Dog House Design

[Dr. Zack Jennings]

My sister and my Best Friend have those Dogaloo plastickal doghouses. Their dogs seem to really like them. I can see where these platickal houses are easy to move, stay dry, and block a lot of wind. They are probably easy to clean.

I have enough woodworking projects to last me the next 10 years. I have no experience with dogs.

<center>What's Your Opinion? Build a wood one or buy a Dogaloo?</center>

If your answer is "Build One", do you have any design suggestions? Things not to do? I will need a doghouse soon.

[Bob Oswin]

Originally posted by Dr. Zack Jennings
My sister and my Best Friend have those Dogaloo plastickal doghouses. Their dogs seem to really like them. I can see where these platickal houses are easy to move, stay dry, and block a lot of wind. They are probably easy to clean.

I have enough woodworking projects to last me the next 10 years. I have no experience with dogs.

<center>What's Your Opinion? Build a wood one or buy a Dogaloo?</center>

If your answer is "Build One", do you have any design suggestions? Things not to do? I will need a doghouse soon.

Yeah, I can help you out Zack.
Make darn sure she'll sleep two.

Bob

[Ben Mathews]

Tee Hee Hee. My doghouse is 24X28 and has a heater in it. When I have been really naughty there is the 6X10 on the lake. Seriously, though, it sounds like a worthy project and I wish I could help.

Ben

[Bill Pentz]

Having spent the afternoon with my own medical specialist, Dr. Oswin gave me my first laugh of the day. Thanks! :)

Anyhow, for a more serious answer to your question I built a nice doghouse that will almost sleep two adults, and does sleep my two Australian Shepherds. They proved pretty hyper. I figured that out all by myself when all the grass vanished totally worn off the lawn in one area and that spot needed swept instead of mowed! A mere few thousand dollars later met the aesthetic requirements for a matching wrought iron fence to go with the rest of the backyard (my last major decision being I do and had help with that!). Now this big dog run sits where the kids used to have their swing set and play area. That side of our home gets the worst of the weather here, and my custom doghouse had two windows, door, and fancy roof. It just did not cut it at all as the critters got cold and wet. They of course conned their way inside the house. Meanwhile, my vet friend said to go buy a big igloo as it stays much warmer, drains well so stays dry in even ugly weather, and the two are much happier. Score: My custom built dog house zero vs. igloo two!

My two cents..
:)

[Jim Izat]

Hey Zack,

I built (and will soon build again, new house) a snoopy style A frame dog house for my dog and set it up on a 4x10 deck. It turned out to be a great idea. On the cold days she suns on the deck to keep warm, on the hot days she cleared a patch of bare earth under the deck to keep cool and on the rainy days she sleeps inside! Pretty much the only reason my dog loves me I think. The new one will have two doors as we've gotten a second dog......

Jim Izat

[Phil Phelps]

...you need a penguin, not a dog. It's cold in your neck of the woods. I missed all my life not having a dog in the house. To do over again, I wouldn't have it any other way. Bill Pentz is right with the house. You really have to research the breed that best suits your personality and life style. I'm going for the penguin.

[Dave Avery]

Zack,

Buy dogloo, make furniture. Made a doghouse once - fully insulated, drip edge on the roof, 2X6 construction. Weighed a ton. Thought the guy I ended up giving it to (and his 2 helpers) were going to have heart attacks carrying it across the yard to their truck. Dave.

[Glenn Clabo]

Doghouses are for husbands who don't understand who's nest they are living in. Houses are places where dogs make humans happy. Get yourself a dog that you'd like laying on your feet on those cold nights (got me a lab at my feet right now)..and you'll not be sorry. Build some furniture...

[Jerry P. Doan]

Zack, I have two 80 pound retrievers. A golden and a Lab. I also have two doghouses. A Dogloo and one I built some years ago with wood siding, insulated walls, and a composition removable roof. The dogs prefer the Dogloo, never use the other. It's easy to heat, move, wash and clean. The wooden one isn't. The Dogloo, by far, gets my vote. Plus, it is not much more expensive than building one, especially if you consider the value of your labor. I'm going to give the wooden one away later this Spring. :cool:

[PeterTorresani]

By the time you buy material you will likely be close to the cost of the plastic one. Take into consideration the above mentioned weight, waterproofness, etc. and the decision is an easy one.

I found my porta-kennel on the bulletin board at a local Petco for $40. It was missing a couple screws, but otherwise it was as good as new. Price new was >$150.

[David Rose]

"hay house". Three bales (square) high, three long and three wide with a sheet metal roof. I guess it was too much for them. They only started using it after the thing started caving in. :)

Here is the one they prefer.

David

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

Our two Saints and cocker just live in the 'big house'. They and the cats come and go as they please through the <i>large</i> doggie door. I think it completely changes a dog's personality if you treat 'em like people.

KC

[Dave Anderson NH]

here agree and say buy the dogloo or the more traditionally styled version by the same maker. HRH Otis the Springer Spaniel heartily approves of the conventional stlye of his beige with blue roof insulated plastic home away from home. The top lifts off for cleaning and getting rid of the bees who want to nest there, you wash it out with a soapy sponge and the hose, and it holds a really nice nylon cloth covered foam pad for his comfort. It even has hooks built in to hang a clear plastic strip door though HRH prefers no door.

You'll not regret getting a dog, Otis still loves me even when I've managed to frost off Sue. He's a great substitute for children, and he certainly behaves better than my son ever did. He even has one corner of the bench room in the shop where his dog bed is laid out for his comfort and convenience. As an old boy now, he doesn't like the cold concrete floor in the winter.

[Mark Lansink]

Up here in the Nort'land, one of those dogloos just won't cut it.

I built my dog a house with an entry that walks to the back of the house and then turns right into the main sleeping area.

The entire structure is lined w/2" foam and sheathing inside and out. Shingles and drip edge on the roof. Swinging plexi door to block additional wind.

I keep him bedded with straw and he's good out there to at least -15deg F. Having said that, when it gets to about -10 degF I bring him into the portable kennel in my shop.

Yes, this structure must weigh 500 lbs, but it is warm and protected from wind, hail, sleet, snow, you name it.

FWIW, that's what we've done.....:D

[Dar Lounsbury]

I have a pair of 120 lb rottweilers. Built each of them a dog house they use daily while we are at work. Given time, they find their own idea of a place to rest.

[Ted Shrader]

Originally posted by Dar Lounsbury
I have a pair of 120 lb rottweilers. Built each of them a dog house they use daily while we are at work. Given time, they find their own idea of a place to rest.

Dar -

I have the very same dog house at my house!

Ted