How to : What you Need to Know Before Buying /Building a Doghouse

All outdoor dogs need shelter from the winter climate, whether it is cold, rainy or snowing. Even though some dogs spend more time outside the doghouse, the right kind of doghouse will entice them to stay inside of the house when the weather is bad. Below are some help tips on selecting the right doghouse for your dog.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. If the doghouse is too big, the dog’s body temperature isn’t going to keep him warm. The doghouse should be just big enough for the dog to get in and turn around and lie down for a snug fit.

2. Whether you build or purchase a doghouse, make sure the house is well built and waterproof. Line the house with some kind of easily cleaned, warmth-retaining material like straw or wood shavings. Dead leaves can also be mixed in with the straw. The reason for using any of these materials is to keep down heat loss through the floor. This also will give the dog something to burrow down into to build up warmth, make sure you have plenty of these materials for burrowing inside the house.

3. The doghouse should be high enough off the ground to prevent water from flowing in. It should also be fairly small to minimize heat loss. The doghouse should not be so small that the dog can’t turn around inside the house. To make it even more warm, hang a plastic flap in the doorway to keep the wind from whipping through. You can also put the doghouse on the south side of your home or have the door of the house facing in another direction other than north.