There are many things to consider when purchasing a dog house. The size of your dog and the size of your yard will determine how large of a dog house you need. There are also some that will accommodate more than one dog. Next you can look at the materials. Most dog houses are made of wood such as pine or cedar, but some can be made from durable, maintenance free plastic.

Choosing The Right Dog House

What size is right for your dog? Use the following guideline to select the right dog house: Roof Height should be 25% to 50% taller than your dog. Door height should be 3/4 the shoulder height of your dog. The overall inside dimensions should not be more than 25% longer than your dog in either direction. If your dog will be outside all year round it is best to use an insulated dog house. You can purchase warming mats to help fight the cold. It is essential to insure that the water supply is clean and that it does not freeze. There are many watering devices available to insure a continuous clean water supply. You will also need a non-freeze water container. These stainless steel water containers assure a fresh water supply even in the coldest weather. Hot weather should also be a concern and there are cooling mats available that you should consider.

Materials Used in Building Dog Houses:

Dog houses are available in different material - wood, plastic, fenced wires, and much more. The design of the dog house differs accordingly too, keeping in tune with the material used in building the dog house. Among woods, cedar, Asian fir, and pine are possibly the most used in building. Fancy, playful designs such as mansion, bungalow, houses with porches, houses with roof porches, and cabin log house are made up of the aforementioned woods.

Wood is the prevalent material used for building dog houses over the years. Wood is readily available, is low costing, has great insulating capabilities and has good structural reliability. Plastic dog houses became available during the 1960's. These plastic dog houses are portable and can be transferred from one place in the house to another. Designs also range from the simple replica of a small house to extravagant castle designs. This really is a far cry from the first mud and brick kennels of before!

Whatever the materials used to make the house, the function is the same - to keep the dog warm and sheltered away from the elements. It is important that the dog does not overheat and you should provide water and food for him as appropriate.

The best way to see the variety of dog houses available is to do your shopping online. Since you won't have to trek to every pet store in town you'll save time and money when you find the perfect abode for your furry best friend online. Research shows that among wooden dog houses, cedar houses are usually preferred by all customers. Multitudes of beautifully-designed dog houses exist, which are built with cedar wood.