Having any kind of pet inside is a lot of work. But having a large dog inside can be an even bigger challenge, specially if they are not house trained. You end up with furniture being chewed up, things knocked over and off of tables with their powerful wagging tails, and even worse than that, if they aren't potty trained to let you know when they need to go outside, your house will smell like dog piss. And the larger the dog, more dog hair will be shedded all over everything in the house.
Even with these problems, it is hard for most dog owners to not want the family dog inside with them at all times. However, you will find if you build them the right type of doghouse that will keep them warm and dry and put their favorite toys in their with them, they will be quite happy with their own bedroom, so to speak.
You can go to your local pet store and buy a pre-built dog house, but you will spend a small fortune and may not have exactly what you want. You can also go online and check out the free large dog house plans. Beware though that if you go for one of the free dog house plans, you may only be getting a detailed drawing and possibly a material list, thus you get what you pay for. However, if you are willing to spend a few bucks you can get a good set of plans designed by a professional, which will include a complete material list, cut sheets, and step by step instructions.
By getting a good set of dog house plans, you will have a complete list of materials in order to budget your project. Take the list to two or three of your local lumber yards and get prices. You may find you can save at least 10% on your materials by doing just this. The cut sheets that come with your set of plans is also a major help. They will show you exactly how to cut your pieces of wood (length and angles). This will definitely save you time and probably a little money too by not having to scrap pieces that aren't cut correctly.
When choosing the wood to build your dog house, keep in mind that pressure treated wood is not safe for you dog if he is a chewer. You can however use it for the frame work of the dog house because your dog won't have access to it. Pressure treated wood is full of chemicals which eliminates rot and insect damage and could make your dog sick if ingested. For the exterior and interior walls, you have two choices, use natural wood or a composite type material. When you are ready to paint, it is recommended to use a good quality sealer and exterior enamel paint, it will last longer and be easier to keep clean.
If you live in a cold climate, you may want to insulate the walls and to choose the right size dog house. You want your dog to be able to move around comfortably, but you don't want too much extra space inside. If the dog house is too large, it will be hard to keep warm with your dogs body heat. If you are in a hot climate, having a larger and more roomy dog house makes sense. You want to make sure there is plenty of ventilation and shade to protect your dog from getting over heated.
You love your dog but don't like the mess and destruction in your house? Why not build a comfy and safe dog house for him.
Don't know where to start? Check out these Dog House Plans [http://www.diyshedplans.net/diy-doghouse-plans.html], and save time and money.
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