How to Build a Cardboard Dog House

Creating a real dog house for your dog is a do-it-yourself chore that requires wood, nails and other sturdy materials from the hardware store. However, if you'd like to first practice creating a dog house before you get started on the real thing, build a cardboard dog house. A cardboard dog house is also a great crafting project for kids with stuffed animals.

Things You'll Need

  • Rectangular cardboard box
  • Scissors
  • Marker
  • Masking tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut off the flaps from the two longer sides of the top of a rectangular box. Set aside.

    • 2

      Draw a dot at the top of each of the short flaps on the top of the box, placing the dot directly in the middle. Draw diagonal lines from this dot to the bottom two corners of each flap. You will end up with two upside down V shapes.

    • 3

      Cut along your V lines so that you end up with two triangular flaps.

    • 4

      Lift your V flaps so that they are in an upright position, and tape the pieces of cardboard that you cut from these flaps onto the inside of the box. Tape them right over the place where the flaps would normally bend, in order to keep the V flaps stiff and upright.

    • 5

      On one of the short sides of your box, draw a door in whatever shape and size you wish. Make sure the sides of the door reach the bottom of the box. Cut along these lines to form an open door in the side of the box.

    • 6

      Place the long flaps back along where you cut them off, leaning them diagonally against the upright V flaps. Tape them together at the peak, to the V flaps and to the long sides of the box, to keep them in place. These slanted flaps create a roof.