It makes excellent sense to build your own dog house rather than buying a pre-fabricated one.
Not only will you save a heap of cash, but you'll also develop your skills as a woodworker.
Dog kennels are one of the easiest woodworking projects to undertake, especially if you're following a quality construction plan.
This article discusses your options, and points you to the next step.
Choosing A Construction Material The easiest material from which to build a solid dog house is wood.
However, you might to use either bricks or sheet metal as well.
At the end of the day the choice is yours.
Still, keep in mind that both brick and metal are more difficult to keep a safe internal climate.
You will most likely have to spend some extra money on good insulation.
Picking A Kennel Design When you build your own dog house it's important to pay special care to the size of the kennel.
Too large will mean an imperfect internal climate, and too small is quite obviously not going to work.
Measure your dog to work out the right size.
There are also a few options as far as different "rooms" go.
If you've only got one dog you can disregard this paragraph.
However, if you've got more than one, why not consider a duplex kennel? It will reduce your construction material requirements, and allows your pets to sleep together or separately.
Important Pre-construction Tips Once you've picked both a design and material with which to construct, it's time to get started.
The following tips are aimed to help the process move along without a problem.
- Use corrugated galvanised iron on the roof.
This deflects the sun, which keeps your pet cool.
- Build overhanging roofing to ensure that water runs off well away from the entrance.
- Build a "doggy door" to keep unwanted pests getting into your dog's house.
- Insulate the kennel.
Dog's are very sensitive to climate, and making sure it's not too hot or cold will keep your pet healthy.
- Give the kennel a nice paint job.
This adds character and makes the dog house a nice addition to your garden!