Spent my weekend working for the Bulldogs.

Had a great weekend hanging out with my pops while we made a new style doghouse to maximize more usable area for the dogs without sacrificing good warm doghouses that will work in our ridiculous winters..

Having been forced to convert to kennels from chain spots, the double chambered double walled insulated dog houses take up too much room in the 15' x 5' runs my dogs are in so I set out about a week ago to draw up some basic plans. I got them sketched out and I took a ride to Home Depo.




I Got just enough supplies to build one doghouse as I figured we're going to be designing more detailed plans as we go.

Total cost to build = $46.32

Putting my dad to work like a slave lol. I'll measure and draw while I hit my vape pen all day long, you cut and assemble. Lol



Built the floor first. Used 1x1s and 2x3s to try and cut the excess weight out of the house. Put 2" insulation board on top of the 3/4" flooring sandwiched with the board with holes in it. My theory is this will keep moisture away from the dog if it were to happen to get inside the house. We'll seen in time how this works out.



Then the shell.



Outer walls and insulating using 2" insulation board inside the entire frame + floor.






Inside walls go up and then cut the door out. Cap the door frame and chalk it.



Time to make the roof and shingle.

 

All I need to do is slap on the black exterior pain tomorrow and it's ready for a mutt. Just need to make 5 more now. Only adjustments we are making on the plans are to make it 2" shorter. It works out better with less waste on the sheet wood.

My houses are all 10+ years old. They're heavy as hell as well as a pain in the ass to get the roofs on and off of from years of swelling. They worked really well over the years but it's just time for a more efficient design.





Anyways, I'm extremely pleased with how it turuned out and it was time well spent doing something my pops loves to do. Even if he bitches the whole time lol.

I'll post the painted version when I get it done tomorrow.

 

I also needed to tweek somethings on my concrete water bowls I tinker around with so got a new one setting currently that I made today as well.. I'll post the finished product Tuesday when it's done curing.

 

Here's one for a chihuhua......LOL

 

Thanks Trees.

I don't believe it will help. I already paint the houses before the dogs use them. If not paint then at least Thompson's water sealer. I don't do it yearly though and that's probably why they eventually take in moisture over the years. We left a 1/4" spaceing all the way around the roof 2x3 frame to allow for any swelling this time. Hopefully anyway. Lol.

 

Looks good agk

 

The finished product. 1 murdered out doghouse.

 

The Blueprint if anyone else wants to make one or so I can go back for reference if need be.

 

Thanks Trees. He's getting up there but still healthy as a horse. He said he's aching today. Told him we'll I better hurry you along with the other 5 houses so he can rest lol. He enjoys it.

 

Nice work AGK

 

We'll we got it back in Harleys kennel. Big diffenerce in room than with the old houses. She jumped right in it as soon as I closed the lid.

It was actually supposed to be my dog Chinos house but we made the doorway 9" x 9" and I doubt he can fit. He's almost 10" wide at his shoulders. We're going to make the rest of the doorways 11" x 11" since you loose a 1/4 inch squared with the capping. Next one should move quicker now that we know what we want to do and have the measurements where I want them.

 

I've been lucky. Geachison was the only house chewer I've ever had. Just the doorways. Maybe a shingle or 2 If he could work at it. None of mine here are hard keepers. I'm hoping it stays that way. Lol.

 

I usually use 1/4" rolled rubber on the roofs that I get from Tractor Supply. A few of them here like to lay up there and it makes it a softer surface for them.

My parents just had a new roof put on their house a few weeks ago so we have like 8 packs of shingling that were left over. Trying to keep cost down so we just used what we had available. Managed to make this house for just under 50$ in supplies. My other houses ran about 120 a piece.

Went with the shingling too because Pumpkin feels the need to shit on her roof so I figured maybe the shingling will stop her from doing so. Probably not but I'm hoping lol.

 

you americans dont know how lucky you are,what i woudnt give to be able to build dog houses with my old man.

 

Love it AGK. Very nice set up as well.

 

Thanks, I hate them. Miss the chainspots.