Wow...thank you all for the info I was looking for. As far as info goes, i get the best advice on this site.
KHNEWMAN hit it right on and had the actual experience. I had seen the plans he linked to and used it as my base. I asked a beagle guy/nut that HAS 50 BEAGLES! and he helped me pick a proper small sleeping size. As mentioned, I built a house within a house so they can get out of the winter
cold but also have an uninsulated buffer. Here is the 3 ft X 5 ft house mostly complete. The main sleeping room is insulated and is on the right. For a top to this room there will be a piece of OSB that fits on top at a 20" height followed by a thick piece of foam and another piece of OSB. They are removable so dogs can be checked and bedding changed. I don't want to overthink this but moisture in winter is a killer and I am trying to help, not hurt, these little beagles,
The base is a sandwich of of PT ply with foam inside and an OSB top for the dog's area.
Remember, this is a pro bono free (but not for me) project for my neghbor's dogs and not my own. Mine are Springer Spaniels, are well-behaved and are inside.
Tonight I'll do the siding and lift-up roof and should be good to go. I'll post more photos as I try to recall how to post a jpeg. I forgot.
Eddie--how are you doing on all of those listed projects? Seems like you are, or should be pretty busy.
Thak you all.