Shopping for Extra Large Dog Houses

Big Dogs Need Extra Large Dog Houses

Who needs an extra large dog houses? Anyone with a big dog or more than one smaller dog if they spend a fair amount of time outside! I’ve had dogs around pretty much all of my life, and although they never came right out and told me, they sure do seem to like having a place to just hang out and call their own. These extra large dog houses give your canine companion their very own safe space to feel safe and relax. Being able to get out of the elements when necessary is pretty nice too!

Top 4 Extra Large Dog Houses

Save yourself some time
I like to save time, and I like to save money when I can. (Check out how I saved on dog grooming costs.)  If you want to cut to the chase, check out these four dog houses for your extra large friend. A variety of styles are shown, but they are all big, top rated, and made to keep your pet out of the elements! It’s a good idea to measure your dog before you order any dog house. Manufacturers usually provide the dimensions of the house, including the entrance. For most dogs, getting through the front door isn’t an issue, but if you’ve got an especially large dog, it’s worth the time to take a quick measurement to see how wide he or she is before ordering.

I really like the dog house with the porch shown below. It provides a clean place for your dog to hang out when it doesn’t want to be in the actual house. If you have a dog who always seems to plop himself where it’s muddy, you can probably see the advantage of the porch area. Put down a little rug or carpeting for your dog to snuggle on inside the house and on the porch, and he may never want to go anywhere else!

Choosing the Right Dog House for Your Furry Friend

What to look for in a dog house (besides your missing shoe!)
Tuff n Rugged Dog House If you’re going to invest in a dog house for your pet, do yourself a favor and get something that both you and the dog will be happy with after the purchase. You’ll want to get something that is easy to set up and take care of, but the most important thing to consider is the comfort of your pet. If the dog doesn’t enjoy being in its new house, you will have wasted your money, and nobody wants that.

Dogs like close quarters when it comes to their private “dens”, but when you are choosing a dog house, you should make sure that it is large enough on the inside for your pet to stand up and turn around. You can save a lot of money buying a dog house online, but that means that you should take a minute or two to actually measure your dog. Write down how tall and long he or she is before you start shopping for dog houses. If you have a puppy, remember to take their future growth into account.

Dog houses are made of a variety of materials including wood, plastic, and metal. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Plastic is easy to clean and set up, but if your dog is a chewer, you might have to keep an eye on him when you introduce his new outdoor pad. Wood looks great, but is will be harder to move from place to place. It can also be a bit more challenging to keep clean and pest free. The thought of a metal dog house isn’t very attractive to me personally. The thought of being inside of one during extremes of heat and cold make me cringe. They do offer the benefit of durability however. What you choose to go with will depend a lot on things like whether or not you plan on moving the house around, how willing you are to put in cleaning time, and the possible destructive tendencies of your dog. In this lens I will focus on a few well known, favorite brands of dog shelters as well as some popular features that dog owners sometimes look for when they are shopping for dog houses.

A Dog House with a Porch

If you are looking for a dog house that looks really cool sitting in your yard, one of these dog houses with an attached porch might be the way to go. They look great and they are nice for dogs who need to work their way into being comfortable enough to finally “move in” to their new house. When you are shopping for one of these houses, be sure that you look for at least the “large” size and then check the dimensions against the dog’s measurements that you took earlier. Sometimes these look larger than they actually are because of the included porch. The model shown here is the large model of “The Mansion” wood pet house by Merry Pet. It’s got great looks and offers the extra size that you need for large dogs. The dog house with porch set up can be great for some dogs, but remember to double check the dimensions against the size of your dog!

Do You Want an Air Conditioned Dog House?

Or a heated one?
Air conditioned dog houses can be tough to come by, but you can pick up outside air conditioners for dog houses at a reasonable price. A portable dog house air conditioner can help to keep your pet comfortable when the temperatures soar and they are stuck outside. As the owner of two dogs who went through “chewing phases”, I highly recommend keeping the electrical cord out of sight if you have a puppy who likes to chew things. The ClimateRight CR-2550 Mini Outdoor Portable Air Conditioner and Heater is shown here. It not only cools in the summer, it also serves as a heater when the temperatures drop. Very nice for places where seasonal temperature changes can be significant.

The Petmate Indigo Dog House

Made with Microban
You’ve probably seen variations of this dog home around your neighborhood. It is quite popular. These are dog houses that look like igloos. My neighbor has two huskies and she and her dogs seem to love this model (although I think she had to entice them in with dog treats when they first got their new homes). These plastic dog houses are made with Microban. That helps to eliminate the problems that mold and bacteria can cause. The Petmate Indigo dog home is a very popular choice with pet owners.

The Tough n Rugged Dog House

This is yet another favorite. It is an easy to clean, simple dog house that resists destructive teeth. It also offers ample space for your pet without taking over your whole back yard. It is a very nice mix of form and function for dog owners. If you are looking for something that is affordable, easy to care for, and well made, this might be just the right combination for you!

Do You Like to Do It Yourself?

Building Your Own Dog House
If you’ve got the skills for it, you can save a good bit of money by building your own dog house. Most people never really consider this alternative because they don’t have any idea where to start. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can end up wasting a lot of money on materials that you’re just going to mess up. If you do want to look into the possibilities of building your own dog house for your pet, you might want to read a book on the topic.

How to Build a Dog House

If you are a do it yourself type, you may want to take on the challenge of building your own dog house. Considering the cost of materials and time, that’s just not for me though! If that is what floats your boat though, here are some good instructions for how to build a dog house. Watching this just convinced me that buying a dog house is a pretty good option!

Do it Yourself Home