Large Dog Houses

In a recent discussion on creating places of rest in your landscape, I started thinking about things people consider essential. For most of us, that would be a water element, a table or bench, someplace to sit and converse with friends or even a place for that coveted afternoon nap. It sounds idyllic but the scene changes when you add in the family pet.

Granted, in our imaginary world, the family dog lazes by our feet as we sip our cool drink by the burbling fountain. In reality, when you head for the house to get that drink, Fido makes a bed in the nice soft garden dirt you just planted petunias in.

I don't believe in fencing off the sideyard with a poorly constructed doghouse and leaving your pet there to dig to China or howl at the neighbors. For me, an exercise yard is just that, a place your pet can safely exercise and get fresh air when you are momentarily occupied. For instance, I used to raise and train Rottweilers for the American show ring. Our dogs liked to play with our children and visit us in the house, but when other kids came to play, they retired to their yard. Why? When you have a big dog, it's easy for a child to accidentally get hurt. When your dog is a breed that people are afraid of, it doesn't take much for someone to claim your dog is mean. For the sakes of both the people and the dogs, it is easier to keep them separated. My children knew Sheba could watch TV with them but if their friends came over, she went to her crate. I shared more of her story on my Outdoor Garden Statues blog.

So when you are working on those landscape plans, why not incorporate your dog's needs into the blueprint. Functional need not be boring and everyone enjoys a happy, well behaved dog.

I decided to team up with Doghouses.com because I have had a kennel full of dogs and know how important shelter is when our Florida skies open in a sudden downpour.

When I was a child, we had a beagle named Duffy who loved to stay on the flat top of her house. I guess being short, it gave her a new perspective on the world. We lived in New York and at times the house gave her a perch above the snow.

I noticed the Doghouses.com site included customer feedback and many of the replies included how their dog responded to their new house. The best doghouse in the world is useless unless your dog actually likes it.

Complete your pet's new house with an attachable door and a comfortable mat. When he is in your home, provide a comfortable bed and/or crate. Of all the dogs I raised, the only two I lost to accidents were adult dogs who had never been crate trained.

I don't know if something had happened to her but I adopted an adult Weimaraner that completely spazzed out about being put in a crate. Training her was going to be a long process. For the most part she was good in the house but one day while we were out, she got into a cupboard and ate 2 loaves of bread, wrappers and all. Between the bloat and stomach torsion it caused, we lost her. If she had been crate trained it would never have happened.

I have had people tell me that they thought crates were cruel but it was the first place my girls headed to when a thunderstorm came. For them, it was their safe place. Their crates also helped to control the hair when they were shedding and kept them safe when company came. I always started them when they were young with lots of love and treats and I never had a problem with them once they realized that was their space.