Building an insulated dog house is going to be a very smart idea to help your dog stay warm during the winter and cooler evenings, ensuring that he or she thoroughly enjoys using the dog house at all times.
Insulated dog houses are not commonplace however, as many people overlook this important element. By taking the time to plan out how you will insulate it you will be building the best dog house that you can.
Here are the main things to know.
Size
Since insulation is definitely going to increase the amount of heat that's retained in the house, you will want to be really sure that you're making the house big enough. You may run into problems down the road if you build the house only big enough to fit the dog and then add insulation.
This will create a very small compartment of air around the dog, which will heat up quickly. Then, in the warmer winter months there is a much higher chance that your dog will wind up hot and uncomfortable.
By increasing the size of the overall insulated dog house, you'll reduce this risk, keeping him happy in both warm and cold climates.
In terms of the total height of the house, a good way to measure this is to take your dog's sitting height and then add one or two inches of room on top. This will give enough space to move easily without posing any restrictions.
When figuring out total space needed for the dog house, you will want to aim for 36 square inches of space total for each inch tall your dog is. Using this guideline will keep your dog satisfied. Just be sure you also take into account the fact that dog may grow depending on how old he currently is so adjust the house accordingly to his predicted future growth to make sure it lasts for months to come.
Elevation
Next up, you might want to consider elevating the dog house off the ground as well. This will help stop water from getting into it when it rains or snows, preventing the floor of the house from becoming really damp and uncomfortable to be in.
You don't have to have a very high elevation with the insulated dog house; a few inches should be plenty unless you live in an area that does get a really high amount of precipitation.
Also, if you are going to add this elevation, it tends to be a good idea to also build a short ramp up to the house, particularly if you have an older dog who can't move and climb as easily.
Consider Adding A Separating Wall Barrier
To maximize the effects of your insulated house, you may also want to put in a separating wall barrier a few inches in from the front door (make sure the dog can get past the barrier though). This will further help to keep drafts out that may come in from the front door, making sure the back of the house where he sleeps is going to stay as warm as possible.
If you make this barrier wall removable, you can then also remove it during the summer when having that second heated area is not as important.
