Insulated Doghouse: Keeping Your Friend Warm
How would you like to spend a hot summer day inside of a plastic box? Or hide from the driving snow while huddled within a tin structure? One can only imagine the discomfort that pets feel when left to brave the elements inside an un-insulated doghouse.
Most dog owners allow their pets to stay indoors, particularly in foul weather. While it may give great pleasure to humans, it is not always best for the dogs. Despite their love and loyalty to their people, many dogs simply prefer the comfort and independence of their own personal space.
What Makes the Perfect Doghouse?
A dog house is just like a human home, and should instill a sense of comfort and safety. A few critical factors are required to create the perfect home for your pet.
Purchase or build an insulated doghouse. Proper insulation is absolutely necessary for your pet’s good health and comfort, regardless of the climate. Even the warmest parts of the world can have chilly or wet days, and your dog will need to generate it’s own body heat from time to time. Other areas get downright cold during both daytime and nighttime hours. A properly insulated doghouse will keep the cold out and keep the warmth inside.
The role of an insulated doghouse will be similar when the temperatures are high. The insulation acts in reverse, keeping the inside of the doghouse nice and cool, even during the blistering heat. This is extremely important, as extreme heat can cause dehydration and heatstroke, and UV rays can cause irreversible damage to your pet.
Lining the doghouse with plain insulation is not enough to ensure complete comfort and protection. Be sure that the structure is completely waterproof, and that any inside humidity can quickly evaporate. This will discourage the formation of harmful mildew. Many pet owners choose to create an “inner sanctum” for their dogs. It’s a second entrance, placed inside the doghouse, but not directly aligned with the outside entrance. This additional entrance enables the dog to hide inside the second room, away from high winds and inclement weather. Be sure to allow enough capacity for optimal comfort and protection in both hot and cold weather.
When building your pet’s insulated home, be sure that it will accommodate the full standing height of an adult dog. The structure must be as tall, as long and as wide as your adult pet, plus no less than 1/3 of his or her size. You can calculate the size by measuring your dog when he or she is standing, and also when lying down. Then, add an additional one-third of these measurements on all sides. If your pet is still a puppy, determine how big he or she will be at full adult size and add one-third to all calculations.
For your dog’s security, make sure that he or she can see the opening to the doghouse while standing and sitting. The opening must also be large enough for your pet to use without effort.
Proper air circulation within the doghouse is an important aspect that’s often overlooked. Building the doghouse on top of stilts or an open foundation is a good way to allow air to circulate beneath the house. This can also prevent unwanted pests from infiltrating the doghouse, and will ensure that the structure remains warm and dry.
Your dog is your best friend, and you can’t deny that he or she deserves the best. An insulated doghouse is the only way to provide the protection and security your pet needs, whatever the weather.
