I was recently shown a fantastic dogs house by a colleague of mine at DOGmatized and after looking a bit further we found some more extraordinary ones!! I’ve never really considered getting a dogs house but reading about why other dog lovers have got them made me consider getting one. The reasons I have found include:

• Being able to leave your dog outside. This may be handy if you are away from the house for an extended period of time or if someone pops round to your house who isn’t keen on dogs. While being convenient for you it allows them to have some shelter so they’re not cooped up. Also as some dogs get stressed if they’re left in the house, a kennel offers them the outdoor freedom they crave as well as reassuring their owner that they will remain safe and dry
• It gives dogs a place to escape bad weather conditions.
• Some people feel it adds a bit more security to their home having the dogs outside to deter any unwanted intruders.
• It provides dogs with their own space to chill out.
• If your dog is a bit indecisive about whether it wants to be inside or outside (like mine) which may be a bit frustrating the dogs house enables a happy medium. Your dog can be left outside but also can have the comfort of being inside the dogs house should he/she choose to use it. Hooray no more getting up and down, up and down, up and down….
• You can get dog kennels that keep dogs cool in warm weather and nice and cosy when it’s a bit nippy outside.
• Finally some dog houses just look really nice!

Some dogs houses we found…

We’ve had a little look and here are some houses that look/sound pretty good …

This is a large dogs house (£84. 99) with a sloped roof. It has some really nice features including that the doorway has windproof and waterproof resistant strips, the roof and the rubber flooring can be taken off meaning it’s easy to clean and the wood has been treated using treated using a water based anti fungicidal animal and environment friendly stain. For more information follow this link.

This cute traditional looking dog house (£69. 95) also has some nice features, it’s raised from the ground to prevent damp and cold, is easy to assemble and has a watertight covered Apex roof which allows rain to run off.  To find it follow this link.

Now this one I’m really tempted to get for my Jack Russells, it’s a small fluffy indoor small dog/cat/rabbit house (£14. 50) and looks sooooo cosy Here’s the link. 

Let use know what you think about these houses or dog houses in general, or if you have one send us a picture, we would love to see it!

And if you want to see some really wacky dog houses (which I’m sure you do) follow this link

It’s really an amazing story on several levels; from the incredible will to live on the part of the dog to be able to fight off starvation,

Australian Shepherd

dehydration, and the harsh elements; to the group of strangers who selflessly took action to save the life of this dog who had been abandoned in a harsh, unforgiving environment by her master.

I imagined myself in that same situation and wondered what circumstance, if any, could possibly force me to choose to leave my dog

behind without shelter, food, or water?

Would you have been able to leave your dog on that mountain?

Some are easy to find and some are not so easy, but enjoyable fun can be had whilst we do our best to keep fit with the long walks we cover….this one was not so easy to find

The woodland area is alive in colour with bluebell’s

Tilly has been having great chase games with Roe and Munkjack Deer and local pheasant and rabitts all part of her hunting skills which she is learning much better than before.

 Like most prisons, this one was built in a remote area, a corner of the owner’s back yard that is as far from the house as possible. As dog prisons go, this one would be described by people inclined to use one as nice. It probably was expensive.

Naturally, the dog barks at all hours of the day and night, but nobody ever responds. Far worse is when he yips, whines and yelps, pleading for attention he doesn’t get. I’ve never seen anybody play with him, walk him or even speak to him.

The pleading tends to happen when the owner lets her other dog outside to run around in the yard. It must be especially hard on the prisoner to watch this other dog, who is allowed to run free several times a day, then return to live inside the house to enjoy the company of someone who obviously cares about him.

What possible reason could this person have for keeping an intelligent being, a social animal eager for affection, in a condition of deprivation inflicted only on the most dangerous criminals of the human community? The cruelty and waste of it are appalling.

The dog isn’t able to protect anyone, and isn’t kept for companionship. What benefit does the owner get from ignoring the lonely creature caged outside in all types of weather?

This dog’s owner spurned friendly attempts to engage or educate her about how to bring her dog indoors. But sometimes, such owners can be convinced to improve conditions for their dogs or even surrender them for adoption into a better situation. For help exploring these possibilities, check the national nonprofit, Dogs Deserve Better at www.dogsdeservebetter.com. If you can do nothing else, consider sending a little money to any nonprofit working to eliminate neglect and cruelty to pets.

Whenever this dog barks or whines, I imagine a special hell for its owner and all those like her. It consists of a small, outdoor prison, where the woman would be isolated and confined for her entire life. No company, no comfort, no appeal. And whenever she pleaded and hollered for attention, no response at all, except for the deep satisfaction felt by neighbors at the sound of justice being done.

The Eagle offers pictures just like Travis’ for purchase but Travis is not included at the site. Has the Eagle supressed access to his picture? Who watches the watchers?

Now the hard part of being President, dealing with reality.

A picture that, for many, sums up the election.

And Paul Jackson posts a poem from long ago that rang true yesterday.

The final ballot-shower from East to West – the paradox and conflict,

The countless snow-flakes falling – (a swordless conflict,

Yet more than all Rome’s wars of old, or modern Napoleon’s): the peaceful choice of all,

Now it’s your turn. Put your citizenship to use and vote. Win, lose or Barr.

Travis returns from New Orleans to snap a few local flood pictures.

Hal looks at the local TV station’s coverage of the mess.

Lily is no match for Sadie’s speed and agility. She bounces through the house trying to maintain all four of her paws under her body. Sometimes Lily stumbles trying to catch Sadie the squirt. Sadie darts under and jumps over Lily. She uses her trademark evasive maneuvers to outwit, outrun, and out swirl dear Lily.

Indoors, Lily grunts and grrsss to let us know she is not amused by Sadie’s flashy style and confident body control. Indoors, she keeps Sadie in her place. When Sadie becomes too hyper (often we must say), Lily gives a swift, appropriately weighted boxer punch to the torso. Sadie calms down. Then Lily tries in vain to out run Sadie to whatever is attracting their attention.

Outdoors, they have a symbiotic relationship. Sadie dashes, darts and poses. Lily punches and glares. Lily is the muscle behind Sadie’s antics when we are on the street.

Rarely does Lily win the indoor races. It is a different story outdoors. There, Lily’s size and stature are matched by her graceful movements. Outdoors, Sadie must run as fast as she can – which is mighty fast – to keep pace with Lily’s giant gallops.

MM & RY 2008