Every dog deserves a nice comfy dog house to protect him from the weather.
But with life so busy, every dog owner deserves an easy life! Here are three simple, stress-free ways to get a dog house.
1.
Buy a ready-made dog house The benefits: This is definitely the quickest option of the three.
If you go to your local pet supply store, then all you have to do is find a way to fit the new house in your car.
(And then vacuum up all the little splinters after!) If you order online, you don't even have to do that.
The drawbacks: This is also the most expensive option of the three.
And I've got to say, buying a ready-made dog house just isn't as satisfying as making your own.
You are also limited by what's available, especially if you're shopping locally, where they may not be much choice.
Do be careful to get the right size - that's far more important than getting a look that you like, because if the house is too big, your dog won't be able to get warm.
2.
Buy a dog house kit The benefits: A kit is the doggy equivalent of Ikea - all the pieces are ready-cut, you just have to assemble them.
So this approach can save you both time and money.
The drawbacks: Dog house kits are starting to take off now, but they're not yet as popular as other kinds of woodworking kit.
That means the options available are quite limited, so it can be quite hard to find a kit for the kind of house you want.
As before, make sure you get the right size, before you start to look for something you like the look of.
3.
Get some easy dog house plans The benefits: Really good dog house plans are designed to make your life easy.
They'll tell you exactly what lumber you need, and exactly what size, they'll tell you what tools you need, and they'll walk you through every step of the way with plenty of details and diagrams.
This is my favorite approach.
Now granted, I've been woodworking for a while, but with the right set of plans even newbies can make their own doghouse.
One of the big benefits of this approach is that you can have a house that is both the right size, and looks the way you want it, because you have more control and choice.
The drawbacks: It takes a little longer than buying a doghouse from the shop - but if you ask me, it's so worth it! When you make your own house, it feels much more your own; plus you can decorate it however you want, which can be a really fun project to do with your kids.
Easy ways to decorate your dog house Even if you build a dog house which is very simple in style, it's easy to jazz it up with a bit of paint (make sure you get non-toxic paint, especially if your dog likes to chew!).
Stencils are a quick and easy way to dress it up a bit, and this is especially fun if you have kids.
You don't have to be a great artist - just cut some paw prints or bone shapes out of cardboard, give them a sponge and some paints, and let them go to town!