9 Best Insulated Dog Houses for Winter in 2022 – Reviews & Guide

Finding an insulated doghouse that can withstand winter temperatures can be a challenging experience. There are many brands available, and trying to find information about each brand can be tedious and time-consuming.

We have multiple dogs in our household and recognize the obstacles that you can face when choosing an insulated dog house. We have selected nine brands to review with you. We’ll tell you everything we liked and the problems we found about each one, and as you look over these reviews, you will begin to get an idea about what you need and what you want in an insulated dog house.

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide where we look at each part of the dog house to see what critical things you should look for when shopping. Keep reading for our detailed reviews of each brand of insulated dog houses, where we compare insulation, construction material, capacity, and durability, to help you make an educated purchase.

A Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated in 2022):

The 9 Best Insulated Dog Houses for Winter Reviewed:

Let’s get a closer look at the nine brands we have reviewed:

1. Pets Imperial Insulated Dog House – Best Overall

The Pets Imperial Insulated Wooden Norfolk Dog Kennel is our choice for the best overall insulated dog house for winter. This model is straightforward to put together and is extremely durable. It has Styrofoam insulation between two layers of wood on every panel, and adjustable feet keep the house level on uneven ground. The house sits two inches off the ground and has plastic flaps over the doorway to keep heat in and bugs out. It can hold one or more dogs and can handle up to 150 pounds.

We liked the size of this house, and two or even three of our dogs can be in it at once. The main problem we had was that the puppies liked to chew on the plastic flaps over the doorway. However, we still think that this is the best insulated dog house of 2020.

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2. AmazonBasics Insulated Dog House – Best Value

The AmazonBasics 6015M Pet House is our choice dog house for the best value. Its low cost and durable construction are two of the reasons we believe that it’s the best insulated dog house for winter for the money. This dog house is made from non-toxic polypropylene plastic and requires no assembly. You only need to snap the flooring to the one-piece housing. It’s easy to clean by removing the floor and hosing down.

The only real downside that we could find with this house is that it’s not quite big enough for larger dogs, and it can only hold one dog at a time.

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3. ASL Insulated Dog House – Premium Choice

The ASL Solutions BLZ-9698 Deluxe Insulated Dog Palace is our premium choice dog house for winter. This model costs more than many of the other brands on this list, but it’s high quality and durable. This house is easy to assemble and features a self-closing doggy door that you can remove or leave partially in place until your pet gets the hang of it. It’s also quite large and should have no trouble holding most dogs. The foam-filled walls and ceiling will help keep the cold and heat out while protecting your pet and providing shade.

Besides its high cost, the only problem we had while using this dog house is that it can be challenging to clean and require some disassembly to get everywhere.

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4. SF Net Winter Insulated Dog House

The SF Net Trading Winter Warm Foldable Non-Slip Outdoor Pet Kennel is a soft-sided and foldable dog house. This dog house features plenty of cushioning, and the top folds down to create a doggie bed. The walls and bed are durable waterproof nylon that resists staining and is machine washable. The bottom features a non-slip rubber pad. This house is also available in many sizes to accommodate most pets.

Even though your pet is out of the sunlight and the material is waterproof, this isn’t the type of bed that you are going to leave outdoors. It might work on a covered porch or garage, but it won’t last in the open. It’s also not very durable compared to many of the other models on this list, and the roof tends to sag down after a few weeks. Ours arrived stuffed haphazardly into a plastic back and was very wrinkled

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5. Petmate Indigo Insulated Dog House

The Petmate 25942 Indigo Dog House is an igloo-shaped outdoor dog house with an extended entrance. This dog house uses a durable, heavy-duty plastic construction and is equipped with ceiling vents to improve air circulation. You can purchase this house in several sizes, and you can order it with a door and heating pad as well.

The downside to this house is that it lets a lot of rain in through the front door and the ceiling vents. Even with the front door installed, we got a lot of rain inside the house. The door and the doorway were also favorite things to chew for our pets.

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6. Heininger Dog House

The Heininger 3095 PortablePET HoundHouse is a lightweight canvas outdoor dog house. It keeps your pet 6-inches above ground to keep them dry and allow plenty of air to circulate under the house. The design is lightweight and easy to transport.

We feel that this is an excellent summer bed that will keep your pet cool and out of the sun during the summer months, but it’s far from practical for wintertime use because there is no insulation or solid walls. It’s only a single piece of fabric and a metal frame. The fabric also tends to wear down and rip in certain spots where it meets the frame, and if your pet likes to use their claws. We also noticed that it’s prone to filling up with air and tipping over on windy days, and a few times, it even made it to the next yard. It’s also hard to clean because it doesn’t come off the frame easily, and the corners are hard to reach.

• Related Reads: Best Dog Beds for Big Dogs & Best Dog Beds for Small Dogs 

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7. ASL Solutions Insulated Dog House

The Heininger 3095 PortablePET HoundHouse is a durable and easy to clean outside dog house suitable for colder weather. All panels on this house feature Styrofoam insulation to protect your pet from cold temperatures, and the floor is raised off the ground four inches, acting as a thermal shield from cold and wet soil. The hard polypropylene material is non-toxic, wipes clean, is resistant to UV rays, and cracking due to temperature changes.

What we didn’t like about this house is that it’s too small for many breeds of dogs, and there are no larger sizes offered. Water also gets in quickly through the back air vent and the front door, which can puddle. Our pets also liked to chew on the door.

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8. ecoFLEX Rustic Lodge Dog House

The ecoFLEX ECOH203XL-GN Rustic Lodge Style Dog House is a large dog house suitable for one or more dogs up to 140 pounds. The walls are a plastic-wood polymer that won’t absorb moisture and is resistant to mold and mildew. It’s also effortless to clean and can be wiped down or hosed off.

We liked that we could assemble this dog house without tools, but the directions were extremely challenging to follow and we built ours wrong on the first try. There is also no insulation on this model, nor is there a front door or door flap, though, you can purchase one separately.

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9. Climate Master Insulated Dog House

The Climate Master Plus Insulated Dog House is the last model of the insulated dog houses on our list. This enormous model is for large dogs or households with many pets. It’s one of the best insulated houses on this list and has 1.5 inches of residential grade Styrofoam insulation in all walls and ceiling. This house is very durable and uses a patented PanelAbode Laminated Engineered Panel System, which simulates the look of rough-sawn cedar. Assembly was easy, and the directions were straightforward.

The downside to this brand is that it is costly and runs two to three times more than any of the other brands on this list. It’s also heavy and is more of a permanent structure than a portable or temporary dog house.

• Now that you have a house picked out – learn how to safely heat it! 

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Insulated Dog Houses for Winter

Let’s look at some of the things that are important to consider when choosing a dog house for winter use.

Insulation

The first thing we should look at when purchasing an insulated dog house is the insulation material. There are three types of houses on our list. Those with no insulation, those with a stuffing kind of insulation, and those with a Styrofoam kind of insulation.

No Insulation

We are reading an article about insulated dog houses, but the insulation doesn’t always need to be built-in. Dog houses with high-grade insulation can be expensive. Often, if the dog house is large enough, you can add insulation in the form of blankets and heated pads that result in a warmer environment for your pet than a commercial unit can provide. This DIY insulation can be easily removed, cleaned, and replaced. Many times, a sizable, sturdy home is the best starting point.

The biggest downside to this type of dog house is the need to supply the insulation, which will add to the cost. It also places the burden of providing enough thermal protection on you.

Stuffing Insulation

This type of insulation is the type often found in dog beds. In fact, many dog houses that use this type of insulation can convert into a dog bed. This insulation is more like a thick blanket, coat, or pillow. It is comfortable and will keep you warm, but it’s not usually the right solution for outdoors. The type of insulation can soak up water and hold it, allowing mold and mildew to form. This type of dog house might work on a covered porch or in a garage, but it won’t hold up out in the open.

Styrofoam Insulation

Styrofoam insulation is the highest quality insulation usually available in outdoor dog houses. This type of insulation wedges Styrofoam between two wooden or plastic panels. These dog houses can be quite expensive, but they are often very durable and well-constructed. If your pet likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, Styrofoam insulated dog houses are certainly worth the investment.

Cleaning

The ability to clean your insulated dog house is a primary concern when making your purchase. If you are using a house with stuffing insulation, you will want to use a washing machine to clean it. If you are using a dog house with Styrofoam insulation or no insulation, you will need to be able to clean it with a cloth or a hose.

Doors

Another thing to look into when shopping for your insulated dog house is a door. A door can help keep warm air inside the dog house and will also prevent rain or snow from getting in. Some doors are removable when they are not needed. The one downside to doors is that some dogs may have a hard time getting used to going in and out.

Ventilation

When choosing your dog house, always check to make sure there is adequate ventilation installed, especially when there is a door installed. Ventilation is essential for air circulation in the summer months, as well as the winter months.

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed reading over our insulated dog house for winter reviews and buyer’s guide. If you still haven’t decided, we recommend our pick for the best overall. The Pets Imperial Insulated Wooden Norfolk Dog Kennel features Styrofoam insulated walls and has a raised floor. It’s durable and easy to clean. The AmazonBasics 6015M Pet House is our choice for the best value, and it’s almost as good as our top choice dog house but in a smaller package and for a lower cost.

We truly hope that this guide helps you find the best insulated dog house so that your furry friend can stay warm during the cold winter. Good luck!

Also, if you have learned something new from our buyer’s guide and our reviews have brought you closer to a decision, please share these insulated dog house reviews on Facebook and Twitter.