Summer is the time to consider that doghouse you’ve been wanting to get for Fido.
It’s a good time to shop around or have one custom designed for your pooch, and will give your dog time to get acclimated to the new digs before chilly temperatures set in.
Doghouses date back to the mid-1800s. The most common building material is still wood, although molded plastic doghouses are available. While the latter need no waterproofing, they can become very hot in summer.
A doghouse should be large enough to accommodate your dog so that it can stand, stretch and turn around in, but not so large that its body heat won’t keep the inside warm in cooler weather.
All doghouses should be set at least two inches off the ground on bricks, a platform or cinder blocks and built of sturdy wood and insulation to protect the animal from wind, snow and rain.
The roof should be waterproof and flat to help keep the dog’s body heat in and serve as a secure roost or vantage point.
Provide a slight overhang to protect the entrance. A hinged roof will make it easier to clean the shelter or treat it with flea spray.
Ready-made doghouses of cedar or Dogloos, made from molded plastic, can be found at most fencing and feed stores. They cost between $60 for a mid-sized dog to $150 for a very large dog.
Dogs may feel confined inside today’s smaller individual doghouses, so consider a structure where each end is hinged to open. This can also aid air circulation on a summer day.
Some plans call for an interior wall that creates an entry hall, which protects the sleeping area from direct wind. The divider wall can be removed in warm weather. If there is no hall to create protection, the entrance opening should be offset and cut to one side instead of the center; that should keep wind from blowing directly on your pet.
A protective canvas or plastic (the heavy-duty kind used in meat freezers) strip flap will help to keep the elements out.
If possible, the location of the doghouse should be changed with each season to keep your dog comfortable. In winter, the doghouse should be placed on the southeast or east side of your house to get the winter sun.
Among the more pampered pet options you might consider for a custom-built doghouse are skylights, an astroturf patio, window boxes, a heat source, air conditioning and picture window of shatterproof glass or thick scratch-proof plastic.
Before buying a doghouse, make sure that it’s appropriate for your animal. Doghouses are not recommended for older dogs, dogs that are small or thin-coated, and puppies.
Dogs shouldn’t be left in a doghouse if the temperature dips below 20 degrees, according to the Humane Society of the United States. At these temperatures, dogs can experience hypothermia or frostbite.
Bedding material is important to keep your pet snug and warm. Cedar shavings or straw (not hay) are best and should be changed or freshened up on a regular basis to keep the house clean. Shy away from fabric bedding in the doghouse, as it will hold moisture.
Never tie your dog to his house, and always keep a fresh water source nearby. To maintain the dog’s body heat, its normal amount of food should be increased by 25 percent or more in very cold weather, according to the Humane Society.
