More Tips For Building a Great Dog House

You don't want to invest a lot of time, effort and money into building a dog house only to find that your dog won't use it. So, here are some tips for building a great dog house that you dog will love and will use.

1. Most of us like houses where there is at least two feet of air above our heads - in order to avoid feelings of claustrophobia. This comfort zone translates into about 1/3 of our standing height. You should allow your dog the same amount of airiness. 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.

2. The dog house should be raised a few inches off the ground to allow water and air to flow under it. Also, be sure there is adequate ventilation. For example, you can drill a few nickel-sized holes in the walls under the eaves to do the trick.

3. Install s a wind block inside the house so the dog can use its own heat to warm things up when it is cold or windy.

4. When evaluating dog house plans, look for a plan 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 into its "inner sanctum" to get warmer. Both areas could have bedding or a pillow such as a cedar-filled pillow to discourage fleas.

5. Slant the dog house just a bit toward the door. This makes certain that if any rain enters via the ventilation holes or doorway, it will drain out the door. Also, make sure you slant the roof to ensure proper run-off.

6. You do not need to paint the inside of the dog house but do make sure it is insulated correctly.

7. Build dog house door to face away from storms. Good dog houses are usually built facing east as most storms come from the north or west. That way, in the winter, a cold north wind will not whip cold or snow into the dog's entryway.

8. Put hinges on the roof for easy cleaning. When you clean the dog, make sure you also clean the dog house and bedding. After all, you would not want to sleep in a room that hasn't been cleaned for months or a bed where the sheets haven't been changed for weeks and your dog deserves to be treated the same way.

9. There are also some things to think about when choosing a site for the dog house. For example, it should not be placed in an area that drains poorly, or where rain frequently accumulates. The dog house should not be sited near a river or stream where it (and your dog) could be swept away by a flood. Also, do not put the dog house on an unstable ledge where erosion or a seismic effect could cause trouble. You should think about aesthetic concerns such as do you want the dog house easily visible from your street or road or concealed.

 10. Also, 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 put roll roofing or shingles on the top of the dog house since they can get very hot in the summer. Jus use an exterior plywood panel treated with a nontoxic preservative like linseed oil. Also, you should probably choose a dog house plan with a slanted roof and not a peaked roof.

You can get some good dog house plans free. Click on this link to learn more Free dog house plans

There are some neat dog house kits that make it really easy to build a great dog hous. Click here for more details Dog House Kits