Tips and tricks:Dog houses: dog

DOG HOUSE

My Website Title Here!

A dog house is the most important thing for you as an owner to purchase for your dog, especially if he spends a lot of time outside. The dog house keeps your pet sheltered from the elements as well as providing him a warm, safe place to relax. The type of house you choose varies with where you are located, what kind of dog you have and how the weather is in your area.If winters are very cold in your area, choose a dog house that is heated or one that you can accommodate a heated mat. The house should also be well insulated and waterproof. If summers are very hot in your area, choose a dog house that is well ventilated, place it in a shady area and equip it with a Cool Bed, especially if temperatures get above 100 degrees. If your area is prone to wind and rain, you might also want to consider a house with a weather flap, to help keep out the elements.Select a size that will allow your dog enough room, but also small enough to keep him warm. The house should be big enough to allow your dog to easily enter, turn around and lie down (the same as your dog's crate). If the dog house is too big, your dog's body heat will have trouble keeping the house warm. Measure your dog from the ground to the top of its shoulders, the door should be no less than 75% of this height. The height of the house should also be no more than 50% taller than the height of your dog from his head to his paws. The length and width of the house should be more more than 25% of your dogs length from his nose to his flanks (don't count his tail).

When installing your dogs house you will want to take a few things into consideration. You will want to keep it in a shady area so it doesn't get too hot in summer. You may have to relocate the dog house to keep the wind from blowing in it in the winter. Position it away from the bottom of a hill or slope as rain can cause the house to flood as it flows down the hill. You might also want to consider elevating the house to help keep out parasites and provide some insulation from the cold ground.There are a huge variety of dog houses on the market, ranging from the very basic plastic

ones to luxury dog houses complete with windows, heaters and air conditioners. The type of dog house you choose is determined by your location and your budget. Take the time to shop around and find the perfect house for you and your dog.

BUILDING A DOG HOUSE

If you decided to have a dog house for Fido, remember that not every dog owner has the time or skills to design and build a dog house from scratch. Assista

nce abounds for people who want to build a special home for their pet, but who have one or both of these limitations.Doing a keyword search on the Internet will reveal many sources for dog house blueprints, or woodworking plans for dog house designs. These special plans can range from simple box-like structures to custom-designed dog mansions that rival the homes of the highest-paid celebrities. Many times, free dog house blueprints are also available to download from the internet, you just have to do some researches.For those dog owners who have neither the skill to design a workable dog house or to build one on their own, "build it yourself" dog house kits are also available, both online and from a variety of retail sources. These house building kits may be available at pet supply stores, feed stores, or building supply stores in your area. Most of these “do it yourself” kits are designed to be as simple as possible, while still providing adequate shelter for your dog.The primary advantage to build it yourself dog house kits is that they gather all of the materials that you will need together and put them into a single, organized pack. There is a far smaller possibility that the cut pieces will not fit together or that the connectors will not hold them in place because they have all been designed to work together as a complete unit.

A second advantage is that it is time saving, reducing the amount time required compared to traditional building. As the wood has already been cut and, frequently, all the parts have been marked with numbers or letters intended to guide you through the construction. In some kits, the pieces even have pre-drilled guide holes drilled at the proper connection points.Build it yourself dog house kits are relatively easy to put together within a relatively short time. From opening the box to sorting out the parts to fastening on the roof the average dog house kit may take as little as two or three hours to put together, even for the architecturally challenged. Once the house is together it is up to you to customize the house for your own dog, through an attractive paint job, shutters, or other accessories.The cost of a build it yourself dog house kit is somewhat

more than that of buying a dog house from a department store or pet supply store. It also costs only about a quarter of the amount that a professional carpenter might charge for building a similar house. If you are willing to invest a few hours of relatively pain-free craftwork, you may be able to save hundreds of dollars for a similar result.

Where to Find the Perfect Dog House Plans?

It is not that easy to find building plans for a proper dog house, most of the time large local hardware stores provide all kind of building plans for small DIY jobs in and around the house, but we found out by experience that almost none have dog house plans available. So, what is the best place to find the perfect plan to build a dog house for your dog.Building a proper dog house seems like a fairly simple DIY job but it is in fact a bit more than that, it is the place where your dog needs to sleep in any kind of whether, so it needs to be dry, not to hot in summer and not to cold in winter, and your dog should be able to sleep without any draft, it should be safe so a pointy roof is out of the question because that attracts wasps and hornets to nest and it should be easy to clean.When you look at all of the demands that should be incorporated in proper dog house plans you realise that the typical Pluto style dog houses are not suited for a outdoor dog. You need to invest some time in finding the right dog house plan for your dog and the climate

you live in. And if you like to make a family project out it, you can, with the proper preparation, build it in one or two weekends.Finding dog house plans that fit your needs.As we said before most hardware stores can not help you with good dog house plans and you can try it at your local library but we do not give you much change to find it there either. In fact a good place to find the perfect dog house plans is right here on the internet, the internet can provide you with plans, advise and you can meet other dog owners who have already build a dog house from a plan before.Some websites will give their plans away for free other websites ask a, most of the time, reasonable price for the plan just like the plans you can buy in a hardware store. But you will be able to see the dog houses as a drawing and with pictures. Read all the specifications and look at what other dog owners experienced when they build a dog house according these plans.When you have made your choice you need to read the list of materials and tools and make sure that you have everything before you start building.Criteria for proper dog house plans

Not a pointy Pluto style roof but a slightly sloped roof, water can drain away and your dog can also sit or lay on the roof. For practical reasons the roof should be on hinges so it is accessible for cleaning.The floor of the dog house should be of the ground so cold and moisture can not enter the floor.Removable wind wall against draft and so the dog is able to heat the sleeping area with it's own body heat. The size of the area should be adjusted for your size dog.the dog house plans should also have an insulation plan to help the dog maintain a good temperatureThere are many websites that have dog house plans, do not immediately go for the free ones there are some dog house plans that will cost you about $30 but actually worth twice the money. You make a dog house for many many years, so it is wise to invest some time and money to make sure that your dog is comfortable and you have an easy job cleaning and maintaining the dog house.