Easy to Build Doghouse Plan

Building a doghouse can be an easy weekend project if you have a little knowledge of general woodworking. Even novice craftsmen can build a simple doghouse by creating several rectangular frames and joining them together. Be sure to make the doghouse with ample room for your dog to get in and to be able to turn around. But keep the size cozy--dogs prefer to live in close quarters.

  1. Foundation and Floor

    • Decide how big you want the doghouse and add 2 to 3 feet for a porch if desired. Make a box out of 2 by 4s that equals the desired perimeter of your doghouse, including the porch if you have opted to include one. Cover the box with your choice of thickness in plywood--bearing in mind the size of the dog you plan to house and climate in your area--and this will be your foundation and floor.

    Making the Walls

    • To build the walls, start with 2-by-4 box frames like you did with the foundation. Begin with the back wall--make it the width of the foundation by your desired height--and attach it to the foundation flush with the outside edge using nails or drywall screws. Make your side frames the same way, but subtract the width of the back wall frame. Attach these sides to the foundation flush with the outside edge and butted up against the back wall frame. Finally attach a 2 by 4 across the front at the top of the two side wall frames to make up the top brace to anchor the walls together.

    Building the Roof

    • For the door opening, run one 2 by 4 vertically, down from the top brace to the foundation on both sides of the proposed door opening. If you want a flat roof, run some wood planks across what you have here and cover them with plywood. For a pitched roof, attach a 2 by 4 vertically on top of the front and back wall frames at their center points. The length of the 2 by 4 will depend on your desired pitch of the roof. Run another 2 by 4 the length of the dog house and attach it to the top of the two you just put in. Cut your roof supports from more 2 by 4s and run them from the roof peak back down across the side wall frames so they overhang.

    Finishing Touches

    • Depending on the size of your doghouse, you may need to add an extra 2 by 4 inside the wall frames for support. This will also help when screwing on the plywood from the outside. Cover each of the wall frames with plywood and attach with nails or screws. Cut the plywood for the front side, then measure, mark and cut out the door opening and attach it to the frame. After the siding is on, it can be sealed and painted. After the roof is on, it should be waterproofed via a thick all-weather paint, shingles or a rubberized roof coating.