34 Doggone Good Backyard Dog House Ideas

Dog houses are a great place for your pooch to rest when spending time outside. Get 34 doggone good backyard dog house ideas here!

Welcome to our gallery featuring dog houses and kennels for your backyard!

While we love to have man’s best friend inside with us during most of the year, sometimes they may need to be outside, whether it’s because you’re working outside or they can’t be left alone in the house.

Regardless of your reason for needing a dog house, your dog’s outdoor retreat can be a nice shady, cool spot to hang out in during the hot days.

And your dog’s house doesn’t have to look like a prison either! There’s no reason why you can’t customize a dog house to look just as luxurious and comfortable as you hope it is for your dog.

Whether you decide to build your dog house on your own, purchase a prefabricated dog house from a home improvement store, or even hire a company to design and custom build a palace for your dog, we’re sure you will find a design in this gallery that appeals to you.

Before you get started planning your dog house, consider your dog’s behavior and if they will be spending much time unsupervised outside. If you don’t want to cage your dog in a kennel, consider fencing in your yard if it isn’t already.

If you live in the countryside and your dog will be well supervised, you may decide that you don’t need a fence or a caged-in kennel.

Also consider the size of your dog and its exercise requirements, tolerance of heat and cold before you decide on a dog house. Some dogs don’t do well outside and away from the family. Others don’t do well in the heat, and some need much more exercise than others.

After considering all the factors, you can start shopping for your dog house.

Cost can vary widely, so do shop around.

We hope you’ll enjoy this gallery! If you’d like more backyard ideas, check out our definitive guide to backyards!

Outside of a small home in a historic village is an equally quaint dog house next to a bench. Aged shingles and delicate craftsmanship make this structure stand out.

For multiple dogs, a large kennel may be more suitable. This type is better for climates that are typically warm, and certainly not a good solution for climates where it snows.

For a more quaint look, distressed paint and roof planters are a great way to make your dog house look more idyllic. It also helps keep the inside of the dog house cooler during the daytime.

If rocks are abundant, these stone cairn-like doghouses might be a good option for working dogs like these shepherd breeds.

Even if you don’t have a lot of space in your backyard, building a small, cozy dog house for your pooch to hang out in can be done. This one is elevated slightly to match the height of the privacy fence.

This barn red dog house is perfect for any country style home, and is elevated enough to keep moisture out of the bottom should it be rainy or muddy.

This adorable cedar wood dog house is perfect for small lapdogs, and has a small deck on the top for the dog to survey his domain. This is a perfect little getaway for the dog to hide out in during the summer when you spend a lot of time outside.

A simple wooden dog house is well-suited for on a covered front porch. Without shingles, it wouldn’t fare well during a rainstorm.

This small dog house has its own deck, stairs, and even a little window! The size is great for a small, short dog, and will look attractive in your backyard.

This Mediterranean style dog house has three entrances to the communal space, two large and one small. A mature tree above provides needed shade on hot, sunny days.

Another square dog house with a deck area on top. This dog house is sized better for a larger dog than the previous example.

A quaint cottage-style dog house with some really impressive details along the roofline. Aged oak trim really makes the structure.

Plastic doggie doors and dual entrances make this dog-duplex excellent for a family with more than one pooch. The simple design would look great in any backyard. Learn more here.

If an eclectic, funny look is more your style, you might like something more unique, like this fire hydrant shaped outdoor dog bed.

A small porch is just the place for a dog to lay on a sunny day to warm their fur. This contemporary design looks an awful lot like a child’s playhouse.

A brightly colored simple dog house fits perfectly into the landscaping of this cottage style garden.

This small, adorable dog house has a miniature fake window and window box above the door, which can be locked if the dog needs to be corralled for a short while.

This cabin-style dog house in cedar and forest green fits perfectly into the lush landscaping.

A small deck portion allows the dog to lay outside of the dog house without laying on the grass, and gives the structure a bit of country style.

A narrow dog house with a ramp and a wide roof to make sure that the rain just rolls right off.

A log cabin style dog house with red shingles and a small porch area.

An incredible cottage style dog house with both an interior area and an exterior kennel section. The enormous structure is just the right size for a dog to really feel comfortable, and it has large enough doors for the owners to easily be able to enter the structure.

This small, but creative dog house has a raised deck area for a food and water dish, plus a small interior area with a bed.

This is another example of a large kennel with an interior area and an exterior kennel. Like the other, it also has a door large enough for humans to easily fit through.

This prefabricated plastic dog house is easy to place in your yard, easy to move, and can be customized with your dog’s name. However, it is not a great permanent shelter.

A traditional dog house with a large interior area and a cute sign with the dog’s name on it.

This squat dog house has a flat bed area on top for the dog to lay on and stay out of the grass. A name plate lets you customize this prefabricated dog house. Learn more here.

This wood and layered stone veneer dog house has a mid-century modern look to it with a flat, sloping roof without any overhang.

This impressive stone dog house is surrounded by a tall chain link fence to keep a much larger dog in. The structure is comfortable and attractive enough for a backyard.

A quaint dog house with a built-in food and water dish holder on the side. The structure is classic and has plenty of space for a small dog.

Learn more here.

This cute pink wooden dog house is perfect for smaller dogs, and light enough to easily be moved in during winter months.

This dog house has a large porch area and a overhanging roof for a bit of shade.

A cute dog house in wood that is designed to look like a cute birdhouse. This is a great option for very small dogs, although they should not be left outside in the dog house for long periods of time.

10 Best Insulated Dog Houses to Keep Your Pet Cozy in Chillier Weather

Keep your dog snug as a bug all year ’round.

If your dog sleeps or spends a lot of time outside, make sure he stays warm all winter with the best insulated dog house to suit your backyard. While it’s generally best to let your dogs sleep indoors when the temperatures dip, you may still want your dog to spend lots of time outside for exercise — and those cases, you need an all-weather dog house.

When looking for one, know they’re not all created equal. You want a dog house that comes insulated or weatherproofed on all sides, including the floor, walls, and ceiling. It should also be elevated off the ground, since the house will stay warmer and drier that way. And while this probably goes without saying, you also want a dog house that can withstand moisture without leaking and strong winds without collapsing. It should also have a door or flap that will stay closed in the elements, so snow or rain won’t get in. Measure your dog before buying a new dog house and purchase one that’s at least 25 percent larger than your pup, and one that has enough room for him to turn completely around comfortably, so your pet stays cozy all year long.

This attractive backyard dog kennel comes with a removable floor for easier cleaning, as well as insulated floors and ceiling for all-weather use. It’s also raised off the ground by plastic rot-resistant feet, so air can circulate beneath. The kennel can also support up to 145 pounds, so it works for larger dogs, too.

If you need a simple, easy-assembly pet house that can work for both indoor and outdoor use, check out this basic model. Molded plastic will keep out the elements, while a vented roof will keep air circulating inside. You can also rinse it clean and set it up in minutes, no tools required.

Get your pup a dog house fit for royalty with this posh pad. It comes with adjustable windows that reposition for winter snugness or cross-ventilation in the summer, as well as a raised floor to keep your pet’s bedding dry. The floor is also slightly sloped with a drainage hole so you can easily hose it down to clean.

Similar to how igloos made out of ice work, this igloo-shaped dog house has a domed shape so ice and snow won’t accumulate on top as much as a flat roof, and a vented roof allows air to circulate. It’s also insulated and the offset door will keep the wind and precipitation from getting inside to your pet.

This heavy-duty plastic dog house not only has thick walls and ceiling panels with foam padding, but also comes with a floor heater for that extra coziness factor. A self-closing door with a window will also keep your best furry friend secure even in inclement weather.

If you affix a tarp or other covering over the open door, this sturdy plastic dog house makes a good choice for inclement weather. It comes in several sizes, so you can house even the biggest dogs, but you may want to add a heating pad when it gets really chilly.

Not only can this log cabin-style dog house withstand the elements, it will also look great in your yard. The shingled roof won’t let water or wind at your pup, and an offset door keeps weather outside, too. It also comes with a hinged roof for easy access.

The offset door in this dog house protects your pup from the elements, and the attractive wood is treated to resist the weather. It’s also raised a few inches to keep your pet dry, but you may want to add a heating pad or some extra blankets for really cold days.

Durable resin material will keep your pet warm and dry and it snaps together easily — no tools required. It also comes with a vinyl door flap that will protect your dog from the weather, although some owners said they didn’t stay closed in heavy winds.

While this wooden dog house will need a heated mat to keep your pup extra cozy during the colder months, its latched roof makes cleaning a snap. It’s sturdy, weatherproofed, and comes in several sizes to fit your pooch. And if you need to house cats, poultry, or other animals, this house will work for those purposes too.