To begin with, the following factors must be taken into consideration: the location and orientation of the kennel, the size, the ventilation and insulation, the choice of tools and appropriate materials.

 

Kennels should face southwards in order to protect them from the rain, but they should also be placed near the entrance to the house so that the dog can perform its role as a guard dog effectively.

 

When it comes to the size, it is sensible to allow for the dog�s growth if it is currently a puppy, so that the living space is not too small when the dog becomes an adult. Depending on the dog�s breed, you will need to estimate its anticipated maximum height and width in order to build a house in which it can be comfortable.

 

Nor is it necessary for it to have so much space that the heat generated by the animal on cold days is lost. It is sufficient to have somewhere where it can turn around and stretch fully, with an entrance measuring at least twice the width of the pet. This entrance may include a curtain to keep the heat inside during the winter months.

 

Ventilation and insulation are important factors for creating a suitable interior environment. Correct ventilation is achieved by drilling a few holes in one of the walls, just below the roof, although the air provided by the opening at the entrance may also be sufficient. A small porch can also be incorporated to allow better ventilation and give the dog a pleasant place to rest when the good weather arrives.

 

Where insulation is concerned, it is not necessary to line the walls and roof with the materials usually used in homes, such as expanded or extruded polystyrene, or glass or rock wool. It is highly advisable to build the kennel with materials which can withstand being outside, are kind to the environment and do not contain toxic substances which could harm the animal.

 

Traditionally, the most commonly used materials have been wood, brick and plastic, although nowadays �green� materials enable us to create original, avant-garde, cheap and above all environmentally-friendly designs.

 

In fact, at the end of 2005, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art held a dog kennel exhibition, with the winning designs from a competition in which architects and well-known designers took part. They put their imagination to the test and created some truly surprising pieces from recycled materials. Visiting the exhibition web page to obtain functional and creative ideas is highly recommended.

 

However, despite the new alternatives, wood is still the material chosen by the majority of consumers. In the event that this is chosen to build a kennel, it is important to know that the most suitable wood is resinous (pine, cedar, fir, etc.) since its smell keeps parasites away. 

 

It is not advisable to economise when buying planks of wood because the quality of the raw material is directly proportional to fundamental concepts such as stability, solidity and how long they will last for. Although the planks are already treated, it is advisable to give them a light sanding with steel wool before applying the finish (varnish, paint, lacquer or veneer). It is also sensible to apply a product to block pores in the wood, once the kennel is finished.

 

It is essential that the pet�s home has a floor so that it does not sit on the ground. This can be made from panels or strips of wood, or even from sheets or plates of other materials. On this, at the back of the house, a pillow, cushion or blanket will be placed for cold spells.

 

In order to tackle the above tasks, you just need to have the appropriate tools, in other words, two saws (circular and fret), metric tape, two hammers, a split level, a set of screwdrivers and several hinges.

 

With a combination of practicality and imagination, you can produce original and comfortable designs. The most important thing is that the animal should be comfortable, without worrying too much about whether the end result corresponds to known profiles and formats.