Several years ago a friend who owned an outside dog enlisted my help to build a dog house. We had little woodworking experience so decided to keep it simple but versatile, keeping the dog comfortable in the heat and humidity in summer and the cold and snow in winter.
We measured the dog and drew a very rough plan that would be large enough that she could stand, turn around and lie down, but small enough that she would be warm in the winter. How difficult could building a dog kennel be? We used untreated 2"x4" wood (the chemicals used in treated wood are toxic to dogs), exterior grade plywood, deck nails, roofing nails, shingles, a hammer, drill and saw.
Using the measurements we basically constructed five framing rectangles from 2" x 4" lumber that formed the base and walls of the kennel. Plywood was measured and nailed to the base, with a doorway and several ventilation holes being cut into the plywood for the front panel before it was attached to the frame. The four wall panels were then lined up on the base panel and nailed to the base and each other.
At this point we discovered a problem with our dog house: the roof. Not only did we not have any idea about how to put together a ridge beam and rafters, but we had attached plywood level to the top of the front and back panels, forgetting about gable ends. An internet search led us to several sets of instructions, but none worked with our partially built dog kennel. After several frustrating hours we gave up and figured a flat roof, made in the same way as the walls, with shingles for weather proofing would work well.
For the first few weeks things were great, that is until the first heavy rains. Having no angle, water could not run off the roof, gradually leaking in through the joints and poorly placed shingles. We tried a few repairs but they were not very effective and the dog, who initially loved the kennel, stopped going in at all.
Thinking back I realize how unprepared we were. Having no experience we should have invested in good quality dog kennel plans that listed all the materials and equipment that were needed as well as providing step by step instructions. My own dog is getting older and needs a dog ramp. I was going to get some wood and start hammering, but recollections of building the dog kennel stopped me. I am doing my homework, will get plans, and make certain I am fully prepared before I start building.
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