DIY Double Door Dog House

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My husband, Stacy designed and built this Double Door Dog House for our sweet fur babies.

Sometimes you just need something that you may have to build yourself like this double door dog house. We are firm believers in having two pets so they will each have a companion. They enjoy spending time together so why not provide them with a shelter they can share.

OUR DOGS

We are proud parents to 2 mixed breed dogs, both live outside and 2 indoor  tabby cats. We lost our sweet Phoebe Lee our beagle basset mix to Canine Cancer. I wrote about that experience here.  She had a very nice dog house with a porch that my husband built many years ago. Unfortunately our 2 boy dogs just refused to get in it together and snuggle. Hence, a brand new double dog house custom built just for them.

THE PLANS FOR THE DOUBLE DOOR DOG HOUSE

These are not detailed plans. They don’t include the base or the roof. He used the base from the old dog house which is approximately 38″x 96″. The plans for the roof are not included either but I will give some details later.

Supplies:

• 5 pieces plywood 4 x 8 x 1/2
• 12 pieces 2 x 4 x 8
• 1 Roll Roofing Felt like this
• 2 Packages Asphalt Shingles
• 4 angled rafter hangers
• 4 adjustable angle brackets
• 1 1/4″ screws
• 2″ nails
• Roofing tacks
• 2 Heat lamps with clamps

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

The base is resting on concrete blocks and was leveled prior to adding the walls. Notice that tiny little shrub. That is one of two little baby hydrangea’s I planted back in the spring. I was assured that my hydrangeas were a No. 1 priority during the building of the new dog house. Those will be transplanted to a new location in the spring.

This location was selected due to the proximity to an exterior outlet perfect for plugging in the heat lamps. It is also located right next to the front porch facing the front of our yard so the dogs can still see the world go by.

WHEN TO INSTALL THE HEAT LAMPS

Prior to adding the front of the dog house, go ahead and install the heat lamps. We used clamp lights like these. They clamp right onto the ridge beam easily. Install screws as shown for securing the cords safely out of the way.

The front is actually in three pieces. You can see the seams in the peak of the entry door. The front wall was screwed into place rather than nailing in the event that removal was ever necessary for any reason.

This double door dog house was built in the location where it will stay. It is solid wood and very heavy but a nice place for our fur babies to get out of the weather and stay warm in the winter.

UPDATE

We bought a new home and moved in the summer of 2017 and this dog house came with us. The fact that the roof came off separate was a nice thing for the move.

You can see there is a small divider between the 2 sides. Our boy dogs don’t snuggle with one another. The divider is removable and also optional. If you are building a double dog house like this one, you do not have to add a divider. We wanted each dog to consider ‘his side’ to be his space.

Our old single door dog house was a source of competition between the two boys to see who was going inside and who would be sleeping on the porch. Now they both can go inside.

THE ROOF

Time for the roof. The back of the roof is all one piece of plywood. The front however is two pieces of plywood which allows for a 9″ over hang. 

The purpose of the over hang is to keep the fellas dry when it rains. They seem to enjoy lying down and watching it rain.

Their dog beds are similar to this one which is suitable for indoor or outdoor use and very durable.  Rolled roofing goes on before the shingles.

Take a look at these Dog Houses all pre-made. Some are really fun and even two stories for smaller dogs but none are double door for larger dogs.

All done! I’m happy to report that both dogs went right on into their new house and curled up in their beds. 

Now their new home needs some paint!

You may like to add these door coverings in the winter to help keep the cold out.

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Orbit. He keeps his tennis ball close by at all times. You never know when a game of fetch might break out. We got Orbit out of a box at a shopping center almost 10 years ago now. Just a puppy when he came to live with us,  He is literally the perfect dog. Orbit is a mixed breed which is the very best kind of dog if you ask me.

Six Toe, a mixed breed, is about 12 years old according to the Vet. He suffers from a bacterial skin infection which has cost him a large portion of his hair. Med’s help, but the hair will never grow back. His name is Six Toe because he actually has 6 toes! He was a stray which took up at our house a few years ago very frail and hungry. He is a sweet boy whose favorite part of the day is meal time. His appetite is tremendous, especially for his age. After getting a bath, he goes and rolls around in the dirt for a good 15 minutes while we watch and laugh. He turns himself in circles rolling around in the dirt! 

UPDATE 10/10/19

Sixtoe went to live in doggie Heaven in late 2017. He lived a very long and happy life. Orbit missed him terribly.

June of 2019 Orbit left us for doggie Heaven. He lived almost 18 people years and we have missed him terribly. August of 2019 we adopted two puppies to fill the void in our hearts. I look forward to sharing them with you soon.