A Personal Dog Trainer’s Tip in Choosing Your Dog House

Different kinds of dog have different kinds of personalities, some dogs love basking in the sun, some likes the comfort of the table under your living room, and some even enjoys a sandy walk at the beach! No matter what kind of environment your dog enjoys, your pup would be needing a place it can call its own home. Sure, you can tell your dog that “Mi casa es tu casa” (my house is your house), but that is not really the case once you tell them that they are not allowed on the couch.

Outdoor dogs especially would enjoy having a little house of its own. You can send your outdoor pup to the best puppy school in Sydney to help them behave indoors, but remember, you can take the dog out of the outdoors, but you cannot take the outdoors out of the dog. Dogs can learn to lessen their adorable, yet messy little quirks, but you cannot train your dog not to feel the urges to do them.

Okay, now that you are convinced that you need to buy your dog a house, you want to give your pup the best one that would suit your environment, and by the environment, we do not just mean the aesthetics of your home.

The dog house that you would pick for your pup will be your pet’s second home. You should consider if your dog would be comfortable in it, would it be able to accommodate different seasons. It should be easy to maintain so it could stay clean and dry all the time. Your dog’s house should also be able to adapt to the weather. It should not be warm when it is hot in the summer or cold when it is winter.

Choosing a house for your dog could be confusing and honestly, it could be quite tedious, especially if you do not know what you are looking for. If you need a personal dog trainer’s insights on how to pick your furry best friend’s dwelling, then you have come to the right place!

For starters you have to consider the following things:

• The size of your dog
• The weather or the general climate in your area
• The placement of the doghouse in your home

If you think that is all, then you are in for a big surprise. Once you have the size of your dog, researched on the climate in your location and decided where to put the dog house, you now need to understand that there is more than one kind of dog house.

Here are some of the key factors in buying your dog a house:

The Material

Dog houses come in different shapes and styles, and of course, materials. If you want to save money on the maintenance and repairs then you should pick a durable material that is capable of withstanding wear and tear. This is especially true if your dog has not gone through In-home dog training yet since they may rough their house up a little more than a behaved pup would. Some of the most common materials that are used for dog house are wood, plastic and metal. Although canvas kennels are the rising stars of dog houses, if you have not heard of them, they are worth a search.

• Of all the usual dog house materials, wood is the most commonly picked material since it tends to be more substantial. Wood dog houses are good insulators which is good since this means that your dog would not feel too much heat or cold inside the house. Although it is recommendable that you choose a dog house with cedar wood as the material to avoid tick and flea problems.
• If you are looking for a durable material, then plastic is a good option for the base material of your dog’s house. It is much lighter than wood, but it does not absorb onto odours as quickly as wood does. One of the pros of plastic dog houses is that it is easy to clean since all it needs is a bit of soap and water. Another advantage of plastic dog houses is that it does not have any pores for fleas or ticks to live in.
• Another material to consider for your dog house is metal, but this material is actually best for transporting your pup from one place to another.

The House Size

If you remember, one of the basic things mentioned above is to take note of the size of your dog for obvious reasons. Sure, you can give your Chihuahua a doghouse the size of a St. Bernard, it would not work the other way around, which is why size is important. You can also consult with your personal dog trainer if you are unsure if your dog would be comfortable with the size of the house that you are considering to purchase.

The dog house should be big and wide enough for your dog to be able to move comfortably. It should be able to allow your dog to turn around, lie down, and lay completely stretched out inside.

Making a huge dog house for your pup does not mean it is better. Remember the chihuahua from earlier? The one with the big house? That is not going to work out either. Most dogs actually prefer small spaces since it makes them feel more secure.

The Roof Type

When picking a roof for your dog house, you need to pick it for both function and design. You would need to know some basic roof styles and materials before going on. For example, a classic pitched roof creates some extra space for heat during cold seasons, it also makes the inner ceiling snugger. Then, a single panel roof allows a more compact design for the dog house and it is a good insulator for cold weathers.

It is advisable to make the roof removable so it would be convenient for you to clean. Aside from that, a detachable roof also makes your dog house adaptable to the weather.

Raised Floors

A good dog house would have raised floors to help in keeping the house dry. The floors should be slightly higher at the rear of the house than at the front for better drainage.

Now that you have all these tips on choosing a dog house, it should be a much easier task now. It is always easier when you are making an informed choice.