Dog House: The Many Options
Every dog owner wants to know how to take care of a dog. Being informed about dog care means their dogs can live a happy and comfortable life. Dogs enjoy having a small space that is their's alone, and dog owner's may want to give them a space that's outside the house but still protected from the weather. This is the main reason that people buy a dog house for their pet.
Once a decision has been made to buy a doghouse, it would be helpful for the owner to consider the size of the house in the first place. The size of the house should be optimum for the particular breed. If you are unable to decide on the correct size, it is better to be on the safer side by buying a slightly larger house than buying a smaller one. A smaller house may not be comfortable to your pet and it may ignore it altogether. However, care should be taken to select a not too big doghouse, because your dog's body temperature will not be enough to give required warmth during severe cold weather.
Once you have decided that you want to buy a doghouse next thing is to choose between permanent doghouse and its portable variant. If the dog owner has no plans of shifting his residence to some other place then permanent doghouse is a good choice. But if he has plans to move to some other place in near future then he should go for portable model. Most of the doghouses are available in modular form so you need not worry about its transportation. Consequently sale of permanent doghouses is far more than portable ones.
Where to buy the dog house? It can be purchased in the neighborhood pet shop or through online sellers. At first thought, the pet shop in your local area might appear to be preferable, but visit the shop and have a look. Check whether it stocks a wide variety of models at different price points. Here is where you can also consider online sellers, as they typically offer a wider variety. Shipping the doghouse is not a problem as they come in modular form and can be assembled easily with a screwdriver.
Before buying a doghouse you need to do some homework. Make a scale model of doghouse using cartoon materials and put your dog inside the mock-up and let it stay in it for sometime. See if your pet finds the model you have selected to be comfortable or not. If the dog moves around happily in it then it is indeed a right choice.
When the doghouse is placed outside, do not expect your pet to move in immediately. It needs time to get used to the new presence and to the idea of staying in it. You should be patient and lead the dog gradually to think of it as its place. It is helpful to put its favorite toys inside as well as placing a bone or a treat. One of your items like your hankie or old cap can be placed inside, so that your dog gets your smell from the item and feels reassured.
If you know how to take care of a dog, you know that dogs like to have their own space and be sheltered from the elements, making a dog house a perfect choice for quality dog care. The size of your dog will determine the house's size. An undersized house will be ignored by your dog, but an oversized house won't hold the dog's body heat in cold weather. Your lifestyle determines whether a permanent or portable model is right for you. Remember that your dog will need time to adjust before moving in, so it helps to place treats or other comfort objects inside.
Published July 19th, 2007
Filed in Hobby