What Is Needed to Build an Extra Large Dog House?

Building a house for an extra-large dog does not need to be more difficult or time-consuming than building a house for any other dog. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to make sure your measurements are correct. "Measure twice, cut once" may be something of a cliche, but it also is completely sound advice.

  1. Measuring Everything

    • Before you start, use a tape measure to measure your dog. Write down your dog's length, including tail, and his height. You will want to refer to this information at a few stages during the planning process of the house.

    What You'll Need

    • Once you've got your dog's measurements, you'll need to begin gathering materials. Home improvement expert Ron Hazelton advises that the width of your dog's house should be his length plus 12 inches. The length of the house should be your dog's length plus 18 inches. Since you'll be building a house with a sloping roof to encourage the rain to run off, you will need to consider two heights for the house: your dog's height plus nine inches in front, and your dog's height plus three inches in the back.

      Now that you have the basic dimensions of the house, you will need to get 13 pieces of 3/4" plywood to accommodate those measurements. Six will form the outer walls, six will form the inner walls (both types of wall will sandwich some insulation to keep your dog warm), and one piece will be used to create a heat retention partition to help keep your dog even warmer. You will also need to have some pressure-treated 2 x 4s on hand to use in constructing the base. The inside corners of the dog house will require additional plywood pieces for structural bracing and to keep the elements outside and your dog well protected from them.

      For the roof, you will need some roofing cement, as well as asphalt weather-proof shingles. For the construction of the entire house, you will want to choose weather-resistant nails since the structure will be subject to all the harshest elements of Mother Nature. If you can find it, some 1.5" foam insulation (the rigid kind) will be ideal for keeping your dog warm.

    Building the House

    • Using the measurements you figured out earlier, build a simple base for your dog's house out of 2x4s. Attach a sheet of plywood to form the floor using your weather-resistant nails. Cut and assemble the outer walls of the house, making sure to brace them at the corners with an "L" shape from additional plywood. Use weather-resistant nails for everything. Attach the insulating foam, then attach the inner plywood walls. Attach the roof, then use roofing cement to glue down the asphalt weather-proof shingles. Finally, cut and sand the doorway to your dog's new castle. Make sure to provide your dog with some blankets or other cozy bedding and some toys as housewarming presents.