How to Build a Dog House for a German Shepherd

A dog house for your German Shepard is a perfect way to provide shelter and protection from the elements. It can be constructed for approximately $150 in materials. The dimensions of your house can be set based upon the length, width and height of your German Shepard. There are multiple layouts and methods for constructing a dog house, but the most cost-effective method for large dogs is to use a sloped roof design with a taller front side and shorter back side.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Pressure treated 2 x 4
  • Weather resistant screws
  • 3/4-inch plywood
  • Drill
  • Double-sided tape
  • Straight edge
  • Circular saw
  • Liquid nails
  • 1/4-inch plywood
  • Water-resistant roofing felt
  • Roofing staples
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Asphalt shingles
  • Roofing cement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Size the parts of your dog house by first measuring the height and length of your German Shepard. To determine the width, add 12 inches to the width of your dog. Add 18 inches to your dogs length to determine the length of the dog house. Add nine inches to your German Shepard's height for the front and 3 inches to your German Shepard's height for the back of the dog house.

    • 2

      Cut the base of the dog house to fit the pre-determined length and width. Secure the sides together with screws and a drill.

    • 3

      Cut a piece of 3/4-inch plywood to fit the bottom as a base. Screw the plywood into the base using a drill.

    • 4

      Cut the two angled side pieces of the dog house out of 3/4-inch plywood. Measure the height for each piece using the two previously determined heights. Use a straightedge to draw a straight line between the two markings and cut with a circular saw. Secure the side walls to the base with screws.

    • 5

      Cut a section of 3/4-inch plywood for the back wall and secure it to the base using screws.

    • 6

      Add corner braces to the interior intersection of the dog house walls. Create a brace by screwing two strips of plywood perpendicular to each other and then attaching to both the sides and back wall panels.

    • 7

      Insulate the walls of the dog house glueing rigid foam insulation to the walls with liquid nails. Cut the insulation to fit the panels.

    • 8

      Cut sections of 1/4-inch plywood to fit over the insulation. Secure the 1/4-inch plywood to the walls with screws to cover insulation.

    • 9

      Cut a section of 3/4-inch plywood to fit the front. Before securing to the frame, cut an opening that is at least 3-inches wider than your German Shepard and 3-inches taller than your German Shepard's back. Secure the front of the dog house to base with screws.

    • 10

      Cut a section of 3/4-inch plywood to fit the roof. Ensure it is slightly oversized to aid with rain runoff. Cover the plywood with water resistant roofing felt and secure with roofing staples.

    • 11

      Add a drip cap along the edges with a hammer and nails to prevent water from seeping under the edges. Add shingles to the roof to weather-proof the surface by starting at the bottom and overlapping the rows until you reach the top portion. Seal the outer edge by adding a small bead of roofing cement.