Dutch Shepherd Forum

Let's start with the fact that my dogs are indoor dogs. They are spoiled!

Yet, there are those times I want them outside for extended periods of time even when the weather is not the best. So I've been thinking about building a dog house for them.

My preferred location to put the dog house is in the piece of yard that is between the house and the garage. This space does not provide the best as far as shade goes, but it is the best for me to maintain it, keep it clean, etc... On the other side of the garage is a very shady place under an Oak Tree. Pretty much where the compost bins are as they are where the grass won't grow...

Has anyone ever built a dog house themselves? Any designs that work well?

Features that I think would be good...
- interior windwall
- roof that allows access for easy cleaning

My thoughts are to dig out under the dog house and fill with stone/gravel so that it will drain. Then leave minimal spacing in the decking so that the interior can be hosed out.

I did find one design where the deck was extended and the roof was extended so that the dog could lay down outside of the dog house and still have a roof over it.

The dog igloo's I've looked at and just don't like. You see those in people's back yards and they end up looking cheap and crappy.

...this will probably end up on my 'when I get around to it' list that never seems to get done. But it has been sitting there tweaking the back of brain lately.

Thanks,
eric

I have built houses in the past, but igloos work the best IMO. If you are building a house, my advice is don't make it gigantic. The idea behind the igloo is to preserve the dogs warmth and the large home made dog houses don't do that.

I've never built a dog house. I have dog igloos. The dogs in the big kennel don't use theirs much, as it is heated in winter and cool in summer but I have 3 runs on a concrete slab near the house for the dogs I keep inside. They have a tarp in the summer for shade. Those also have dog igloos and now Cooper has taught Ridley his favorite resting method, which is to drape his chest and front legs over the dome while standing on his rear legs. It looks odd, but must be comfortable and now she is doing it, too!
I would like to build a platform on top so they could lay on it and rest. My kennels are covered, or I wouldn't consider this.. for the jumpers and climbers of the bunch.

FoxTal Dogs wrote: Those also have dog igloos and now Cooper has taught Ridley his favorite resting method, which is to drape his chest and front legs over the dome while standing on his rear legs. It looks odd, but must be comfortable and now she is doing it, too!

What exactly are you talking about Eric?
A dog house, as in a part where a dog could stay all day when it rains, or a dog house as in a space where a dog could curl up and sleep sheltered?
In Holland, I used to have awesome dog houses. Still have one here. It is 1.5 times the lenght of the dog, same for the standing height. Indeed to use their body heat to keep it warm. The roof is a like a lid that flips up for access. The enterance has a 'hallway' as a wind break. The edges are trimmed with metal strips so the dogs cannot bite them. Like you, I do not like igoo's and such, because of the way it looks. That being said: I have something similar that found its way onto my property but it is not popular (not used by the dogs) which may be related to the fact that a kennel in TX should mostly be concerned with keeping dogs COOL and dry, not so much sheltered and warm.
The prevalent design in Holland is a three sided shed, if you will, with a kennel panel as a front. The dog house would be inside that. Most dogs use it so lay ON and only on cold nights (many don't ever come in the house) will they get in it.
I still have one of those set ups, and I love it. The 'shed' now sports a fan and leads to an open section to provide for more cool on a hot day. No extra dog house in the set up though.

Judith,

basically a place for them to be outside, but sheltered from the rain and provide a shaded cover in the heat of the summer.

Maybe a slightly raised platform that has gravel under it for good drainage...

eric