Buy a Dog House

If you have no interest or no time to build a dog house - or even assemble a kit - or are concerned that you do not have the necessary skills, your best bet might be to buy a finished dog house. 

Before you choose a dog house, there are factors you need to take into consideration. In my mind, the most important of these are:

1. Consider your local weather conditions. Does your area have very severe winters? How about summers? Do you have many days in the high '90s or even in the 100s? If you can answer "yes" to either of these questions, you will want to think about buying an insulated dog house. On the other hand, if you live in a an area with moderate weather year-round, you may not need to worry about insulation in selecting a dog house.

2. Measure your dog, it's height and length -- so you can to buy a dog house that will be the right size. If you buy a house that's too small, your dog will be uncomfortable and may not want to use it. Buy one that's too big and your dog may not be able to stay warm when the weather grows chilly. Most of us like houses where there is at least two feet of air above our heads. This comfort zone translates into about 1/3 of our standing height. You should allow your dog the same amount of head room. Figure out how tall the dog is (or will be when fully grown) and then make sure the dog house ceiling or roof is at least 1/3 taller than this.

3 When evaluating dog houses, look for one that either includes a partial wall or is large enough that you can add a partial wall.  This is so that the dog can escape the elements as necessary. If the weather is bad, the dog can choose to either sleep in the entry room or go around the inner wall to get warmer. Both areas could have bedding or a pillow such as a cedar-filled pillow to discourage fleas.

4. Look for a dog house where there are hinges on the roof for easy cleaning. When you clean the dog, make sure you also clean the dog house and bedding. .

5. Be sure to consider your dog's habits. Some dogs like to sit on top of their house. If you think this may be true of your dog, don't buy a dog house with roll roofing or shingles since they can get very hot in the summer. Instead, look for one with an exterior plywood panel treated with a nontoxic preservative like linseed oil. Also, you should probably choose a dog house with a slanted roof and not one with a high peak.

Where to buy a dog house

Here are three other links to sources for buying a dog house

http://www.dog.com/doghouse.asp?
Category=Dog%20Houses&catID=640

http://www.dog.com/doghouse.asp?
Category=Dog%20Houses&catID=640

http://www.cedarwoodfurniture.com/doghouses.html

To learn more about these sources

Click on this link for more information about these three places to buy dog houses.

If your dog needs training

SitStayFetch Is The No. 1 Dog Training And Behavior Product On The Net And Has Been For Over 2 Years. Click Here! for more information on this remarkable system.

intereested in some great tips on building a dog house? Click on this link More Tips for Building a Great Dog House