healthydogs

Today there are many different style dog houses for small, medium, large and extra large size dogs. For the most part, houses are made from either wood or plastic. They are both a great choice and equally nice, the best one really depends on what you want for your dog.

Plastic houses have many great benefits to them:

•They are light-weight, making it easier to move them around.

•Washing them out is a breeze and fleas are not able to nest on the non-porous material.

•Insulated plastic houses are available, keeping dogs warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Wooded dog houses have their benefits as well:

•Wooden houses are much more natural looking.

•They are available in many different styles.

•They are easy to assemble and maintain.

•They are made of high quality wood to withstand the weather.

•Wood also acts as a natural insulator, keeping the dog inside comfortable.

Choosing the correct size dog house for your dog is very important. A house that is to big could make your dog feel insecure, vulnerable and cause them to get cold easier. Too small of a house will leave your dog cramped and uncomfortable.

When picking the right size dog house there are three measurements to keep in mind.

•The door height does not have to be huge, measure from the ground to the dogs shoulder. The door should be at least ¾ of this height, dogs will duck their heads when entering.

•The length of the house should be no shorter than the length from the tip of the dogs nose to the base of his tail. A quarter of that length can be added for a little more room, but do not add to much more room.

•The height of the dog house should be the dogs height from his toes to tips of ears, plus half that or a little less.

What you want the house to look like and any added extras is entirely up to you. Some dog houses come with doors, stairs, windows, covered or uncovered porch, balconies, railing, painted or unpainted.

The price of dog houses very depending on the material it is made out of, the style and the size. A good cheap dog house can be purchased for $30 or so while really nice ones can cost into the thousands.

Another option is to make one yourself, that way it can be anyway that you want. There are many plans available or you can have fun and create your own design.