The Infamous Doghouse - by Andy

So here it is... my first post. Since it's such a big project and Katie's mentioned it a couple of times, I thought I'd shoot out an update on the doghouse.

History: So now that we have a yard for the Nerve, we thought this would be a perfect time for her to spend all the time she wants outside and enjoy the sun - what little of it there is. So we installed a dog door and that gets her outside whenever she likes. Now we needed to keep her motivated to STAY out there. So I started researching doghouses. Apparently, they are a lot more complicated then the standard A-frame house that snoopy lived in (on).

The Plan: So the house I have chosen to build is actually two rooms - one as the "entry" and one where she actually resides. This separation is primarily to keep the weather out of the sleeping quarters and keep her comfy. Also, I am building the DELUXE version of this house - one that is double-walled with insulation to keep the interior relatively neutral. The roof will be hinged for occasional cleanings since Minerva continuously attempts to clone herself by dropping as much fur on the ground as possible. The last touch - there will be a small window in the front wall that can be opened to help air circulate on really hot days (I'm told they exist). The whole thing will be painted on the outside for weathering with paint that has been left over here. There's a lot of left over paint and I'm hoping that one of those cans matches the house. We'll see. I'm thinking carpet for the floor, but that thin office type carpet that you can buy in squares. In the end, Minerva's small round bed, the "kitty cat bed" as we call it, will go in her new quarters.

The Progress: So far the basic shape has emerged. The floor and exterior walls are together. A couple of the walls have insulation and the inner walls. There's still about 2/3 of this step to go. The roof is cut, but needs its basic frame to keep it square and keep it from warping. The window hole is cut, but the window itself still needs to be fabricated. And after everything is done, the whole thing needs to be painted for weather proofing. Lastly, the roof needs to be done - this will be done later mostly to spread out costs and since the rainy season is "almost over," rain shouldn't be a problem. The entry door still needs to be cut and will be done near the end of the project. And of course, the painting and finishing details. Yeesh, it sounds like a lot more when I write it out.