9 Best Dog Houses for a German Shepherd – 2024 Reviews and Top Picks
By Ed Malaker
Updated on
German Shepherds are medium to large-sized working dogs that can take up a fair amount of space while sleeping. If you want to purchase a new doghouse for your pet, you might be surprised by how many brands there are, and it can be difficult to choose the best one.
We’ve selected nine brands with reviews so you can see the differences between them. For each one, we’ve included the pros and cons. Keep reading while we discuss the size, comfort, ease of setup, and more to help you make an informed decision.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites – 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Confidence Pet Kennel House |
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Best Value | Fit Choice Elevated Dog House |
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Premium Choice | PawHut Dog House |
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Best for Puppies | Amazon Basics Elevated Pet House |
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Giantex Plastic Dog House |
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The 9 Best Dog Houses for a German Shepherd
1. Confidence Pet XL Waterproof House – Best Overall
Size: | 41” x 38” x 39” |
Material: | Plastic |
The Confidence Pet XL Waterproof Plastic Dog Kennel Outdoor House is our pick as the best overall doghouse for a German Shepherd. It’s 41-inches deep, 38-inches wide, and 39-inches tall, so it has plenty of internal volume for your pet to move around and get comfortable. Two air vents make sure your pet always has plenty of fresh air, and it’s waterproof and safe to use outside. We found it easy to assemble, and our dog seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. It’s also available in several other sizes if you are looking for something smaller for one of your other pets.
The only downside we experienced while using the Confidence was that the walls are thin, so it won’t provide much protection from the heat or cold. The thin quality also makes it a little flimsy, and you’ll need to be careful setting it up that you don’t crack anything.
- Waterproof
- Easy assembly
- Two air vents
- Available in multiple sizes
- Thin walls
2. Fit Choice Elevated Dog House – Best Value
Size: | 36.6” x 36.6” x 40.9” |
Material: | Steel and PVC fabric |
The Fit Choice Elevated Dog House, Portable Dog House Crate for Indoor & Outdoor is our pick as the best dog house for a German Shepherd for the money. This elevated bed will keep your pet off the damp and hard floor, so it can get better rest. The painted steel frame resists rusting, and the PVC material is durable while remaining flexible, breathable, and, most importantly, comfortable. Our pets enjoyed lounging around in it, and it’s lightweight enough to take with you on family outings. Assembly is easy and doesn’t require any tools.
We loved the Fit Choice Elevated Dog House, and it’s one of our go-to houses. However, if your dog is a chewer, it will easily tear up this bed when you aren’t looking. We also have a dog that likes to run and jump into his bed, and this frame wasn’t quite up to the task.
- Elevated floor
- Multiple sizes available
- Sturdy and durable design
- Easy to assemble
- Dogs might chew it
- Not sturdy enough for nervous dogs
3. PawHut 59 “x64” x39” Wood House – Premium Choice
Size: | 59” x 63.5” x 39.25” |
Material: | Wood |
The PawHut 59 “x64” x39” Wood Large Dog House is our premium choice dog house for a German Shepherd, and it only takes one look to see why. With two rooms and a large front porch, this cabin-style doghouse will allow your pet to live better than many humans. It is extremely attractive and will accent any yard while providing shelter for your pet. Its all-wood construction is durable, and it has a raised to increase air circulation and provide a more comfortable sleep. The hinged roof design makes for easy cleaning and also helps with temperature control.
We haven’t seen too many dog houses more attractive than this one, but it is extremely expensive and can get a little cramped for a full-grown German shepherd due to the two-room design. The overall house is so large. You will only be able to place it outdoors.
- Cabin Style
- Two separate rooms
- Hinged roof
- Elevated design
- Front porch
- Expensive
- Only for outdoors
- A little small
4. Amazon Basics Elevated Portable House – Best for Puppies
Size: | 13.78” x 29.49” x 43.31” |
Material: | Steel and Oxford fabric |
The Amazon Basics Elevated Portable Pet House is our pick as the best doghouse for puppies. It uses a durable yet comfortable Oxford fabric to provide your puppy with a comfortable sleep. The steel frame raises the bed off the floor to increase air circulation and reduce moisture build-up. It also has a large opening that your pet can use to get in and out easily.
Our puppies enjoyed this bed and slept in it often. However, it’s a little small for a full-grown German Shepherd, and their weight can damage the frame. We also had a tough time assembling it, and it took two of us to pull the fabric over the frame.
- Raised floor
- Comfortable design
- Plenty of ventilation
- Large front opening
- Hard to assemble
- Small for fully grown dogs
5. Giantex Plastic Dog House Waterproof Ventilate Pet Kennel
Size: | 27” x 25” x 28” |
Material: | Polypropylene |
The Giantex Plastic Dog House Waterproof Ventilate Pet Kennel is similar to another model we’ve already looked at on this list. This one features a raised floor along with two air vents and a waterproof roof. An interesting feature of this model is that it has built-in ground stakes that help keep the doghouse in place. They are especially helpful if you have an active dog that likes to run into its house, causing it to slide around your yard. We liked the easy assembly, and our dogs enjoyed using it.
The problem we had with the Giantex is that the plastic walls are flimsy and easily broken. The thin plastic also does not protect from cold or hot temperatures, so you need to keep it in a shady area near another structure or wall.
- Raised floor
- Waterproof roof
- Ground stakes
- Easy to assemble
- Two air vents
- No insulation
- Flimsy
6. PawHut Outdoor Dog Kennel
Size: | 13’ x 8’ x 6’ |
Material: | Galvanized steel |
The PawHut Outdoor Dog Kennel is by far the largest doghouse for a German Shepherd on this list, with dimensions measured in feet instead of inches. This brand provides your dog with a large play area and is perfect as a temporary outdoor enclosure. The galvanized steel won’t rust and can stay outside for many years. Setup is easy, and it features a lockable front door.
This kennel is great for breeding, housing puppies, and much more. The only thing we could complain about is that there is no cover unless you purchase it separately. It’s quite heavy, so it’s not as travel friendly as it seems, and it’s one of the more expensive houses on this list.
- Spacious interior
- Extremely durable
- Lockable door
- No cover
- Heavy
- Expensive
7. Starplast Mocha/Brown Large Dog House/Kennel
Size: | 33” x 33” x 32” |
Material: | Polypropylene |
The Starplast Mocha/Brown Large Dog House/Kennel is easy to build and requires no tools. We loved the traditional doghouse appearance, and our dogs liked it too. The UV-stable polypropylene won’t fade or become in sunlight, and the large doorway was easy for our dogs to get through. We found it easy to assemble, and it was operational in just a few minutes.
Our smaller dogs loved the Starplast, but it proved to be a little small for our fully-grown German Shepherd. When our bigger dogs were inside, the walls would flop around, and it seemed flimsy.
- Easy to assemble
- UV stable
- Large, open doorway
- Small
- Flimsy
8. Rockever Wood Dog Houses
Size: | 45” x 31” x 31” |
Material: | Wood |
Rockever Wood Dog Houses are large and spacious to provide your pet with plenty of room to move around. Its durable wooden build is weatherproof, and it does a good job of staying dry. The walls are a little thicker than most of the modern plastic models, so it’s a little better at holding in heat and keeping out the cold weather. It has a removable floor and a hinged lid that helps make it easy to clean.
We liked the Rockever, but it was extremely difficult to assemble, and we even needed to pull out the drill to put the lid on. Once built, it wasn’t sturdy, and we were unsure how long it would last.
- Weatherproof
- Removable floor
- Hinged lid
- Hard to put together
- Not very sturdy
9. Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin
Size: | 44.7” x 32” x 32.5” |
Material: | Wood and asphalt |
The Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin features durable all-wood construction. It has an asphalt roof that will help protect it against rain as well as sunshine. It’s available in multiple sizes, including one large enough for your German Shepherd. Its adjustable feet allow you to make it stable on uneven surfaces, so it’s more versatile.
The downside to the Petmate Precision is that the wood is extremely thin and untreated, so it will quickly absorb any humidity, causing the wood to warp. If you are handy, you can seal the wood to get more life out of it, but it’s better suited to the indoors.
- Durable construction
- Asphalt roof
- Wood construction
- Multiple sizes
- Adjustable feet
- Thin wood
- Wood not sealed
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Dog House for German Shepherds
German Shepherd Size
One of the main considerations you will need to make when choosing a doghouse for your German Shepherd is the size. Your dog can get quite large, so they will need extra room to get comfortable. We recommend a house with at least one of the dimensions exceeding 25 inches, but larger is better. German Shepherds can also stand about 30-inches tall, so it’s best to get one with a roof about that high.
Dog House Material
Wood Dog House
Wood is one of our favorite materials because it usually results in a high-quality doghouse with some natural insulation that helps protect your pet from the heat and cold. It usually looks better, the dogs prefer it, and it is biodegradable and safer for the environment. However, wood can absorb moisture, so you need to re-seal it frequently, or it will warp and degrade. These houses are usually more expensive than the others on this list.
Plastic Dog House
Another popular material to make dog houses from is plastic. These houses are usually much less expensive than other types, and many of them can be quite attractive, with all kinds of designs possible. While plastic can be a great choice, we found that it tends to be less breathable than the other types and some brands use plastic that your German Shephard can easily destroy.
Steel and Fabric Dog House
Steel and fabric is another popular choice for dog houses, and it requires you to pull a dense fabric over a steel frame. Many of these houses lift your dog off the ground for increased air circulation and comfort. The house is lightweight, and this type makes an excellent choice for camping trips and other outdoor activities. The downside to these houses is that the fabric and tear easily, especially under the weight of a fully grown German Shepherd, and dogs tend to chew on these houses more than the others.
Final Thoughts
When choosing your next doghouse for a German Shepherd, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. The Confidence Pet XL Waterproof Plastic Dog Kennel Outdoor House provides your pet plenty of room to move around and get comfortable. It’s waterproof and has two air vents for maximum ventilation. It’s also easy to set up, and your dog will be using it within minutes of it arriving. Another smart choice is our pick as the best value. The Fit Choice Elevated Dog House has an elevated floor to provide your pet with the ultimate sleeping experience and maximum ventilation on hot summer days. It’s easy to assemble and results in a house that is stable and attractive.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this list and found a few models you would like to try out. If we helped improve your dog’s naptime, please share these best dog houses for a German Shepherd on Facebook and Twitter.