What you need to know about dog house plans

If you're interested in dog house plans for building a safe, comfortable home for your outdoor dog, you've come to the right place. This web site is dedicated to helping you find the right dog house plan and then build a safe, comfortable, quality dog house.

10 things to consider before ordering a dog house plan

Before you order another dog house plan, here are 10 things to consider:

1. You will want to make sure your dog will be comfortable in any weather. Think about your local weather conditions. Does your area have very severe winters where the temperature can fall to zero or below and stay that way for a seek or more? How about summers? Do you have many days in the high '90s or even in the 100s? If you can answer "yes" to either of these questions, you will want to think strongly about building an insulated dog house. On the other hand, if you live in a mild area such as Southern California, insulation may not be a factor in selecting a good dog house plan.   

2. Measure your dog, it's height and length -- so you can to build a dog house that will be the right size. I can't think of any thing more discouraging that spending many hours building a house for your pet only to find it's way too small or too large. And if you are building a dog house for a puppy, be sure to take into consideration how big he will be when full grown.

3. If you plan on building the dog house outside, be sure to check your local weather forecast. If it looks as if it will be raining, snowing or very cold, you may want to build it inside, instead.

4. Where will the dog house be located? Be sure to avoid low lying areas where rain water or water run-off can collect. You might also want to avoid spots next to a fence where your dog could use the dog house as a stepping stone to climb over the fence and wander away.

5. After you order your dog house plans, be sure to read them over and over several times before you begin construction to make sure you really understand them. I have seen plans that appear to be easy to follow at first but then, as I have gotten further and further into the project, I have found important steps missing or instructions that just don't work.

6. Double check your list of materials and buy everything before you start building. This can save you a lot of aggravation and repeated trips to your building materials center or hardware store.

7. Think about enlisting a friend to help. It is true that four hands are better than two. Plus your friend might spot something that needs to be done that you had missed. However, keep in mind that only one person can be in charge of the project and that one person should be you.

8. Don't forget the carpenter's golden rule, "measure twice and cut once. That one rule can save you a lot of aggravation and wasted materials.

9. Do you need to worry about building codes? In some cities and towns there are codes that restrict what you can and cannot build on your property.

10. Think about your skills as a carpenter. If you are not experienced in do-it-yourself projects, you might be better off either buying a dog house kit or a finished dog house. Also, consider how fancy a dog house you want to build. If your goal is to build a simple snoopy style dog house, you may need only beginner's carpentry skills. However, if your idea is to build an elaborate dog house, for example, something that would match your house's architectural style, you better be a pretty experienced carpenter.

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