As temperatures rise, it’s essential to know how to keep your dog cool and safe. Summer heat can be downright dangerous for dogs as they have thick fur that retains heat and have fewer sweat glands. 

On a hot day, their body temperature can reach up to 105F, resulting in dizziness, nausea, and weakness. Dogs are also susceptible to heatstroke, which can occur when their body temperature rises to 107F or higher. 

A regular dog house will not be enough to keep your pet comfortable during summer. So, having a climate-controlled dog house for your four-legged friend is highly important. One of the best solutions for keeping your dog cool in summer is to opt for a dog house air conditioner. 

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Types of Air Conditioning Units for Your Dog House

Portable AC units are a popular option for a dog house. They are compact units and can easily be moved around. You can also get a portable heat pump for your dog house that provides heating in addition to cooling. 

In case you have limited floor space, you can choose to install a window air conditioner or a through-the-wall AC unit. The outdoor portable air conditioner is another option. It stays outside the house while holes are drilled to fit the air ducts that will supply the conditioned air inside.

The evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler, is another way to keep your dog cool. It propels out moist air to provide a cooling effect. They come with a water tank that needs to be refilled. It is a cost-effective cooling solution for your dog house, but on the downside, it cannot be used in humid areas. 

To maintain an ideal temperature in your climate-controlled dog house, you can opt for smart AC controllers that work with mini-split, window, portable, and through-the-wall air conditioners. With a smart AC controller, you can set the ideal temperature and humidity range for dogs and control all the AC settings remotely using your phone. This is highly convenient as this eliminates the need to manually check the AC settings every now and then.

Things to Consider Before Installing a Dog House Air Conditioner

Here are the top factors to consider before installing an air conditioning unit in your dog house. 

1. Type of Dog House

Most dog houses available in the market are created using plastic as they are durable and easy to move around. However, plastic cannot withstand extreme weather conditions such as extreme heat or cold. The wood is a better option as it’s a natural insulator and will help to maintain a consistent temperature inside.

You don’t necessarily have to buy expensive air-conditioned kennels. It is quite easy to retrofit your existing dog house with an AC unit. You can also build a dog house yourself and then install an AC in it. When building a house from scratch, it’s best to use sustainable construction materials such as bamboo or reclaimed wood. 

2. Insulation

Insulation is highly important to prevent the sun from overheating the dog house and also to help the air conditioners work effectively. To insulate your dog house, you can use foam insulation on the wall and plywood on the floor.

3. Location of Dog House

Putting your dog house outside in direct sunlight can heat it up quickly, and your air conditioning will not be able to work effectively. You can put it under a tree so it can benefit from shade, or you can also place it on your porch to protect against harsh sunlight.

To prevent the ground heat from warming up the dog house, there should be a considerable distance between the house and the floor.

4. Location of AC Unit

Choose a corner where your dog can’t mess around with the air conditioner and chew the electrical cords. Also, choose to install it near the electrical outlet. You can use an extension cord if there isn’t any outlet in the dog house. If your dog house is small, you can install the unit outside so your dog can move freely inside.

5. Installing an AC Unit in Your Dog House 

In the case of a portable unit, you just exhaust the hose out of the window or a hole in the wall and plug in the unit. Window AC unit installation is also pretty easy, and you can even do it yourself.  For through-the-wall units, you will have to make a cut out in the wall for the installation. After installation of the window or wall unit, make sure to apply weatherstripping around the sides to prevent cool air from leaking out. For portable units, use sealant to seal the area around the exhaust hose.  

In Conclusion

When the outside temperature fluctuates, it is important to take precautions for your dog. Air conditioning is one of the best ways to regulate the dog house temperature. AC units are available in various sizes and styles to fit any dog house, and they can help protect your pet from harsh weather conditions.

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