Dog Houses

It can be pretty hard to select a first project if you're just getting into do-it-yourself carpentry. Something like a spice rack might seem too conceived, and anyway who doesn't already own a spice rack? Personally, I recommend sticking to something practical and doing it right. Most people don't want to start with major pieces such as a living room table, but all the same it is a great boost of encouragement to be able to use your first projects to good effect. This is why for pet owners everywhere, I recommend dog houses as a first project.

There are several reasons why dog houses are a great way to start. One of the best reasons is the availability of dog house plans. You can find plans to build anything from a single room doghouse to large dog kennel houses fit to house a whole pack. Even more important is the simplicity of the project. Building your own dog house couldn't be any easier!

Dog houses, of course, can get as elaborate as you want them to just like anything else. For a first project, however, it is always best to stick with a simple plan, and a simple dog house can be more than adequate for your pet's comfort and safety. Even heated dog houses are not very hard to build, necessitating only the addition of a small coil which can be easily maintained and safely mounted in the frame. Basically, dog houses consist of nothing but three walls and the classic slanted roof. They are only slightly harder to build, in fact, than a box. You can decorate them anyway you want. As a matter of fact, as a way to include my kids in my first project, I let them decorate the doghouses themselves. They painted flowers, stars, smiling children, and all manner of other artwork all over the sides. By the time they were done, it was a work of art!

There are a few safety precautions you have to take when building a dog house. Basically, anything that the dog can chew, scratch, or tear apart, he or she probably will. Make sure that the wood is of a good quality that doesn't flake off easily, allows easy cleanup of dog poop and that all nails are carefully pounded in where your dog can't get to them. If you do all that correctly, you will have a happy puppy with a warm shelter for many years to come.