Sometimes circumstances dictate that man’s best friend be kept somewhere other than the family home. Chewing, scratching the floor, and getting wet may be the reason. Knocking down flower pots, vases and generally creating unnecessary tension in the house does not have to happen. If you have the most basic carpentry skill, why not do it yourself so you can stay with your beloved companion and save your home too.
Building a doghouse is easy enough, but planning ahead is always a good idea. Here are some guidelines to consider:
Calculate your budget. Sure you already know, but let’s start at the beginning. This step will help you through the entire process and will probably be the most important factor in making many of your material, size, and design decisions.
Find good plans. Being able to visualize the entire process of building your doghouse avoids unnecessary problems that you may encounter simply by ‘improvising’. The step-by-step guidelines will help you identify the obstacles you will have in your specific case.
Proper planning it also includes choosing the correct size to build. A doghouse built too large will make it difficult for your pet to stay warm, but if it is built too small you will obviously sacrifice comfort. Insulation can be added to not only keep your dog warmer in the winter, but cooler in the summer as well. Be sure to take care to consider your dog’s health and use non-toxic materials to protect him in the likely event that he bites into the new house. Untreated wood with a good primer and non-toxic paint is a much better option than treated boards, which contain harmful chemicals.
Another consideration is the additional amenities.. Should you plan a dog run, or even a fence around the doghouse to make room for roaming? Obviously, your dog’s personality will be a big factor in deciding this, but if you’re not convinced that he needs these things, you should at least plan the location of the doghouse to allow for a change of mind.