How to Affordably Build Your Own Dog House

Sure you could buy a dog house. But why not take on a cool project and show your pooch how much you care about them instead?

Building your own dog house is easier than you might think. With any building project you should start with a set of dog house plans. Having a set of plans can help you get the project going and if you want to do any customizing along the way you can make the necessary changes when the time arises.

Before You Start Building Your Dog House

Before you start there are a number of things to consider.

1. Size of your dog.

2. Location of the dog house

3. Purpose the dog house will serve.

4. Climate.

5. And of course, your budget.

After you have figured out what you're doing to do and addressed all of those decisions it is time to get started on your dog house project.

Planning and using a set of quality dog house plans can help you get you stay on track and finish your project in a timely manner too.

Start with the shape of the dog house. You might want to go with the tried and true design of the traditional dog house or you might want to get a little more creative and go with a non-traidional shape. Remember you'll be using wood so there are limitations when it comes to style and shape.

Once you figure out what shape your going to go with you'll need to consider size. Since your dog house is going to be used for both rest and recreation by your dog you want to build it large enough for both uses. Your dog should easily be able to stand up, turn around, and lay down.

If you have a puppy you should build your dog house for a full grown dog so they can grow into it.

Now that you've decided on shape and size you'll need to pick a material to build the dog house with. Wood is the most popular and cost effective material for building your own dog house.

Wood gives you some creative choices as well. You can get fancy and use more expensive wood or you can go "po' boy" and use regular plywood. Your budget and the purpose of the dog house are things to consider when choose the type of wood you are going to be using.

Floor structure: You can use 2x4 pieces of pressure-treated lumber or one solid piece of plywood. The pieces should be measured and cut to the desired size, and joists should be included as you need them.

You should avoid using pressure treated lumber in any location where your dog may chew on the wood. Pressure treated lumber contains chemicals that might be harmful to your dog.

Back and Sidewall structure: You can use 2x2 pieces of lumber to form your back and sidewalls. You should also decide if you want a square or rectangular shape when you start building your side and back walls. Studs can be placed every 16 inches to help strengthen the structure.

You may want to use 3/8" thick plywood can be used for the walls. The siding should be cut precisely so there won't be any gaps in your framework.

Front of the House: The front of your dog house should include an entrance and a way to cover that entrance to keep wind, snow, and debris from getting into the house. Position will also play a role in keeping stuff out of the house too.

Typically the front is built using 2x2 pieces of lumber. The same size you used for your back and sidewalls. The front consists of a horizontal piece and two vertical pieces to form the door.

Assembling the floor, back wall, sidewalls and front: Once you have completed these pieces you can assemble them by attaching them together using wood screws. You will use L-brackets to join sections together to create a good base for your roof.

Roof joists: Assemble your roof joists to a 30 degree angle. This will help rain run off of the dog house. The joists can be notched tightly together so they will fit firmly on top of the wall pieces.

Roof: 3/8" thick plywood that you used for your walls can also be used for your roof. Secure the roof directly to the roof joists to ensure a solid roof.

Your Finished Dog House: The final finished look of your house is completely up to you. You can paint it, add shingles to the roof, heck you could insulate it if you really wanted to. Give yourself a good pat on the back and enjoy a job well done.

Final Note: Before you use any paint or other materials your dog may chew or ingest contact a professional supplier and ensure they are pet friendly.

Recommended Reading:
Build Your Own Fully Insulated Custom Dog House That Looks Great and Saves You Money