Do-it-yourself dog house: how to make and what you need to pay special attention to

The fact that dogs live in city apartments has long been a rarity and does not surprise anyone. A few decades ago, people who had dogs living in an apartment were looked at as inadequate. At present, this phenomenon is considered normal. Pets are kept in apartments from small to very large sizes. A dog is chosen based on the personal preferences of the owners and on the size of the living space, it is unlikely that it would be reasonable to buy a large breed dog in a one-room apartment.

Everyone who has pets has ever heard of dog houses. Simply put, these houses are a home version of outdoor dog kennels, such kennels are found in villages and cottage villages. There is a difference between booths and dog houses, it also lies in the size ofAnd material from which they are made. Dog houses are often made from materials such as brick or wood, but houses are made from various types of fabric.

What are dog houses?

People who have large apartments install large dog houses, which have not only furniture, but also air conditioning. In such houses there are often gardens and lawns, and sometimes you can even watch a pool. Of course, such options are possible only in large apartments, where pets are allocated whole room.

In ordinary average apartments, a dog bed is the best solution. Beds are made in the form of booths, minks or cradles, they are very warm and soft. For a toy breed dog, a bed with a roof and walls is ideal. Such a house will give protection and care to small pets, they really need it. The shelter is able to meet the needs of both the pet and its owner. The house must be reliable and convenient.

Requirements to be met by dog ​​houses

If the owner decides to buy or make a dog house with his own hands, he must know a number of requirements regarding the product. The dog house must be appropriate for its breed and size. The dog will not feel comfortable in a small and cramped house. You also need to take into account posturein which the pet prefers to sleep.

If the pet likes to sleep in a ball, then triangular and the oval shape of the house is ideal and will save space, because it can be placed in the corner of the room. The rectangular house is suitable for dogs sleeping on their backs, on their sides and whose paws stretch out in their sleep.

An important factor is also how shaggy the animal is. This is very important, because if the dog is shaggy, then in the summer it will be hot in the house, which is completely closed to the dog. The way out of this situation is to buy or make a house with your own hands, in which the roof will be removable. In summer, the dog will live in a bed with only sides, and in winter in a full-fledged house with a roof.

The materials from which the base for the house will be made can be different:

• Plywood.
• Plastic.
• Chipboard.

The base, no matter what material it is made of, should always be sheathed with soft material – this will allow the dog to create conditions for a comfortable stay.

What to consider when creating a dog house

To create comfortable conditions in which the dog will feel good, and so that the house can be easily cleaned when making or choosing it, you need to take into account several nuances. Houses with removable covers are the most comfortable, since the covers can be wash if necessary. It is better to choose the material for covers from natural materials in order to exclude allergies in the animal. A summer house can be made from linen or cotton, but a winter house is best made from wool.

Small dogs can hardly tolerate drafts and cold. This must be taken into account when creating or choosing a house. It is better to install the house at a certain height from the floor. This can be done using a stand or small legs built into the house.

Bedding plays a very important role in the future housing, often the owners buy or make their own mattresses. The mattress must have removable cover, foam rubber is suitable for the filler. There are also special dog mattresses stuffed with buckwheat shells. The advantage of this filler is that fleas do not grow in it.

How to make a house with your own hands

There are many different houses for dogs in stores, however, creating a home with your own hands and putting your love and tenderness into it is much more pleasant. The easiest way to create a house from a suitcase. It is recommended to make legs so that the suitcase house is stable. For this purpose, old legs from the cabinet or new ones bought specifically for the future home are suitable. The next step is to sew in a pillow, which you can buy or make yourself. The pillow will serve as a kind of mattress for the dog. A pillow made of synthetic winterizer, which has a rough finishing fabric, is perfect.

Naturally, you can create with your own hands the same houses that are sold in stores. When it comes to choosing a material for building a house, there are a number of nuances to consider. The bases for the future dwelling can be made of different materials. Polyurethane foam is the best option. This material perfectly repeats and remembers the contours of the dog’s body. The material is suitable for both puppies and adult dogs. Thick bedding should be sheathed with a dense fabric. If the house is made for a puppy, it is worth remembering how quickly dogs grow, it is recommended to create a house for growth.

The frame of the structure must be made reliable and stable, especially if there are children in the house who like to use the dog house as a playground or chair. If you make the frame weak, then the child can break it and injure the dog.

Do-it-yourself technology for creating a dog house

So, the stages of creating a dog house with your own hands:

1. From the dog is necessary take measurements. Thus, the length, width and height of the structure are determined. Do not forget that in the case of a puppy, the house must be made for growth.
2. Styrofoam is suitable for bedding, however, it must be sheathed, the fabric must be dense to protect the bedding from teeth.
3. Before sheathing polyurethane foam, which will be used as a base, it is necessary to wrap it with oilcloth. As you know, it perfectly protects against moisture, this will extend the life of the base.
4. Removable covers are easy create one’s own hands. To do this, Velcro is attached to old pillowcases or some other fabric.
5. It is necessary to finish the walls, roof and floor with fabric. The structure must be put together.
6. The entrance to a new dwelling can be beaten by hanging a curtain. In order for the pet to get used to its new home faster, many put it inside favorite toys or treats.

Many people like a house that looks like a tent. Not only suitable for dogs tent housesbut also for cats. An example of creating a semi-open bed with your own hands.

It is necessary to give preference to materials made of dense fabric, for example, microfiber or tapestry. The pattern must be applied to graph paper and cut out symmetrically in a mirror. If the dog is small, then the bottom will be half a meter in diameter enough.

Back seams and undercuts must be sewn by hand. In the “roof” of foam rubber, you need to put a bottom pattern, after which you need to connect and sew all the details. It is necessary to cut out two parts from a tapestry and a plain fabric: for external and internal upholstery, they need to be made mirror-symmetrical. It is necessary to leave a gap of one or two centimeters, after which you need to scribble undercuts. Seams are made one centimeter from the edges.

The cover must be put on the foam frame and carefully straighten all the details. The seam should be located on the outside of the roof. Fabric parts must be combined with foam elements to avoid distortions, and fixed by hand. On the bottom of the foam rubber, you need to impose a round tapestry piece and stitch.

At the very end, the undercut will turn out to be convex, this can be corrected: it level. The bottom that is inside is not recommended to be sewn. It’s better to just fill it well between the rest of the parts. This will make caring for your dog a lot easier. If the foam rubber is too thick, then in the course of work you need to adjust the pattern, increasing the allowances, however, the foam rubber should not be allowed to be visible, because dogs love to gnaw it very much. This design will be ideal for short-haired and small dogs. If necessary, you can insulate it with synthetic winterizer or faux fur.