My two Basset hounds are getting evicted from the back porch when our new baby comes. As part of the compromise, I am building them a bad*ss house so their porch-less lifestyle will still be comfortable.

So far, plans include insulation (floor,walls, and ceiling), a heated mat, themostatically controlled bathroom fan for hot weather, and guttering to catch rain water for drinking (and to keep water away from my house). The house will be elevated to keep it off the ground during rain events.

Anything that would be on your wishlist that I havent included?

Alright I'll get this over with...You shouldn't be evicting your dogs from the porch. They were there first.

Would you kick a family member out to the backyard (not an in-law because well that changes the game)?

My helpful advice is that a lot of well meaning dog house builders build too big. Dogs find comfort in closer quarters. Think coyote dens. There's not a dog in the world with claustrophobia, but you wouldn't know that from looking at dog houses.

Maybe inside your dog mansion you could make smaller sleeping boxes.

And ramps - not steps. For when they get old.

Sounds like its going to be a bigger dog house. Only advice I have is make the roof easily removable, either where it unbolts or has a hatch from the top. Its one of those things that you dont think about until you have to clean the inside or end up with a snake or opossum inside in which case being able to stab downward helps

I'd find a way to build it so you won't have yellow jacket nests in it.

And how about A/C or an evaporative cooler of some kind instead of a simple vent fan.

Page MFBarnes.

He can help I'm sure.

At this rate it would probably be cheaper and easier to just take out a second mortgage and add on to the house.

They are outside dogs already, but the porch is their domain and where they sleep, eat, have beds with heat/fans, etc. My wife is adamant they are as comfortable as I can make them. Full disclosure, I work with commercial ag animal buildings, so this project is going to go overboard very quick in true OB style.

The removable roof is a good idea - I can integrate that pretty easily, and would be great for the occasional washdown. A floor drain would make this even better.

Using a ramp will be helpful. They are young and healthy (2 y), but as they age they'll certainly need it.

Evaporative cooling is high on my add-on list - they lay on the concrete apron for the back porch to stay cool in the summer, so supplemental cooling is an eventual goal.

Do you want to remodel my house?

Ulrich said:

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Do you want to remodel my house?

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I'm not done with mine yet. The doghouse is going to be a welcome escape from the nursery and living room.

One of the things we have been doing in center pivot tower boxes is to hang a cattle ear tag that has been treated with insect repellent to keep flies and wasps out of them.

I've never thought to hang a couple in a deer stand. I guess that will be added to the list before we close them up after the season.

What kind of repellent is recommended? Going to try this in my deer blinds as well.

Is your wife planning on putting the baby on the porch? (I'm confused why they're being evicted from the porch.)

The dogs already live outside, but they have free run of the back porch via a dog door, so it's been "their" space. My wife wants to reclaim it so she'll have a place to get the baby out of the house, tend plants, read, etc.

Hinged roof for easy access as stated before.

Dog door on the dog house?

Sorry to derail... anyone ever thought about cutting a hole in the roof of one of those igloo style dog houses to attach a heating lamp for weather like we are currently having?

Our old guy stays inside during the day but usually has to stay outside during the day when we're at work. Would like to make his daytime more comfortable for him if possible.

TIA

I put a dog door into the garage. The garage is insulated. I've got an electric space heater in there right now. The dog likes it and my wife likes having a heated garage for when she leaves out in the mornings. During the summer the dog can cool off in the pond.

My dog had an awesome house...he slept in front of it.

Crusaders41 said:

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Sorry to derail... anyone ever thought about cutting a hole in the roof of one of those igloo style dog houses to attach a heating lamp for weather like we are currently having?

Our old guy stays inside during the day but usually has to stay outside during the day when we're at work. Would like to make his daytime more comfortable for him if possible.

TIA

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That migh be too hot even in cold weather. A regular bulb might give off just enough. But I'd stick to lots of straw for the dog to burrow in.

TXAGFAN said:

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My dog had an awesome house...he slept in front of it.

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Sounds like my dog. We bought him a nice bed, he chewed it up and after we bought him a cheaper one, he no longer chews it but likes to sleep next to it.

third coast.. said:

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im just wondering why dogs and children can not coexist.

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Dude, happy wife-happy life.

Kicking THEIR dogs off THEIR porch is surely something you can agree is THEIR decision, right?

Think about building a scaled down version of this... two pens on either side to stay warm, dog run to cool off.

third coast.. said:

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im just wondering why dogs and children can not coexist.

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Because the internet is full of horror stories about dogs/cats killing babies and you're a child abuser if you let the be together. In reality, it is a very tiny number, but new momma's can get overwhelmed by it when they "research" too much on the internet.

I once built a very large and very nice dog house for my lab and Great Pyrenees. Vinyl flooring, dual window unit fans (one blowing in and one blowing out for circulation), heat lamp, swinging plexiglass door, vinyl flooring, dog beds inside, removable roof, composite roofing and siding painted to match the house, a little deck outside with holes cut in it to hold their food and water bowls at just the right height...heck, one year I even put Christmas lights on it.

Where did my dogs sleep? In holes they dug on the side of the house.

Make it about 8 x 12 and about 8' ceilings. Put in a window unit, electrical and plumbing. Add a big screen and a lazy boy and thank me later. Also, better put some doggy doors on it too.