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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
- Our Top 3 Picks
- Other Best Dog Houses By Category
- Cold Weather Accessories For A Dog House
- Build Your Own Dog House (Video)
- Need A Good Dog Coat Or Boots?
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 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.
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Price
- Small (33.7″ x 22.6″ x 23.1″): $129.99
- Medium (40.8″ x 26″ x 27.6″): $159.99
- Large (45.6″ x 30.9″ x 32.1″): $199.99
Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin Review
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.
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Price
- Small (33.5″ x 24.6″ x 22″): $74.69
- Medium (45.5″ x 26.5″ x 27.5″): $119.99
- Large (44.7″ x 32″ x 32.5″): $189.99
- X-Large (45.5″ x 48.5″ x 40″): Check Amazon for availability
Petmate Indigo Dog House Review
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.
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Price
- Large Dog House (43.8″ x 34″ x 25.8″): Check Amazon for availability
- Large Door: $31.58
- Large Nylon Pad: $43.99
- X-Large Dog House (51.5″ x 39.3″ x 30″): Check Amazon for availability
- X-Large Door: $14.03
- X-Large Nylon Pad: $48.99
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 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.
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Price
- Check Amazon for availability
- 38.5″H x 31.5″W x 47.5″L
Best Luxury Dog House: Boomer & George Large Dog House Lodge Review
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.
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Price
- $329.99
- 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 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.
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Price
Available in 2 colors: bleached linen/black and red/black
- X-Small (up to 15 lbs): $49.99
- Small (15-25 lbs): $60.98
- Medium (25-50 lbs): Check Amazon for availability
- Large (50-90 lbs): $78.71
Best Portable Dog House: AmazonBasics Elevated Portable Pet House Review
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.
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Price
Available in 3 colors: black, blue and khaki
- Small (35″ x 32″ x 26″): $41.82
- Medium (43″ x 35″ x 30″): $52.28
- Large (51″ x 41″ x 34″): Check Amazon for availability
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
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
K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pet Bed
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: $79.99
K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Pet Crate Pad
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: $15.99
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:
- Cut the wood pieces according to the plan you’re using
- Frame the base and build a foundation floor
- Frame the house sidewalls
- Frame the front and back walls
- Cut the siding
- 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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