To start off with, you’re going to want to choose a style of kennel. Depending on how big your dog is, you’ll need to choose between the following designs.

The Small Dog House

The Large Dog House

The Medium Duplex Dog House

The Large Duplex Dog House

As you can see, there are quite a few options to choose from. You’ll also notice that you can construct a kennel out of multiple materials. The most common of these are:

- Wood (pine, cedar, etc).

- Brick or stone.

- Metal sheets (steel is by far the cheapest option).

Dog Kennel Construction Tips

Once you’ve decided on a base design, you can customize the kennel in any way you see fit. You might like to paint it, hang a name placard, throw a few potplants on top or around it, etc.. You should also take not of the following IMPORTANT tips:

1) Make sure that the floor is elevated at least a few inches from the ground. This allows air to circulate underneath the kennel, keeping your dog/s cool in winter. If you also insulate properly, your pet will also be warm in winter.

2) Consider altering the roof to be flat. Why? Well, your dog might want to sit on top of his or her kennel when the sun is out. You could also use the top of the dog house as a small herb garden.

3) It’s very simple to build a “doggy door” on most types of dog houses. This will aid even more in protecting yor pet from the elements. Doggy doors work best with smaller dogs and kennels.

4) An important part in keeping your dog warm and dry during wetter months in an overhanging roof. This will allow water to run off at a distance from the entrance, ensuring no water can actually get inside.

If you’re serious about building your own dog kennel, check out the Dog House Plans section now.