In my previous blog dedicated to pet owners I provided tips on what should be done around your home prior to bringing Fido or Fluffy home for the first time. In another blog entitled “Home Remodeling and Your Pet,” I recommended looking at your home through your pet’s eyes before you fork over money to have a contractor refurbish your home. In this blog I’m addressing the category of pet owners my brother fits into—lazy.
My brother owns a pug and the thought of redecorating his home around Bertha was simply out of the question. (“Way too much work,” he insisted.) If you are anything like my brother you love your pet, but you simply don’t want to compromise your down time to puppy-proof your home. Completely understandable—which is why my brother built Bertha her own home.
My brother happens to live in Hawaii so Bertha’s home is adjacent to a lovely yard, which she loves to romp in. However, the idea of an outdoor doghouse may not be feasible for someone who owns a dog in North Dakota (although I have seen a few outdoor dog houses here in Wisconsin despite our brutal winters).
When you think of doghouses what comes to mind? I think Snoopy… and his simple red dwelling. Of course, I am not a pet owner so (as I am told by my brother) I could not possibly know what it is like to cater to the needs of a pampered pet. (Never mind that I am raising a 2-year-old that our parents spoil like crazy. Apparently, dogs have needs… and wants. Enter Doggie Mansions, a luxury real estate firm catering to the needs of pampered pets. The company prides itself on being able to recreate pet owner’s homes on a smaller scale. You start by sending in a photo of your own home and a doggie architect custom builds a scaled down version for your pooch. You can choose amenities from air-conditioning/heater combo units and doggie water fountains to ceramic floors and designer furnishings. They will even install a pool and hurricane-proof windows.
Now, lest you think Bertha lives in one of these luxury mansions, think again. My brother simply has the company’s brochure—his pug lives in a traditional single-story doghouse with her bed, dish, bowl and toys.
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