If your dog will be spending a lot of time outside this winter, a thoughtful owner may choose to provide personal shelter, that is, a dog house. Before you run out to Pet World or your local hardware store, there are a couple things about dog houses you should consider.

The first thing is whether your dog will be okay spending a lot of time outdoors. For example in cold weather, smaller dogs and those with short-hair may do very poorly if forced to live outdoors. Next, how big should your dog house be? It needs to be big enough for the dog to comfortably enter, stand, turn around and stretch out full-length. However, it should not so big that the dog's body heat will not be able to warm it.

You can build or buy your dog house. You have many options on construction materials from plywood to cedar to plastic. You can add windows, vents, and even solar panels that collect and distribute heat. Architectural plans are available on line and at hardware and pet stores. If you have more than one dog, you will need more than one dog house, because most dogs don't share a dog house well. You should weather-proof the construction materials. Construction plans and guidelines on materials can be found at BuildEasy.

Finally, remember that your dog house will need to be cleaned and maintained periodically. If this is your job, you will really appreciate a dog house with removable roof or walls.

Build Eazy Dog House Plans

Posted by Paula.