Dog Houses - Securing Them Against the Weather

By Jennifer Akre

It has been a year of natural disasters so far, and it seems that Mother Nature may have more in store. With that in mind, you need to think about what needs to be done to prepare not only your house for any type of natural disaster, but also the things you may put in your yard, like dog houses and such.

If you have dogs that live outdoors all the time, you probably have dog houses for them to use, as a place to stay dry in the rain, stay cool in the sun, and stay warm when it's cold out. But what thought have you given to natural disasters and how those buildings would fare? Here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Flooding

This year we have seen an unusual amount of flooding. Some of it has been from hurricanes; other floods have been from odd and unexpected storms that have popped up in the middle of the country. No matter where you are, there could be a flood and once a flood warning is up, you only have a matter of time until the waters will appear.

So, what type of precautions have you taken to keep your dog houses safe during this type of emergency? Are they at ground level? If so, you need to get them off the ground. If you build the houses a few feet off the ground you know your dog will be able to stay dry if there is a lot of water in your yard.

Earthquake

If you are in earthquake country, you know the kind of shaking and rolling that can happen with a good tremor. While people often think about what will happen to their houses in an earthquake, you should also consider your dog houses. The same shaking that will be impacting your home will be impacting theirs.

Most people build houses for their pets off the ground by one to two feet so if there is rain, the dog can stay dry. While this is a good idea for rainy season how you boost the house could be a problem in an earthquake.

It is vital that whatever support structure you have is solid and the house is attached to it, otherwise, it could shift off its base and crash to the ground injuring your pets inside.

Wind

Another weather problem that could impact your dog's houses is wind. Many storms have strong gusts of winds or even strong constant wind blowing that could damage their home.

Make sure your pet house has been put together well. You want it to have solid construction so a gust of wind doesn't blow out one side of the house and injure your pet.

This is also another reason to make sure your dog houses are firmly attached to their base. Constant gusts of wind can move the house off its base, if not attached. It could fall and break apart with your pet inside.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of different niche online stores that offer customers not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating indoor and outdoor living spaces. Whether you want to redecorate your living room or create the ultimate outdoor environment perfect for entertaining, there is a lot of helpful advice to take advantage of to make it happen. Today, she shares her insight when investing in delightful dog supplies and charming cat supplies for your precious pet.