How to Build a Small Dog House
If you can’t find the right sized dog house for a smaller than average size dog you might just want to build a small dog house for the little fella. Making one of your own will take some effort but it is quite rewarding. You even have the option to customize the dog house according to your tastes.
Needed Tools and Materials
Take note that you should adjust the measurements given on this guide depending on the actual size of your dog. Make sure that you give the little guy enough room to move around while in the shelter of the dog house. You also have the liberty of picking a different yet suitable material as a substitute.
For framing, you’ll need 2x2s or 2x4s depending on the size of the dog. You will most likely need 2x4s to make the base or a pallet as a substitute. For the roof and the sides of the small dog house you’ll need half inch plywood. You can either use screws or nails to assemble the parts you’ll use for construction.
You will also need a hammer, screwdriver, and a drill with the appropriate size drill bits. You can choose from paint or polyurethane to finish off your work. You may also use asphalt shingles if you wish. You may also need some tar paper.
Building the Small Dog House
Design the dimensions of your dog house according to the available space you have and the actual size of your pet dog. You may want to add a few inches to the height and width to give your furry pet some more room inside. Design the entry way and the base, which should be raised several inches from the ground. The entry way should never open directly into your pet’s sleeping area.
Tips on building the base: Keep the base of the small dog house raised about four inches from the ground. The airspace underneath will help with the ever changing weather conditions. Use treated 4x4s or another suitable piece of material. For instance you can use a wooden pallet laid with 1/2 plywood to serve as flooring.
Next, you now have to work on the frame and the walls. You can use 2x2s for the frame or 4x4s if that is more suitable. The back wall should at least be around four inches higher than the front wall of the dog house. To add insulation you can add internal 1/2 inch plywood. It should be added on the inside of the small dog house’s framing studs. You can now stuff insulation into the space between the outer and inner walls.
Finally, nail the roof onto the dog house. Attaching hinges on the roof is a great idea. This allows you to raise one side of the roof for easy access and cleaning. The finishing touches include painting the dog house, laying tar paper, and adding shingles.
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