You did your research, talked about it, consulted the kids, asked the neighbors and even the relatives. Then you went out and got your puppy, everybody is happy, but now what?

You have to decide where to keep your new pet, what sort of dog house to put them in and most of all, how much will it cost to build.

Of course a lot will depend on the type of dog, size and if it will be an inside or outside pet.

I know how you feel about this, because I have had many pets of my own, including goats and housing cost was always was a concern.

In computing building costs I have taken a few things into consideration:

…you already own a saw

…a drill is something you have

…there are some paint brushes on hand in your tool box

…you will use 3/4 inch plywood at $30 for a 4X8 sheet

…for support, use 1X2’s at about $6 for an 8 foot piece

…screws will cost around $8

…paint, about $10 – $20

With these items and materials you can build your dog house, now for the total costs.

For a small dog

To make a house that measures about 22″ long X 15″ wide X 20″ high with a roof, you will need

1 sheet of plywood $30

2 1X2’s $12

screws, and paint $18

For a total cost of around $60.

This assumes that it will be used inside.

For a medium size dog

For pets up to about 40 pounds, their house size of 42″long X 30″ wide X 33″ high will require

1 1/2 sheets of plywood $45

3 1X2’s $18

screws and paint $18

For a total cost of about $80

If you are going to use it outside and want to insulate the house, add about $30 more.

For large dogs

Beyond the 40 pounds, for large dogs and considering it will be an outside home. For a structure 70″ long X 46″ wide X 60″ high you will need:

6 sheets of plywood $180

8 1X2’s $48

screws $12

paint $25

4 sheets of insulation board $80

total cost of $345

Building a great home for your new pet is what every pet owner should strive to do. You want the best home but you also want to keep the cost at a reasonable level. It is always good to have an idea of what type home you want to construct and what the final cost will be. By thinking things through, you will know how much it will cost to build a dog house for your new pet.