How to Build an Outside Dog House

An outside doghouse should be insulated and should also be the correct size for your particular dog. A good doghouse will keep your dog dry year round while maintaining the proper heat and ventilation. When these criteria are met, your dog should be snug and warm all winter long but cool in the summer.

Things You'll Need

  • Pressure treated 2-by-4s
  • Hand-held drill
  • Weather resistant screws
  • ¾-inch inch plywood
  • Double-sided tape
  • Straight edge
  • Circular saw
  • 1 1/2-inch-thick foam insulation
  • Saber saw
  • Weather resistant piano hinge
  • Tar paper
  • Asphalt shingles
  • Short roofing nails
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the size of your dog house. The width should be equal to your dog's length plus 12 inches. The length should be equal to your dog's width plus 18 inches. The height of your doghouse should be equal to your dog's height plus 9 inches in the front and sloping back to the dog's height plus 3 inches in the back.

    • 2

      Cut the base parts to the correct length from 2-by-4s. Place the ends together and attach with screws, using a hand-held drill. Cut the floor panel from the plywood and secure this to the base with screws.

    • 3

      Cut the front and back walls to the correct size for your dog from plywood using a circular saw. Attach the back wall to the base of the dog house. Lay the front wall aside for now.

    • 4

      Cut the side walls at an angle to ensure water will run off the roof of your dog house rather than into it. To ensure the proper angle, use double-sided tape to attach the plywood side pieces together temporarily. Clamp a straight edge to the sides and cut the angle from both side walls at the same time. Attach the side walls to the base of the dog house with screws.

    • 5

      Add braces to the inside corners of the dog house to ensure a weather-tight structure. Screw two small strips of plywood together and then attach to the back and front panels with screws.

    • 6

      Insulate the walls with 1-1/2-inch-thick foam and then cover the insulation with a second layer of plywood.

    • 7

      Cut the door opening in the front panel of the doghouse with a saber saw. The door should measure the dog's width plus 3 inches. The top of the door should be just a couple of inches above the dog's back.

    • 8

      Cut an oversize piece of plywood for the roof that will allow for a bit of overhang to allow rain to run off of the roof. Secure the roof piece at the back of the doghouse with a piano hinge. Cover the roof with tar paper and add shingles to make the roof waterproof.