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Materials
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Buy several large pieces of thick Styrofoam. Shave the ends so that you have a clean cut on all sides. Do not buy Styrofoam that has been painted or that has any chemicals added to it. You want to create a dog house that is safe for your dog, so stay away from any treated Styrofoam.
Measure out several lengths of Styrofoam to use for your dog house. You will need four sides, a top, and a bottom. The easiest way to do it is to use Styrofoam that is all one size, which will create a cube-shaped house for your dog. For large-breed dogs, use pieces that are 3 feet by 3 feet. Houses for smaller dogs can be made of smaller pieces.
Assembly
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Set one piece of Styrofoam on the ground and make sure that it is sturdy. This is the piece in which a door will be cut. Cut a door that is 1 foot tall and 10 inches wide. Do not start at the very bottom of the Styrofoam. You want to leave a lip at the bottom that is at least 1 inch tall. This prevents the Styrofoam from falling apart.
Assemble the dog house by setting your bottom piece of Styrofoam on the ground or work surface and applying wood glue to each of the edges. Set the sides on the bottom piece, and wait for the glue to dry. Be sure that you set the side with the hole so that the hole is the right height for your dog. After the sides have dried, apply glue to all four sides and set your top on the glue. Wait at least 24 hours for all glue to dry before allowing your dog to use the dog house.
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DIY Dog Houses Using Styrofoam Panels
Styrofoam is one of the materials that you can use to mold and shape dog houses. With a few sheets of thick Styrofoam and some wood glue, as well as a jigsaw, you can put together a dog house for your four-legged pal. Dog houses out of Styrofoam, according to Mark Johnson, sled dog racer and musher, are easy to make and are quite durable. Styrofoam houses might only last one season, but they are a good value for the money and time you put into them, says Johnson.