It is not mandatory to have years of construction expertise or a warehouse full of equipment to assemble an outdoor doghouse. Creating a DIY pet playpen requires basic construction skills and patience to accomplish several work hours.
There are many design options for your doghouse project: making it out of crates and timber for a cozy chic aesthetic or adorning it with lovely groove paneling and cedar roofing. However, there are several non-negotiables when it comes to your dog’s comfort, well-being, and overall safety.
If you’ve already decided on some doghouse construction ideas, take a moment to reconsider some factors before starting the task. Keep these DIY doghouse guidelines in mind to guarantee a house that perfectly suits your furry companion and provide him with a secure haven in the outdoors.
Determine the Purpose
The most important aspect of designing a doghouse is determining its function and how your pup will utilize it. When you and your friendly companion are outdoors, most doghouses offer shelter for them. An exterior doghouse can offer a defined spot for your pup to rest and have a specified place of shade in the summer.
Consider the local climate and how your pet will occupy the place throughout the year. Is it operational all year, or will it give shelter in the summer? These details will influence your flooring, wall count, and insulation choices.
Prime the Outdoor Space
One of the first things to consider before building your dog’s house is to improve the outdoor landscape. You can enhance the aesthetic and utility of outdoor spaces by adding segmented divisions. If you’re not sure how to go about this task, it’s best to call a professional retaining wall contractor to take over. They are well-equipped to construct secure and safe-leveled decking, outdoor staircases, and pathways.
Use Quality Materials
You could wish to match your dog’s new place with yours. It’s easy to make a creative expression that speaks to your pet’s distinct personality. But regardless of the end design’s artistic form, ensure to build it with high-quality materials like cedar and coated wood that will withstand the weather and time.
Everything you create should be made to endure and give the most outstanding protection possible. Don’t be persuaded to repurpose outdated materials and accessories. Besides, you wouldn’t want your best bud to spend time around decaying and obsolete materials.
Measure the Right Size
It would help if you designed a doghouse to accommodate your dog’s full size. Within it, your dog must be able to stand, move around, and lay down comfortably. A suitably-sized home for your dog allows them to roll around with minimal effort.
Thus, to match your pet’s measurements to the interior proportions of a doghouse, you must first calculate your dog’s length and height. These two measurements should provide you with a starting point for the size of your doghouse. Before deciding on the final size, consider what features you want to incorporate.
Insulate the Structure
You should incorporate insulation in your construction designs to keep your dog’s home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Standard home supplies such as rigid foam insulation can be used, while a more refined product such as an aluminum foil particle insulator can be helpful.
Make sure if nails or wires are sticking out and check if all edges are polished. The inside and outside of the doghouse must be free from any sharp edges or bolts that could have protruded, which might risk your pet getting a wound.
Enable Access
Finally, keep in mind that you’ll need access to the interior of the doghouse. Cleaning it, recovering a toy, shutting the vents, or installing a new mattress will be a lot simpler if you don’t have to squish through the dog-sized entryway.
Movable roofing is a fantastic option for simple access. To ensure your safety, utilize pneumatic hinges to keep the heavy roof open even as you operate.
Ensure Your Dog’s Safety
DIY-related chemicals such as sealants and paints are among the most common reasons pet owners contact the canine poison control hotline. Don’t allow your pet the opportunity to swallow something they shouldn’t while you’re constructing your new doghouse.
Keep them at a safe distance until the project is completed, any liquid solutions, acrylics, or stains have thoroughly dried, and any residual construction materials have been removed from the area.
You can give your favorite pet the greatest build-it-yourself playpen possible with only a few minor fixes to your doghouse construction designs. With all these instructions at hand, your pet will truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.
