For the majority of us, our dogs will live in the family home, having said that, in certain circumstances its necessary to have an outside kennel. For keen DIYers, making a kennel is a relatively easy job. Still, there are aspects of the construction that will help you make a kennel thats ideal for your dog.
For the well-being of your dog, make the kennel with two rooms. The 1st room has the main door with another door to the 2nd room which provides the sleeping quarters. This provides a warmer and more sheltered place for your dog to sleep.
Make the inner room (sleeping quarters) 150 mm larger in all directions than the dog is when curled up, the outer room can be half as wide. The height should be 150 mm higher than the distance from the floor to the top of your dogs head when sitting. Position the main door so that it is right angles to the internal door. This will stop wind and rain blowing directly into the sleeping area.
To find the size and contruct the base, add the width and length measurements of both rooms together, 18 mm exterior grade plywood is the best material to use for this. This will need to be fixed to a base made to the same size from 50 x 100 mm treated timber, so that the floor is raised off the ground. Use 18 mm exterior grade chipboard to construct the walls, cutting the tops with 45 degrees angles to allow to provide a sloping roof. Use 18 mm exterior grade plywood for the roof panels themselves, making sure you cut these 50 mm larger on the outside edges, to provide the eaves. Ideally, make the roof panels detachable or hinged to allow easy access for cleaning. After fitting the roof panels, youll need to cover them with roofing felt.
When the construction is finished, protect the exterior with a suitable preservative and, when youre ready to position the kennel, put somewhere where your pet can see whats going on in family home.
Your pet now has a comfy new home to sleep in, so why not show it off by commissioning a pet portrait with them sat proudly outside their new home!
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