In the Dog House: Building an Insulated Dog House

Having an outdoor dog will mean you need to build an outdoor dog house. An outdoor dog will need a place to keep warm when the snow or cold weather strikes. Some dog houses include lights to help keep the dog warm. A nice dog house is also beneficial if you are a breeder. You will be able to place the new puppies in a warm environment with their mother.

Building an insulated dog house can protect your dog during a harsh winter. In order to build an insulated dog house, you will need to get the proper dimensions of your particular breed. The dimensions in an insulated dog house are extremely important because it will maintain warmth in the house by using the dog's body heat.

The exterior of the doghouse should be painted black, to absorb the heat from the sunlight during the day. If you live in a hot area, your dog house should be painted white so it doesn't absorb as much sunlight, this will keep the doghouse cooler. You should also change locations of the dog house in the summer and the winter to control the shade and sunlight.

The bedding in an insulated dog house should be put under the sleep area. Cedar and wood chips are wonderful in dog houses compared to blankets and straw because they radiate more heat and they keep the dog house smelling fresh. You need to clean the bedding in the dog house every week to keep it clean and fresh.

When you build the dog house, you will need to place a nice door on the dog house to keep the heat in. You can even take this one step further and place a burlap or canvas outside the door to provide more protection in the winter. Elevate the house from the ground. If you do not want to build a foundation, you can use bricks or cinder blocks. Elevating the floor will keep the floor dry and it will provide more insulation for your dog.

A typical dog house is made from weatherproof plywood exterior materials. The walls, floor and ceiling of the sleeping area should be insulated with Styrofoam sheets. The Styrofoam sheets need to be covered with hardboard paneling that is ¼'' thick.

With each inch of your dog's height, you should allow 36 square inches of floor space. A dog needs enough space to turn around in, but not too much that the heat escapes from the dog house. Add one or two inches to your dog's measurement when they are in a sitting position, this will allow you to determine the ceiling height.

To build an insulated dog house, you will need to purchase plans or download plans. An insulated dog house requires skill and precise instructions. Most insulated dog houses will use an exterior layer of plywood that is laid upon the base or foundation. You will then build another layer that will go inside the exterior layer. If you want to provide more insulation, you actually install insulation material between the layers (like a mini home). Then, when you place the roof on top, make a ceiling and place insulation in between the ceiling and roof.

The last part of your dog house can include a heated lamp on the inside to keep your dog a little warmer and protected from the cold winter. You should check the dog house to make sure there are no leaks or cracks where cold air or water could get in. Seal those with caulk and be sure to cover all the nails with caulk so your dog doesn't scratch himself on a nail.

Price: dog house, build a dog house, insulated dog house, walls, winter, weather, roof, summer, warmth

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