Dog Houses - There Are Options to Go With Tree Houses

By Jennifer Akre

If you have kids, chances are you have a tree house in the backyard for them to play with. But if you have a dog, where is his safe area in the yard? If you don't have a dog house yet, why not make one cohesive look in your back yard by having matching tree and dog houses.

This is a great family project that the kids will enjoy being involved in and can make for a great family weekend together.

Start by taking into account what you already have in place in the yard for your children. What colors and style are at play in the dog house? If it's a complicated design (say a pirate ship or a castle) you may not be able to make dog houses that look the same. Instead, you will need to come up with a complementary design that matches the tree house but still works in the construction of a dog house. If you have a little artistic talent, you may want to draw a few sketches first to make sure you like the plan.

Next, you need to make sure you are building the right size dog house. It doesn't have to be too large, but you do need to make sure your dog will be comfortable or he will likely not use it. The house should be tall enough for him to sit on his back legs or stand comfortably and turn around. If not, your work will likely be in vain.

Next, consider the weather where you are. Is your area prone to rain? High winds? High heat? Extreme cold? Any of these should be taken into consideration when you are building dog houses.

If it rains a lot where you are you should make sure to build the dog house high enough off the ground so it will not flood when it rains. One simple way to do this is to use a layer of concrete blocks as the foundation for your dog houses, as these will raise the house at least a foot off the ground.

If you are in an area where the temperature can go to extremes, either hot or cold, take this into account when building your dog house. You need to make sure if you're in a hot area that the house is well shaded to keep your pet from getting too hot. If you are in a cold area, make sure there are flaps over the door, to keep heat in, and a mat on the floor so your dog can stay warm while curling up.

Once you start building your dog house, there is a final detail to keep in mind. While you may want to paint the dog house to match your child's tree house, make sure you keep the paints to the outside of the house. Dogs are prone to chew on things and some of the chemicals used in paint can be damaging to their system if they were to chew on them too much.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful for both you and your dog. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous outdoor area for our pooch using lovely dog houses and cat houses. Each would be a great investment.