations such as the placement of the dog house once it is constructed. After you make all of these decisions, it’s time to begin your wooden dog house project.

How To Make a Dog HouseEven if you have never completed a project of this nature, with some simple guidance and some woodworking knowledge, you can build your own dog house for your canine companion.

Don’t worry if you need to build a large dog house or a small dog house–these instructions will work for all sizes of dogs. The following steps will guide you through the process of building a dog house.

1. Planning your project is the first step in the design process. Determine the size, shape and materials you wish to use in your project. Plywood is a good choice because it’s easy to work with. As a dog house is used for both shelter and recreation for the dog make sure the size of dog house you construct will be large enough to accommodate your dog at his full size. If your dog is a puppy it might be wise to either wait until he is fully grown or construct the dog house to accommodate the larger end of the breed spectrum.

2. Once you have determined the dimensions of your dog house, it is time to begin construction. In most cases, wood is an appropriate material for a dog house and for the purposes of this article we will assume the dog house will be constructed of wood.

3. Floor structure: The floor structure can be constructed of 70x35mm (3 x 1.5 inches) pieces of pressure-treated timber. The pieces will be measured and cut to create a footprint of the desired size, and joists should be included as necessary. For larger dog houses this may include joists at every 400mm (16 inches). Please note that pressure treated lumber should not be used in locations where the dog may chew on the wood, as it contains chemicals that may be harmful to the dog. Any structure that will not be covered with a layer of untreated timber should not utilize pressure-treated timber.

4. The framework for the floor can then be covered in plywood. Thicker plywood such as 12mm (1/2″) thick plywood may be necessary for larger dogs, but 5mm (3/8″) may be acceptable for smaller breeds.

5. Sidewalls and back wall structure: The structure for the sidewalls and the back wall can be created of 70x35mm (3×1.5 inch) pieces of timber forming a square or rectangular shape. Again, studs can be placed every 400mm (16 inches) along the structure if necessary.

6. Front structure: The front structure of the dog house typically includes the entrance for the dog. This structure is comprised of 70x35mm (3×1.5 inch) timber again and can consist of a horizontal piece and two vertical elements to form the door way. Alternately this piece can be replaced by a sidewall structure and one of the sidewalls can serve as the entrance.

7. Assembling the framework: Once the framework is completed, assemble the framework to the floor system. Wood screws and nails can be used to connect each element to the floor and L-brackets along with screws and nails can be used to join the sections to each other.

8. Roof joists: The roof joists can be assembled at a 30 degree angle to ensure rain will adequately run off the roof of the dog house. These joists can be notched precisely so they will sit firmly on top of the wall structures.

9. Siding: Plywood of 3/8″ thickness can be used for the walls and roof. The siding should be cut precisely to ensure there will not be gaps in the structure and can be nailed directly to the framework.

10. Roof: Plywood of 5mm (3/8″) thickness can also be used for the roof. As with the siding, the roof can be screwed directly to the roof joists. Although the wood is sufficient, metal roofing, shingles or other decorative elements can also be added if desired.

11. Finishing the dog house: Exterior paint or a Deck finish stain can be used. The appearance of a dog house is largely a matter of personal preference, but care should be taken to ensure all materials used in painting or treating the house will not be toxic to your dog.

How To Make a Dog House

Caution:

· Shingles might not be such a good idea if your dog enjoys lounging on the roof; they get really hot in hot weather.

· Remember: pressure-treated wood is toxic and shouldn’t be placed where your dog can chew it.

If you type “Dog house plans” into Google you will see the many plans available but to keep it simple, try a skillion roof that protrudes out past the front wall to give rain protection.

Get your dog to lay down on the floor (or wait till he or she is asleep) and measure the space around the dog. This gives you the floor area. For example 900mm long by 750mm wide with a height of 750mm. Measure the height of your dog to make sure they can walk through the door into the dog house easily.

How To Make a Dog House

Good luck and remember, it does not need to be perfect, just practical.

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