5 Dog Houses for Your Backyard

A dog is man's best friend, and our best friends deserve dog houses where they can feel comfortable.
5 Dog Houses for Your Backyard

Last update: 09 November, 2018

Dog houses are something we should have if we own a dog. It’s important that doghouses meet certain requirements so that they can best suit the needs of our pet. However, since they’re in our backyard, we want them to look nice and be pleasing to the eye.

There are many different styles of dog houses, and we can easily find them at home stores or gardening stores. We can also make them ourselves if we’re feeling particularly crafty.

As we said, there is a wide range of options that we can choose from when considering buying a dog house. There are more classic designs while others are simpler. On the other hand, you can find some that are architecturally beautiful.

In today’s article, we’ll give you five different ideas for dog houses that you can put in your garden. We’ll also give you some tips to choose a dog house correctly.

Types of dog houses

1. Classic dog house

This type of dog house is classic because of the way it resembles a traditional home. Think about country houses with a gable style roof.

These are simple but very beautiful. They’re usually made of wood but you can also find them in plastic or other materials.

dog houses

2. Terrace included

Yes, you did read that correctly. There are doghouses you can put in your garden that come complete with their own terrace. This space goes on the roof of the dog house. This dog house also has stairs so that your dog can climb them and use their terrace to comfortably bathe in the sun.

If you want to go a step further in design and quality, you can even put some grass and foliage on their terrace.

terrace doghouse

dog house with terrace / bromasaparte.com

3. With a porch

There are no limits to dog house styles. Some dog houses are almost identical to actual houses, they’re just miniature in size. Some of these are so beautiful that you might like to live in a larger version yourself!

In this example, we’re talking about a doghouse with a porch. It’s open on all sides except for the back. 

This type of home is ideal for your canine to rest after playing games in the backyard. However, an open doghouse isn’t the most convenient for sleeping since it won’t protect your dog from any inclement weather.

Still, it’s perfect if your dog usually sleeps indoors but still enjoys spending time in the garden. Your dog will have a place to take shelter from the sun or just to rest.

porch dog house

dog house with porch / comunidad.leroymerlin.es

4. A caravan or a dog house?

This dog house is the most original because it’s in the shape of a caravan. 

It’s also super useful and functional because it has wheels, which facilitates its transport and is super easy to move. Is that not ideal?

Of course, be careful with the size. This is a unique design and you’ll need to be sure that your dog has enough space to get in and lay down.

caravan of dog houses

dog house caravan / mundoperros.es

5. DIY dog house

If you like creating things and you have the time, don’t hesitate to create your own dog house. You’ll find a lot of tutorials on the internet that are easy to follow. It’s actually super cheap to make your own dog house, especially if you plan on using recycled wood.

The biggest advantage of creating your own dog house is that you can decide everything. You get to select how big it’s going to be and the materials you want to use. You’ll also get to choose the accessories you want to incorporate, such as a terrace, balcony, or wheels.

diy dog house

DIY dog house / ovacen.com

Tips to choose the perfect dog house for your garden

There’s a lot to choose from and think about when selecting a dog house, especially because we want the best for our furry friends.

In order to make the selection process a little easier, we’re going to give you some tips for choosing the perfect one.

The right material

We can find dog houses made out of many different materials. Although it’s most common to find a dog house made out of wood, there are other materials you can consider.

  • Plastic. Plastic dog houses are easy to clean and they’re resistant, but they retain a lot of heat. If you decide on a plastic dog house it’s important that you place it in a shady place.
  • Metal. These are very resistant and last a long time, but they also hold a lot of heat. This is bad for the summer months.
  • Wood. This is the best material for a dog house. They’re quite resistant. However, you should treat the wood so that it can withstand outdoor conditions, such as the cold and rain.

Location

The place that we put our dog house is a very important consideration to think about. 

First, we recommend that you speak to your vet because not all dogs should sleep outside.

Secondly, the best thing is, if you live in a place with very extreme temperatures, your dog will sleep inside. Therefore, a dog house is the best place for your dog to take shelter or rest while it’s outside playing in the backyard.

Finally, the ideal location for a dog house is in a place that’s relatively sheltered from the cold and rain. 

Appropriate size

To finish, you want a dog house that’s an appropriate size

Keep in mind that your dog should be able to get in and out easily, but it should also be able to lie down comfortably without getting trapped inside.

We recommend that the interior’s height is twice the height of your dog.