Dogs are one of the most popular animals in the world. In terms of popularity, they can compete with cats. These are the most intelligent, loyal and loving animals. People are willing to spend a lot of money on their beloved animals. They buy their pets clothes, expensive food, toys, etc. Unfortunately, not all people have the opportunity to keep animals in city apartments. Of course, lap dogs are ideal for city apartments, but what about large breeds? They produce a lot of hair, dirt, etc. Therefore, many people send their four-legged friends to live in their country houses, this especially applies to guard dogs. To be convinced of this, take a walk through any dacha village, and you will notice that almost every house has a guard dog that guards its owner’s dacha plot.
And guard dogs live in kennels. Therefore, the demand for booths is quite high. Why don't you start a dog kennel business? Such products can be made with your own hands. Of course, in each region the demand for such products is different. Therefore, before implementing this idea, be sure to analyze the demand for booths. You need to find out whether booths are a sought-after product in your city or not. If the demand is high, then it makes sense to start this type of business. For example, if you live in large cities where there are practically no private houses with garden plots, then this business idea is unlikely to be suitable for your region.
This business can be started by residents of villages and small provincial towns where there are many private houses. Of course, the dog that guards the area needs to create comfortable conditions. And the owners spend a lot of money on this.
To make dog kennels you will need tools and supplies. The list of tools should include screwdrivers, a set of keys, a hacksaw, a hammer, a jigsaw, a grinder, and a plane. As for supplies, you will need boards, nails, paint, fastening materials, roofing and warm bedding for the dogs to lie on inside the kennel.
On average, a quality booth can cost $300-500. The cost depends on the size of the booth. To specialize in booth making you must study training technologies. Similar instructions for making booths can be found, for example, on the World Wide Web. Before making kennels for clients, build a few trial options for your friends and acquaintances who have dogs. After all, only through practice can one ideally master the technology of making booths. Therefore, do not skimp on consumables and be sure to practice.
You must decide on the location where you will make the dog houses. For example, an ideal place for making booths could be a summer cottage, garage, etc.
Now all you have to do is attract customers - to do this you will have to advertise your services for making booths. You can place your advertising on thematic websites and forums in your city about animals, use advertisements in the media, social networks, etc.
The tendency of Russians to build private houses, distancing themselves from the bustle of big cities, creating their own comfort zone, an indispensable attribute of which is guard dogs large breeds, quite logically creates a demand for high-quality and long-term housing for them.
- 1 Why should you start making dog houses with your own hands?
- 2 How to effectively organize the production of dog houses
- 3 Approximate calculation of materials for the manufacture of one booth
- 4 Further planning
- 5 And finally, interesting video— dog kennels, what types are they?
Why should you start making dog houses with your own hands?
Sometimes, to find an idea for your own business, you just need to look carefully around, for example , Here, and perhaps it will be prompted by your personal need for something.
One of my friends intuitively opened his own business about four years ago and is still doing it to this day. He makes doghouses, although it’s difficult to call them booths in the usual sense. . These are, in the fullest sense, dog houses for all tastes, sizes, and budgets.. And it all started with a well-designed house for own dog, then orders began for neighbors, for friends of these neighbors, later they began to order rabbit cages and other pets. We live in the suburbs of a small industrial city (about business in a residential area), in a cottage village, across the forest belt there are gardening societies, a little further beyond the pond there is a village, in a word, the private sector. Almost every yard has a four-legged watchman, and sometimes more than one.
Where does the construction of a house begin? Of course – a barn and a doghouse! If your dog is large, then she will need a larger house and an enclosure to go with it. For many, a dog is like a member of the family, and every owner strives to make his pet’s home comfortable, warm, and arrange it so that visiting guests do not disturb the dog, and the dog does not bother strangers unnecessarily. Separate housing for large dog- practically a mini-house, which the owner will have to take care of himself, therefore, you need to choose a model whose design will be as thoughtful as possible, so that it is convenient to maintain, it fits beautifully into the landscape of the site and has served as your calling card for many years.
So, you should start a dog kennel business if you:
- skillfully handle carpentry tools and welding equipment;
- Do you have the materials to make a couple of booths;
- keep dogs in the yard and understand their needs;
- love to make things with your own hands.
How to effectively organize the production of dog houses
To quickly set up the production of dog houses, conduct an audit of your equipment. At a minimum, you will need: a set of carpentry tools (hammer, level, hacksaw, etc.), a screwdriver, an angle grinder or grinder, a circular saw, a welding machine, a metal edger, and a spray gun.
There must be a supply of basic materials:
Coniferous board 20 or 25 mm, timber 50x50, plywood sheets, insulation (small shavings or sawdust are often successfully used as insulation), metal angle and rod, metal and galvanized nails and screws, roofing materials, wood impregnation and paint.
For production you need to allocate a special room or space of about 18 sq.m. initial stage convert some of the outbuildings for carpentry or adapt part of the garage. Ready-made drawings of booths with calculations and recommendations can be found on the Internet.
Unlike Western countries, where the market for the production of dog houses of any design and modification is saturated, in our country this niche is practically free. There are productions of standard enclosures and houses, but not in every region, and they do not always satisfy the immediate needs of the clientele.
Using the example of the family with which this article began, I can say that there are three of us working - the head of the family with his son (purchase of materials, manufacturing, delivery, installation), the wife provides PR for the enterprise and does simple accounting.
Approximate calculation of materials for the manufacture of one booth
I will give an approximate consumption of materials for one wooden booth measuring 1m x 1.2m x 1m for an average guard dog, for example the Staffordshire Terrier.
We make the side walls and the floor double from well-planed and sanded boards (insulation is laid between them), the gable roof is in one layer. Additional roof covering can be used.
- Slate or metal tiles about 2 square meters.
- 20mm board (softwood) - approximately 0.3 cubic meters
- Bar 50 x 50 - about 20 linear meters
- Galvanized nails and black self-tapping screws – 1.5 kg and 0.5 kg, respectively
- Foam-type insulation (exclude glass-containing ones as they are dangerous for dogs) about 5 square meters
- Impregnation for wood – 1 liter
- Paint for the external walls of the booth, about a liter
- You also need a removable door for the winter, which can be made of tarpaulin or felt (we remove it in the summer, otherwise the dog will be uncomfortable).
As for the cost of the product, feel free to request 100% above the cost of the materials used. The first booth sold went for 7 thousand rubles, despite the fact that it cost 800 rubles; its production, including painting and drying, took 4 days. The cost of a manufactured house may vary, depending on what materials and equipment you used for manufacturing. Often the materials are provided by the customer himself (in private households there is a lot left over from building a house); you may have to use materials partially from stock (insulation materials, roofing materials, metal mesh, etc.). Based on this, you decide for yourself what and in what quantities you need to purchase.
Further planning
The forecasts for this type of activity are good; there is no threat of overproduction in the coming years. There is no seasonality in the business under consideration; there is a slight decline in orders only at the end of summer. However, you need to occupy a free market niche very actively, having first thoroughly studied the selected service segment, taking into account many nuances, including assessing the chances of growing your business into medium business , if you have such a desire and inclination.
For example, if you produce booths individually or in small batches and manage to maintain a balance between the demand for the products offered and the ability to satisfy them, i.e. If you simply manage to produce the received orders within the agreed time frame, then you can plan further steps to develop your business.
Suppose you have incorrectly calculated your capabilities, overly promoted production, collected orders, but cannot complete it on time, there is a high probability that the idea will be “intercepted” by one of the possible competitors who has the necessary equipment and labor force(for example, a sawmill or a team of carpenters standing idle in the off-season).
Another option is to take a serial order for the production of enclosures for the nursery, employ additional workers, and purchase additional items on credit necessary equipment, materials, but that’s where the big customers ended, and as a result, downtime will “eat up” all your profits.
However, making dog houses is a very viable idea for creating your own business with broad prospects. By using the resources of the Internet, where a large number of information offered (including free information) - for example, drawings of various house designs; advice from dog handlers; Using the opportunities of local media for advertising and promotion, you will create a platform for a successful start to your business.
And finally, an interesting video - dog houses, what are they?
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American Tony Miller invented new format dog kennels with natural climate control. The idea of creating an underground kennel, which turned into his own business, was suggested to him by his dog Zeke, who one day began to dig the ground in the yard to hide from the heat.
The American company Miller Pet Products has begun selling “new format” dog houses. The signature DogeDen 60 kennel is an underground kennel that will allow dogs living in the yard to feel comfortable at any time of the year. Due to the design and location underground, a constant temperature is maintained inside, which is not as dependent on the weather as a regular booth.
The entrance to the kennel is located above the ground, and the sleeping area is below it. To make it easy for dogs to get up and down into the “bunker,” there are steps inside. The booth is completely waterproof. If desired, customers can choose a booth with either a raised or lowered entry space. The first option is suitable if there is a danger that the yard may be flooded with water.
The idea of an underground kennel came to the mind of American Tony Miller after one summer day he noticed how his dog named Zeke began to dig the ground near his kennel to hide from the heat. Without wanting it, Zeke gave Tony a great idea - now the owner sells his booths with natural climate control to buyers from the USA, Canada and 30 other countries around the world.
The booth costs $199-209 depending on the type. DogeDen 60 is designed for any dog weighing up to 60 pounds (27 kg).
A do-it-yourself dog house must match the size of the animal and be made from environmentally friendly materials. You should not force your dog into a new kennel. After all, for an animal, an unfamiliar confined space is a lot of stress. It is much more effective to place a bowl of water or food inside the room, throw in your favorite toys and reward the animal every time it visits its new home.
How to decide on the size of the kennel
Contrary to popular belief, a “dog house” does not have to be spacious. After all, the more space inside the kennel, the more difficult it is for its occupant to warm the room with his own heat. In order to build a comfortable dog house with your own hands, you should use the following formula for calculating sizes:
- Ceiling height inside kennel = height adult dog at the withers + 10 cm.
- Depth = length of the animal from nose to tailbone + 20 cm.
- Width of the structure = height of the dog at the withers + 10 cm.
- The height of the entrance to the kennel (taking into account the 10 cm threshold) = height at the withers + 5 cm.
Booth dimensions for different types dogs
In severe winter conditions, the width of the kennel can be made equal to the height of the dog at the withers. This will be enough for the dog to rest, lying on its side with its paws outstretched. For a puppy, the entrance to the kennel should be made small with the possibility of expanding the opening as the dog grows.
How to keep warm inside the booth
When thinking about how to make a dog house with your own hands, you first need to decide on the issue of insulating the kennel. Experienced dog breeders have differing opinions on this matter. Some categorically do not recommend thermal insulation, while others consider its absence blasphemy.
To insulate or not to insulate
Why you shouldn't insulate a dog's kennel:
- fleas often appear between the insulation layer and the interior finishing, annoying the dog;
- if there is a large difference in temperature inside the kennel and outside, the dog may get sick;
- Animals with thick undercoat (Alabai, Husky breeds) will feel uncomfortable in a kennel that is too warm.
Insulation supporters dog house give the following arguments in their favor:
- puppies and adult short-haired dogs (e.g. Doberman, Great Dane) suffer from low temperatures and cannot fully heat an uninsulated room;
- in harsh climatic conditions It is impossible to prevent heat loss leading to hypothermia of the animal in any other way.
A flower bed on the roof prevents the booth from overheating in the summer
Types of insulation and their characteristics
When creating a warm dog house with your own hands, the following types of insulation will work:
- EPPS (penoplex) – for high-quality thermal insulation, a minimum layer without vapor and moisture insulation is sufficient;
- basalt mats - it is permissible to use when placing a kennel inside an enclosure or a cabin, where it will not be intensively affected by precipitation that destroys the structure of the insulation;
- mineral wool;
- sawdust, wood shavings - shrink over time and require refilling.
In winter, straw or sawdust should be placed in the dog house, which perfectly retains the dog’s body heat. But it is undesirable to use hay, fur coats and blankets. After all, there may be ticks in the hay, and the dog will spend a lot of heat heating a blanket or fur coat and will not be able to fully heat the room itself.
Subtleties of building a kennel
When designing and building a winter dog house, you should remember certain nuances. After all, an incorrectly built kennel risks remaining uninhabited.
A booth with a roof covered with tin and a flower bed
Wind protection for a dog house
The most dangerous enemy of an animal is the constant wind, which cools the kennel. To prevent it from penetrating deep into the room, you can use the following ideas:
- Choose a rectangular booth shape and place the entrance on the side.
- Organize a partition and entrance inside the kennel like a labyrinth. In this option, it would be useful to make a glass viewing window for the guard dog. After all, without the opportunity to inspect the territory, the dog will not be able to calmly stay in the booth.
- Mount a strip curtain made of dense material (tarpaulin, carpet, thin polycarbonate) above the entrance. To do this, the selected material must be cut into wide strips and fastened overlapping them, nailed to the booth using a strip. Some dog breeds may not appreciate this sound-absorbing feature.
Booth entrance location
What kind of roof is suitable for a booth?
The main requirement for roofing is soft materials that absorb the noise of falling raindrops. The roof shape can be any, but a flat, pitched structure is preferable. After all, on warm days the dog will be able to climb on it, increasing its viewing angle.
The roof over the booth must be removable. This makes the process of cleaning and caring for the dog's offspring easier. It would be useful to insulate the ceiling, because the main heat loss occurs through it. A creative design option is to place a cat house on the roof of a doghouse.
cat house located above the booth on a wooden pole
What material to choose for the floor and where to place the kennel
The booth must be located on an elevated platform. This could be a platform, wooden beams or bricks underneath. The main condition is to protect the dog kennel from flooding. A hatch should be provided in the floor for cleaning the kennel, into which wool and dirt can be swept away. In summer, this hatch can also serve as ventilation. The floor itself is best made from tongue-and-groove boards. The wood inside the “dog house” does not need to be treated with anything, but on the outside it is better to coat the material with an antiseptic.
The kennel must be located in a place best review plot. It is advisable to make a covered terrace-platform in front of the booth so that the dog can observe the territory without entering the booth or lying down on the snow.
Booth with terrace
Ready-made dog house projects
Budget project of the building:
- Bottom: fasten two sheets of plywood 8 mm thick together, laying polystyrene foam (3-4 mm) in the middle.
- Attach lengthwise bars to the plywood and screw them to the bottom side walls.
- Insulate the walls with polystyrene foam and cover them with clapboard.
- Cover cuts and sharp corners with plastic corners.
- Install an insulated roof according to the principle of a cellar lid, cover the top with linoleum for waterproofing.
- Place the booth on blocks to prevent moisture from getting inside.
Two-story dog house
Two-story cottage for dogs:
- Fasten the floorboards together to organize the bottom of the booth.
- Screw pillars made of 100x100 timber sawn in half to the bottom.
- Attach the walls to the timber, insulate them with foam plastic and cover them with clapboard.
- Mount a plywood partition inside the booth to protect from the wind.
- Make a removable roof - a platform.
- Organize a removable staircase to the second floor.
A dog house can be made from scrap materials: pallets, an old door and even an unnecessary refrigerator or washing machine. You should not build a kennel from pine boards, as they emit resin; it is more practical to use alder. On the facade of the booth you can attach a bracket with a carbine and chain. This will allow you to limit the freedom of movement of the dog during the arrival of guests or when carrying out work that is dangerous for it (spraying with herbicides, etc.).
