If you have a four-legged friend, you know how important it is to provide them with a safe and cozy retreat. A dog house is an ideal home for your dog, as it offers protection from wind, rain, and cold. If you are handy and find a dog house too expensive, then a self-built shelter for your four-legged friend is a great option. Here you will learn everything you need to know to build a dog house yourself.

Material Selection

Before you start building, you need to inform yourself about the materials. For building a dog house, untreated woods such as Douglas fir, spruce, or pine are best suited. These woods are robust, durable, and repel moisture and dirt. You should also pay attention to screws, roofing felt, battens, and nails that are needed for construction.

Size of the Dog House

The size of the dog house should be adapted to the size of your dog. Your dog should be able to stand upright and turn around in the house without hitting the ceiling. As a guideline, you can use the following:

• Small dogs: approx. 60 cm long, 40 cm wide, and 40 cm high
• Medium-sized dogs: approx. 75 cm long, 50 cm wide, and 50 cm high
• Large dogs: approx. 90 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm high

However, these are only rough guidelines that serve as orientation. You can vary the size of the dog house during construction and, depending on your financial situation, provide your dog with a larger personal space.

Planning and Drawing

Before you start building, you should create a detailed plan so that you keep all measurements and distances in mind. You can make a drawing that lists all the necessary measurements and materials. After that, you can start purchasing the materials. Once you have gathered all the materials, you can finally get started. You need to carry out the following steps:

1. Base plate: Build the base plate from boards and secure it with screws.
2. Side walls: Build the side walls and attach them to the base plate.
3. Roof: Build the roof from battens and attach it to the side walls.
4. Roof felt: Cover the roof with roofing felt and secure it with nails.
5. Door: Build a door and attach it to one of the side walls. Here you should ensure that the door is large enough for your dog to comfortably enter and exit.
6. Interior: Use old blankets or cushions to make the interior of the house cozy.
7. Painting: Paint the dog house in a color of your choice to protect it from moisture and dirt.

Done! Your self-built dog house is ready for your four-legged friend.

Conclusion

Building a dog house yourself is an exciting DIY project that is not only a lot of fun but also cost-effective. It is important that you have all the materials and tools ready and stick closely to the plan. With a little skill and craftsmanship, your four-legged friend will soon be sleeping in their new home and feeling comfortable.