Dog house material: how to choose the right one for Fido

Can a bamboo hut survive a winter storm in the middle of Antarctica? Can your dog live in an igloo in the heart of the Sahara desert? You see, it’s just as important to match the climate to the material you want used in the dog house to build a proper dog habitat.

Although the examples we gave above are a bit extreme, many regions have extreme weather for at least part of the year or have a long season of a particular weather condition. That being the case, the most frequent weather condition should be the deciding factor in choosing the material for a dog house. An excellent estimate of the appropriate building materials for your dog’s house is determined by looking at her house and the other structures in her area. If your dog house is made of wood and is highly insulated, chances are the dog house is too.

Wooden dog house: Wood is the preferred material for dog houses. It is cheap and easy to work with. When pressure treated to prevent rot in areas with high moisture, the wood is also quite durable. Additionally, wood allows for great flexibility in design because it is easy to cut and shape. Wooden dog houses are suitable for most areas. In areas with high humidity, a cedar dog house can provide the most suitable wooden habitat for your dog.

Plastic Dog House: Plastic dog houses are well known for their light weight and flexibility for design advantages. They can be easy to move and are easy to clean because it is waterproof. Plastic dog houses also have the advantage of remaining vermin-free, even in the Deep South and other insect-prone areas. However, there is a downside as these dog houses are not as durable as wooden or metal ones and can be easily damaged by chewing dogs.

Metal Dog House: No one would really consider building dog houses using only metal, as they are prone to getting too hot or too cold depending on the weather situation. However, it is not uncommon for a dog house to have a metal roof. On the rare occasions that metal is used to build a dog house, the result is a construction that is durable and relatively easy to clean.

A dog house can be made of almost any material. The best dog house is the house that takes into account the comfort of your dog, as well as the climate. Within these constraints, only your creativity—and your wallet—determines the ideal building material for you.