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Brian, Woodworker
2,153 satisfied customers
Licensed Contractor - 17 years
Brian, Woodworker
2,153 satisfied customers
So you have two big dogs, and like any dog lover does, you want to give them a little space of their own. Dog houses are a great choice, but they require a lot of planning and work.
Here are a couple building plans that can help get you started on a place for your two best friends to chill and hangout.
Tools and Materials Needed
- Hammer and nails and/or power drill
- Circular saw
- Wood
- Dust Mask
- Goggles/Protective Eyewear
- Measuring Tape
- Asphalt Shingles
- Paint + Brush
- Carpet (For high-class dogs with taste)
Before you get started building that wonderful house for your canine companion, you will first want to draw up some sort of plan detailing exactly how your dog house is going to look.
Grab yourself a couple sheets of paper and head on over to the drawing board.
You should be able to complete the entire dog house in one weekend.
From there you will need to figure out exactly what the dimensions of the dog house should be, what type of materials you plan to use, and where exactly you are going to build this thing in your backyard.
Another thing to consider is what kind of roof you wish to install on the dog house, what color you wish to paint it, and so on. Make sure that all the materials you are using are dog friendly.
Things to consider when drawing up plans are the size of the dog, ventilation and insulation, safe from whatever elements affect your area most frequently, and the aesthetics.
Important Dog House Considerations
Size
You want to make a dog house that is big enough to fit your dogs, but isn’t overly big. The general rule of thumb is to create a space large enough for your dog to stand up, stretch out, and turn around completely in.
Air Flow
It’ll be too hot inside if there is not any proper ventilation installed. Good ventilation will save your dogs from overheating during the summer months, and insulation will help keep your dog warm during the colder months. If you are building a more basic dog house, then you only need to be concerned with ventilation.
The Elements
Whether it rains, snows, or the sun shines all day. Determine what type of weather is most common in your area, and include some details in your plans on ways to fight the elements. Some common ideas include building a platform and/or large roof if it rains frequently.
Materials
Since this for your dogs, you’ll want to avoid using pressure-treated wood. A nice alternative would be untreated softwood or plywood.
Next, you’ll need to head down to your local hardware store and collect your materials. Once you have everything to begin building just head on into that backyard and get to it! Remember that their new dog house will be in your backyard, so make sure you like the plan before you get started.
Here are 5 Excellent Dog Plans To Check Out
Ron Hazelton
Ron’s website gives you detailed step-by-step instructions for building a doghouse that will stand through any sort of weather. If you are looking for more detail oriented projects, then I would highly recommend browsing through Ron’s website.
Tool Crib
Tool Crib gives you a list of 24 various dog house plans, each with their own specific perks and designs. The list is quite short for each dog house design, but gets straight to the point. If you’re just sifting through the internet in search of ideas to help brainstorm, then give this website a look.
Grit
If you don’t know where to start in drawing up your dog house plans, then this is a website you should check out. The article details all the various factors that you need to be aware of when you start building a doghouse, such as the ventilation, materials used, and so on.
MyOutdoorPlans
This website gives you highly detailed instructions for building a standard large-sized doghouse. The post includes what specific supplies and materials you will need to use, and also gives the reader the exact dimensions for the doghouse. If you are someone who is looking for a minimal effort project this is for you.
Lowes
On top of being an incredibly helpful home improvement store, this business also has multiple pages on their website devoted to building dog houses. The webpage describes different easy-to-build doghouses for different sizes, what materials and tools you will need, and a step-by-step instruction manual. This plan is great if you are someone who is looking to give minimal to a moderate effort.
All in all - hopefully this has been helpful getting you set up to start your big dog house build! If you're really ambitious and plan to make your own dog bed too, be sure to check out our list of the 15 best DIY dog beds as well.