As much as our dogs have made themselves very comfortable in our human homes, you just can’t take the “dog out of the doghouse.” Tracing our canine friends back into history, their wild ancestors lived in dens and in some situations even with all the comforts we afford our canine pals – at times they also enjoy their private times. 

Dog houses are the perfect structures to keep them cool in the summer, warm in the winter or just that special hideout – perhaps to get away from the noise, the children or even the annoying family cat. And of course, there are not restrictions of setting up a dog house even in your home.

So what should we look for in a dog house? After all there are so many choices, so many styles and so many different prices. There are a few features, however we should consider, and these suggestions move more towards the dog houses that will be outside in the yard:

• Water resistant – whether rain, sleet, snow or hail, we want our dogs to be able to stay dry
• Have a raised floor -will help keeping water out of the dog house, warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
• Easy to maintain – you will want to clean it regularly and if it’s easy to wash out perhaps with the garden hose by having a removable roof or at least one side easily removed for ease of cleaning
• Choose the correct size – not too big and not too small. Standard answers for size indicates the dog house be just large enough for your dog to enter, turn around and lie down. Too big, the house loses heat. The most effective way is to measure your dog – weight may not always be the correct governor of preferred size although it will give you a rough (“ruff”) estimate. Use the guides included when ordering your new dog house as to the dog’s shoulder height, length and even Fido’s width
• Ease of assembly – never forget putting together toys for the children or setting up furniture with 145 little parts
• Decide on the type of dog house and the material which best fits your dog’s situation. Construction from wood, plastic, insulated and even heated dog houses give dog owners lots of choices.

So which one is my favorite? It’s a dog house with a “room with a view.” Made of  cedar and stained, it’s the perfect place for my smaller dog – a rescued Shih Tzu from Miami Dade Animal Services. The lower room is raised off the ground; he likes to climb and the “balcony” perch gives him a perfect view of the backyard while the humans lounge  too. The top is removable for easy cleaning, and a soft cushion can easily be placed in the bottom of the house for a quiet and most comfortable nap.

Purchase the Merry Products Wood Pet Home from Amazon.com for $71.56.
Note: Every purchase through Amazon helps the Pet Rescue Report continue their work.