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.

Visit Dog Kennels Info for the full story.

Outside Dog Kennel

Tired of cleaning dirt and hair brought in by the dog every day? You love your dog but the extra work can be a real bummer and possibly effect your relationship. One solution, if you have the yard for it, is to build an outside dog kennel.

Buying dog kennels can be expensive so if you plan to build one it is a good idea to research just how much they are so that when you plan and purchase the materials and tools you need you are sure that you are indeed saving money. Prebuilt kennels are usually in the $150 to $250 range. More than likely if you build your own you can save at least half that amount.

Your first concern should be the size and purpose of the outdoor kennel. These two aspects are closely related. If you plan to build a simple dog house for sleeping then it doesn’t need to as big. This is fine if the dog has a larger area in which to roam. If you are planning to build a dog ranch then you will need to think a bit bigger as he or she will need much more room.

If you are just building a dog house you can definitely get away with using two by fours for the frame and one by fours or particle board for the walls and roofing. If you intend to keep the dog outside on rainy days the extra care should be given to the roof. Black paper and shingles can be expensive but are very effective.

Dogs love to be outside, there’s no doubt about that. However if you are planning a ranch style dog kennel and your dog doesn’t have enough room it would defeat the purpose. Plus if you make it too small the poor thing will be walking in his or her own mess.

Many of the prebuilt outside dog kennels are basically just fencing with a door. Fencing is expensive and you may need to purchase the proper tools as well. If you buy fencing you will need to secure the posts into the ground with a large trowel or something similar. Outdoor kennels can be built with cheaper materials as well such as wood posts and chicken wire. This type of barrier may or may not be effective depending on the size of the dog.

Your best bet is to go online and search out and take notes on how the prebuilt kennels are built and what materials are used. Then go to a hardware store and price out the materials you would like to use for your dog kennel. Have a well thought out plan and you can’t go wrong.

Visit Dog Kennels Info for the full story.