A build it yourself dog house kit is an easy option for dog owners who want to build dog houses. Many of the dog house kits come with the necessary supplies to build a dog house. Dog owners who want to build dog houses on their own may benefit from dog house building instructions or free dog house plans that are available on the Internet.

The dog house must accommodate the size of the dog. The dog house should have an appropriate amount of space inside and have an opening that is an easy fit for the dog. If the dog house is being built for a puppy, the size of the dog house should be the appropriate size for an adult dog of that dog breed.

The materials for the dog house need to be weatherized since the dog house will be exposed to rain and any other weather conditions for that area. Cedar is considered a good choice for a dog house.

The first step of many build it yourself dog house plans involves the construction of four wood panels for the walls, one panel for the floor, and one panel for the roof. These panels may be insulated for the comfort of the dog.

The front and rear walls of a build it yourself dog house often match except that the entrance to the dog house is cut out of the front wall. The dimensions of the sides of the dog house match.

For a flat roof, the top edge of the sides of the dog house needs to be slanted towards the rear of the dog house and the front wall needs to be taller than the rear wall. Flat roofs should be built on an incline to prevent water from pooling on the roof.

The front and rear walls in many dog house plans are more narrow than the side walls. This is not necessarily best since a narrow front wall may only have room for a centered dog house opening. The opening should be cut off center to help shield the dog from wind and rain.

It is a good idea to elevate the dog house a couple inches from the ground. If the floor of the dog house is setting on the ground, rain water can enter the dog house. A floor on the ground can also be effected by moisture from the ground.