Features A Husky Needs In A Dog House

So, your husky needs a dog house. Here is a list of things you should be thinking about before buying or building your husky a dog house.

1. A Flat Roof. Huskies like to climb on top their house and sleep. It allows them a place to get off the ground. Sometimes the ground is wet or muddy. It also allows them a nice place to bask in the sun.

2. The Right Size For The Dog. Allow enough room that your husky can stand and turn around, but small enough that their body heat will keep it warm in winter. If you live in a warmer climate, you can make the house larger so they have more air circulation.

3. The Right Size Entrance. The entrance size is important because the larger the hole, the more body heat can escape. On the other hand, make sure your husky does not have to squeeze through a tiny opening causing extra stress on their back.

4. Legs. Your dog house needs legs so air can circulate underneath the house. This keeps it warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Don't forget this important feature.

5. Bedding. Clean straw in winter. Clean straw is the kind of straw that does NOT have any seeds, or stickers, and is not dusty. Make sure you look at the straw meticulously (pull some of it apart) before you buy it. Stickers can become embedded in your huskys coat causing all kinds of problems. Some dogs are allergic to straw, so if you put straw in their house and they suddenly don't use it, take it out. It might be the straw (more on dog bedding below).

6. Use Indoor House Paint Only. Because your husky will be in constant contact with his dog house and can also chew on it, only use indoor latex house paint. Do not use outdoor paints, stains, varnishes, or poly coatings. Anything else can be toxic to your dog.

7. Let Your Husky Be A Dog In His House. Keep it Simple. Don't spend hours crafting a small mansion. This is your dogs house. A place where he can be a husky. Of course if you don't mind repairing and replacing a well labored craft, be my guest.

8. Your Husky Doesn't Need A Door. Doors trap moisture. When your husky breathes he releases moisture (that's why you can see your breath in cold weather), and that moisture creates a COLD damp and uncomfortable dog house. How? It gets trapped inside the dog house when you covere the entrance with something. That moisture will also be absorbed by the bedding in the house making the bedding wet.

8. No Electric Anything. No matter how careful you are, a bored husky will find the electric cable. No heating pads either. Heating pads can overheat starting a fire. Straw is an amazing insulator! If you don't believe me, grab a section and sit on it in the snow for awhile.

9. Some Huskies Will Not Use A Dog House. Don't force them. If you are sure the bedding is good and the size is right, they might not like being in a house. I know of a husky who only goes into her dog house when it is sixty below zero. Her owners put fresh straw bedding on the ground for her every few days. They offer her two different sized dog houses (each with plenty of fresh bedding), and she chooses to sleep in the straw on the snow.

10. Plastic Houses. Plastic dog houses do not breathe and can hold moisture. Moisture is the death of a comfortable dog house. Of course if you live in a very damp area where a wood house will deteriorate or attract bugs, you may want to consider a plastic house. Just make sure you check the bedding everyday to ensure it is dry.

What to use for bedding...

Bedding is climate specific. In dry climates straw is usually a good option. Change it when it gets wet because wet straw does not insulate. Add straw frequently, dogs like to nest in new straw and it keeps the house comfortable.

I currently live in a very moist climate where straw attracts bugs. It does not freeze long enough in the winter to kill the bugs. I use blankets, but they must be washed and dried frequently or they will start to attract bugs too.

Stay away from plain cedar chips. Cedar has a strong residual acid (that is why you can't use it for hamsters) which is unhealthy for dogs. Cedar can repel fleas and ticks, but it has to be used sealed inside a dog bed.

If you are looking to repel bugs from your dog house and dog sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth around the outside and inside of the dog house. You can even use it on your dog. The food grade version can be ingested by your dog without harm. It is a safe natural alternative to harsh chemicals.

White shavings are great in summer because they absorb moisture. Shavings have little insulation value so they are not very useful in winter.

If your husky has a straw allergy (or if he chews blankets) you may be left with no choice but to use shavings. Sometimes you can put shavings on top of a thin layer of straw. This provides warmth while keeping your dog's body away from the straw.

Reminder Straw and Hay are different types of grass. Straw is a fat flexible yellowish grass that insulates because of the air pocket in the hollow part of the stem. Hay is a stiff grass and does not have the large airspace. Good straw is a far superior bedding so it is worth the price of comfort to pay for quality.

Always keep in mind that when your husky is inside his house his body warms the house up. Any snow that your husky brings into his house melts (from his fur or feet). This is how the bedding gets wet. You will need to watch for wet bedding and change it or your husky will be very uncomfortable.

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