Convert a small shed to a doghouse.
If you have an underused shed in your backyard, but no place for your dog to rest when playing outside, you can convert your shed into a doghouse. Your dog will be happiest if the shed you're converting is not too large. Your dog's house will stay warmer in cool weather if it can keep the dog's body heat within its walls, so especially in cooler climates a smaller sheds converts better to a doghouse than a larger shed.
Instructions
1. Clean out the shed. Remove common shed items that might hurt your dog, such as tools, pesticides, herbicides or containers that hold flammable liquids. Completely clear your shed's floors and sweep them clean. If you'll still need to use the shed for storage, move everything you're leaving in the structure up to elevated shelves.
2. Spread cedar chips, cedar shavings or straw onto the floor. You can cover the entire floor or only the area on which you expect your dog to sleep. According to the book "Building a Doghouse," you shouldn't use hay on your floor, since hay attracts insects and mold. Likewise, blankets and other soft fabric bedding can attract pests and become soiled when left outdoors, even in a shed. Your dog will find the shavings or straw comfortable enough as bedding, and these floor coverings will also retain heat.
3. Buy a pet door that is slightly larger than your largest dog. Draw a horizontal line 3 inches from the bottom of your shed's door. Your pet door kit should include a template with its packaging. Place this template just on top of the 3-inch line.
4. Place a level against one of the template's horizontal sides to make sure the template is level before proceeding. Draw an outline around the template.
5. Drill starter holes at each corner of your outline. These holes will give you a place in which to insert your jigsaw's blade. Cut out the hole for your pet door using your jigsaw. Cut the sides first, then cut the bottom and cut the top last. Attach the pet door as directed in the instructions.
6. Place some of your pet's outdoor toys inside the shed. Coax your dog into its new space by leaving treats inside the house and praising it for going inside the structure.
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