Take a moment to think of the most cliche dog house that comes in your mind. Well, if you’re anything like the average dog owner, you were probably thinking of a wooden dog house with a gable roof. Now, that’s a testament to how iconic this dog house type is.
A wooden house for dogs has its own share of benefits (and drawbacks as well.) With this type of dog house, you’ll get high-quality insulation for a warmer house. What’s more, it can also turn out to be a rather fun DIY project for the weekend. So, in this article, we’ll be reviewing some of the best wooden dog houses for your canine buddy and will also teach you how to choose the right one.
What are Wooden Dog Houses?
Wooden dog houses that are manufactured using wood. Most of these don’t even have additional paint or varnishing. In fact, for many dog owners, that unfinished look is the true beauty of a dog wooden house.
There are loads of benefits of these dog houses. Firstly, they provide good insulation. So, with such a dog house, your dog would be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Additionally, this dog house type allows for lots of customization since it doesn’t require tricky construction methods. Interestingly enough, wooden dog houses can even prove to be a cost-effective solution, especially if you’re building one yourself.
At the same time, there’s a major drawback to these houses as well; there’s always the possibility of flea or tick infestation. And once those irritating bugs make their way into a dog house, it’s hard to get them out.
How to Choose the Right Wooden Dog House?
Choosing the right dog house isn’t an easy task. There’s a lot of factors that one has to consider when shortlisting options and finally deciding on one. Here’s what you need to consider when buying one for your dog.
Size
The size of the wooden house for your dog is of paramount importance. It’s quite obvious why a small dog house would be a problem. But many dog owners don’t really consider that an awfully large dog house is an equal problem as well.
The thing is: most people buy wooden doggy houses for outdoor use. A larger house would be harder to insulate. So, if your dog has lots of extra space in the house, chances are it’ll feel cold. When buying an outdoor shelter, always consider the extreme temperatures that your dog would have to face.
Type of Wood
One of the most important factors in purchasing a wooden house for your dog is the type of wood used. Always identify the wood type being used. this is because a lot of manufacturers aren’t that upfront about what type of wood they use. That’s a clear sign that they aren’t using good quality wood.
There are wood types that are stronger and more resistant to pest infestations like cedar. Pine and fir are other types of wood that are routinely used in dog houses.
Insulation
Wooden houses for our canine buddies provide optimum insulation. In fact, they are one of the most insulating dog house types in the market. However, not all wooden houses provide the same type of insulation. There are a lot of factors that determine insulation in wooden dog houses like how thick the wood is and how well covered the roof and corners are. A super-insulated wooden dog house would have an asphalt shingle roof with wooden sides that are at least a couple of inches of wood.
Some dog houses also have door flaps to further stop the flow of chilly winds. Whenever buying a dog house, make sure you’re reading the reviews for how well it insulates the dog. Some dog houses leave gaps on the corners. These aren’t just dangerous in terms of allowing insects and other pests (like mice) inside, but also take a hit on the house’s overall insulation.
Style
You can find wooden houses for dogs in a dozen different styles. Although the most common style is with a gable roof, there are many others that provide a unique look.
Before you purchase the wooden house of your choice, decide what sort of look you’re hoping for. Do you want an extra-large dog house with a porch or a small portable one? Another really common wooden dog house is the cabin style. This type of dog house often has a flat or slightly slanted roof. You can also find foldable indoor houses in this category. Even though these dog houses won’t be the sturdiest, they’ll be highly portable and effective for indoor use.
Durability
Most dog owners consider buying a wooden dog house due to the durability associated with this dog house type. However, many houses in the market are filled with low-cost and low-quality solutions that can break within a week. A lot of dog houses don’t come with the proper finishing and have cracks right out of the box.
For this reason, you should always buy from a reputable manufacturer, like the ones reviewed in this article. You should also check if that manufacturer is using a high-quality wood type. Not mentioning the type of wood is a sign that it’s probably low quality.
10 Best Wooden Dog Houses
Now that you know how to choose a nice wooden house for your mutt, it’s time we reveal our top picks.
Here are the most popular wooden dog houses in 2021:
1. Petsfit Portable Wooden Dog House
This dog house comes in a single-piece construction, allowing it to fold-flat when required. What’s more, it comes with a removable top. This should allow you to tend to your dog without having to scoot in front of the door. Petsfit is confident that this dog house will hold strong for dogs up to 30 lbs.
Although most wooden houses are used outdoors, this one has the added benefit of indoor functionality. This dog house is about 2 feet higher from the ground, allowing it to avoid flooding. Customers love a lot of specs in this product. However, the quick folding and assembly is a favorite feature. Also, it seems like many of the customers are using this budget-friendly dog house to contain litter boxes.
2. Best Choice Wooden Cabin
Next is the Best Choice Wooden Cabin, which has many cool features to justify that. Firstly, it comes with an off-centered door. This allows your dog to scoot towards the side that’s farther away from the door if needed. Secondly, it comes with a raised floor that keeps water out even with lots of rain. Best Choice has constructed this house from fir wood, while they’ve constructed the roof with asphalt shingle. You can also remove the roof from the top.
This wooden dog house requires proper assembling. But it shouldn’t take you more than an hour or so to get this done. The build seems strong enough to hold up. However, it’s not the strongest dog house out there.
3. Petsfit Indoor Wooden Dog House
Petsfit would be a good option to consider if you own a small dog. This dog house uses cedar wood that can withstand flea and tick infestations. As the dimensions suggest, Petsfit has manufactured this with small dogs in mind, providing 28″ L x 18″ W x 16″ H of space inside. To top that off, they’ve taken special care of the aesthetics of this product. No matter where you put it, this wooden dog house should blend well with its surroundings. Also, Petsfit has used water-based, harmless paint for this dog house.
Customers have praised this dog house a lot; from its prettiness to the design, everything seems to hold up well. However, there are a couple of things that every buyer should know before purchasing this dog house. Firstly, it doesn’t have a removable top. Secondly, the manufacturer has designed this only for dogs under 30 lbs. It’d be an added bonus if the dog has a calm nature as well since this isn’t the sturdiest of options.
4. Tangkula Pet Outdoor Dog House
The Tangkula Dog House complements the green grass with its red-brown color scheme. This is quite unlike usual dog houses that blend in with the surroundings. It has an asphalt gable roof that helps to slide rain and snow down the sides. In the long run, this will increase the product’s lifespan. Tangkula does quite a good job with the paintwork on its fir wood house. The paint is water-based and environmentally-friendly as well.
It’s quite obvious that this wooden house for dogs will need some assembling. With that said, it comes with all the tools required for the job. If you’ve been in this game for long enough, then you’d know that it’s quite uncommon for manufacturers to include any tools in their packages. It’s also designed bearing in mind that the outdoors can be quite bumpy. So, it comes with adjustable feet that can provide stability on slightly uneven ground.
5. LINLUX Indoor Wooden House
If you prefer your furniture to have a raw wooden-look, then this one’s for you. This indoor house by Linlux comes in natural wood color. You’ll be happy to know that the wood and its paint are both environmentally-friendly and non-toxic for your dog. The manufacturer promises a 4-step easy assembly for this dog house. Now, this wooden house not only has an openable roof but a removable floor as well. This helps when cleaning the kennel. Just like the Tangkula Outdoor Dog House, this one also comes with adjustable feet. So, it’s usable on slightly uneven ground as well.
Among the many great features of this wooden dog house is the fact that it has a lockable door. That’s an added safety feature that can prove beneficial for people who leave their dogs alone at home. Customers have appreciated how easy it is to assemble this wooden house.
6. Trixie Pet Products Dog Club House
Tired of looking at wooden houses for small dogs? Then check out this large wooden dog house by Trixie. Its pine construction is weather-resistant. Also, its top-notch quality sustains dogs up to 95 lbs in weight. So, it’s ideal or a Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd. Trixie has added a raised floor to this house which improves its airflow. Furthermore, the adjustable feet allow it to stand firm on uneven ground. The manufacturer has added a hinged roof for this one, allowing you to open it when needed.
Trixie‘s Dog Club House offers a lot of features that some of the top brands do. However, there’s one that’s quite uncommon, even for the best ones out there: it comes with a removable floor. This quality alone can save you hours of washing time in this product’s lifespan. With that said, this dog house will need some assembling. So, make sure you’re ready to get ahold of the toolbox if you buy it.
7. Pets Imperial Extra Large Dog House
With the ability to contain a dog up to 154 lbs, this heavy-duty insulated dog house is one of the largest on this list. The reason behind the immense strength of this dog kennel is the double rail lining its sides. Pets Imperial claims that the walls of this dog house are 150% thicker than those of others. That’s a major plus for dog owners that need some solid insulation for their canine buddy. With high-capped plastic feet, it has a couple of inches’ extra space at the bottom. This allows for extra air-flow and temperature regulation.
The majority of the customers seem satisfied with this dog house. It looks quite pretty and sits well for outdoor use. However, the packaging from the seller isn’t the best. A lot of times, the parcel comes a bit banged in from the sides.
8. Precision Pet Weather-Resistant Cabin
Need a dainty weather-resistant dog house for your backyard? Try the Precision Pet Weather-Resistant Cabin. It’s constructed with solid wood and stainless steel for maximum durability. What’s more, it comes with a protective coating that avoids damage from rain. It has a slanted asphalt roof that diverts any and all drizzle. Interestingly, it comes in 4 different sizes. So, it’ll be able to accommodate most of the dog breeds. To assemble, just follow the 3-step instructions provided with this wooden house for dogs.
As the name suggests, the manufacturer has designed this dog house for weather resistance. So, dog owners that need an outdoor kennel for places where it snows or rains a lot will find this to be quite a useful option. Also, you’d be happy to know that this dog house is quite easy to assemble. It comes with simple, easy-to-follow instructions from the manufacturer.
9. Petsfit Outdoor Dog House
If you don’t know your way around a drill, then this one’s for you. The Petsfit Outdoor Dog House is one of the easiest to assemble as it comes with pre-drilled holes. It’s waterproof with a slanting rooftop that doesn’t allow water to stand on top of the kennel. But not just that, you can easily open the roof as well to clean the kennel. Petsfit has also added a door flap on the entrance.
Customers are in awe of the quality of this wooden dog house. From the built to its water-proof capability, it’s simply one of the best in the industry.
10. Foldable Indoor Wooden House
The Foldable Wooden House that actually functions as a dog crate. It has a metal railing on the front, which allows you to keep an eye on your dog at all costs. For paranoid dog owners, that’s a huge added bonus. What I like about this dog house is that it’s foldable and easily portable. If you fold it down, then carrying it around is simply a piece of cake. Although it’s ideal for indoor use, the manufacturer suggests that you can just as easily use it outdoors as well.
This dog wooden house comes in a creamy color, which you can easily paint over if required. But if you do, bear in mind that regular paint won’t work on it. So, you’ll have to use a gel stain. The crate has coated the metal bars with plastic, which seems to decrease chewing in dogs. However, the finishing of this dog house isn’t that good. There are chances of
Wooden Dog Houses – FAQ
Wooden houses for dogs may seem really simple to dog owners. But in reality, they can be a real nightmare if you don’t know how to use and maintain them. With that said, I’m sure there are several unanswered questions in your mind. So, in this section, we will answer them all.
How to Take Care of a Wooden Dog House?
In order to care for a wooden dog house, you’ll have to make sure there’s no water seeping into the wood. For that, manufacturers already add a sealant that makes the wood waterproof. However, if it isn’t, then your dog house isn’t going to last very long. In such a case, buy a sealant like Flex Seal and apply a couple of its coats on the wood.
Another important aspect of caring for wooden dog houses is cleaning them. Don’t use dangerous cleaners like bleach as it will ruin the wood in no time. If you’ve used a proper sealant or paint for the dog house, then washing it with water will not be an issue. However, make sure you dry the inside as it can take a while if you leave the drying process up to nature.
How to Avoid Insects and Pests in a Wooden Dog House?
To avoid insects and pests in your wooden dog house, it’s vital that you don’t let the wood rot or stay damp. Without a sealant or high-quality paint, the wood can imbibe water and allow wood mites to inhabit it. So, it’s best to dry the house after cleaning. You’ll also want to clean the house regularly since insects and pests are more likely to attach a dog house that’s dirty.
The most obvious way of avoiding insects and pests in wooden dog houses is using a pest control product. However, make sure that the product is safe for use in a dog house. If you’re not sure, it’s best to avoid using that product.
Is a Wooden Dog House Better than a Plastic one?
A wooden dog house is not necessarily better than a plastic one. Both these dog houses have their own benefits and drawbacks. For example, wooden dog houses are sturdy, cheap, and afford customization in the structure of the house. This means you can make changes in the house during and after the building process. They also provide fantastic insulation. However, wooden dog houses can get pests.
On the other hand, plastic dog houses are strong, weather-resistant, and provide great insulation as well. But they’re not customizable after they’ve been built. An important aspect to consider here is that how well a plastic dog house insulated depends on how thick the structure is.
Wooden dog houses are as classic to a dog as them holding a bone. Providing your pup with one will keep them warm, cozy, and happy. Make sure you are buying the right dog house for your dog by considering the feature mentioned above.