How to Build a Warm Dog House

Your dog is your best friend, so you want to treat him that way. If your dog is an outside dog, it is important to make sure his dog house is as warm as possible if you are unable to bring him into your home in the winter. A dog house with a sloping back (higher in front than in the back) can be the perfect dog house, especially when you custom build it to fit your dog's needs and outfit it to be as warm as possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Pressure-treated 2-by-4s
  • Weather-resistant screws
  • ¾-inch plywood
  • Double-sided tape
  • Circular saber saw
  • Straightedge
  • Foam insulation
  • Wood glue
  • ¼-inch plywood
  • Sandpaper
  • Piano hinge
  • Tar paper
  • Asphalt shingles
  • Short nails
  • Roofing cement
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your parts. You do this by measuring your dog's length, width, height, and how long your dog is when stretched out. There is no universal formula to follow when measuring, but a good rule to follow is to build it so that your dog can walk in, turn around, and completely stretch out. Although it may be tempting to build a roomy dog house, doing so is not necessary because your dog's body heat will aid in keeping him warm. When measuring height, you can, however, ensure the highest point of the roof is raised 1/3 of your dog's height above his head.

    • 2

      Build the base by using pressure-treated 2-by-4s. Use weather-resistant screws to secure joints at the butt ends of the boards. Use weather-resistant screws to secure a cut piece of ¾-inch plywood to secure to the base. This will be the dog house floor.

    • 3

      Cut two identical pieces of plywood at an angle so the roof will be sloped. Temporarily bind the two side pieces together with double-sided tape, clamp a straightedge at the correct angle, and use a circular saber saw to make the cut. When finished, pull the sides apart, remove the double-sided tape, and use weather-resistant screws to attach the sides to the base.

    • 4

      Add corner braces to make the dog house weather-tight and sturdy. Screw two strips of plywood together in an L shape to match the corner. Use weather-resistant screws to attach them to the inside of the dog house's corners.

    • 5

      Install a partition wall that creates a small space within the dog house where your dog can curl up and allow her body heat to keep her warm. The partition will be secured to the base and is cut at the same angle as the sides in order to accommodate the sloping roof. However, this partition is not the depth of the dog house, but only half so she can walk back and forth between the warm, partitioned off area and the area where the dog house door will be.

    • 6

      Insulate the walls by installing foam insulation along the walls and along the partition. The foam should be approximately 1 ½ inches thick, even if you have to glue multiple layers together. Wood glue works well for this. Cover the foam by using weather-resistant nails to attach ¼-inch plywood.

    • 7

      Cut the door by measuring your dog's height and adding about 2 inches above your dog's back. Add 3 inches to your dog's width. Use the saber saw to cut the opening before attaching the front of the dog house. Use corner braces to secure the front of the dog house and use sandpaper to sand the opening until it is smooth.

    • 8

      Attach the roof by cutting a sheet of wood that has a couple of inches of overhang on each side to aid with runoff. Install a piano hinge that is weather-resistant to the back side of the roof so that you can open the roof like a door and make cleaning the dog house easy.

    • 9

      Cover the roof with tar paper and install asphalt shingles to waterproof the roof of your dog's new warm dog house. Start at the front of the dog house and work your way to the back, overlapping the shingles. Seal out moisture by applying a small amount of roofing cement to the top edge.