Dog Houses – A Dogs Home Away From Home

The Dog House

When built properly, dog kennels and dog houses serve a multitude of purposes. They provide shelter from weather as well as a place of solace that dogs can know as their own. A dog house is also an alert to would be trespassers that their is a dog on the property. Whether your dog is an indoor dog or an outdoor dog, having a dog house or some form of dog kennel is a great idea. Here are a few basic guidelines for selecting or building a house for your dog.

Size is very important. You want your dog to actually use the house so it should be comfortable. Dogs obviously don’t care about the name brand of products or even aesthetic details however if there is not enough room for your dog to move around comfortably, it will be undesirable or of no use at all.

• The roof should be 25% to 50% higher than the top of the dogs head.
• The door should be .75% (three quarters) the height of the dogs shoulders.
• The inside should be 25% longer than the dog in all directions.

It doesn’t need to much bigger than that as you want the dog to feel enclosed, private, yet still be comfortable. Depending on the size of your dog and thus the size of its house, you may want to consider air flow. A bigger dog house may need a ventilation window in the rear to allow for a flow of fresh air.

If you are in a place that has extreme weather, cold or hot, you will need to take extra care to be sure there is a clean water supply at all times. You will also need to be sure the water is at a suitable temperature for drinking. For cold weather there are stainless steel water dispensers that will keep the water a good temperature even in the most extreme conditions.

Not all dog houses are for outside use. The benefits of having a place the dog can call his or her own can be just as effective indoors as well. A dog cage with enough room will suffice for an indoor dog house. The indoor dog cage can also act as a “time out” area where you send the dog when its behavior becomes an issue. Training your dog with a dog cage is a great way to avoid violent reprimand.

Dog houses are very useful for both the dog as well as the owner. Whether your dog is an inside or an outside pet, providing a dog house is a great way of letting your dog know you care.