How to Build a Doghouse With 2x4s for a Large Dog

It takes lot of hard work to build a doghouse for large dogs like golden retrievers who rest safely in a doghouse. Normally huge 2-by-4 planks attached together form a great basement for such doghouses. It is the dog's personal area. Designers come up with new models of doghouses every year. Engineering students take up doghouse construction as a project as it resembles building a real wood house.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Table saw
  • Five 50-inch by 50-inch plywood sheets
  • One 54-inch by 54-inch plywood sheet
  • 2-by-4 wood planks
  • Professional drill
  • Wood screws
  • Wood nails
  • Hammer
  • Marker
  • Portable saw
  • Tar
  • Brush
  • Roof shingles
  • Waterproof paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the width and height of your dog using a tape measure. Add ten inches to the width and the height and these are the dimensions for your doghouse. Purchase a total of six plywood sheets. One sheet will be cut to large dimensions. It will be used as the roof. The 50-inch by 50-inch plywood sheets are used as a reference point in the Steps. Adjust the size of the plywood to the size of your dog. Purchase approximately 83 feet of 2-by-4 wood planks.

    • 2

      Cut the five plywood sheets to the measurement of your doghouse. Cut one sheet four inches longer than others for the roof using a table saw. For example, consider the doghouse measures 50-inches long and 50-inches wide. Cut five plywood sheets to this measurement using a table saw. Cut one sheet 54-inches long and 54-inches wide for the roof using a table saw.

    • 3

      Cut the 2-by-4 planks to suitable lengths for your dog's width and height using a table saw. If your plywood sheets are 50-inches by 50-inches, cut the 2-by-4 planks 50 inches long. Join four 2-by-4 planks together to make a square. Screw the planks at the ends using a professional drill and wood screws. This makes the frame for one wall of the doghouse.

    • 4

      Place one sheet of plywood on top of the 2-by-4 plank frame. Nail three wood nails through the plywood into each 2-by-4 plank using a hammer. Each frame should have 12 wood nails. This makes one wall of the doghouse.

    • 5

      Repeat Steps 3 and 4. Construct a total of four walls.

    • 6

      Place four walls into a vertical square position. The four walls should resemble the walls of a house. Nail the corners of the walls together using three wood nails and a hammer. The nails should go from the base of one wall into the base of the adjacent wall. Continue until all the walls are nailed together.

    • 7

      Place one plywood sheet on top of the open area of the walls. The plywood acts as the base of the doghouse. Nail 12 wood nails through the plywood sheet into the top of the 2-by-4 walls. Three nails should be used for each wall.

    • 8

      Flip the walls and the base over. The base is placed on the ground. The top of the walls and base should be exposed. It should look like an open wood box.

    • 9

      Draw a door on the middle of one wall using a marker. The door should be broad and long enough for your dog to enter. Cut out the door with the portable saw.

    • 10

      Place the largest plywood sheet on top of the open area of the walls. The largest plywood sheet acts as the roof. Nail 12 wood nails through the plywood sheet into the top of the 2-by-4 walls. Three nails should be used for each wall.

    • 11

      Brush a one-inch layer of tar on the top of the roof using a brush. Place a row of shingles on top of the tar. The shingles of the first row should overlap each other. Place a second row of shingles on top of the tar. The shingles of the second row should overlap each other and the first row. Continue until the roof is completely covered in shingles. Let the tar dry for one day.

    • 12

      Paint the doghouse with waterproof paint using a brush. Let the paint dry for 10 hours.