How to Build a Huge Dog Kennel

Constructing your own dog kennel can be a lot of work. However, building one from scratch is sometimes the best idea because you can involve all of the particulars pertaining to your dog. For instance, size, a proper door and a special roof are just some of the features that can be personalized for your pet's new pad. Follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Four full sheets of ¾-inch weather shield plywood
  • One single 9-foot long H4 treated pine 2x4
  • One large bottle of Elmer's wood glue
  • One box of 2-inch nails
  • 18 1-inch nails
  • 1 gallon of exterior/outdoor paint (your choice of color)
  • Tape measure
  • Hand saw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut out the bottom. The measurements should be exactly 4 feet by 3 feet. The bottom is the base of this kennel, everything you add on to this will go around it.

    • 2

      Attach three 3-foot pieces of the H4 treated pine 2x4 across the rough side of your bottom. Use a good amount of glue for this part. Next, pound upward into the bottom of the kennel six 1-inch nails for each board, evenly spaced. Make sure that the boards are going from side to side, not front to back.

    • 3

      Create the sides. Cut two pieces now for your sides. The dimensions for these are 4 feet by 2½ feet (unless your dog is larger). Attach these directly to the outside of the bottom after applying glue to the contact points of the wood. Pound in your nails about every 8 inches after gluing to secure the boards. The sides should be facing upward at this point. The bottom piece and the sides should end up being flush together.

    • 4

      Make the front and back of the kennel. Cut out the front and back pieces. The measurements for those are 3 ½ feet by 3 feet. Before putting these pieces on your dog house, you have to cut out a door. In the middle and bottom part of your front piece is where you want to cut out this door. Cut a rectangle 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall. Attach the two pieces now to the face and rear of your kennel. The two pieces slide in between the sides and sit flush on the bottom piece. Use glue where the wood meets and then apply the nails about every 8 inches.

    • 5

      Cut the front and rear pieces so that the roof can be laid on the top. Start at the middle of the two pieces and cut down to the outside edge of your side piece. Your front and rear pieces should come to an apex in the middle.

    • 6

      Secure the roof. Cut two pieces for the roof. Both pieces are going to be cut the same way. One however will have to be ¾ inches shorter than the other so they can overlap conforming to the apex. Both pieces should be 4 feet long to start. The width is the distance between the apex to 6 inches beyond the side pieces. This dog kennel is designed to have a 6-inch overhang.

    • 7

      Paint the kennel. You should use at least one coat, and you may decide to use two for extra durability. You can paint the coats one after the other, then let the kennel dry completely over about 24 hours. Once it is dry, you can put wood chips, a pillow or other bedding inside to keep your dog warm, dry and happy.