DIY - Dog House Ideas for Your Furry Companions' Comfort

TAMPA, Fla. - Oct. 17, 2018 - PRLog -- Building a dog house is an excellent way of providing your pet with some extra comfort in your backyard.  The materials, size, and layout you choose for the dog house will largely depend on climate, the size of your dog and various other factors. Sometimes it can be difficult to pick out a ready-made dog house that checks all the boxes and is still comfortable for your furry companion.

However, if you're going with the DIY option (https://www.thesprucepets.com/free-dog-house-plans-1357119), then the only limitation is your skill and patience. With the right plan and ideas, you can come up with a dog house that your pet will adore, and keep everyone happy for many years. Let's have a look at a few ideas for materials, depending on the climate and the durability you want for your DIY dog house.

Wood

There's a reason why wood is the most used material for dog houses. It's natural, decently durable, and easy to work with. However, it leaves some things to be desired. It won't provide adequate insulation, and the weather could wear it down quite quickly or make it unsafe for your dog. It can happen due to the material getting soaked in the rain, expanding or rotting, which could cause splintering. You will want to protect the shelter with a good quality wood sealant. Although, if you have a lot of sunny days and not too much rainfall or snow where you live, a wooden dog house is likely a smart choice with low maintenance required. Place it in the shade to keep it from getting too hot in the summer, although insulation can solve that problem.

Plastic

Unlike wood, plastic is lightweight and completely waterproof, and it can also provide satisfactory protection from the wind depending on its thickness. Another benefit is that it won't be a target for termites, although a persistent dog chewer could get the better of it. However, when it comes to DIY, plastic can be difficult to manipulate, and it's more often an option for ready-made dog houses. If you want to build a dog house for your four-legged best friend yourself, there are other materials to examine.

Other Materials

You can treat a dog house the same way you would a regular house, only build it on a smaller scale. The most important thing to get right is the dimensions, entrance that's sheltered from the elements (off-center or away from where you're going to put the dog bed), as well as a slightly raised platform for the dog bed. Of course, insulation of the floors, walls and the roof if you live in a cold climate is essential, combined with some heating system. If not, you can set down a solid tile floor (http://tampatile.com/products/) that's easily cleaned. If you're worried about tile being too slick, you can set down tile with thicker grout that aids with traction, or go with flooring that has good grip.

Conclusion

It's imperative to have a comfortable dog house for your companions if they spend a lot of time in your backyard. The best part about it is that it could be a fun DIY project that would help you improve your building skills and customize the dog house for your furry companion's comfort.