Best Indoor & Outdoor Dog Houses To Buy

Best Indoor & Outdoor Dog Houses In 2023/2024

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In this guide, we’ve aimed to list the best indoor and outdoor dog houses across different types/categories.

We’ve also provided some tips for choosing the right dog house for you.

Let’s take a look!

 

NOTE: this is a general informational and educational guide only. It is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. See a vet or qualified expert for professional advice).

(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)

 

What Are The Best Indoor and Outdoor Dog Houses To Buy?

If you want to go straight to viewing and checking out the dog houses, you can do so here:

 

Outdoor Dog Houses

– Plastic Dog Houses

 

– Wooden Dog Houses

 

– Specialty Dog Houses With Insulation & Weather In Mind

 

(Note that you should measure you dog’s dimensions, and check the inner dimensions of the dog house prior to buying to confirm there will be enough room for your dog. Some of the the above dog houses may or may not be suitable for your individual dog, depending on their size.)

 

Indoor Dog Houses 

You should be OK with most dog houses indoors as you don’t have to worry about weather, heat and the cold.

You could also look at some dog crate furniture pieces which might be suitable for what you’re looking for

 

Best Indoor & Outdoor Dog Houses – Reviews

For reviews on the dog houses above, you can follow the guides we linked to. 

For some of the dog houses, we’ve summarized the reviews below.

 

ASL Solutions DP Hunter (Small Dogs), & Dog Palace Insulated Dog Houses (Medium To Large Dogs) Reviews

ASL Solutions makes two types of insulated dog houses.

The major difference between the two is simply the size of dogs they are each made for.

 

1. The DP Hunter Insulated dog house is made for small dogs, up to Beagle, Bassett Hound, and Dachshund size.

The assembled inside dimensions are 17″H x 19″W x 25″ L. The height of the door opening is 12.5″, and the width of the door is is between 10.5″ to 12.5″.

 

DP Hunter Dog House Features:

ASL Solutions – DP Hunter Insulated Doghouse Product Features Video

 

2. The Dog Palace Insulated dog house is made for medium to large sized breeds of dogs, from Labrador through to St. Bernard size.

The assembled inside dimensions are 30.5″H x 24″W x 35.5″ L. The door dimensions are 15.5″ W X 18″ H. 

 

Dog Palace Dog House Product Features:

ASL Solutions – Dog Palace Insulated Doghouse Product Features

 

Dog Palace Dog House Assembly Example:

ASL Solutions Dog Palace Insulated Doghouse – ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

 

The features of both dog houses are very similar:

For Summer and Winter

Designed to keep your dog cool in summer and warm in winter

 

Looks Great

Dog house look nice in a backyard or front yard

 

Lifetime Warranty

Lifetime warranty against cracking and breaking (make sure you check the conditions of this warranty though depending on who you buy from)

 

Easy to Assemble

Easy to put together when you receive it

 

Made Of Premium Material

Has up to 4 inches of real recycled foam (Styro/EPS) insulation (used in construction) in each panel for optimum comfort and for a healthy temperature. Constructed from LLDPE resin that is UV-8 protected.

 

Easy To Clean

Sloped floor with a drain hole to make cleaning the inside of the dog house easy – you can hose down the inside and let it drain

 

Floor Is Insulated and Raised

Floor is insulated and raised 4″ in the Dog Palace to provide a dry and warm bedding area. Floor is raised 5.5 inches in the DP Hunter

 

Has A Proper Dog Door, Not A Flap

Easy pass-through, self-closing, well-fitted insulated door 

 

See Through Entry/Exit Door

Allows your dog to see outside the dog house while they are inside

 

Dog House Windows Are Easy To Adjust

Self-storing window panes easily reposition from winter’s closed position to summer’s open cross ventilation position without tools

 

Easy To Train Your Dog To Use

Removable bottom half door for initial training (if desired)

 

Two Colors Available

There’s a cream and brown color, and a grey color

 

With Or Without Floor Heater and Fan

You can get the dog house by itself, with a floor heater, or with a floor heater and fan

 

Built To Deal With Electrical Cords

There is a heater portal that allows electrical cords to directly exit the rear of the house, and keeps the dog from tripping over the cord

 

Experiments have been conducted specifically with the Dog Palace with and without insulation, with the results as follows:

The results of the experiment tested heat retention inside the Dog Palace using a common 100 watt light bulb (no other source of heat).

At an outside temperature of 40°, the insulated Dog Palace was 70° inside, while the Dog Palace without insulation was approximately 45° inside.

At an outside temperature of 0° degrees, the insulated Dog Palace was 30° inside while the Dog Palace without insulation was approximately 4° inside.

An average dog’s body heat will raise the temperature inside the Dog Palace 25° in the winter without the floor heater; therefore, if the outside temperature is 25°, with an average dog inside the Dog Palace the temperature was approximately 50°.

 

These results should be taken as general feedback of the performance of the dog house, and results are not typical for every dog and situation/climate.

 

Things that could be improved with these dog houses, or might be seen as potential drawbacks could be:

There are black plugs in the dog houses where we assume the insulation has been blown into the walls (although it’s possible the insulation sheeting is incorporated in the manufacture process too).

These plugs may be chewed by some dogs, although it’s unlikely as they are fairly flat against the walls.

The insulation is fantastic, but there is a chance that it may settle lower down in the walls over time, although this is just a maybe

The Dog Palace says it fits large dogs, but that depends on the shape and thickness of your dog too. Bigger, thicker dogs may have trouble fitting in the Dog Palace – but the inside dimensions are given so measuring your dog is pretty easy

As with any dog product, you want to be careful with aggressive chewers. The dog house is made of hard thermal plastic, but the most heavy chewers might find a way to get through it

The dog door swings up vertically – some dogs may be confused with this at first

 

Optional Extras With Each Dog House:

 

Petmate Barnhome 3

A barn shaped dog house that essentially snaps together in a few seconds.

It features rear air ventilation, a rain diverting rim, and raised interior floor.

The plastic is made to be rot and mold resistant, and the dog barn itself is made in the USA.

Available in 4 sizes, and the largest size fits dogs up to about 80-90 lbs.

Available in 2 colors – white and black, and red and black.

Some people complain that this dog house doesn’t snap together properly and let’s in water at the joints. Don’t expect this dog house to be water proof – consider it an inside or undercover dog house only.

 

Suncast DH350 Dog House

A very popular dog house for people on a budget.

The grey walls and floor and the blue roof are pretty easy to assemble with a snap together assembly.

It’s made of a resin construction with a crowned floor, and is designed for dogs up to 100 pounds.

The vinyl doors have letters to personalize with your pet’s name. Dimensions of the dog house are:

  • Door opening: 13-3/4 in. W x 19-1/2in. H
  • Exterior size of the house: 33 in. W x 38-1/2 in. D x 32 in. H

The drawbacks to this dog house because of it’s price is that the plastic is quite cheap and not the strongest, and it’s definitely not great at standing up to water and weather, plus it’s not insulated.

A what you pay for is what you get type budget dog house.

 

Pet Squeak Arf Frame Dog House

A wooden dog house that comes in 4 sizes X Small, through to Large.

Dimensions for the Largest size are External: 32-1/4-inch Width by 40-inch Depth by 36-inch Height,  Internal: 26-1/4-inch Width by 35-1/2-inch Depth by 29-1/2-inch Height, Door Opening: 11-3/4-inch Width by 18-inch Height.

Recommended for dogs up to about 80lbs and for dogs that like a tighter fitting house.

Features include:

Easy Assembly 

Naturally Weather-Resistant, Non Toxic wood – made of White Cedar

Lightweight and Durable

Raised Floor to keep the floor warmer in winter

Slanted roof for easy water and snow repelling

 

Two drawbacks to this house are 1) It takes about 30 minutes to an hour to put together, and 2) The cedar smell is quite strong to begin with. If your dog has a sensitive nose, perhaps go for a plastic dog house

 

Merry Extra Large Cream/White & Brown Dog House

If you want a dog house more for it’s lovely look than the thickness/strength of the materials used, this dog house could be good for you.

The features of this dog house include:

Easy to assemble with no tools other than a screwdriver

It will fit two small to medium sized dogs or one extra large sized dog

Two dog door entry/exit openings

Two plastic strip dog doors come with the openings

A removable internal partition so you can organise the inside of the dog house for one or two sleeping areas

A removable ceiling and floor – makes cleaning super easy

 

Dimension are External (overall house): 73W x 39D x 42H inches, Internal (on each side): 30W x 30D x 40H inches, and Door Opening (on each side): 18W x 24H inches.

The one drawback to this dog house is that the material is definitely not the strongest material there is – the wood is quite thin.

The dog house won’t fall apart on you, but it’s not as strong as the hardened plastic dog house like the Petmate Igloo or a solid raised wood dog house that you can get for example.

Because the material is thin – don’t expect it to insulate against the heat or cold very well.

 

Merry Extra Large Honey & Black Dog House

This is essentially the same dog house as the one above, just in different colors.

The same issues persist – the material is quite thin and won’t insulate well.

We’re not sure if the two colors of dog houses are manufactured separately, but the quality of the materials and craftsmanship when they come out of manufacturing seems to be slightly worse with this honey and black color dog house.

We would steer clear of this one and only go for the cream/white and brown option if you do decide a double dog house is for you.

View Merry Extra Large Honey & Black Dog House (on Amazon)

 

Petmate Indigo and Dogloo Dog House Reviews

First off, there is a slight difference in the Petmate Indigo and the Petmate Dogloo Dog Houses.

The Petmate Indigo is much more popular because it comes in a range of sizes – you’ll probably end up getting the Indigo if you go with Petmate over ASL Solutions.

But, in terms of specific differences, these models mostly differ in their sizing and design:

The Extra large Indigo has slightly more space and is slighty bigger (has a longer entryway) than the extra large Dogloo XT. The Extra Large Petmate  is 51.5″ X 39.3″ X 30″ in dimensions (for dogs 90-125 lbs).

The Dogloo XT also has a Giant size available, which the Indigo doesn’t.

 

View Petmate Indigo On Amazon

The features of the Petmate Indigo include:

For summer and winter climates

Snap together design dog house – saves you time and no tools required

Made of Microban material which helps fight the growth of stain and odor causing bacteria, mold and mildew

Roof vent which provides air ventilation

Contains structural foam for strength – extremely strong

Raised floors with moats along the walls so that liquid drains off to the sides

Designed to withstand some wind

Extended, offset doorway for rain resistance & wind protection

Dog houses are made in the USA

Available in 3 sizes – medium, large and extra large

Medium size –  Doorway is 13.5″ X 12.5″. Overall dimensions are 37.5 x 30.5 x 22.8 inches. It is recommended for dogs that are no more than 26 inches in length and 17 inches tall.

Large size – Doorway is 15.5″ X 14.5″. Overall dimensions are 43.8 x 34 x 25.8 inches. It is recommended for dogs that are no more than 36 inches in length and 24 inches tall.

Extra large size – Doorway is 17.3″ X 17.6″, Overall dimensions are 51.5″ X 39.3″ X 30″, and recommended for dogs no bigger than 42 inches in length and 31 inches tall.

 

View

 

Things that could be improved with these dog houses, or might be seen as potential drawbacks could be:

The igloo seems to run a bit small – extra large is probably for medium/large sized dogs. Be very diligent with measuring your dog and if you’re unsure go a size up or hold off. Be conservative when ordering – if you think size is an issue, perhaps look at getting the ASL Solutions dog house instead

Some dogs for whatever reason don’t want to sleep in a dog house – but this differs from dog to dog

 

Optional Extras With The Petmate Indigo Dog House:

 

Best Indoor & Outdoor Dog Houses – Buyer’s Guide

What size dog house to get?

Follow the manufacturer instructions for measuring your dog and picking a size of dog house.

Be sure your dog can stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably in the house. If the shelter is too big, they won’t stay warm.

If the shelter is too small, your dog will feel squished in, uncomfortable or even claustrophobic.

Take measurements both of your dog standing up, and in their laying down position, and cross check with the inside dimensions of the dog house.

 

What type of dog house should I get for my dog? Wooden vs plastic

In our opinion, the plastic used on the ASL Solutions and Petmate dog houses is the best material out there for any dog house.

They are both very solid, and will stand up to years of weather and force abuse.

Wood will shrink, warp and crack over time, and cheap plastic is very easily effected over time by the sun and easily damaged.

 

Is there a dog house that is good for both hot and cold weather?

The ASL Solutions and Petmate dog houses both seem great for summer and winter.

Read more in this guide about the best dog houses for both summer and winter

 

How do you cool a dog house down in hot weather and the summer?

Aside from the basics like making sure the dog house is in a cool spot (in the shade, or perhaps inside), some dog houses are 2 in 1 dog houses and crates with mesh side walls, which allow plenty of air and mist spray water in. 

We talk about that mesh wall dog house and 9 total ways to cool a dog house down in this guide

 

How do you warm up a dog house in winter and cold weather?

There are many many ways to do that include heated dog beds and mats, and dog house heaters and furnaces.

How well these methods work though might be up for debate.

Have a read of this comprehensive guide explaining 22 ways you can heat, warm and insulate a dog house in the winter and colder weather

There also another good resource you might light to have a quick look over – how to make and keep a dog house warm in the winter

 

How do you specifically heat up a dog house floor?

Warming up a dog house floor can be different to providing heat from the walls and ceiling.

Installing straw and a thermal blanket are a couple of ways you might do this.

Check out 9 ideas for heating a dog house floor in this guide

 

I like to save my money … how to do I heat my dog’s house for cheap?

Find out in this guide about how to heat a dog house for cheap

 

I don’t want to spend any money at all … how do I heat my dog house without electricity?

Read more about 11 options to heat your dog’s house without electricity

These options may or may not work for your dog – remember their comfort and well being is a first priority

 

What safety hazards might I be on the look out for when heating my dog house?

It’s extremely important for your dog’s safety, and anyone that lives int he house that you protect yourselves from things like electrical fires and electrocution.

Read some important information here on how to heat your dog’s house safely 

Always seek a professional’s opinion though

 

How do you insulate a dog house?

It’s going to be different depending on whether the dog house is made of wood or plastic.

Check out the different guides here:

How to insulate a dog house for winter

How to insulate a plastic dog house

 

Bedding For A Dog House

Picking bedding for a dog house might be split into three areas:

– General tips for picking a dog bed for a dog house

– Picking dog bedding for colder winter months 

– Picking dog bedding for hotter summer months

 

General Tips For Bedding

Some considerations when picking a dog bed for a dog house are:

– You want to look at the size and shape of the dog house you have or that you are wanting to get

– The dog bed you pick should be a compatible shape for the dog house

– The dog bed width and length should fit inside the dog house

– The thickness of the dog bed matters – it shouldn’t be so thick that it inhibits your dog getting in and out of the dog house, or that it leaves little room between the bed and the dog house ceiling

– In general, you always want to have a dog bed with some form of cushioning or protection from the hard dog house floor in the dog house for your dog.

– You may also want to look at the size of the dog house opening to make sure you can get any bedding through the dog house door/opening

 

Options other than dog beds that some people choose to put in a dog house might include:

– Thick blankets/rugs in the winter

The advantage with a blankets or rugs sometimes is that they are more flexible to fit through a dog house door opening

 

– Some type of breathable fabric on a dog bed frame in the summer.

In the summer, you may even not use a dog house altogether, and simply have a breathable fabric dog bed for your dog set up in a cool, shady, comfortable spot where your dog has access to drinking water

 

Bedding For Winter & Cold Weather

First off, check out this guide about how to warm, heat or insulate a dog house for winter and cold weather.

The bedding you put in your dog’s dog house is only one of the factors that impacts how hot or cold the inside of a dog house might be (other factors like where the dog house is set up inside or outside for example can play a big part).

In cold weather, a heavily insulated dog house can help, and also having the dog house out of the rain/snow, and wind, can also help.

Specifically when talking about the dog house floor and bedding for cold weather, you may pay attention to the following:

 

– Raise the dog house floor off the ground

From surfaces like cold concrete, wet grass, or snow and ice.

You can buy a dog house that is already raised, or prop a wooden palette under your dog house

 

– Better insulate the floor of the dog house with straw

Straw doesn’t wet or freeze, making it a good insulator.

Apply an even layer a few inches thick.

Make sure it doesn’t have seeds (usually found in hay) or parasites on it so your dog’s hair and skin doesn’t get irritated

 

– Place a blanket or blankets over the straw

To keep the straw from going everywhere and as an extra layer of insulation.

Utopia Bedding Thermal polar fleece blankets (on Amazon) are soft, comfortable and warm, and can be great at keeping the cold out

You may choose to put several blanket on the floor to further insulate the bottom of the dog house.

 

– Put down a dog bed or a dog mattress on the blanket

We’ve already discussed dog beds in general above in this guide.

Additionally, you can give your dog another blanket on top of the dog bed or mattress for extra warmth.

 

– Consider an electric heated dog mat or electric heated dog bed 

You can get heated dog mats and dog beds for your dog to lay on instead of a dog bed or dog mattress.

Two popular options are the 

 

Bedding For Summer & Hot Weather

Again, take a read of this guide on how to cool down a dog in a dog house.

And again, what you will see is that the bedding you put in your dog’s dog house is only one of the factors that impacts how hot or cold the inside of a dog house might be (other factors like where the dog house is set up inside or outside for example can play a big part)

In summer for example, having a dog bed in the shade, and in a location where the air and surface temperature is cool is important.

It’s also important a dog has access to clean drinking water.

Specifically when talking about the dog house floor and bedding for hot weather, you may pay attention to the following:

 

– Consider a self cooling dog pad/mat

These mats are thin mats with self cooling gel in them.

Your dog will probably feel them more than a thicker self cooling bed. A popular self cooling dog mat is the Arf Pets Self Cooling Mat & Gel Pad (on Amazon).

 

– Consider a self cooling dog bed

More support and thickness than a pad/mat.

Better for a dog’s joints and bones.

Have a gel infused inner foam.

A popular gel infused memory foam dog bed is the Dogbed4less Orthopedic Gel Infused Cooling Memory Foam Mattress Bed (on Amazon).

A good option might be to put a thinner self cooling mat on top of a thicker more supportive self cooling dog bed, and use a fan to blow cooler air onto your dog.

 

Igloo Dog Houses

The Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House above is an igloo shaped dog house.

 

What To Know About Double Dog Houses, & Duplex Dog Houses

A double dog house adds something to the character of a normal plain dog house.

These dog houses are the ones with the double entry doors, and are usually twice the size of a normal dog house.

The best double dog house options on the moment are good without being great – they do have their limitations.

To be honest, we are more fans of the standard dog houses.

Even if you get two standard single dog dog houses separately for your two dogs, you’ll probably end up paying the same price.

Having said that – some people prefer the look of the double dog houses which is understandable.

If you do get one, just understand that’s probably about the only thing that is of decent quality about them – how they look in a backyard.

The strength, durability, waterproofing (lack of), insulation (lack of) and design/how they go together are all average to poor quality.

 

What Do You Need To Know About The Dog Kennels On Market At The Moment?

The most important thing you need to know about dog kennels on the market at the moment is that they vary in quality and what they deliver – significantly!

Many commercial dog houses are not suitable to be exposed to rain, wind and sun.

There are also issues with their durability.

The main reasons for this is that many of these kennels are made of questionable quality materials (flimsy and weak), don’t provide a sturdy construction when put together, and contain little insulation (either from the materials or internally in the form of linings).

 

How To Choose The Right Dog House, & What Kind To Buy

Consider practical tips for picking a dog house:

Check what the product actually is – standard dog house, or 2 in 1 pet home and portable pet crate?

Check what the dog house is designed for – indoor or outdoor use? Outdoor undercover, or outdoor in direct exposure?

It is pre constructed, or easy to put together

Check the dog house is for direct exposure to weather, or undercover outdoors only

Will the dog house be good for both hot and cold weather?

What shape is the dog house – traditional box shaped, or igloo?

Check the material it is made of – plastic, wood or other material?

Check the sizes of the dog house available – inner and outer dimensions 

Check the size of the entry/exit door to the dog house 

Check it has enough space inside for your dog to lay down, stand up and enter and exit easily

Check how the dog house is assembled together, and whether the design will be weatherproof e.g. check the house is sealed from rain and doesn’t let wind through, but does ventilate

Check how simple the dog house is to put together – some take longer than others

Check how strong or flimsy the dog house might be when constructed/put together. Material should be durable, and not buckle/bow from wind or any force or general wear and tear

Check if there is insulation or not from cold and warmth (in the roof, walls and floor)

Check the shape of the floor and it’s size to make sure you can fit your dog’s bed or mattress on it 

Check the dog house has ventilation holes 

Check there is some type of warranty for the dog house  – check the length and conditions of the warranty

Check there are accessories available for the dog house

Check there is an electrical cord port to run things like heated beds, fans and heaters inside the dog house

Check that the dog house has any outdoor ratings for UV resistance for example

Check the dog house floor is raised off the ground for winter

Check the dog house floor is sloped to allow water to run away

 

Also consider the different types/categories of dog houses:

Cheap, or Higher Priced Dog House

Indoor, or Outdoor

Wood, Plastic or Another Material

Traditional Box Shaped, Or Igloo

Insulated, or Un-Insulated

How Weather, or Cold Weather 

Small, medium, large and XL sized dog houses

 

18 Tips For Choosing A Dog House

1. Check what the product is – dog house, or 2 in 1 dog house and pet crate?

First things first, give the product description a quick read. What does it say the product actually is?

Some products are straight dog houses, but some can be a 2 in 1 pet home AND portable pet crate.

These 2 in 1 pet houses can be better value for you if you aren’t using the dpg house in direct exposure to the elements and you only place it outside undercover in mild temperatures.

An example of a 2 in 1 dog home and portable dog crate is the Elitefield 3 Door Folding Soft Dog Crate (on Amazon).

This pet home and lightweight soft portable crate can provide a tonne of value if you’re looking for a crate, and a dog home that can be used inside or outside under cover out of the weather.

One of the good things about the Elitefield is that it has mesh walls – providing for a heap of ventilation in the summer or hotter months.

 

2. Check what the dog house is designed for – indoor or outdoor?

Secondly, check whether the dog house is an outdoor or indoor dog house.

It should tell you in the product description. Some might be an indoor AND outdoor dog house.

 

Pretty easy and simple to check.

Examples of indoor dog houses are pet furniture crates, pet homes and pet tents.

 

3. Check the dog house is for direct exposure to weather, or undercover outdoors only

Further to the previous tip, something to be aware of is if the dog house is stated as an outdoor dog house, check whether it’s for outdoor undercover only, or if you can use it in direct exposure to the weather.

Even if the dog house can be used in the sun for example, it might not have a waterproof design if it starts raining.

The best outdoor dog houses for direct exposure might be the Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon), ASL Solutions DP Hunter Dog House For Small Dogs (on Amazon) and ASL Solution Dog Palace Dog House For Medium and Large Dogs (on Amazon).

Both dog houses are tough and have weatherproof type designs.

The ASL Solutions dog house has insulation in the walls, ceiling and floor, and has resin coated UV rated material it’s made of.

Cheap plastic dog houses are usually not suited to direct weather exposure.

 

4. Will the dog house be good for both hot and cold weather?

For hot weather, a well ventilated dog house is key.

Look for either ventilation holes/vents, or insulation to keep the heat out. Some dog houses like the Elitefield 3 Door Folding Soft Dog Crate (on Amazon) have full mesh walls to allow plenty of ventilation, while other dog houses have smaller slots that are easier to close up in winter.

Insulation is also effective in keeping the cold weather out in the winter. 

The ASL Solutions DP Hunter Dog House For Small Dogs (on Amazon) and ASL Solution Dog Palace Dog House For Medium and Large Dogs (on Amazon) both have insulation and vents that you can plug up in the winter. 

The ASL dog houses also have an electrical inlet/outlet port that you can run electrical cords through for dog bed heaters, pads and dog house furnaces.

As far as insulation goes, the ASL dog houses have 4 inches of insulation.

Experiments have been conducted specifically with the Dog Palace with and without insulation, with the results as follows:

  • The results of the experiment tested heat retention inside the Dog Palace using a common 100 watt light bulb (no other source of heat). At an outside temperature of 40°, the insulated Dog Palace was 70° inside, while the Dog Palace without insulation was approximately 45° inside. At an outside temperature of 0° degrees, the insulated Dog Palace was 30° inside while the Dog Palace without insulation was approximately 4° inside. An average dog’s body heat will raise the temperature inside the Dog Palace 25° in the winter without the floor heater; therefore, if the outside temperature is 25°, with an average dog inside the Dog Palace the temperature was approximately 50°.

These results should be taken as general feedback of the performance of the dog house, and results are not typical for every dog and situation/climate.

 

If you want to read more about hot weather and cold weather dog houses, these are helpful guides:

 

5. What shape is the dog house – traditional box shaped, or igloo?

The shape of the dog house doesn’t matter too much as long as the dog house has the features to do what you want it to do.

The main differences are:

An igloo dog house has a round dog house floor

An igloo dog house has an extended entry/exit way to protect against weather and cold/heat

 

The Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon) is an example of a great igloo dog house for outdoors.

 

6. Check what the material it is made of – plastic, wood or other material?

Next, you want to consider what material the dog house is made of to get an idea of how strong and durable the dog house will be.

In general:

The hardened plastic dog houses are the strongest and most durable dog houses, and they are made of the best premium materials like special resins that are UV protected. Examples include the Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon), ASL Solutions DP Hunter Dog House (on Amazon) and ASL Solution Dog Palace Dog House (on Amazon)

A step down from that in strength and durability, you have the outdoor wooden dog houses which are still pretty durable. An example is the Pet Squeak Arf Frame Dog House (on Amazon)

The next step down is the cheap plastic dog houses like the Sunhouse DH350 Dog House (on Amazon)

And then you have the indoor dog houses which are more built for and indoor environment and their looks like the Casual Home Wood Crate House (on Amazon), Merry Products Wood Pet Home (on Amazon), and Best Pet Supplies Pet Tent (on Amazon)

 

Hard plastic is not going to bend, crack or warp like outdoor treated wood will over time.

Cheap plastic is going to be weaker than the more premium plastics.

Indoor wood houses are made of softer woods that aren’t treated for outdoors.

 

7. Check the sizes of the dog house available – inner and outer dimensions

Checking the inner dimensions of the dog house is pretty important.

If you can’t find the inner dimensions, find the outer dimensions and take 2 to 3 inches of each measurement and that should give you a rough idea of the inner dimensions.

You want to make sure the dog house has enough space inside for your dog to lay down and stand up comfortably.

Most dog houses tell you what sized dogs they are for i.e. either weight, or the size in small, medium and large.

It can be harder to find dog houses for large dogs – the Petmate Indigo Igloo and ASL Solutions dog houses have larger sizes available.

The Sunhouse can fit dogs up to around 90lbs too.

 

8. Check the size of the entry/exit door to the dog house

Pretty simple – check the dog house entry/exit opening is big enough for your dog to fit through.

Measure your dog’s height to their shoulders and also their rib cage width to find the dimensions your dog needs

 

9. Check how the dog house is assembled together, and whether the design will be weatherproof

The way that some dog houses go together or snap together are is better for weatherproofing.

The Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon) is one of the best with it’s design.

The ASL Solutions DP Hunter Dog House (on Amazon) and ASL Solution Dog Palace Dog House (on Amazon) both have a few pieces that you must put together, but also have a great design.

Two dog houses that seem to have poor designs for weatherproofing and keeping water out however are the Petmate Barnhome 3 (on Amazon) which let’s water in at the side joints, and the Sunhouse DH350 Dog House (on Amazon) which similarly lets water in through the top and side of the dog house.

 

10. Check how simple the dog house is to put together 

Are you prepared to spend time putting a dog house together, or do you want it to be quick to assemble?

Two examples of dog houses at the opposite end of the spectrum are the Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon) which goes together almost instantly, and the Pet Squeak Arf Frame Dog House (on Amazon) which can take almost an hour to put together and has more parts to put together.

 

11. Check if there is insulation or not 

Most dog houses don’t have insulation. The ASL Solutions dog houses on the other hand do.

They have up to 4 inches of real recycled foam (Styro/EPS) insulation (used in construction) in each panel in the walls, ceiling and floor for comfort and for a healthy temperature. 

There is some level of insulation from cold and warmth with these dog houses.

 

12. Check the shape of the floor and it’s size to make sure you can fit your dog’s bed or mattress on it

Check the dimensions and shape of the dog house before you buy if you already have an existing dog bed or mattress you want to use in the dog house.

Most beds and matresses are pretty flexible, so you should be fine unless it’s a case of the bed being too big or not being able to fit through the dog house opening.

 

13. Check the dog house has ventilation holes

Ventilation holes are needed for summer and hot weather, but also just to get some fresh air into the dog house.

The Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon) has small ventilation holes in the top of the dog house.

The ASL Solutions DP Hunter Dog House (on Amazon) and ASL Solution Dog Palace Dog House (on Amazon) both have ventilation holes you can plug and unplug when going between summer and winter.

The Elitefield 3 Door Folding Soft Dog Crate (on Amazon) has full mesh walls to allow plenty of ventilation.

Those are three types of different ventilation available in the different dog houses.

 

14. Check there is some type of warranty for the dog house

A warranty is always important, especially if you are spending good money.

Check what the warranty covers the dog house for, how long it lasts, and the conditions of the dog house – is it still valid through a third party seller?

 

15. Check there are accessories available for the dog house

What accessories are available? Can you buy dog house heaters, dog house pads, or dog beds fitted to the size of the dog house?

Check before buying.

 

16. Check there is an electrical cord port to run things like heated beds, fans and heaters inside the dog house

The ASL Solutions dog houses have a little outlet/inlet hole in the back of the dog house to allow you to run and electrical device through it.

This is handy for dog house heated bed, mats and other electrical devices like dog house hater furnaces.

 

17. The floor is raised off the ground for winter

A dog house floor in contact with the ground can get cold quickly.

Whether it’s wet grass or a poor insulator like concrete, it help if the floor of the dog house is raised.

An obvious example of a dog house with a raised floor is the Pet Squeak Arf Frame Dog House (on Amazon).

 

18. The floor is sloped to allow water to run away

A sloped internal floor allows any water that does get inside to drain away from the main part of the floor.

Both the Petmate Indigo Igloo and the ASL Solutions dog houses have this feature.

 

What Kind Of Dog House Should You Buy? – 7 Types Of Dog Houses

1. Cheap, or Higher Priced Dog House?

One of the main things that people consider is the price.

When it comes to dog houses, the main difference between the cheap dog houses and the more expensive ones are:

Cheap dog houses usually come with no insulation

Cheap dog houses are usually made of cheaper less durable material – usually a weaker plastic

The actual construction of cheap dog houses is weaker when you put the dog house together

Cheap dog houses usually come with no extra features like an electrical cord inlet/outlet hole

Cheap dog houses usually have a construction which is not weather resistant – let’s water in very easily

 

Having said that, if the dog house is going to be under cover, and the area you live in isn’t overly hot or cold, the a cheap dog house might work out OK for your situation where strength, weather resistance, insulation from the hot and cold and extra features aren’t as much of an issue.

 

Example:

The Sunhouse is what is considered one of the cheaper dog houses on the dog house market.

When comparing it to the Petmate and ASL Solutions dog houses, the plastic is weaker, the construction is weaker, the design is not as water or weatherproof, and there’s no insulation or ventilation apart from the dog house door.

Unlike the ASL Solutions dog houses, it also doesn’t have an electrical cord input/output hole in the back of the dog house for things like heated dog pads or dog house furnaces in the winter.

 

2. Indoor or Outdoor Dog House?

A pretty simple question – do you intend to put the dog house outside or inside?

The main difference between outdoor and indoor dog houses are

what they look like – indoor dog houses usually look nicer to go with inside decor

what they are made of – indoor dog houses are usually made of fine or soft materials like fine wood, neoprene, or poly fabric 

how they are constructed for strength – outdoor dog houses are constructed for more strength with harder plastic and hard woods

and how they are designed for being weather proof – outdoor dog houses are usually designed to keep out water and wind. NOTE: not all outdoor dog houses are designed to be exposed – some are outdoor dog houses but can only be put undercover (under a patio for example)

 

You can also get a hybrid dog house/crate that can be placed indoors OR outdoors undercover.

 

Example:

 

The first thing you can say about the Casual Home Wood Crate House, Merry Products Wood Pet Home, and the Best Pet Supplies Pet Tent is that they all look lovely.

The Casual Home and Merry Products dog homes are both crafted wood products that have that classy touch to fit in with other furniture and decor. The Pet Tent would look really cute sitting in your lounge room.

They are built for looks over outdoor durability and weatherproofing is the main point we are making.

The Petmate Indigo and ASL Solutions dog houses, as mentioned above, are built for keeping the weather out, and to last a number of years with their strength and good design. They can be used under cover or exposed to the weather.

The Elitefield Dog Crate is a portable dog crate and pet home making it very versatile. It’s an undercover outdoor pet home, but can also be bought inside. The walls are mesh – making it good for ventilation in the summer.

Something to note when buying a dog house – make sure you read the product description and check it is rated for outdoor use in direct exposure to the weather, as opposed to just a general outdoor dog house they may or may not be able to be used in direct exposure.

 

3. Wood, Plastic or Other Material?

When you are considering material, you’re really considering the strength and durability of the dog house.

As a general rule:

The hardened plastic dog houses are the strongest and most durable dog houses, and they are made of the best materials like special resins that are UV protected.

A step down from that in strength and durability, you have the outdoor wooden dog houses

The next step down is the cheap plastic dog houses

And then you have the indoor dog houses which are more built for their looks

 

Example:

The Petmate and ASL Solutions dog houses are extremely sturdy (if you touch the Petmate Igloo – it feels like a rock), and very weatherpoof.

The Pet Squeak Arf Frame Dog House is very strong too, but the wood is not as durable over time (due to shrinking and cracking) as the hardened plastic.

The Sunhouse plastic won’t crack like wood, but the plastic itself is not as strong.

The Casual Home, Merry Weather and Best Pet Supplies dog houses are all designed for inside use and to look good against home decor, not to be ultra strong and weather proof. Although the two wooden dog home are quite strong as they are made of wood.

 

4. Traditional Box Shaped, or Igloo?

Whether you get traditional box shaped or an igloo doesn’t matter a whole lot.

The main difference is:

An igloo dog house has a round dog house floor

An igloo dog house has an extended entry/exit way to protect against weather and cold/heat

 

Example:

The two dog houses are made by different companies, and have slightly different designs.

Pick the one with the best features for you.

 

5. Insulated of Un-Insulated?

Insulation can play quite a large role in a dog house if you live in hot climates or cold climates, as opposed to somewhere where the weather is more in between and mild.

The obvious differences between insulated and uninsulated are:

Insulated has insulation in the walls, ceiling and floor of the dog house

Insulated does a better job of keeping the cold out

Insulated does a better job of keeping the heat out

Insulated does a better job of making the inside environment comfortable

 

Example:

The Sunhouse is an outside dog house that has no insulation. What you see is what you get – the plastic the dog house is made of is what stands between your dog and the outside elements.

The ASL Solutions dog houses on the other hand has up to 4 inches of real recycled foam (Styro/EPS) insulation (used in construction) in each panel in the walls, ceiling and floor for comfort and for a healthy temperature. 

Experiments have been conducted specifically with the Dog Palace with and without insulation, with the results as follows:

The results of the experiment tested heat retention inside the Dog Palace using a common 100 watt light bulb (no other source of heat).

At an outside temperature of 40°, the insulated Dog Palace was 70° inside, while the Dog Palace without insulation was approximately 45° inside.

At an outside temperature of 0° degrees, the insulated Dog Palace was 30° inside while the Dog Palace without insulation was approximately 4° inside. An average dog’s body heat will raise the temperature inside the Dog Palace 25° in the winter without the floor heater; therefore, if the outside temperature is 25°, with an average dog inside the Dog Palace the temperature was approximately 50°.

 

These results should be taken as general feedback of the performance of the dog house, and results are not typical for every dog and situation/climate.

 

6. Hot Weather, or Cold Weather Dog House?

We actually wrote guides on the:

Best Insulated Dog House For Cold Weather and Winter

Best Dog Houses For Hot Weather and Summer

Best Dog House For Both Cold and Hot Weather

 

You certainly want to look for a dog house with insulation to keep both heat and the cold out.

For summer, you want a dog house with ventilation holes/vents.

And, an electrical cord outlet/inlet hole helps in winter for heated dog beds, mats and dog house furnaces.

You may also be interested in reading these guides on heating and cooling:

 

7. Small, Medium or Large?

A pretty simple one – get a dog house based on your dog’s size.

Unfortunately for people with extra large and giant sized dogs, your options are more limited.

Consider two things when it comes to sizing:

The size of the inside of the dog house (so your dog can stand up and lay down comfortably)

The size of the dog door/opening for your dog to fit through

 

Both the Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House (on Amazon), and the ASL Solutions DP Hunter Dog House (on Amazon) and ASL Solution Dog Palace Dog House (on Amazon), have a range of different sized dog houses for small through to larger dogs.

As a cheaper option, the Sunhouse DH350 Dog House (on Amazon) can fit dogs up to about 90lbs.

 

Best Insulated Dog House For Cold Weather And Winter

We’ve already put together a guide about the different ways to heat a dog house.

But, some dog houses might be insulated for colder weather, with specially designed polystyrene material and it’s own foam insulation.

Some of these dog houses even come with a floor heater (or a fan for the hotter summer weather).

 

You can check out some of these dog houses here:

ASL Solutions Insulated Dog Houses (Box Type Dog Houses)

 

Petmate Dog Houses (Igloo Type Dog Houses)

 

Other Dog Houses

Other than the dog houses listed above, some dog owners may find the following popular dog houses suitable, depending on whether they are able to make sure the dog house is placed in a location where the dog’s warmth is adequate enough:

– Plastic Dog Houses

 

– Wooden Dog Houses

 

Some helpful tips and information to consider when buying an insulated dog house are:

For any insulated dog house, check whether the dog house is designed to keep your dog cool in the summer, as well as warm in the winter i.e. it’s both a summer and winter dog house

Check that the warranty for the dog house is still valid or whether it has any conditions when buying through third party sellers

Measure the height and length of your dog, plus the dimensions of your dog when laying down, to make sure the dog house door and space inside the dog house is adequate

You can buy heaters and fans for the ASL Solutions Dog houses separately, or included in different dog house packages

Take into consideration the shape of the dog house you want – traditional box shape, or igloo shape

Take into consideration if you will want to run heaters or fans into or out of the dog house in the future – if you do, it’s best the dog house comes with an in built cord port

 

Many of the same things apply to cold weather dog houses as for warm weather. Good features include:

Insulation in the floors, walls and ceiling to keep the cold out

Ability to install a heater

Ability to put in a floor heater

A cord port to run electrical devices in and out

Ability to close up any vents

A raised floor that is up off any cold ground

A dog door to keep out the cold

 

Best Dog House For Hot Weather, Summer & Warm Climates

We’ve already put together a guide about the best ways to cool a dog house.

But, some dog houses might have insulation, ventilation and cooling (from a fan) in order to be perform better in hot weather

 

In case you want to view the dog houses right away, you can check out the top options here:

For Small Dogs

 

For Medium To Large Dogs 

 

For Extra Large Dogs

 

Another option is this igloo dog house:

 

A Portable Ventilated Crate For Hot Weather is also an option:

 

Other than the dog houses listed above, some dog owners may find the following popular dog houses suitable, depending on whether they are able to make sure the dog house is placed in a location where the dog’s cooling is adequate enough:

– Plastic Dog Houses

 

– Wooden Dog Houses

 

ASL Solutions DP Hunter Insulated Dog House

What Makes It A Good Dog House For Hot Weather?

It has 4 inches of insulation in the walls, ceiling and floor to keep heat out and temperatures cool inside

There are removable window sections in the front and back of the dog house – you put the sections in for winter to keep out the cold, and take them out for summer to allow air flow and ventilation

There is an electrical cord outlet in the back of the dog house to allow you to run a cooling device like a fan in the dog house

You can run your own mini or portable fan in this dog house, or ASL offers a solar cooling fan (although in our opinion you are better off running your own fan)

There is enough room of the dog house floor to place a cooling mat

The sturdy plastic construction can stand up to the weather elements in the open or undercover

 

NOTE: the DP Hunter has an optional extra which is a small solar powered exhaust fan (on Amazon) – but there are questions over it’s effectiveness.

 

ASL Solutions Dog Palace Insulated Dog House

What Makes It A Good Dog House For Hot Weather?

All of the above benefits that we listed for the DP Hunter apply to the Dog Palace dog house too

 

NOTE: the Dog Palace has an optional extra which is a large solar powered exhaust fan (on Amazon) – but there are questions over it’s effectiveness.

 

Petmate Indigo Igloo Dog House

What Makes It A Good Dog House For Hot Weather?

Contains an out structural foam casing that is extremely strong and helps keep the heat out

Has a roof vent to allow air in for ventilation

Enough room in the dog house to place a cooling dog mat

 

Elitefield 3 Door Folding Portable Outdoor/Indoor Pet Home

This is a crate and pet home 2 in 1 type dog house. It’s not as hard wearing as the other dog houses that have a sturdier construction, but it’s more lightweight and portable – you can fold it up and down.

The Elitefield Pet Home comes in 5 sizes for small through to large dogs:

20″L x 14″W x 14″H

24″L x 18″W x 21″H

30″L x 21″W x 24″H

36″L x 24″W x 28″H

42″L x 28″W x 32″H

 

What Makes It A Good Dog House For Hot Weather?

The crate is made of a durable fabric plus a hex mesh fabric that is fantastic for ventilation

Specifically, there are three mesh doors (on the top, front, and side) for breathability

Because of the mesh doors, you can set up a fan outside the dog house to blow into the dog house – the fan doesn’t have to be inside the dog house to blow on your dog to keep them cool

You can easily put a dog bed and cooling pad in this pet home on the floor for comfort

 

View

 

As a summary, from looking at the above dog houses, these are features you might look for in a dog house to be a good hot weather and summer dog house:

There is insulation in the dog house floor, walls and ceiling to keep the heat out

There are ventilation holes to allow cooling or air to breeze through the dog house

There is enough room on the floor to allow for a cooling dog mad or gel pad

The walls are mesh to allow a fan to be set up outside the dog house

The dog house is built to be a good hot weather dog house, but it is also made of a sturdy long term construction

If the dog house is built of opaque strong material, it has an electrical cord port to allow you to run an electrical cooling device inside the house

The dog house serves as both a hot weather and summer dog house, as well as a winter and cold weather dog house – better value

 

Other Resources On Dog Houses

Other resources relevant to this guide that you might like to read are:

22 Ways To Heat Warm Or Insulate A Dog House In Cold Weather, & The Winter

How To Cool A Dog House Down In Summer & Hot Weather

This guide discusses in further detail what the best bed and bedding for a dog house might be.

 

 

 

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