the ultimate doghouse?

[makgreens]

im gonna build my dog a new dog house tomorrow or atleast start and im needing some ideas
its for my redbone coonhound who will start being an inside/outside dog due to our other dog running away(she did too but we found her)
whats a good way of making a house so that its warm/cool and bug free if thats even possible

 

[Torque1st]

I made one years ago from a sandwich of wood and foam. I do not remember where I found the material, it has been over 20 years. The material was about 2" thick overall. Make the roof removable so it is easy to clean out. A "shed" roof is the easiest with the door side highest. A normal pet door with a magnetic latch will keep the door opening sealed. Keep it up off the ground on concrete post bases.

Bug free is not possible but clean the house out regularly. Those fly bait type poisons just seem to attract flies. The hanging strip adhesive type units work well.

 

[AmickRacing]

Can't you use Cedar or some wood that is naturally pretty repellent to most bugs? Or at least line the inside with it.

I've seen some older dog houses that were almost like a maze or spiral to get into, kept the wind from blowing in on the dog.

 

[nate379]

Just build a mini house.

What kind of temps? My dog stays outside unless it's getting below zero.

 

[Kevin54]

I never did get around to building one for our outside dog as we lost her before I could, but I was going to build it in an "L" shape so wind would not blow in to where she would sleep. A standard doghouse does not really let a dog get out of the weather depending on which way a rain storm, snow storm would come from. I was also going to add electricity to it for a light to get some heat and also to where I could plug in a heated water dish for the winter months. Something like shown and with a hinged roof for access for cleaning.

 

[e3pres]

I see that you are from Ooltewah. I live on 58 near Grasshopper. I have a bluetick and we had to put his doghouse inside a kennel that is inside our fenced back yard. That gives us two layers of protection during the day. Otherwise he digs under the fence while we are at work. We bring him inside at night. I love coonhounds. She'll do great inside. Post pics when you are done!

 

[brockstar]

I don't have anything to add for the OP - usually its just me that's in the doghouse.

I had to look up redbone coonhound on Google - was a little nervous searching that at work - but those are some pretty dogs!

 

[rieferman]

I like Kevin's L-shaped design, and using cedar as someone else suggested would work well for the bugs. I'd use whatever for the exertior, put some foam insulation on the inside surface, and line inside with cedar.

for the kennel around it, you can dig below grade and bury the chain link a few inches to discourage escape artists

 

[Nuckin Futs]

Check this out WWW.doggydreamhomes.com

Just kidding I built a similar house to the "L" shape only is was square with the face of the house butted up to a kennel that you can get from HD.
I live up in northern WI so the winters are pretty brutal up here. Lots of straw will help keep Rover warm. If you put a light bulb in there be sure that it a fully enclosed. A explosion proof fixture is the best. Straw and dust is extremely flamable and has the potential to be explosive.

I have a Black and Tan Coonhound and she stays plenty warm even on the coldest days..

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Build a 2x2 frame, exterior plywood sheeting, and simple shed roof hinged for cleaning with either a shingle or metal roof. Glue Styrofoam between the 2x2 studs and line the inside with cedar closet liner. Make sure the door opening is on the "low" side of the shed roof (less likely to blow rain into the dog house) and have at least a 1x4 or 2x4 at the bottom of the door opening that the dog will step over. That will keep your cedar shavings inside the doghouse and also keep them dry. The dog will like the shavings as bedding and you will NOT need to worry about insects with it lined in cedar and the dog laying in cedar shavings.

I used a short piece of left over guttering to throw any rainwater away from the door because of the opening being on the low side of the roof. Just make the door in one side and drain to the other. I would avoid placing the door in the center as it makes it harder for the dog to keep the heat inside.

Don't build a huge doghouse, as they will get cold. A small dog house just big enough for them to stand and turn around in is better for them than a large house that they can not heat with body heat alone. My wirehaired pointer will keep her house around 65 to 70 degrees inside when it is 25 to 30 degrees outside. Yes, my wife made me place a thermometer inside to make sure "Molly" wasn't getting cold....

 

[coppermouse]

I actually built mine into the side of my barn with the entry facing away from prevailing winds. The entry was 2 flaps of 1/8" clear plastic overlapping. I put a oil filled radiator type heater inside. it is insulated as well I have 2 redbones and they do not come inside the house. My friend tried that. I think they are better off outside, plus they kind of stink. I highly recommend an invisible fence. I had problems with them running away but not any more. It works great. I can put up pics if you like

 

[makgreens]

well shes really good inside and doesnt have the typical coonhound odor amazingly
she gets along with the cats too!
ill probably be building an L-shape house for her so shell quit sleeping in my garage
having the door up a few feet to let her in/out has me paranoid about my tools but her present house is horrible and infested with bugs

another reason shell be coming inside more is cause my folks thinks itd be good for her since her buddy is gone and i think itll be good for my folks too

plus itll make life easier bringing things into the garage through the fence without having to tie her up everytime

 

[snorky18]

I highly recommend an invisible fence. I had problems with them running away but not any more. It works great. I can put up pics if you like

please, do post pics of the invisible fence!

 

[coppermouse]

Funny!!!! I meant the dog house

 

[mad57]

the L shape design is great idea, also go with the foam board insulation, i would also look into a reptile heat rock(big) they put off some good heat and cost a few cents to run full time. you could use one for heat to keep pup warm and one for under water bowl to keep from freezing. or best yet cut a doggie door in the house/ garage / basement, let the pup inside for cold months.

 

[phy6]

ICF (Insulated concrete form) walls + hinged insulated roof

For the amount and thickness of foam you'd need, should be really cheap.

 

[hawkgt]

I friend of mine gave me a dog house that I modified for cold weather use. The dog house was already made out of cedar and we never saw any bugs inside. The roof tilted back or could be removed for cleaning the inside. For the winter months we added an old waterbed heater pad and placed it under a layer of carpet we placed inside. The heater came with a thermostat which we could turn off in the summer and regulate in the winter. I live in Tennessee so it never really gets very cold outside. I had an Alaskan Malamute and he enjoyed the dog house so much he wouldn't even come out when the temperature did turn cold. He would just look out the lexan window at us while staying comfortable and warm. Lazy dog!