How complex or detailed of a dog house do you want to build and how much of you time and money do you want to invest?
Before starting this project you will need to determine the size of the doghouse based on the dog's full-grown size. Your dog should have plenty of room to freely turn around and lie down while still allowing room for their food and water bowls.
You will then need to determine the features that your dog house will maintain. You will need to take into consideration the weather conditions in your area and the location of the kennel placement.
Keep in mind that when building a dog house, you will want the floor of the house to be elevated at least 4" above the ground and the house must have adequate ventilation. Also note that if you decide to use pressure-treated wood, be aware that it's treated with chemicals which are toxic to animals. Be sure to use untreated wood for floors, walls or other surfaces that your dog may come in contact with.
You can design the house yourself or you can choose from many different plans available at your hardware superstores or on the web. There are several types of plans available on the market to review, from the very basic structure to the most elaborate creations.
We have found that one of the most creative Dog Houses to be a kit, created by "K-9 Kondo". The K9 condo is a complete kit to create a shelter for your dog that incorporates every thing you want in a dog house at an affordable price. The only thing that you need to supply is the plastic barrel. A barrel is not included because it is cost prohibitive to ship the barrel due to bulk rate shipping charges. Depending on you ability, most people can assemble these units within a couple hours. These units carry a five year guarantee that states the following "We will replace any part that fails due to chewing or defect. Customers are responsible for the cost of shipping or can pick it up at our factory without cost. The hinge bushings are not covered as their wear depends on the amount of use. We replace these at the nominal cost of $2 postpaid for two bushings, and 50 cents for each additional bushing. Regular lubrication with silicone grease or spray will extend the life of the bushing considerably." Depending on you ability, most people can assemble these units within a couple hours.
You need to make the best decision for your dogs shelter plans and need to take into consideration your ability, time and cost. Keep in mind that with a five year guarantee and easy assembly, it is hard not to consider "K-9 Kondo" products for your dog house project.
