Way to Build a Dog House

Current survey information at OpinionTrone says most dog owners (over 50%) allow their pets on the family couch.Well, if you allow your pet on the couch, chances that you do not HAVE a dog house!

For those of you who wants to build a dog house, there are really good things to remember about how to build a dog house:

Make sure the house is big enough to accommodate your dog’s ultimate grown-up size. You would not like to live in a house whose ceiling was below your head height–neither would your dog. Most humans like about 2 feet of air above themselves in a room in order to live without feelings of claustrophobia! That comfort zone is about 1/3 of their standing height. Allow your pet the same airiness. Figure out how tall it will stand as a mature pet and make sure the ceiling of the dog house is 1/3 again taller!

Raise the house a few inches off the ground to allow air and water to flow beneath. Ventilation is important for the health of your dog and to dissuade pests from invading its home. A few nickel-sized holes in the walls under the eaves should be sufficient. Install a wind block inside the house so the dog can use the heat of its own body to warm up the area if it is really cold and windy outside. Have the house big enough so that a partial wall will allow the dog to escape the elements. The dog can choose whether to just sleep in the entry room or go around the inner archway maze wall into the inner sanctum. Both areas could have bedding or a pillow, such as one filled with cedar chips to discourage fleas.

Make the floor just the littlest bit slanted toward the doorway. Make certain that any rain that does enter via the ventilation holes or doorway automatically drains out. Make sure that the roof is built at a slant, as well, for obvious run-off reasons. Do not paint the inside of the house, but do make sure that the house is well insulated.

Make sure the dog house faces away from the major storm direction. In the U.S., most storms come from the south and west. Not all, but most! So, most suggest that the ideal placement of a dog house door is to the east. That way, even in the wintertime, the cold north wind will not whip inclement weather into the dog’s entryway.

If you live in an area with freezing cold winters and plenty of rain, you should consider a heated dog house or at least one that is well insulated and waterproof. If it’s really cold you can add in a heated bed or pad. Make sure you use a heated pad that’s designed for animals and not humans, as the latter can get too hot for a dog. Heated pet beds operate safely at a lower voltage and are usually built to be chew proof. Look for cedar chip stuffing, too, as it repels the fleas. If you are concerned that other dogs or critters from the neighborhood will take advantage of this cozy, warm haven, choose a dog house with a magnetic door that allows only your dog to enter.

If you have the opposite problem and keeping your dog cool is more of a priority, make sure you choose a house that is well ventilated and position it in a shaded area of the yard. If your dog is really having trouble with the heat, some manufacturers offer air conditioned dog houses. And you can find specialty dog beds such as the Canine Cooler that help keep you pet feeling comfortable, especially when temperatures head over 100 degrees.

Put hinges on the roof of the house for easy cleaning. When you clean the dog, you should clean its house and bedding–just as faithfully as you would wish your pet to be to you!

What if your pet refuses to go into the dog house?

It can be tough convincing your dog that this really is what’s best for him but there are ways to do so even if he is stubborn. Use his new home as a feeding location and he’ll soon grow to love it. As added incentive, leave some treats and toys inside his new abode.

Once you’ve decided upon your dogs needs, take a look at the choices online. You’ll find prices range from about $50 for a heated dog mat to several hundred dollars for a dog house that is insulated and heated. But when your dog heads out to his little house on that cold and rainy winter night you’ll feel good knowing he’s warm and cozy, and completely protected from the elements.

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