7 Best Dog Houses For All Kinds Of Weather

By: Sally Jones | Updated August 13, 2020
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Petsfit logo
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PetMate Crate logo small
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Don’t find yourself in the dog house because you’re not giving your dog adequate shelter outdoors. If your pup spends a lot of time outside, he needs protection from rain, wind, snow, and sun. A sturdy, high-quality dog house can offer shelter from all the elements. See which ones we recommend for all kinds of situations.

Article Overview

Top 3 Dog Houses

We’ve chosen our top picks based on several factors: quality of construction, protective features, customer reviews, pricing, and more.

Petsfit Dog House Review

Petsfit Dog House#1

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Petsfit Dog House is our top choice for the best dog house overall and the best dog house for hot weather. You can quickly remove the floor for easy cleaning and open the roof for ventilation during warm months. It’s also a great option for many types of weather — when the roof is on, and you have the door flap installed, it protects your dog from rain, snow, and sun.

It’s made of solid wood and stainless steel hardware, so it’s sturdy for the harshest elements. And most customers say it’s easy to set up with pre-drilled holes. It’s available in 3 colors and 4 sizes to meet many pet parent needs.

Pros

Cons
  • Made of high-quality wood and stainless steel
  • Easy assembly
  • Can open roof for ventilation
  • Removable floor for easy cleaning
  • Raised floor off the ground
  • Optional door flap for added protection from elements
  • 1-year warranty
  • Largest size may be too small for dogs over 90 lbs
  • Some users said they needed to apply a coating to the wood (especially in high-humidity locations)

Price

Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin Review

Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin#2

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This solid wood dog house is an attractive option to complement any yard. The materials are high-quality and stand up to the elements. We like that it already comes with a sealed coating on the wood (unlike our top pick). The offset door can give your dog room to shelter from wind and rain; however, it doesn’t come with a door flap. The spacious interior also makes this our top pick for large dogs.

Pros

Cons
  • Made with solid wood with a sealed protective coating
  • Easy assembly
  • Attractive, modern design
  • Weather, pest, rot, and rust-resistant
  • Roof is rain-resistant, asphalt-shingled and slanted
  • Raised floor off the ground
  • Largest size can accommodate dogs up to 90 lbs
  • Has an insulation add-on kit
  • 1-year warranty
  • Doesn’t have a removable floor and can’t open the roof, so it’s harder to clean than the Petsfit dog house
  • A few complaints that the floorboards fall out easily
  • Some reports of items damaged during shipping

Price

Petmate Indigo Dog House Review

Petmate Indigo Dog House#3

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This igloo dog house has a unique dome design that keeps the house stable in high winds and sheds snow and debris from the top. The insulated dog house features heavy-duty construction that keeps pets warm in the winter, and roof air vents that help keep pets cool in the summer. It also has an extended offset doorway to help protect your pup from wind and rain.

Pros

Cons
  • Heavy-duty plastic construction
  • Tool-free snap assembly
  • Raised floor with side moats to drain off rain
  • Roof ventilation for good airflow
  • Microban antimicrobial protection to help prevent the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria
  • Largest size can accommodate dogs up to 125 lbs
  • 1-year warranty
  • No small sizes
  • Must purchase door separately
  • Some customers say you should size up because they run smaller than advertised
  • Some complaints that the doorway is too small for huge dogs to fit through

Price

Best Dog Houses By Category

Here are some other options that didn’t make our top 3 but could be a great fit for various needs you may have.

Insulated | Luxury | Budget | Portable

Best Insulated Dog House: ASL Solutions Deluxe Insulated Dog Palace Review

ASL Solutions Deluxe Insulated Dog PalaceView on Amazon

ASL Solutions is our pick for the best dog house for cold weather. It has 4″ of real foam (Styro/EPS) insulation in each panel, an insulated, self-closing door and a floor heating pad — features that are hard to find in a dog house. It also has an electrical cord portal in the rear so your dog won’t trip on the cord. The insulation also helps keep it cooler in the summer. This dog house is also available without the heating pad.

Pros

Cons
  • Heavy-duty plastic construction
  • 4″ of foam insulation in every panel
  • Easy assembly
  • Easy pass-through, self-closing door (can remove the bottom part of the door)
  • Raised and sloped floor with a drainage hole for easy cleaning with a hose
  • Window panels in door and rear you can open for cross-ventilation
  • Sits on top of a riser to prevent ground contact
  • 10-year warranty
  • May be too cramped for dogs over 75 lbs
  • Several complaints that the panels aren’t completely filled with insulation
  • Some customers said the heating pad quit working after a few weeks

Price

Best Luxury Dog House: Boomer & George Large Dog House Lodge Review

Boomer & George Dog HouseView on Amazon

This cute dog house has a large porch deck for your pup to relax inside and out. Its attractive design is made of solid fir wood with dark trim accents. Despite them calling it a large dog house, however, it won’t fit large breeds and is a better fit for small to medium-sized dogs.

Pros

Cons
  • Solid wood construction
  • Easy assembly
  • Attractive design with an attached porch
  • Floor is raised 5″ off the ground
  • Side window for ventilation
  • 1-year warranty
  • Pricey
  • Only one size (suitable for small to medium-sized dogs)
  • Not very rainproof
  • Some complaints that the wood is flimsy

Price

  • Check Amazon for availability
  • Exterior dimensions: 67″W x 31″D x 38″H
  • Interior house dimensions: 31.5″L x 26.75″W x 19.5″H (to eaves),
    31.5″H (to roof peak)

Best Budget Dog House: Petmate Barnhome III Review

Petmate Barnhome III Dog HouseView on Amazon

Petmate scores again in our reviews with our pick for the best budget dog house. It’s a fairly cheap dog house compared to the others we review here, but it’s not cheaply made. This heavy-duty plastic barn house features rear air ventilation and an extended roof guard and raised floor for weather protection. The 2 pieces snap together easily in just seconds, and it’s easy to clean with a hose.

Pros

Cons
  • Good budget buy
  • Durable plastic construction
  • Easy snap-together assembly with no tools
  • Raised floor and extended roof guard for better rain protection
  • Most customers say it’s leak-proof
  • 1-year warranty
  • Largest size only accommodates dogs up to 90 lbs
  • Some complaints that the top and bottom don’t stay snapped together well

Price

Available in 2 colors: bleached linen/black and red/black

Best Portable Dog House: AmazonBasics Elevated Portable Pet House Review

AmazonBasics Elevated Portable Pet HouseView on Amazon

This portable dog house is lightweight for portability but made with durable materials. It’s raised off the ground and has an A-frame canopy roof with mesh paneling along the top for enhanced air circulation. And it has a raised cot for comfort and support. It does take a bit of time to set it up and break it down, so it’s not an easy fold-up option, but its sturdiness makes up for that. This also makes a good indoor dog house if you need one.

Pros

Cons
  • Made of durable oxford fabric, mech cloth, and metal and plastic components
  • Lightweight for portability
  • Raised off the ground
  • Very spacious, even for large dogs
  • 1-year warranty
  • Not waterproof
  • Flaps don’t anchor to anything so they can blow around when it’s windy
  • Some customers say the floor and legs don’t hold up with dogs over 90 lbs

Price

Available in 3 colors: black, blue and khaki

Cold Weather Accessories For A Dog House

What’s the best way to heat a dog house? It depends on the type of dog house you have, the temps outside, and how long your pup will be spending in his home in cold weather. Here are some options for you to consider. Also, see our article, “How Cold Is Too Cold For A Dog?” for some temperature safety tips.

Akoma Hound Heater Dog House Furnace

Akoma Hound Heater Dog House FurnaceView on Amazon

This heater is a safe option you can mount to a wall in your dog house. It has no sharp edges, won’t burn your dog, and has a protective, chew-resistant, heavy-duty stainless steel spring covering the entire cord. The Hound Heater heats up to a 75 cubic foot dog house but also works great for smaller dog houses. It adjusts from 30°-100°F.

Price: $129.95 ($129.95 / Count)

K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pet Bed

K&H Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pet BedView on Amazon

This outdoor heated pet bed is thermostatically controlled to automatically respond to temperature changes to warm to your pet’s normal body temperature. It’s made of soft orthopedic foam and comes with a fleece cover. It has a 5-1/2 foot steel-wrapped cord, is only 60 watts, and has been tested and certified to exceed USA/CA electrical safety standards. Available in 3 sizes.

Price: $76.46

K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Pet Crate Pad

K&H Self-Warming Pet Crate PadView on Amazon

If you don’t need serious heat or don’t want to hassle with cords and a power supply, this self-warming pad could be a good option. The material captures your pet’s body heat and radiates the warmth back to your pet. It has a soft microfleece top for comfort and a non-slip bottom for stability. It’s machine-washable and comes in 6 sizes and 3 colors.

Price: $9.84

How To Build A Dog House

Building a DIY dog house is easier than you might think, especially if you’re handy with a few basic tools. You can find fairly easy dog house plans online. Consider adding an awning over the door for added rain protection. Here are the basic steps involved with simple plans:

  1. Cut the wood pieces according to the plan you’re using
  2. Frame the base and build a foundation floor
  3. Frame the house sidewalls
  4. Frame the front and back walls
  5. Cut the siding
  6. Create a roof

If you want a cheap dog house, this DIY video shows you how to build a pallet dog house. You can find used pallets, either for free or for a minimal fee, from many different businesses like grocery, pet, and home improvement stores, just to name a few.

Need A Good Dog Coat Or Boots?

It’s also important to protect your pup from inclement weather and harsh elements when you’re out for a walk or just hanging out in the yard. When temperatures plummet, your dog needs an added layer of protection. And you also need to protect his feet from snow, ice, and harsh chemicals used on roadways and sidewalks. See our best dog boots and coats for winter for our top picks.

Do you have any dog house ideas or DIY tips to share?

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