If you are just not very handy or haven't had much experience as a do-it-yourselfer, you may want to forget buying a dog house plan and buy a dog house kit.
However, before you choose your kit, there are some things you need to take into consideration:
1. Be sure to first measure your dog, it's height and length -- so you can buy a dog house kit that will be the right size. If the house is too small, your dog may not want to use it. If it's too big, your dog may not be able to stay warm when the weather grows chilly. Most of us like houses where there is at least two feet of air above our heads - in order to avoid feelings of claustrophobia. This comfort zone translates into about 1/3 of our standing height. You should allow your dog the same amount of airiness. Figure out how tall the dog is (or will be when fully grown) and then make sure the dog house ceiling or roof is at least 1/3 taller than this.
2. What about your local weather conditions? Does your area have very severe winters ? 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 should most certainly buy an insulated dog house kit. On the other hand, if you live in a mild area such as Southern California, you may not need to worry about insulation in selecting a dog house kit.
3. Look for a dog house kit where there are hinges on the roof for easy cleaning - or a kit where it would be easy to incorporate hinges. When you clean the dog, you will also want to clean the dog house and bedding. After all, you would not want to sleep in a room that hasn't been cleaned for months or a bed where the sheets haven't been changed for weeks and your dog deserves to be treated the same way.
4. When evaluating dog house kits look for a plan that either includes a partial wall or is large enough that you can add a partial wall. This is so that the dog can escape the elements as necessary. If the weather is bad, the dog can choose to either sleep in the entry room or go around the inner wall into its "inner sanctum" to get warmer. Both areas could have bedding or a pillow such as a cedar-filled pillow to discourage fleas.
5. Be sure to consider your dog's habits. Some dogs like to sit on top of their house. If you think this may be true of your dog, don't put roll roofing or shingles on the top of the dog house since they can get very hot in the summer. Just use an exterior plywood panel treated with a nontoxic preservative like linseed oil. Also, you should probably choose a dog house kit with a slanted roof and not one that has a high peak.
Four Easy-To-Assemble Dog House Kits
These dog houses kits require assembly but come precut and with all necessary materials. This saves you from having to buy all the materials and tools required to build a dog house from scratch.
Outback Country Lodge Dog House Small
Flatroof Dog House - Unfinished
Pitched Roof Dog House - Unfinished
And, finally, here's one that requires no assembly at all:
Next >> Sources For Dog House Kits