How do I choose the right size dog house for my dog?
Let's start with the age of the dog.
Is your dog a puppy or an adult dog?
If your dog is not full grown, the size of the dog when it is full grown is
the primary consideration. A pure bred dog will usually grow to the shoulder
height of that breeds standard. If you have a mixed breed dog, compare both
parents, if known, and discuss the size of the dog with your vet.
If your dog is full grown, just measure from the ground to the top of its
shoulder. This height should be comparable with the height of the door on the
dog house. Make sure the dog wont have to bend down or crawl into the house,
just duck its head a little. Sore joints, arthritis, or old age, could
make it hard for the dog to enter and exit the dog house.
Next, consider the overall size of the adult dog, the breeds standard
approximate adult weight and width of its chest or measure your dogs
chest. Compare it to the width of the door on the house. The doorway
shouldnt scrape the dogs sides.
Last, consider the length of the dog lying down. This is important to the
comfort of the dog inside the house. It should be able to get up and turn
around in the house. If the dog house is too short, the dog will have to curl
up to keep from protruding out of the house in bad weather. This is especially
important in hot weather, since dogs dont sweat only pant, they need to be
able to cool off. With your adult dog lying down flat, measure from his nose
to his rear end. This measurement should be consistent with the length or
width of the dog house, and he should be able to stretch his legs out fully.
You may also want to consider if the family KITTY CAT curls up with the dog
in his house or if you have two or more dogs, that may be in the house
together. If so, they will each need enough space to be comfortable in
hot/humid or rainy weather.
A Heating /Cooling unit, with a washable allergen filter, will go a long way
to insuring the health and comfort of your pets. The unit will also dehumidify
the dog house. The cooling (or AC) benefits dogs who suffer more from the
heat, such as long haired, heavy coated or older dogs. The allergen filter
removes allergens and pet dandruff. Heat in cooler weather can help your
female dog during pregnancy, whelping and nursing to maintain the health of
her valuable litter. Heat also adds to the comfort of dogs that have sore
joints or arthritis.
A custom made, insulated dog house that looks like your own home would
look great and would help you maintain his/her health and comfort.
You can find quality AMERICAN MADE houses with custom exterior finishes that
look like real brick, stone, or stucco and heating/COOLING units at:
