One of the reasons you buy a doghouse is to provide shelter for your pet year round. In the winter, it's even more important to pay attention to a few details to get the best protection for your dog. The basic style is not so important as the improvements you can do to keep the weather and moisture out and provide a dry and well-ventilated area.
The first thing you can do with almost any doghouse is getting it up off the ground. It doesn't have to be very high, just enough to keep water from seeping in and provide a little airspace between the bottom of the doghouse and the ground. A raised floor inside the doghouse can also do the trick. You can raise a doghouse by using bricks around the edges, tacking it down on the corners to keep it from moving off the bricks.
Roofs should be insulated (more in insulation below) and water proof. You can do this with house shingles or even a waterproofing paint or treatment. Using waterproof caulking around all the seams and anywhere water could get in helps a lot too. Moisture leads to mildew and can break down many natural materials like wood so you want the doghouse high and dry at all times.
You might want to use a waterproof paint or spray on the entire doghouse, inside and out if it's made of natural materials. It will extend the life and also protect your pet better against heavy rain or snow. It also makes the doghouse is to clean with just a hose and sponge.
Ventilation is important even in cold weather. If your style of doghouse has an over hang or any area that can be protected from rain, that's the best spot to make a good-sized opening for airflow. One on each side allows for natural airflow from breezes from any direction. Make sure you cover these opening with screens to keep any bug, insects, or unwanted critters from getting inside.
Just like in people houses, insulation is very important. Even in the summer, good insulation will keep your doghouse cool. And in the winter it can literally be a lifesaver. Since most doghouses are small, a high quality insulation material is still pretty reasonable in cost. All insulation materials have an R-value, that's an insulation rating used to measure insulations ability to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more insulation it provides against heat and cold. The thickness or weight is not as important as the R-value of any insulation material.
It's also important to keep any insulation material dry, moisture can rot and destroy many insulation materials and even 4% moisture content can reduce the effectiveness by over 50%. So it's best to choose a waterproof material and one that is not harmful to your pet. A good solution is Dow 1" x 4' x 8' Extruded Polystyrene Insulated Sheathing that has an R-7 rating and is about $13 a sheet. You can do just about any size doghouse, all sides, with two sheets. This material is easy to cut and install.
Where you place your doghouse can have a big impact too. Keeping it out of direct sunlight will help extend the life of the doghouse. You should also consider the direction of any predominate wind and locate the doghouse behind any natural windbreak. A cement pad or bricked surface will help keep moisture at bay and give your dog a place to stay out of the mud, which is always a good thing for you and your dog.
If you do just a little bit of planning, you can give your dog a great shelter that's warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer too. Waterproofing, insulation, and location can all contribute to extending the life of the doghouse and giving your favorite pet a better environment to spend time.
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