Dog houses are a great way to keep your pet comfortable outside when weather is inclement. While there are many store-bought options, they can be quite expensive and don’t always make the prettiest addition to your yard. Creating a dog house out of pallets is an easy, budget-friendly DIY project that you and your pets will enjoy.
Choose a sturdy wood pallet, or other sturdy material such as wood composite, and start by building the basic skeleton of your doghouse. Begin by removing the slats of one side of the pallet with a pry bar, being careful not to split or damage the wood. Once the slats have been removed, cut them to 32 inches (81 cm) length for the wall of your doghouse.
Continue to build your back and side walls with the slats from the pallet, using a level to ensure they are straight. You may need to add extra support if the slats are particularly loose or weak. Once the wall skeleton is complete, measure for and cut the front door opening to be large enough for your dog to enter.
To keep your dog cozy and warm in winter, consider adding insulation to your DIY doghouse. You can use traditional home-building insulation products like foam board or fiberglass in rolls, or a more streamlined product such as aluminum foil bubble insulation. Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation, and make sure that your dog can’t chew or ingest any insulation.