How and what can you insulate a dog booth for the winter

Do I need to insulate the kennel

Everyone is freezing in winter. And this applies not only to people. Even long-haired dogs feel uncomfortable and chilly. Especially if the kennel is not insulated and not ready for winter. Be sure to worry about creating the right conditions for the animal in advance.

Taking your dog to a house that is constantly on the street is not the best option. The animal may feel uncomfortable. The dog may ask to go outside, tear things, damage furniture and even show aggression. To make everyone comfortable and familiar, it is necessary to prepare the booth in advance, protecting it from precipitation and cold.

Video "Building a warm dog house with your own hands"

From this video you will learn how to build a warm dog house with your own hands.

General rules

There are a number of rules and requirements that must be followed:

1. It is better to position the booth so that the entrance is located in a quiet place - with minimal wind movement.
2. The ideal option is a kennel made of wood.
3. To eliminate the risk of rain or melt water ingress, you can use one of two options: make high-quality insulation or place the kennel on a hill.
4. The dimensions of the booth must correspond to the size of the dog. The main thing is that the animal is not crowded there.
5. It is better to put the kennel not in continuous shade, and not in the open sun. Choose a middle ground.
6. It is important to repair the roof on time in order to exclude leaks.

What material to choose

The owner has many different materials at his disposal, each of which guarantees good thermal insulation and a neat appearance of the kennel.

Minvata

Mineral wool is the leader among other materials in terms of technical characteristics. You need to work with it very carefully. Fiber negatively affects the health of the animal. Wherever the owner uses it - from the inside or outside of the booth - the layer must be covered with cladding. Don't forget about waterproofing.

When using mineral wool, thermal insulation resembles a layer cake:

• the wall of the doghouse made of wood;
• polymer film that protects against moisture;
• a layer of mineral wool;
• membrane;
• external cladding.

As for the ceiling and floor, they are also insulated in several layers.

Styrofoam

Polyfoam is another very popular material that is presented in the current market. It resists moisture and does not contain dust. It is not difficult to mount the structure. By the way, branded mineral wool costs several times more than foam.

The material is versatile. It is used and placed on the walls and floor of the booth. They also insulate the kennel outside. If the owner of the dog settled on this option, additional waterproofing is not needed. The cladding material can be easily applied to the insulation layer.

As a rule, insulation works are carried out as follows:

• measurements are taken and styrofoam is cut out;
• the insulation material is fixed with a special adhesive foam;
• the cladding is installed.

Felt

Such material is natural. It is inexpensive and guarantees complete safety. Felt is an ideal material for insulating a dog kennel.

Among its characteristics is vapor impermeability. This means that the booth will always be dry. The material is also not blown through, so it is not necessary to cover it. If you wish, you can fix the layer of insulation with ordinary nails with large caps.

Liquid insulation

An alternative to the options proposed above is liquid insulation, which will protect the animal from the cold. In appearance, the material resembles foam, after spraying it hardens. When choosing a liquid insulation, remember that the layer should be at least 5 cm. The material has shown good resistance to wear, and "promises" 30 years of service. Cured foam does not absorb moisture and steam. Moreover, after applying a layer of liquid insulation, cladding is simply necessary.

Insulation technique

Each of the above materials has its own characteristics. When talking about the technique of warming a dog kennel, it is important to remember the following rules:

• wood shavings are difficult to fix on the ceiling or walls, but they are ideal as a floor mat - environmentally friendly and soft;
• parasites can start in the shavings, if a considerable amount of moisture gets there, the material begins to rot;
• it is recommended to add shavings of coniferous wood, the aroma of which is not liked by pests;
• the dog can pull out or gnaw the cloth bedding, so it is still better to use shavings, replacing it regularly;
• do not put sawdust in the kennel - they cause inflammation, prick and crawl into the eyes and nose of the animal.

Collapsible kennel

Among the advantages of a collapsible booth are:

• ease of repair - the dog can gnaw the hole, and then the owner dismantles the damaged elements, changes the damaged boards and re-screws new parts;
• ease of manufacture - the kennel is made in an equipped and convenient place, after which it can be easily transferred to the yard and quickly installed;
• convenience of cleaning - in order to completely disinfect the dog's home, the owner must completely disassemble it, carry out all the work, and reassemble it.

Unbreakable booth

It is also recommended to consider the option of a non-separable kennel for a dog. Such a dwelling has the following advantages:

1. Lack of the possibility of blowing out. In a non-separable booth there are no places where its elements are joined. The same can be said about the absence of micro-crevices, because the floor and walls come together.
2. No draft. Dogs tolerate it much worse than frost. So the dog will be protected from the constant wind flow, will not catch colds and get sick.
3. The corners of the kennel have the maximum solid thickness of the wood layer.
4. All elements are rigidly connected. This is a guarantee of the booth's durability and reliability. The owner will also not need to periodically tighten the connecting fasteners, which is extremely important in collapsible kennels.

Alternative methods

Sometimes, while looking for an alternative way to insulate the booth, the owners use bold, but ineffective methods:

1. Heated the kennel with a light bulb. The heating lamp can create the desired temperature. But do not forget that the dog may burn itself or overheat due to the hot appliance. 50 cm is the minimum distance that should be between the device and the animal. Given the size of standard booths, this rule will not be easy to enforce.
2. Autonomous heater. Often battery operated. There are models that resemble heating pads. Their filling allows you to keep warm for a long time. For the appliance to work well and generate heat, it needs to be heated. Using a battery-powered heating pad, the owner connects it to the main heating complex as an add-on.

Electric heater

The simplest and most popular method among dog owners is the installation of a panel electric heater. Electric infrared panels maintain the optimal temperature inside the dog kennel. At the same time, the owner does not bear special costs for insulation and electricity bills. The system attracts with such advantages:

lack of noise during operation;

• small size of equipment (2 cm - standard thickness);
• the air heats up no higher than 50 ° C, moderate heating does not dry out the air, therefore, it is not necessary to cover the heater with a wooden grate;
• ease of installation - it is enough for the owner to fix the electrical panel with self-tapping screws on the desired surface;
• fire-fighting characteristics - it is possible to use the panel constantly throughout the day, while you do not need to monitor the booth.

IR film

Infrared film is used to insulate the booths. It is an ultra-thin heater that accumulates heat by emitting infrared waves.

The heating element distributes heat, so the animal will definitely not overheat.

The foil heater consists of three components:

• heating element - necessary for converting electrical energy into heat;
• foil - needed so that the heat is evenly dispersed throughout the kennel;
• laminated film - guarantees excellent insulation and protects all components of the system inside from mechanical damage.

A doghouse insulated with such a system has the following advantages:

• electricity is consumed economically;
• the output is healthy heating, which has a positive effect on the animal's immune system;
• good level of heat transfer - even distribution of heat contributes to the fact that there are no "cold zones";
• the air humidity in the kennel remains unchanged.

Choose the best option, and warm up your dwelling for your pet in advance!