DIY dog booth
Before starting a dog, you should think about where the animal will live. A self-built dog kennel will delight your friend. You can make a comfortable home for a pet from the simplest materials at hand in a short time. It is necessary to choose the right size of dwellings for the dog so that the animal feels comfortable and protected at any time of the year, be it autumn, winter or hot summer. A house for a pet, made with your own hands, will become an additional decoration of the site.
Location of the booth on the site: basic rules
The place for the doghouse is chosen thoroughly, because here the animal will spend more than one year of its life. The location should be convenient for both the owner and the animal, and must comply with certain rules:
- the booth is located next to the front door of the house;
- from the side of the kennel, the entrance to the site and most of the yard should be clearly visible;
- be sure to take into account the direction of the wind so that the kennel is not blown;
- the place should be well lit, but located next to a shady area, it is there that the dog will rest from the heat;
- it is better to arrange housing for the pet further from the pond, pool, well, otherwise excess moisture may accumulate under the kennel, which will bring discomfort to the animal;
- next to flower beds and flower beds, it is also better not to place the booth, the animal can unintentionally harm them.
Dimensions of the dog house
At the first stage of construction of housing for a dog, you need to decide on its size. They depend on the size of the pet. An animal can be one of 3 types.
Practice has shown that the following parameters are suitable for each type of dog:
- The size of the kennel for small dogs such as pug, terrier or spaniel is 55 cm wide, 70 cm long and 60 cm high. The size of the manhole is 30 by 40 cm.
- For animals of medium size, such as Shar Pei, Foxhound or Basset Hound, the size of the booth is 75 cm wide, 120 cm long and 80 cm high. The manhole size is 35 by 50 cm.
- Booth for dogs of large breeds, which include Alabai, Mountain Dog or Dalmatian, width 100 cm, length 140 cm and height 95 cm; The size of the hole is 40-50 by 60 cm.
The real dimensions of the animal and the table do not always match. If the booth is being made for a puppy that is still growing, you can use tabular measurements.
The dimensions of the booth vary depending on the actual dimensions of the animal. Some animals have non-standard dimensions, in such cases it is better to carry out individual measurements. The pet's ribcage should pass freely into the hole. The Alabai breed is distinguished by its large size. The dimensions and drawing of the booth for the Alabai are determined only after taking measurements from the animal.
When making calculations for the manhole, it is worth measuring the dog's chest and adding 5-8 cm. The height of the manhole is equal to a value that is less than 5 cm of the animal's height at the withers. The maximum depth and vertical dimension make it 5 - 8 cm more than the height of the dog at the withers.
What material is better to make a booth
The owner of the animal himself determines the size of the structure and its location. First, the material for construction is selected. Next, calculate the need for building material.
You need to decide which materials are suitable for creating a pet's housing, and which are not:
- Lacquered or painted materials heat up in the sun and give off an unpleasant odor. They can cause allergies in an animal.
- Metal structures bring discomfort to the animal during hot and cold seasons. The metal heats up in the sun and it will be too hot in the kennel. In winter, the pet will be very cold in such housing.
- Do not make a slate roof. This material is harmful to both human and animal health.
- It is better to refuse insulation with expanded polystyrene, polyurethane or various types of pressed wool. These materials give off odors, which can reduce the pet's sense of smell and allergies.
- A box of pressed wooden panels quickly loses its strength, and in winter it can completely collapse.
After making the booth, it must be carefully examined. In no case should self-tapping screws, nails or wood burrs stick out inside. Sharp protruding objects can injure your pet.
Coniferous planks are best suited for making dog shelters: pine trees, ate, cedar. To insulate the kennel, natural materials are used that will not cause allergies in the animal. The roof is made of metal or ondulin. A mattress filled with sawdust or straw is laid on the floor, on such a bed the animal will sleep comfortably and warmly.
Dog booth with a canopy
The canopy booth is suitable for large watchdogs. The canopy protects the animal from rain and snow, but at the same time will allow him to calmly guard the area. The area under the canopy should be the same size as the kennel itself or slightly larger so that the entire body of the animal can fit on it.
A shelter with a canopy is sure to please the following dog breeds:
- shepherd;
- malamute;
- husky;
- mastiff;
- St. Bernard.
When making a drawing of a booth for a shepherd dog or any other large breed, be sure to take into account the canopy.
How to build a dog house for the winter
There are different opinions about warming a dog kennel for the winter. Some pet owners believe that a warm booth is needed only for smooth-haired dogs. It is worth remembering that a harsh winter presupposes severe frosts and an animal, even with long hair, will be cold. Therefore, for the comfort of the pet, the booth is insulated.
The winter dog house is insulated inside and out. They insulate the floor, and use curtains for the manhole. To make the pet's housing warmer, it is installed on logs. For internal insulation of walls and floors, felt or batting is used. For external insulation, foam is taken. The curtain for the manhole is made of dense and durable fabric or silicone.
Laz is the main source of cold air entering the dog's house, it must be protected with a curtain.
If you decide to make a husky booth with your own hands, it is better to make it bigger. The animal loves space and in winter it enjoys spending time in the snow, it will be too hot in a cramped kennel. The mat is not used on the floor or it is laid very thin. A not very dense fabric that allows air to pass through is hung on the manhole.
Also, like huskies, husky dogs prefer coolness. To make a do-it-yourself husky booth, drawings and dimensions can be used the same as for a husky. Straw bedding in the kennel is fine for this breed. Insulation for the booth is better to choose breathable air, pets of this breed cannot stand the stuffiness.
Malamutes also love fresh, cool air during the winter. The dimensions of the Malamute booth are the same as for the husky booth, and husky, all three breeds belong to the middle group.
A booth for a heat-loving Labrador should be well insulated. The animal will also not refuse a warm litter. The size of the Labrador booth should be optimally selected. In a too large kennel, the dog will freeze, in a small one it will be cramped and uncomfortable. For thermophilic breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Dalmatian, Beagle, and the Drathhaar, the size of the booth is also very important.
Step-by-step instructions for making a dog booth with your own hands
First, make a drawing. The dimensions in the drawing must correspond to the actual dimensions of the kennel. For step-by-step instructions, a drawing of a booth for a dachshund or jagdterrier was selected. These breeds belong to a small group. For medium and large breeds, the sizes are increased according to the table.
For the manufacture of the structure you will need: a hacksaw, a hammer, metal corners, nails and screws.
Step-by-step instruction:
- The base is 90 by 70 cm in size.Take 2 beams 70 cm long and boards 90 cm long are fixed on them.
- Niche for insulation. You need a bar with a cross section of 50 by 50 cm. Cut it into 2 bars 90 cm long and two 60 cm long. The bars are fixed on the base.
- Do-it-yourself doghouse insulation. Cut out the insulation and fasten it tightly to the base.
- Floor. The comfort of the animal depends on its quality. You will need boards 90 cm long, they are fixed with self-tapping screws at the base.
- Side walls. We need two side walls. For walls, the dimensions of the board are 65 and the beams are 40 cm. The walls are fixed at the base of the floor with corners and self-tapping screws.
- Front and back walls. You will need 70 cm long boards and 40 cm long bars. Leave a place for a manhole on the front wall. The animal must pass freely through the hole.
- Fixing all walls.
- Insulation on the booth walls.
- Internal wall cladding.
- Securing the roof to the walls.
- Fastening the bars under the insulation.
- The insulation is well leveled and fixed at the base.
- Sheathing the ends of the roof with boards. A gable roof is made with a slope so that the water glass when it rains. The gable roof is suitable for large dog breeds. It will increase the internal dimensions of a kennel for Malamute, Alabai, Bulldog, Rottweiler or other breed.
- Roof insulation boards.
- Roof covering with roofing material.
It is better to choose a roof covering from a non-metallic material; the chain will rattle over the metal covering.
After completing the work, carefully inspect the box and remove all unnecessary from it. There should be no sharp or stabbing objects, especially if the kennel is for a puppy, and not for an adult dog.
Dog house care
After the kennel is made, installed and the permanent tenant settled in it, you need to know how to care for it. You need to regularly clean your pet's house. It is advisable to do the cleaning monthly. In the summer, disinfect once a month, and in the rest of the year - once a season.
For the convenience of cleaning and disinfection, you can make a booth with a removable or folding roof.
In the process of cleaning, remove scraps, gnawed toys, treat walls and floors with a parasite repellent. Let the dog into the booth only after the solution has dried.
Unusual booths for dogs
If the site on which the booth will be located is made in the same style, everything is thought out and decorated in accordance with all the rules landscape design, then an ordinary kennel for a pet will not work. Making a dog booth with your own hands, you can turn on the imagination to come up with something unusual. You can build a structure of an unusual shape or decorate a perfect ordinary house. Any materials at hand are suitable for decoration, you can also make wood carvings.
When decorating a house for an animal, you should also take into account the individual characteristics of the pet and its character. A do-it-yourself booth for a Rottweiler, Great Dane, Bulldog, Boxer or Pit Bull must match the fighting qualities of these breeds. Don't make ridiculous decorations like flowers or funny faces. For such serious breeds, austere ornaments that emphasize the character of the breed are suitable.
Original dog kennels are a trend for several seasons. If you try, you can make a comfortable and unusual house to the envy of all neighbors.