Dog House Buying Guide

Congrats on conquering your dog-house-buying-guilt and making the decision to provide your pup with a pad to call his very own. Look excited because now it’s time to do some dog house-buying research!

Buying a dog house isn’t as easy as it used to be. These days you have options.  You know how simple tasks like buying a television or [gasp] a VCR have over the years become unnecessarily complicated, complete with more options than a person could ever have preferences? Yeah. Well, welcome to the world of dog houses. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

It’s true. These days, buying a dog house is far more complicated than it used to be because of all the different types of dog houses on the market. From wood dog houses to plastic, to traditional to Victorian, from single dog houses to multi-dog mansions, the options for dog houses are virtually endless. We hope the guide below will help you sift through what’s important and help you remain within your budget.

Appearances First

Like in life, how your dog house looks is important. You want your dog house to mesh with the overall look and feel of the exterior of your house and yard. Depending on what type of dog house you buy, you may be able to customize it after the fact (for example, wood dog houses can be painted), but why not make your life easier and try to find something that works as is? Unless you have nothing better to do on your Saturday than paint wooden dog houses. If so, seek help.

Again, we don’t judge.

Finding a dog house to match your human house shouldn’t be too hard as there are plenty of different styles to choose from, including wood, brick, or plastic. There are pros and cons to each, so it’s worth your time to figure out which best matches you and your dog’s style. Here’s a quick rundown on what each material has to offer, along with some of its specific drawbacks:

• Plastic: Insulated plastic dog houses do a pretty good job keeping your pooch warm during the winter and will hold up regardless of what Mother Nature throws at them. On the pro side, they’re also super safe for your puppy (no splinters or jagged edges), economical and relatively easy for us dog owners to clean. The cons for plastic dog houses are that there’s very little ability to modify them and they’re often considered some of the, uh, least attractive dog houses.
• Wood: Wood houses give off a classic dog house-feel and are typically far more attractive than their plastic counterparts. They come in an array of different shapes and styles and are super modifiable. You want a porch? Add one on! Want to make your princess a pink dog house? Get out the paint! On the downside, wooden dog houses mean you must be careful about splinters, they’re difficult to clean and they don’t always handle weather as well as plastic dog houses.
• Brick: Brick dog houses let everyone know what your dog is not one to be messed with. They offer the ultimate in style, class and protection, giving your dog a regal feel. On the downside, they’ll last forever (while you may move, your dog house will not), they’re hard to clean and they can be super expensive. For example, have you met the $25,000 Brick Doggie Mansion? I love my dog but I’m not sure he needs a dog house more expensive than my car. (Don’t tell him I said that though.)

Comfort & Weather Concerns

Comfort is the most important consideration when researching dog houses. Your dog will be spending a substantial amount of time in his new home, and you want it to be a place that he enjoys - otherwise you are going to have problems keeping him outside. When you’re doing your dog house shopping, there are several comfort considerations to take into account:

• Size: How many dogs will be using this house? How big is your dog? How active is he? Your dog may be spending extended periods of time in this dog house, so it’s absolutely vital that it’s large enough for him to not only fit in, but to move around in and get comfortable. Be careful though: Don’t just go buying the biggest dog house on the lot. If the house is too big, it can make your dog feel insecure and vulnerable.
• Safety: Make sure the dog house you select will keep your dog safe. If it’s wood or plastic, there shouldn’t be any sharp or jagged corners that would hurt your dog should he run into them. You also want to make sure that the dog house you select is sturdy enough to hold your dog and that it won’t collapse on top of him should he get rough. If there are real windows, make sure there is no risk of them falling down on their own.
• Warmth: We highly recommend weatherproofing your doghouse. You don’t like dealing with nasty weather, so why should your dog? If you live in an area that gets relatively cold, install a heater for the house. To help keep it warm, you may also want to invest in heated dog beds, mats and pads to put inside the house. Another tip is to face the house away from the wind, and buy a model with an off-center door so that if cold air does get in, it doesn’t blow directly on your dog. Also, make sure that the floor is raised a few inches off the ground, this will help keep the dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And definitely get a model with a peaked roof and weatherproof lining, this will keep the rain out of the doghouse during stormy weather.

Practicality

Once you have the aesthetics and and comfort concerns down, it’s time to think practicality.

• What kind of dog house can you afford?
• Are you going to buy a pre-made dog house or build it yourself?
• How handy are you? Can you build a dog house out of scrap wood or do you need dog plans?
• How easy will it be to clean? (We recommend finding a model with a removable roof and floor padding to make cleaning easier)
• How durable is it?
• Will you be able to take it down should you need to?
• Is it movable once assembled?

Final Thoughts

For better or for worse, you have lots of options these days when you select a dog house for your dog. Spend some time researching them to ensure that you choose the best dog house for your dog. You and your dog will have to live with this dog house for quite awhile, so make you get one that works for both of you.

Good luck and happy shopping!

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