6 Ways to Make a Heated Dog House

If you would like a heated dog house for your dog to use during colder months, you will have to consider construction, insulation, and weatherproofing. Dogs that are older or have been ill will be particularly vulnerable to cold weather. The following are methods you can use to heat your dog house and provide for the health and wellness of your dog.

1. Construction

Before you even consider other ways to provide heat in your dog house, it’s important to make sure that your dog house is constructed in such a way that it will protect your dog as much as possible from the elements. Seal all cracks between boards when you build the structure as gaps in boards allow cold air in while letting warm air escape.

2. Insulation

To protect your dog from the cold weather, insulating the floor, roof, and walls will help considerably in providing the best shelter possible for your dog. Having an insulated wooden floor is a far better choice than one made of concrete. If it is not possible to provide a wooden floor, place your dog house on a wooden pallet during the winter months.

3. Weatherproof Door

Some kind of protection to the entrance of the doghouse will prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping while retaining heat. It doesn’t have to be a wooden door. Alternatives include heavy fabric, carpeting, and vinyl tacked securely in the doorway.

4. Adequate Size

A dog house doesn’t necessarily need to be large. All your dog needs is a space large enough for the dog to turn around and stretch comfortably. A dog house of the right size will allow the dog’s own body heat to help keep the dog house warm.

5. Heated Kennel Mat

There are commercial heated kennel mats that you can purchase and place on the floor. The cost of a heated mat is about $40 to $80. You could also use a heating pad. With either of these you will need an electrical outlet nearby. If your dog is prone to chewing, you will want to devise some type of protection for the electrical cord such as placing it inside a PVC pipe to prevent your dog from harming himself or creating a fire. Another solution might be to place the heated kennel mat under the dog house floor if you can devise a way to prevent it from getting wet.

6. Heater Box

A heater box is an attractive option as it can easily be mounted in the roof or a wall of the dog house — out of the way of your dog. A heater box contains a light bulb or ceramic emitter encased in a metal box. Some heater box models are capable of heating a dog house when the temperature is below freezing.