There are large dog house plans available on a number of web sites. In fact, some of them are free and can be downloaded. The problem with many free plans is the quality of plans you receive. Unless you are an experienced carpenter, many of these won't be very useful.
But before you order any plans, make sure you have done your home work and know what to look for.
For example, are there building codes in your area? In some towns there are codes that restrict what you can and cannot build on your property. If there are building codes in your area, be sure you understand them before ordering any large dog house plans. Most dog houses are small enough not to be affected by any building codes. We found some high quality dog house plans for large dogs at how-to-build-plans.com that you may find helpful. This is an attractive dog house and very sturdy. It includes an option for insulating it as well as a side door for easy cleaning.
Consider your skills as a carpenter. If you are not an experienced do-it-yourselfer, you might want to choose fairly simple large dog house plans, such as a snoopy style house. For that matter, if you're not really in to do-it-yourself projects, you might be better off either buying a dog house kit or buying a dog house already constructed.
If you live in an area that gets cold in the winter, look for a plan that either includes a partial wall or is large enough that you can add a partial wall. Another option is to install an insulated door. This is so the dog can escape the elements as necessary. That way, 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" for more warmth.
Does the plan you're evaluating have a hinged roof? If not, would it be easy to add hinges? This is important because it makes for easy cleaning. If it is designed not to hinge, you can also put in a hinged door on one side or the orher. This also allows access for cleaning and for providing food and water.
Sources for large dog house plans
A great source for dog house plans along with thousands of other woodworking projects is Teds Woodworking Plans. This site offers plans to build almost anything imaginable. There are some sources for free dog house plans for large dogs that I believe are worth evaluating. However, be forewarned that the downside of free dog house plans is that they are usually available in only one size. This means you may have to up- or down-scale the plans to fit your dog.
Plans from Lowe's are rated Skill Level: Advanced, so tread carefully unless you're a pretty experienced carpenter. This page has a complete bill of materials, a cut list, information about the paint recommended, and a list of roofing, fasteners and the tools required. There are good instructions for constructing the dog house and a downloadable PDF of the actual plan.
All About Dog Houses
This site offers a free dog house plan rated "intermediate," so the house should be easier to construct than the one offered by Lowe's. It's called the "Sparky," and features an insulated floor, roof, and walls, a removable roof for ease of cleaning, a cedar deck with roof, an optional inner wall, and solid construction throughout. The plan includes a drawing and materials list, and information on the four steps required to build it. The dog house drawing makes the project look fairly simple. The instructions are easy to follow and are illustrated with photos.
Georgia-Pacific Building Materials
The building materials giant, Georgia-Pacific has a free dog house plan for a dog house designed to provide a sturdy shelter for a medium sized dog. The G-P dog house plan comes as a PDF documents and includes a materials and cut list, a cutting diagram, helpful good illustrations, and step-by-step instructions for building the dog house.
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