Welcome to our article dedicated to the dog house. As you may already know, from its origins on canis lupus familiaris he lived in caves, or at least in small and peaceful shelters. These dens were characterized by having 3 walls and a roof which made these animals feel protected. Although more than 30,000 years and 10 generations of wolves have passed, having one of these shelters, where to rest and get away from it all, remains a necessity even for today’s dog.
If you are reading these lines, it is because you have decided to find a house for your dog that can make him feel protected and safe even when you are not there. Our purpose in this guide is to make you find the most ideal product for your friend and, at the same time, we want to give you some information that could be useful in this regard.
The most important things in a nutshell
- Having a space all to yourself makes your dog more independent and serene, and at the same time strengthens the bond he has with you. He will feel safer and less nervous on multiple occasions when he would be.
- Buying online is an advantage when it comes to dog houses. The possibilities are in fact endless and it will be easier to find the most suitable product for your four-legged friend.
- There are several factors to consider before finding the right house, such as the size, where you will place it and consequently the materials used. We will talk about it in detail in the purchase criteria.
The best dog houses on the market: our selection
Given the wide range of dog houses available, we thought that our selection of the best products currently available on the market could be useful. They are small houses that we have chosen based on their quality, but above all on the basis of the positive judgments of the people who bought them. This will help you understand if one of these is right for you or not.
The best dog house for value for money
Starplast offers a PVC dog house suitable for both indoors and outdoors. Its measures are approximately 78 x 84.5 x 80.5 centimeters and is therefore perfect for medium and large dogs. It is available in two colors (brown or beige and green). According to the buyers the value for money of the house is excellent, it is very easy to assemble and the dogs are comfortable even for two.
The best wooden dog house
Belton offers a not too expensive wooden solution for medium / large dogs.
It measures 84 cm in width, 101 cm in length and 86 cm in height, with an entrance of 39 × 33 cm. The thickness of the walls is about 1 centimeter, while that of the roof is about 1.5 cm. A transparent PVC thermal curtain is also sold together.
The ideal indoor house for small dogs
The cottage proposed by Enko measures 35 x 30 x 28 centimeters is soft and comfortable, and above all it is machine washable. It is also very light, therefore ideal for transporting to different places. Available in several colors. According to the reviews she is cute, comfortable and resistant, but it is recommended for dogs that do not go beyond 5 kilograms.
The dog house preferred by buyers
Ferplast offers an outdoor dog house in thermoplastic resin, ideal for medium-sized dogs. It has a folding side wall, a bottom with drainage system and a ventilation grille, all to give maximum comfort to the dog. The dimensions are 73 x 59 x 53 cm and the lateral opening is 34 x 34 cm. Buyers’ opinions are totally positive. It is easy to assemble, resistant and can be cleaned in an instant.
Buying Guide: Everything you need to know about a dog house
In the past, dog houses were considered almost a luxury. Fortunately, today there are many types and for all budgets. Except that this great variety can create some perplexity. Which material is most suitable? Is it possible that my dog doesn’t like it? We will answer these and other questions in the next paragraphs.
The material with which the house is made is directly related to its insulating capacity and duration. (Source: Ilona: 45865999 / 123rf.com)
How many types of dog houses are there?
Although house-shaped kennels also exist for the interior, most dog houses are designed to be in the garden or on a terrace. So the main method to differentiate them is undoubtedly the material with which they are made (which is also related to their insulating capacity and durability). We have however created a table to summarize all types of dog houses that you can find on the market.
| Type of dog house | Highlights | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden | It is the one that isolates best | It usually costs more |
| Plastic (resin, PVC or polypropylene) | It costs less and is easy to clean | It is not recommended for high temperatures |
| Of fabric | It is versatile and cute to look at | It is suitable for indoor use only |
| Masonry | It is very robust and insulates well | It is expensive and not versatile |
| From outside | It is more robust and treated to resist external agents | Requires higher maintenance |
| Indoor | It is used to give the dog exclusive space. It can be easily transported | It has no particular treatments and is usually less robust |
| For small dogs | It is lighter and takes up little space | It is not versatile |
| For medium-sized dogs | Also useful for smaller dogs. There are more on the market than the other sizes | Dimensions may vary and it is easy to make a mistake in choosing |
| For large dogs | It is imposing and allows dogs of any size to have a refuge | It is more difficult to find and costs more |
| With original design | It has a different shape from the traditional cottage and can become a piece of furniture | It costs more and the original shape is not important for the dog |
Why are wooden dog houses the most recommended?
Wood has an excellent ability to isolate from cold and heat. Once properly treated, it also resists rain, even if you should never place the dog house directly outdoors. We advise you to do a treatment in this sense, if you do not have the opportunity to keep it indoors.
Although plastic is cheaper, it lacks insulating capacity when exposed to high temperatures. On the contrary, it tends to retain heat and can cause heat stroke in the dog. If you still opt for a similar solution, remember to wet it often with water to keep it cool in summer. The best dog houses would be masonry, as brick and concrete are the best existing insulators, but for obvious reasons they are not always the most practical options.
Can all breeds stay in an outdoor dog house?
While there are no details for the internal houses, the external ones may not be suitable for some of our friends. In general, with the right training all dogs can get used to being in an outdoor kennel. Breeds like the mastiff or the Samoyed will gladly stay in the garden. The ‘toys’ or dogs like Yorkshire or Chihuahua instead have insufficient fur to shelter from low temperatures or rain.
Even the Boxer, despite being a larger breed of dog, is not very suitable for living outside, because he is prone to osteoarthritis. If you can not do without it, then position the house by lifting it from the ground to counteract the humidity. In addition, remember in all cases that the entrance door must face south or east, never north, to avoid the coldest currents.
It is always better to raise the base of the house a few centimeters to counteract the soil moisture. (Source: Ranmai: 19638805 / 123rf.com)
How do I get my dog to use the house?
We advise you to familiarize the dog with the house little by little. The ideal is if it is a puppy, in its first 16 weeks of life. In any case, regardless of its age, you have to relate the kennel to positive emotions. Never use it as a place to send it as a punishment, especially in the early days. And above all, be patient. Dogs tend to enter it of their own free will.
Obviously, in order for him to feel at ease, you must make sure that it is the right size for your friend, that it is not closed (do not close it inside, he must feel free to enter and exit) and you must ensure that it is well stable. If in fact it tends to move, the dog will perceive a sense of insecurity and will never enter it willingly. Insert a blanket with your smell and the first few times you show up often, don’t leave it alone.
How should the dog house be maintained?
The dog house when it is outside can be washed with maybe an irrigation tube that simplifies the removal of the biggest dirt. You should then brush the walls and soil and disinfect with ammonia. We also recommend applying a specific product against fleas and ticks, at least once a month.
If the house is inside the house, you will only have to vacuum the interior to remove hair and dust. Everything that can be removed can be washed by hand or in the washing machine, but pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions so as not to ruin the fabrics and padding. There are dry shampoos for the tissues that cannot be removed, use them maybe once every 3 weeks, but make sure everything is dry before your dog reuses the house.
We advise you to familiarize the dog with the house little by little. (Source: Perugini: 20403802 / 123rf.com)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of dog houses?
Despite its many advantages, the dog house also has some drawbacks that you should know to try to reduce. Here are the main pros and cons that you need to keep in mind if you still have doubts about the purchase:
Advantages
- It serves to give your dog a refuge of its own
- It can make him feel more independent
- It makes him feel more protected
- Contributes to home hygiene
Disadvantages
- They have an almost never low price
- They require space
- They need maintenance and cleaning
Purchase criteria
As with other accessories related to your pet’s care, the houses also have characteristics that change between one product and another. Knowing how to identify these differences will guide your purchase process and it will be easier for you to find the right model for your needs. The purchase criteria that can help you are the following:
Resistance
This quality is directly related to the type of material the house is made of. If you have a good budget you can opt for wood which, as we have seen, has excellent insulating properties. Your dog will enjoy the coolness in summer and better shelter in the other seasons of the year.
From the point of view of resistance, you must also consider the robustness of the house to your dog’s character. If it is beautifully lively, it tends to bite and scratch things, you must consider materials resistant to this too. And also make sure they are easy to clean.
The entrance must face south or east, never north, to avoid the colder currents. (Source: Chalabala: 40859982 / 123rf.com)
Dimension
Not only should you take into account the size of your dog, but you should also consider the place it will occupy in your home or garden. Too large houses may also not be liked, because dogs like to feel safe and almost tight, rather than in large and dispersed environments.
Furthermore, if it is an outdoor house, consider that the bigger it is, the more difficult it is to heat in winter. If it takes up too much space in the house or outside, you risk putting it in a position from which your dog may not easily access. So consider well the size of your friend and the space you have available.
Placement
As you know, it is crucial to know if your new dog’s kennel will stay inside or outside the house. This choice will lead you to the choice of one or another material. For the exterior, wood is one of the best options, while plastic is less favorable if exposure to the sun will be a recurring factor.
However, geographic location is another factor to consider in this equation. In areas with a very extreme climate, it is preferable to opt for the houses with a triangular roof, and direct them south or west to mitigate the flow of northern currents.
Price
The budget you have will also affect your final decision. Our recommendation is to always be guided by the quality-price ratio, after checking 3 or 4 proposals, no more, instead of being obsessed with a particular design.
You should think about the personality of your pet, if it will be your permanent home or if it has to grow even more. Even if the wooden houses are the most desired by everyone, considering the climate of your city and the use you will make of it, you can opt for a resin one, which costs a little less and still offers good quality.
Design
If your purchasing power allows it and you particularly care about how you furnish everything in the smallest details, you may be interested only in the houses with original design. It is a niche market that has grown considerably in the last decade, so you can find more and more models of houses where aesthetics are the protagonist.
They are objects designed for the interior that blend with the furniture or style of the house, mixing materials of the best quality. You can find houses that act as stools, others that look like a dollhouse or that simulate a tent. It will be difficult for your guests to believe that, in reality, it is a kennel for your dog!
Conclusions
A daily object such as a dog house satisfies an essential need which, if done with full knowledge of the facts, can avoid or improve behavioral disturbances in the animal. In it, in fact, your friend can relax and disconnect, knowing that he has his own space for exclusive use.
Your choice should not be left to chance, since, as we have seen, there are numerous factors that influence the right decision. We hope this guide has been helpful. If so, you just have to put into practice what you have learned. We are sure that your dog will be able to thank you!
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