A dog house is generally regarded as being a utility structure, especially for people who keep their dogs outdoors. It is intended primarily to give them a place to hide away and seek shelter when it rains, snows or is unpleasantly windy. But this doesn’t mean that a dog kennel should look like a utility item.
Most commonly built using wood, dog houses can look attractive if they are constructed with imagination. In fact homemade dog houses can look a lot more attractive than those that are mass produced. So if you have some basic wood working skills, why not knock up a dog house for your doggie this weekend?
While simple woodworking plans and projects for dog houses will show you how to build dog houses, here is a quick rundown of what you will need, and what you will need to know:
• The tools you will need include a tape measure, a hammer and screwdriver, a level and a carpenter’s square, at least one saw (you can use a hand saw, but an electric circular saw will enable you to cut the wood quickly and accurately while a jigsaw will enable you to cut out simple scroll saw patterns), and a drill.
• A work bench is recommended, especially a relatively small portable model that you can use to clamp the wood while you cut and drill it.
• An ability to interpret simple woodworking project plans.
• An ability to cut wood to size using a hand or power-saw.
• An ability to drill holes in the wood so that you can easily screw or bolt the structure together.
• Be able to competently use the level and square so that the dog house looks professionally constructed, with straight walls and a level floor.
Start Building Your Dog House Today!
Have a look at some of the dog house plans that are available to see the different styles. In addition to style, there needs to be sufficient room for the animal to lie inside comfortably and there should be a roof of some sort for protection. Designs range from simple A-frames to box-like homes with low pitched roofs. Dog houses don’t have doors, but they do need an opening that is large enough for the dog to get in and out of its house.
Dog house plans, like all small woodworking project plans, should give you drawings and illustrations that show how you cut the wood and put the elements together. Some how to build projects feature more elaborate drawings or even photographs that show you how to assemble the structure step-by-step. There should also be a comprehensive list of the materials you need. These should give you the dimensions of the wood you are going to work with as well as the size of items like bolts and screws – even the size of nails if they are required.
Assembling a dog house roof is probably the most complicated part of this type of project, but if you follow the instructions in a logical way, it shouldn’t be difficult at all. Most dog houses have simple roofs made with roofing felt-covered wood, quite often plywood. To make your dog’s house extra special, why not consider covering the felt with shingles and cutting out some scroll saw patterns from plywood and attaching them to the front of pouch’s new house? That will give your dog’s house a real touch of class!
