It's A Dog's Life In An Insulated Doghouse
Emanuel Elley
A dog is supposed to be "mans best friend", so why do we continually treat our pets like the enemy? We expect them to stay in hot plastic bunkers in summer and endure cold temperatures in wood or tin structures in winter. Just imagine the discomfort that your pet may feel when left to brave the elements inside an un-insulated doghouse.
Most people choose to have their pets live with them inside their homes, especially when the weather turns foul. While this may give the humans great pleasure, it's not always what's best for their pets. Some pets, regardless of how much the love their people, simply prefer the comfort and independence of their own personal space.
The Perfect Doghouse
A dog house is just like a human home, and should instill a sense of comfort and safety. A few critical factors are required to create the perfect home for your pet.
First and foremost, be sure than the doghouse that your buy or build is insulated. Proper insulation is absolutely necessary for the health and comfort of your pet, regardless of the climate. The world's warmest areas have wet and chilly days and all dogs need to generate their own body heat from time to time. Other areas get downright cold during the daytime and nighttime hours. A properly insulated doghouse will help to keep the cold out and keep the warmth inside.
On the other hand, an insulated doghouse is also important when temperatures begin to soar. The insulation acts will act in reverse, keeping the interior of the doghouse nice and cool, even during the blistering heat. This is vital to the health of your pet, as extreme heat can cause dehydration and heatstroke. UV rays can also cause irreversible damage to your pet.
It's not enough to simply insulate your doghouse. The structure must also be waterproof and capable of evaporating inside humidity quickly enough to discourage the formation of mildew. For this purpose, many pet owners prefer to give their dogs an "inner sanctum", or a second entrance placed inside the doghouse that's not directly aligned with the outside entrance. This allows the dog to hide from high winds and inclement weather inside the second room. The capacity of the doghouse will be enhanced, providing even more comfort and protection in both hot and cold weather.
Build your insulated doghouse to accommodate the full height of an adult dog. Make sure that the structure is as tall as your adult pet, plus no less than 1/3 of his or her size. To calculate the ideal size doghouse for your pet, you will need to measure the dog (or find out how tall he or she will be at full adult size) when standing, and also measure the length of your dog when lying down. Then, add on an additional one-third of these measurements on all sides.
Remember that the doghouse opening must be visible to the dog when standing and when sitting. The entrance must also be large enough for your pet to use without effort.
One point that is often overlooked is the air circulation of the doghouse. It's a good idea to build the doghouse on top of stilts or an open foundation, allowing air to circulate beneath the house as well. This will help to prevent unwanted pests from infiltrating the doghouse, and will make sure that the structure remains warm and dry.
Your best friend deserves the best. An insulated doghouse provides the protection and security that your pet needs, whatever the weather.
Author Emanuel Elley contributes articles to numerous popular web sites, on
http://duzat.com/ home improvement and
http://litoc.com/ family matter subjects.
