Dog House Plans for Beginners

Cutting Materials

• Wood is the best material to use, said Johnson. It is easy to work with, easy to find and easy to finish. You are going to want to go with plywood that is at least 1/8th inch thick. Beginners will have an easier time making a perfectly cubed dog house, said Johnson, because you only need one measurement and you don't have to worry about making other shapes.

  Cut your plywood into six pieces. The size of the piece is going to depend a little bit on the size of your dog. Your dog needs to be able to get into the house, and should be able to turn a circle in the house. The dog doesn't need to stand up completely in the house, and a house that is tall enough for a dog to stand in will be too roomy to keep warmth in. A standard dog, like a sled dog, that weighs between 50 and 75 pounds, is around three feet tall from foot to shoulder, use this as a general measurement. Adapt your measurements to dogs that are bigger or dogs that are smaller.

  Cut your plywood into five pieces that are three feet by two feet. The sixth piece, which is going to be the roof, should have a one inch overhang on all sides, so it will be three feet one inch by three feet one inch. Cut your wood and lay it out. Take one of the regular sized pieces and set it aside. On this piece, use a jigsaw to cut a door. However, you absolutely must use your dog for this measurement. Take your dog and make sure that his shoulders fit through the door you have cut. As long as his shoulders fit, he will fit. Cut this door in the center of your wood. A good tip to follow is that if your dog is quite small, the door should be smaller. The door should be about two inches wider than your dog's shoulders, and about as tall. This will mean you might have different measurements for each dog.

Assembling the Dog House

• Assemble the bottom and all four sides to the doghouse. Use a nail gun, screws, or wood glue to put the pieces together in a cube. Let the cube dry if needed. Cut four pieces of wood out of a hardwood, like a 2x4. These chunks can be about two inches wide and three inches tall. Secure these blocks to the bottom of the dog house, so it sits off the ground.

  Lay the last piece of plywood on the ground, and turn the house over so it sits on top of that piece. Take a pencil and trace around the plywood so you know where the lid will sit.

  Cut small pieces of wood, about one inch tall and about 1/4th of an inch thick that are the length and width of your roof piece. Secure these to the edges, just outside of your pencil marks. They should form a lip so you can put the lid on the house, and so it will stay secure.

  Turn the house over, and set it up. Place the lid on the house, and it should stay secure.