How to Make a Doghouse

Make a great doghouse for your beloved pet. When your dog is outside, he needs shelter from the elements. If he is an inside dog and only goes out for a bit every day, he may enjoy a doghouse to play in anyway. The cost of the project will depend on the size of dog you have plus, you may already have some of the materials necessary lying around.

Things You'll Need

  • Crowbar
  • Level
  • Tape measure
  • Metal triangle
  • Caulk gun
  • Saws
  • Hammers
  • Screwdrivers
  • Paint and paintbrush.
  • Shingles
  • Roof cement
  • Bricks
  • Nails
  • Screws
  • L-brackets
  • Trim boards
  • Plywood
  • Treated lumber sizes: 2x2, 2x4, and 2x6
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your dog from all angles. Your dog needs to be able to look out the front entry while standing or sitting. This is to ensure the comfort of the dog in her new space. Use bricks for the foundation. Leave a small crack on the sides for a little flow of air. The foundation is to keep the wood of the doghouse off the ground.

    • 2

      Make the floor frame. Make a 48-inch square from six pressure treated 2x4s. Use four boards for the outside, then space the other two boards 16 inches apart inside the square frame. Nail them securely. You should have three spaces on the inside of the square.

    • 3

      Create the walls. You will need three walls, one for the back and two for the sides. The sides will be slightly shorter than the back. They are approximately 36 inches. Using 2x2 lumber, make a 48x36 rectangle. Make this just like the floor frame, using four boards for the outside frame, and two boards placed sixteen inches apart, making three spaces inside the frame. Secure the wood with nails, wood screws and L-brackets.

    • 4

      Make a front entry. Using 2x2s, create an upside-down U, and secure with L-brackets. Use a short board above the opening in between the two legs of the U. Use your dog's height as the measurement for the opening.

    • 5

      Connect the walls to the floor. Apply a covering of half-inch plywood to the floor frame. Connect the four sides, one at a time to the plywood base with nails and wood screws. Use as many nails, screws and brackets as necessary to stabilize all four pieces together on top of the base.

    • 6

      Make the roof. Make the joists out of 2x4 lumber. Once you get the first one right, copy it’s pattern because you will need three. The pitch of the roof needs to be approximately 30 degrees. You will need to make a notch on the inside of the boards to fit on top of the frame. You want the boards to be long enough to hang off the structure a couple of inches. Then nail them into place spaced about 24 inches apart. Put one on the edge of the front and one on the edge of the back of the doghouse. Put the third one in the middle. You will need two more pieces of 2x2 lumber to finish the roof frame. They will go along the top of the v-shape on the roof to create the spine of the roof. You may need some help fitting these and nailing them into place.

    • 7

      Cover frame with plywood. Cut pieces to fit around the whole frame and four pieces to fit the roof. If you are not sure about cutting the pieces, have a professional at the hardware store do it for you. Nail them onto the outside of your doghouse frame. Do the roof last.

    • 8

      Cover roof and apply shingles. Once the plywood is on the roof, it is time to apply the shingles or your choice of roof material. Cut shingles in three pieces and fold on the crest of the roof. Use roof cement to stick them into place. Use trim is to cover any cracks left by the plywood. Paint it your color of choice and the doghouse is complete.