Looking for a dog house

I have an Anatolian dog, one of the finest dogs I have ever owned. He is huge, certainly not a house dog, he loves the outdoors in any kind of weather. Before I build him a dog house I was wondering if any of you had purchased a dog house for big dogs that you really liked. I would appreciate any input....Happy New Year!

Try a calf hut that dairy farmers use. Have no idea what one costs. Regardless a large dog house will not be cheap.

We looked at those plastic igloo things for our 80# mixed breed husky. Thought they were insulated, etc. NOPE - just a single layer of rather light weight plastic. Decided he'd be better off in the wood construction house he had. Decided our checkbook would be better off by $150.

If he is chained he MAY use a dog house. My long haired dogs will not go inside a dog house unless it is a freezing rain. Snow and cold they rarely will use one.

A good dog house/shelter for a large dog is an "A" frame hog house type. They work well and are real simple to build. If there ever was any pastured farrowed hogs around you you may be able to find a use one.

Here is picture/plans for one.

How tall is he lying down? How long is he curled up? Those are the dimensions that count. A plastic barrel with a spring loaded door, and runners to keep it from rolling, and maybe a plywood deck on top for sunning can be built for 35 dollars.

We have a great pyrenees, she seems to sleep anywhere, often find her on the deck on the south side of the house, i did build a shelter out of some old small square hay bales, two bales high, one bale long and deep with an old sheet of plywood on top held down with some rocks with some straw inside, she uses it once in a while. We've had some nasty -40 weather the last few days, doesn't seem to bother her... does her rounds around the livestock pens at night keeping the nasties away - not heard a coyote in weeks...

I have been known to spend time in the dog house. Lots of time as a matter of fact. It resembles a sofa in the garage. I never cared much for it, but your dog may like it just fine. All that it requires in his case, a doggie door through an entrance door into the garage, and an old sofa that the Mrs. doesn't want inside of the house. Some call it a man cave, but it often doubles as "the" dog house.

Mark

I built one for our dog before he figured out that the queen sized bed i sleep i was better , but the one i built is top notch with insulation top bottom and sides with a porch and over hang set up off the ground a bit and i got well over four hundred bucks in it . all it needs a porch lite.

That was gonna be my suggestion. A neighbor uses one for a German Shepard.

Do you guys use plastic tanks for home heating oil over there? Ours are not unlike an igloo in shape...or a beehive. Sometimes we can buy a damaged tank from the manufacturer for little money. People use them for dog houses or even goat or pig houses, but they need to be well secured in case of a storm.
Just a suggestion....Sam

The next one I build will have room for a second bed. (Just in case)

Built a nice doghouse for our Alaskan Malamute. Had a nice blanket inside. I don't think he slept in it more than once. He would rather spend time in the snow. Oh, he did sleep on the roof of the dog house several times.

If you do build one, offset the door so it isn't in the center. It gives the dog a corner to lay in. Jim

We have used Anatolian for live stock guard dogs since 1998. We have had six and still have two. They do not like a dog house. If a cold cold Wind is blowing they will go in the barn with the Alpacas. Their best place is under a rock overhang. We run them in pairs. The first Male was 170lbs. This is Reena

I have two wood dog houses that I built. Insulated top, bottom, and sides. I fill them with straw two or three times a winter. I also have two igloos that I fill with straw. One has a single beagle the other has two. My English setter sleeps in an elevated barrel with straw. Beagles try it for size when they get the chance.

Larry

Get one of those ploy houses used for baby calves

when I had big outdoor dogs, same thing,
tried to make them nice houses, they ignored them all.
semi-wild, I don't think they instinctively cared for the only one small entrance/exit idea.
Had better luck with a large open front lean-to attached to a building,
with a partition in it that they could lay behind to get out of the wind.

ps going out to the garage at night, with the side door under the lean-to,
it was a VERY good idea to call out to them first........

(quoted from post at 00:06:22 01/02/14) I have an Anatolian dog, one of the finest dogs I have ever owned. He is huge, certainly not a house dog, he loves the outdoors in any kind of weather. Before I build him a dog house I was wondering if any of you had purchased a dog house for big dogs that you really liked. I would appreciate any input....Happy New Year!

Click to expand...

*The current dog. An Austrailian Dingo cross.

The house, built for 2 labs initially. Rear of roof section lifts (hinged on porch side) for summer ventilation. I put a 2x4 under it to hold it open. Inside is insulated and paneled with wafer board. Floor is Wafer board on 2x6 treated joists.

Porch is deliberately made to fit the dog to help in keeping blowing weather at bay. Made from treated 2x4s and 5/8x6 treated deck planking. The dog really likes the porch for loafing and when the weather is bad it gives her a place to get off the wet ground and it protects the entrance too.

The vertical members on the house are about 2' in the ground in concrete. I initially had 2 household heating pads and carpeted floor and sides but the original (have to use "female" as original word didn't make it through customs) decided she didn't like my idea of interior decorating and ripped all that out. I now have hay on the wood floor. I lined the inside with wood to protect the insulation and offer something other than tin for the dog to lie against.




I don't remember what I have in it but I had the tin and the joists. Just some treated framing and the porch floor. Home Depot had the decking and what I didn't have.

Mark