Many cynologists believe that a dog needs a warmed kennel only if it belongs to a short-haired or smooth-haired breed. More furry animals can tolerate cold winters. The four-legged friend provides warmth with a thick undercoat.
This article will describe different methods of how to prepare a dog house for the cold season.
The main stages of warming the kennel
Many people wonder how to insulate a dog house for the winter. Do not forget that our four-legged friends also need good care and comfortable living conditions. Let's look at how and with what to insulate a dog house for the winter. Instructions and a detailed description of the process will help us in this important matter.
First of all, you should start work from the inside. To this end, a material that protects from the cold is laid under the outer skin layer. He is hiding with plywood or lining.
The inner lining must always fit snugly against the insulation. At the same time, be careful that he does not crawl out from under it. Otherwise, cold air will enter your pet's home, which already poses a danger to the dog’s health.
If the ceiling at the kennel has a hinged structure, then you will need to lay additional material. If you are new to this business, be sure to study all the necessary information, as well as consider the drawings that explain in detail how to insulate a dog house for the winter. Photos of such structures show that there is nothing complicated in the process of their creation.
The roof sheathing is made of two or three layers. Metal, plastic or bitumen are perfect for roofing. Protection of the booth from the cold is comprehensive and is carried out using different materials.
What is the construction made of?
How to insulate a dog house for the winter with maximum efficiency? Typically, the gasket is placed in all parts of the kennel. Different materials are used for the floor, roof and walls, based on their characteristics, as well as the positive and negative sides.
How to properly insulate a dog house for the winter and what material to use depends on the location of the kennel and the personal choice of the owner of the dog, as well as on how often the dog sits in his house.
Commonly used:
- Sawdust. Relate to natural materials. They are characterized by a high level of thermal insulation and do not pose a danger to the health of the dog. The only condition is that before use, treatment against parasites should be performed. So you will avoid the appearance of fleas and ticks in your pet. This material has some negative aspects. Sawdust is very flammable and also susceptible to decay.
- Styrofoam. It is often used for warming residential premises. It is also suitable for kennel. Polyfoam prevents the penetration of noise from the outside and has a high level of thermal insulation. It does not rot, which also distinguishes it from natural remedies. This material is highly flammable, which is dangerous not only for the four-legged pet and its kennel, but also for nearby structures.
- Mineral wool. Perfectly insulates the premises. However, over time, the material goes astray and loses its original characteristics.
- Penoplex is a plate plate that does not leak moisture and perfectly protects from freezing in the winter. However, when installing this material, a large number of seams are formed that do not impede the cold and require additional insulation.
- Glass wool. This material has many advantages. The disadvantages include the presence of the smallest particles of fiberglass, which irritate the skin of the hands during installation. There is also a risk that fragments will enter the lungs or eyes of a person and a dog.
- Polyurethane foam is a modern insulation that is applied by spraying. He has no minuses. It does not pose a health hazard, does not burn, is not subject to deformation and does not rot.
We build on our own
Many people wonder how to insulate a dog house for the winter with their own hands. After all, I want to make my pet a good home, where he will feel comfortable and safe. He will tell in detail how to insulate a dog house for the winter, instructions. Photos and drawings will show the entire process of work in detail.
The dog kennel is small in size, therefore, no gaps between the materials should be allowed. Even the smallest gap will reduce all your efforts to zero. How to insulate a dog's box for the winter so that no gaps form?
The selected material is mounted on the roof and the inner walls of the booth. The installation method is different. Felt is usually nailed. Polyfoam and penoplex are screwed on or glued. The insulation layer should be sheathed with plywood, OSB or clapboard. The floor of the kennel is sprinkled with hay or sawdust. They should be kept dry. Such materials do not allow cold. Periodically, they will have to shake and change. So that the entrance of the kennel, which is open, does not release heat, it can be closed with a special curtain. It should cover the hole with a margin.
How to install a curtain for a booth
The main purpose of the curtain is to maintain the optimum temperature in the kennel in the winter. The material from which the curtain is made should protect the booth from drafts. For this purpose, the following are used:
- Tarpaulin. It is distinguished by density. In the manufacture of this material is coated with a special mixture that prevents fire. The main plus of the tarpaulin is its elasticity. Therefore, the tension of the curtains is easily adjustable depending on the size of the entrance.
- Artificial-based felt retains heat very well. It can be easily cut. At the same time, the edges of this material do not crumble, so they do not need to be processed.
The curtain should completely close the entrance and not prevent the dog from entering and exiting. The material should be correctly marked. Determine the size you need and add allowances: 5 cm on the sides and 10 cm from the bottom. In order for the dog not to accidentally break the curtain during sudden movements, it should be fixed on the upper part of the entrance by means of a plank of wood. The curtain is installed using self-tapping screws.
Kennel insulation with polyurethane foam
This material is not harmful to human and pet health, resistant to moisture. It is one of the best thermal insulation products. It has an affordable cost. It is attached to the inner surface of the booth. Usually use flexible polyurethane foam. This is due to the openness of its structure and increased absorption of moisture. Therefore, it is not used externally.
Polyurethane foam with a rigid structure is suitable for fastening from the outside of the kennel. In principle, this is the best solution when protecting a doghouse from the cold. The material is not toxic, since its basis is plastic. It can be purchased in both liquid and solid form. The liquid material is applied by spraying, and the solid is in the form of plates.
Plates are large and not suitable for warming a doghouse. We recommend resorting to the use of a liquid form, the main advantages of which include:
- filling all cracks and gaps;
- kennel protection against mold and rot;
- noise isolation;
- long service life (over 30 years).
Insulation of the booth with penoplex
As a rule, foam canopy is used to warm the doghouse, the thickness of which is 50 mm. It is distinguished by resistance to moisture. The material is attached to the walls and ceiling inside. All formed cracks can be filled by means of polyurethane foam from outside and inside.
It is mandatory to cover the foam with plywood, OSB boards, MDF boards and other materials. Otherwise, the sheets will crumble from the constant contact of the dog's body with the walls of the booth. In addition, the animal can scratch the material with teeth and claws.
Less insulation through foam
In the hot season, such a booth will become a real steam room for the dog. After all, it is hermetically closed and prevents the influx of fresh air.
The situation is saved by a hinged lid. This allows you to draft and slightly improve the situation. But when designing the kennel, a removable insulation must be provided. Penoplex should be installed so that it can be removed during a hot period.
Use hay
How to insulate a dog house for winter hay? This is a fairly old method. Outside, the kennel is upholstered in burlap, but not tightly, but so that it lies freely. Straw is placed in the resulting holes. The box takes a round shape and becomes soft. A straw is also placed inside, in which the dog makes a nest for himself.
Protecting the kennel from the cold of straw is undesirable, since fleas can appear in it, causing the dog inconvenience.
The main types of electric heaters
How to insulate a dog house for the winter with electricity? This may help:
- Panel-based heaters. Metal structures are in a metal case. Their thickness is not more than 2 cm, which makes it possible to compactly position in the booth. They are attached to the casing by means of self-tapping screws.
- Film based systems. This is a special thermal film that heats the booth with infrared radiation. It is installed under the skin of the kennel.
Tips for installing electric heaters
- If you decide to install an electric heater under the doghouse, you must fill the floor with mortar. Screed is made on polystyrene foam. The dog does not like to lie on concrete, so lay a felt sheet or a shield made of wood.
- When installing the heating film on the side walls, it should be covered with plywood.
Advantages of electric heating of the kennel
This type of insulation has many positive aspects:
- On frosty days, an electric heater will create optimal conditions for a four-legged friend.
- The kennel will be dry, which will prevent mold.
- The moist air exhaled by the dog will not turn into condensate and will not precipitate frost on the walls of the booth.
- The heater does not consume much electricity - only 100 W / m².
Cons of heating through electricity
Electric heaters also have their drawbacks:
- The pet is always active. In the case of poor protection of the electric wire, the dog may bite it and die.
- Do not forget about moisture. Film-based electric heaters are protected by a bitumen sticker. But if moisture constantly settles on their surface, then they carry a danger to the life of the pet. If you insulate the booth with your own hands, then protect the device from moisture. Water enters the booth from the snow that the dog brings on its feet and wool. Also, the snow is blown by the wind if there is no curtain, or if it passes air.
There is an alternative
Many people cannot decide for how and how to insulate a dog house for the winter. Should the kennel be protected from the cold at all on its own? After all, such insulation does not always guarantee the pet optimal conditions and requires certain knowledge from the owner. In the cold season, it is better to keep the dog at home or purchase a ready-made kennel that is designed for very low temperatures.
Such booths have a well-thought-out design and are made with the use of modern insulation materials. A kennel of this type will bring the dog comfort on the coldest days.