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Last Updated on February 15, 2023
If you have seen the popular show Marley and Me, you would know how destructive poorly-behaved Labrador Retrievers can be. Given the Labrador Retriever’s large size, it is pretty tough to restrain them, much less control them in the house itself. One good way to keep things neat in the house is to buy them a proper dog crate for the dog. However, if your sole purpose is to cage up the dog to prevent them from biting others or creating havoc, then perhaps it is a good choice. If your purpose is to create an enclosure that can restrain the dog while also proving a safe haven for them, then buying a dog house for Labrador Retriever can be a better choice. Let us take a look at some of the Best Dog House For Labrador Retrievers.
Best Dog House For Labrador Retriever
Before we can choose the best dog house for Labrador Retriever, we have to look at certain factors, one of which is the size of the dog. Of course, there are various factors that we do consider, and they can be found in the latter part of the article. For now, let us look at our choices for the Best dog house for Labrador Retriever.
| Indigo Dog House | Petsfit Dog House | Extreme Log Cabin |
|
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
|
| Material | Heavy duty structural foam | Kiln Dried Ceder | Ceder |
| Sturdiness | Good | High | High |
| Outdoor or Indoor | Indoor | Outdoor | Outdoor |
| Max. Weight | 90 pounds | 140 pounds | 90 pounds |
| Ventilation | Good | High | High |
| Protection | All elements | All elements | All elements |
| Size | Large | Large | Large |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 [Editor's Choice] |
| Buy From | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Petmate Indigo Dog House
The Petmate Indigo with Microban is a dog house-shaped as an igloo that is designed to provide wind and rain protection as well as bringing ultimate comfort to your pet. The exterior of the house is shaped to provide protection against elements but at the same time allows for positive airflow, keeping your dog cool. It is also made with Microban to fight stains and odor-causing bacteria.
Note: do ensure that the size of the shelter is just nice for your dog. (Make sure the dog can stand up, turn around and lie comfortably in the house) As mentioned earlier, if the house is too big, there won’t be much heat retention.
To provide additional comfort, you can consider getting the Doskocil Indigo Pad for the house, and also the Doskocil Indigo Door as an additional layer of protection for the dog house.
Pros: Good looking dog house for Labrador Retriever. Resistant to bacteria.
Cons: Can be warm during summer.
Our Rating: [usr 4.7]
Petsfit Dog House
Petsfit Dog House is specially made for pets owners who want to pamper their dog with a comfortable place to sleep and play at. The material is water-treated, hence it is safe for your dog.
This insulated dog house is easy to assemble and is made with waterproof and solid wood construction. Inside the package, the materials come with pre-drilled holes, so it makes the assembly a whole lot easier.
The roof is also designed to allow water to run off, hence not entering the house itself. Also, the base is lifted off the ground, so it is not affected by rain at all. It too comes with a plastic door cover that acts as an insulation. For added heating during the winter season, you can use K&H SELF-WARMING CRATE PAD and place it inside the dog house.
Pros: Can be used for the outdoors.
Cons: Not exactly insulated against the cold.
Our Rating: [usr 4.8]
Precision Pet Extreme Log Cabin
Precision Pet Extreme Log Cabin is made from solid wood and sealed with a weather-resistant coating. Like the Petsfit Dog House, it is weatherproof with a slanted roof designed to allow water run-off. This dog house for Labrador Retriever will be perfect if your dog is constantly left in the outdoors, as it provides a safe haven to reside in when the owners are not around.
Do note that this house is lacking proper insulation, so it can be pretty tough for your dog should the climate be too cold or hot. But this is easily fixed as Precision has insulation that helps to provide added insulation against the weather. The Precision Pet Log Cabin Style Dog House Insulation is made for the Extreme Log Cabin, and it is constructed with a durable two-layer canvas cover, which is removable and machine washable.
Pros: Can be used for the outdoors. Nice design.
Cons: Not exactly insulated against the cold and heat.
Our Rating: [usr 4.9] Editor’s Choice
Choosing The Best Dog House For Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are generally large in size. They can grow up to 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder, and weigh to a maximum of 80 pounds on average. They are strong, and hence this eliminates most conventional houses. We would have to check for the house sturdiness, the opening of the house as well as the overall height of the house.
The door opening height should be more than 3 quarters of the dog’s shoulder to ground measurement. This may come as a surprise to many as the height itself is shorter than the dog. It isn’t really necessary to have a huge door as dogs generally bend their head downwards when entering the dog house.
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the width and length of the house. Typically, we would recommend the width and length to be at least 30% more than the length of the dog. This is to ensure that the dog has enough space to maneuver around.
You wouldn’t want a dog house that is too small for your dog
As for the height of the house, the height should be at least 25% to 50% taller than the height of the Labrador Retriever. This is to ensure that there is a good body heat retention rate during the cold season. Also, by having a good height in the dog house, your dog would have adequate space to stretch. This is a common attribute that most Labrador Retriever owners will neglect. Indeed, I have seen some owners who bought a dog house that is too small for their Labrador Retriever.
When you purchase the best dog house for Labrador Retrievers, you should also purchase the interactive dog toys for Labrador Retrievers too. This will keep the Labrador Retriever entertained!
Why Should You Purchase A Dog House For Labrador Retriever
This is an interesting question. Indeed, this question applies to dogs of all breeds and not only for the Labrador Retriever. There are indeed many benefits at which a dog house can bring to your dog. It really doesn’t matter if your dog prefers to the dog house to be indoors or outdoors. Dog houses are a must!
Provide Comfort
Of course, the outdoor dog house is a must for Labrador Retrievers who love to run in unconfined places. These outdoor dog house for Labrador Retrievers provide shelter for them, and offers a place to escape from the scorching sun during summer!
Looks Better Than A Dog Crate
Most of the time, or perhaps all the time, dog houses look much better than the dog crates. Hence, for the aesthetic conscious folks, the dog house for Labrador Retriever is a must. Indeed, some of the dog houses look like furniture too!
Helps To Reduce Separation Anxiety
As written in the article Preventing Anxiety in Labrador Retriever, dog houses are very much adequate in preventing separation anxiety from occurring in your dog.
Indoor And Outdoor Dog Houses. What Are The Differences?
Some of you might be wondering, is there a difference between an indoor dog house for Labrador Retriever and the outdoor dog house for Labrador Retriever.
Technically, yes, there is a difference. This is primarily due to the specific needs of the indoor and outdoor dog house respectively. For the case of the indoor dog house, usually, owners will be more concerned about the aesthetics as well as its sturdiness. This is the reason why some designers have incorporated furniture into dog houses. We have done a review of some of the dog houses that look like furniture. The ventilation of the best indoor dog house for Labrador Retriever need not be extremely good.
For the case of the outdoor dog house, it does have a separate list of criteria. For example, since the outdoor dog house for Labrador Retriever is subject to the elements, the material of the dog house will come into play. Not only must it be resistant to the elements, but it also has to be sturdy enough to discourage your Labrador Retriever from running away from it. The aesthetics shouldn’t matter too much, less you want to showboat to your neighbors.
- The Indoor Dog House For Labrador Retriever
When making a choice between the indoor and outdoor dog houses, usually people will be more inclined in choose an indoor dog house for Labrador Retriever. Indeed, these indoor dog house is a good alternative to dog crates. We all know that the dog crates are unsightly, and they do not fit the decor of most households.
- The Outdoor Dog House For Labrador Retriever
There are many reasons at which why you would want to choose an outdoor dog house for your Labrador Retriever.
First of all, some owners decide that their best dog house for Labrador Retriever must be an outdoor dog house, due to the dog have multiple allergies at home. If they kept the dog at home, the reaction towards the allergies might be a cause for concern, especially if they have young children in the house.
Another reason why the best dog house for Labrador Retriever is an outdoor dog house is that an outdoor dog house will be able to provide shade and shelter to the Labrador Retriever during inclement weather. It also provides a shady place for your dog to rest in.
What Type Of Material For The Best Dog House For Labrador Retriever
This is actually very subjective. The type of material that you choose should have a very specific purpose. There are four main types of material that can be used to develop the best dog house for Labrador Retriever. The materials are Metal, Plastic, Wood, and Canvas.
- Metal Dog House
This is perhaps the most common form of a dog house. The metal components help to give the dog a good overall structural look. However, these dog houses can be pretty heavy. Also, such houses can also be too hot for the dog since metal attracts heat.
- Plastic Dog House
This also fairly common. Indeed, most Heated Dog House For Large Dogs are made from plastic. This material can be light, hence having it easy for you to change the position of the dog house for Labrador Retriever in the house. The plastic dog house for Labrador Retriever can be pretty aesthetically pleasing too.
We would recommend you to purchase the wooden dog house for Labrador Retriever. They are indeed one of the best looking dog houses that you can find on Amazon. The wooden dog house is usually sturdy, and some of them like have a nice finish to it.
What To Look Out For When Choosing The Best Dog House For Labrador Retriever
There are indeed many factors that you might want to consider when you purchase the best dog house for your beloved dog. Here are some of the factors.
- Type Of Material
This will be important for you if your dog displays any character traits that warrant action from you. For example, if your dog is docile, then all the materials will be suitable for your dog. However, if your dog is aggressive in nature, then the plastic dog house will not be suitable for them. Also, it depends if you intend to use this dog house for indoor or outdoor purposes too.
- Stability And Sturdiness
This will be one of the more important factors too. As you should know, Labrador Retrievers are large in size. In that sense, a strong and robust dog house will be important. A good dog house must be able to withstand the forces from the dog when they barge against it. A flimsy dog house will not be suitable for Labrador Retriever.
- Aesthetics
For some of us, we are not too picky on the aesthetics. However, there might be owners who are very particular about how the dog house will look when placed in the house or even outside of the house. For that matter, you will need to decide also the exact purpose of the dog house, which brings us to the next point.
- Purpose
Before you decide to purchase on the dog house, you should already have an idea of the purpose of the dog house. Is the dog house supposed to be a place for the dog to seek refuge in after playing outdoors? Then perhaps you should purchase an outdoor dog house for your Labrador Retriever. Or perhaps you want the dog house to integrate into the decor of the house? Then perhaps the dog houses that look like furniture will suffice.
Or maybe it is Summer, and you wish to purchase a dog house for them. Or the heated dog house for use during Winter?
Conclusion
There are many factors that determine the quality as well as the choice of the best dog house for Labrador Retriever. The decision should be made based on your dog’s temperament and the exact purpose of the dog house itself.
