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Dog Houses

Dog Houses and Your Pooch

Every dog, big or small, needs a place that he can call his own. For indoor dogs, this can simply be a dog bed or a dog crate, but outside, a dog house is an absolute necessity.

Your dog's doghouse should be designed specifically to protect your pooch from bad weather, and to keep him or her feeling safe no matter what the climate has in store. he should be warm when it's cold, dry when it's wet, cool when it's hot, and just generally happy and secure.

Of course, outdoor dog houses aren't designed for every breed of dog. There are dog kennels, though, that have been designed to suit the needs of every taste, from the most basic simple designs, to castles or log cabins.

No matter what the dog house, however, it should comply with some basic necessities for your dog. These include the following:

  • Specific design for your climate. Specifically whether it's hot or cold where you live, but also the amount of water it is able to resist. Your dog should be able to retreat to the doghouse when the weather outside is not comfortable to him or her.
  • Proper size for your dog's comfort. A practical doghouse should be about one and a half times the size of your. he should be able to turn around inside of it, or he'll be stiff after staying inside too long. However, it shouldn't be too big, otherwise it'll lose that cozy and secure feeling, and won't be as good for regulating the inside temperature.
  • Raised off the ground. This allows the dog house to keep out moisture, cold, and heat from the ground itself.
  • Well ventilated. There should be proper circulation of air to bring your dog fresh air and to remove excess moisture.
  • Proper entrance. This means that the entrance needs to have some sort of protection so that the wind, rain, and other inclement weather conditions will remain outside. Most importantly, it should keep rain outside of your dog house.
  • The roof or at least one wall should be removable so that you can get inside and clean it properly. Cleaning, by the way, should be performed regularly.
  • In an ideal dog house, there should be a space for food and water bowls. This is a good idea since they are protected from the weather. However, make sure that they are secured so that they don't tip over. Otherwise they'll do more harm than good.

When sizing your dog house, there are a few other elements that you should keep in mind. These include:

  • The door height, which should be no less than ¾ of the height of your dog's shoulder to the ground. Dogs don't mind ducking to get inside, and large doors are not at all necessary.
  • The width and length of the house should be the same as, but no more than 25% of your dog from his nose to the base of his tail.
  • The height of the doghouse should be at least 25%, but no more than 50% taller than your dog from the top of his head, to the ground. The reason the height should not exceed 50% over your dog's height is to ensure that it will be able to maintain proper body heat retention when it's cold outside.

A good doghouse may be one of the most enjoyed things you can get your dog. Just make sure to get the right one.

Dog Houses

A dog house is important because it provides shelter from the elements. You should note that getting a dog house is no excuse for leaving your dog outside in all weather conditions. In very cold climates you should bring your dog inside to prevent hypothermia.

Types of Dog Houses

igloo dog house
heated dog house
dog house heater
plastic dog houses

Dog Houses FAQ

How to get your dog used to his new home

Dog House size

Dog House design and construction

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