Dog Houses Are They a Thing of the Past?

Dog houses used to be fixtures in the American suburban landscape. That doesn't seem to be the case today. I couldn't find any statistics regarding dog houses' possible demise, but I did note that no less a source than the American Pet Product Association recently acknowledged that dogs are "moving from the dog house into our houses."

Dogs are pack animals that thrive on companionship. Much like their wolf ancestors, dogs are very social. In fact, dogs are more social than humans and need to be part of human families. When you own a dog, you become the dog's pack and he wants to be with his pack. Forcing a dog to live outside with little or no human companionship is one of the most psychological damaging things a pet owner can do to a dog.

I think dogs tend to sleep inside now in a crate or on a dog bed, as opposed to being put out for the night to sleep in a doghouse. It was once rare to have the family dog spend the night inside.

Take a look at dog houses of the past...

                                           
...and present!

Doggy Doors
With more people keeping their dogs indoors, they still want them to have access to the backyard.  For several years people have started installing doggy doors in their homes to give their pets access to the yard when they are not home. Do you have a doggy door? Would you consider having a doggy door?

Take a look at this doggy door:

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Air Conditioned Houses for Dogs are Popping Up Outside of Restaurants and Stores Across the Country Thanks to a Company Called DogSpot

With much of the country already sweating through the dog days of summer, a new company is offering four-legged friends a much-needed place to cool down.

Air-conditioned houses for dogs are popping up outside of restaurants and stores across the country thanks to a company called DogSpot.

“It’s just so hot,” said DogSpot founder Chelsea Brownridge. “That’s a reason we’ve been expanding in places like California, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.”

DogSpot offers fully air-conditioned and ventilated mini-houses where dogs can stay while their owners eat a meal inside a restaurant or run a quick errand.

The service for dogs operates similarly to the way Uber works for humans. Dog owners use an app to reserve a nearby house for their furry friend up to 15 minutes in advance.

The owner can unlock the house via the app, and then also monitor their dog on the app through a webcam.

The fee is 30 cents per minute or a $19.99 monthly membership.

“The average stay is around 15 minutes,” said Brownridge. “Which is exactly what we designed it for, to be able to live an active life with your dog but allow the dog to be comfortable too."

Brownridge created DogSpot after her experience living with her rescue dog, Winston, in Brooklyn.

“He has a ton of energy so to get him out of the house on as many walks as possible was really important,” she said. “I started to realize how many times he couldn’t come with me outside because I’d just be going to a store or restaurant for a few minutes.”

She added, “There are all these things you do every day in a walkable city like New York where dogs aren’t allowed to go inside."

In cities not as walkable as New York, dogs may be left behind in cars by their owners.

It takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car, even with its windows left slightly open, to reach 102 degrees on an 85-degree day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). On a 70-degree day, the inside of a car can be as much as 20 degrees higher, proving dangerous for dogs, notes the ASPCA.

Some states and local governments have laws prohibiting leaving animals in cars in dangerous situations, like heat. Brownridge said she supports those laws amd wants to be "part of the solution."

"We want to make [DogSpot] the safest, cleanest, best-monitored space to give pet parents the comfort of knowing their dog is safe," Brownridge added.

Brownridge and her co-founder, Todd Schechter, said they worked to launch the company on nights and weekends while they both still had full-time jobs.

They placed prototypes throughout Brooklyn and soon had a membership of around 1,000 dog owners.

To address safety concerns, the DogSpot houses are only accessible to the owner of the dog currently using the house. There is also no anonymity, as DogSpot has each user's name, phone number, and credit card information on file.

The houses self-clean after each use via UV lights and are manually cleaned each day. In the winter, the houses activate a heated floor.

Two restaurants in Ferndale, Michigan, are among the first to use DogSpot houses as part of the company’s national expansion this month.

“The vast majority of the response has been great,” said Shane Hudson, marketing manager for Kramer Restaurant Group, who brought DogSpot to two of the group’s restaurants last week. “It’s going to take a little while for people to start using them, but we’ve had quite a response.”

“It reminds me of when Uber and Airbnb first arrived,” he added. “People’s first response is like, ‘What the heck are these things?’ but once people understand the technology and how it works, I do envision it will draw folks to our restaurants.”

DogSpot's founders say they have received letters of invitation from officials in cities like Orlando, Florida, and Kansas City, Missouri as well.

DogSpot plans to launch in Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., as well as Orlando and Kansas City. DogSpots will also be available in Chattanooga, Southhampton, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Charleston, South Carolina this year.

New features coming soon include the ability to play music for your dog inside the house and to talk to your pet if he or she needs comforting, DogSpot says.

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High School Shop Students Build Over 600 Dog Houses and Over 110 Feral Cat Homes: Gives Them to Low-Income Families for Free

High school teacher Barry Stewart has an interesting way of motivating his students to learn their way around the basics of construction. His biggest assignment is to build small dog and cat houses for pets and feral animals, which are then donated to organizations and families in need at no cost. Construction of these miniature houses is similar to the way large houses for humans are built. It presents similar challenges and prepares kids for possible careers in the industry, and it’s all for a good cause. 

Mr. Stewart started this project in 2002 as a way to give his shop students at a career center some experience in the field of construction.  He had heard about Forsyth County Animal Control’s Houses for Hounds program–a program that works with animal welfare groups to give free dog houses to low-income residents. The project worked amazingly well as a teaching tool. Not only did students learn about construction, they innovated new ways to make animal houses more functional. For example, they moved doorways from the center of the house to the side to protect against wind, added two-inch entryways to prevent pets from removing their beds, and created removable roofs so feral cat caretakers could take kittens in for spaying and neutering before returning them to their families. 

Stewart’s students have made over 600 dog houses and over 110 feral cat homes since he began assigning the project. Mr. Stewart now works in Jacksonville, Florida at Englewood High School and donates the pet houses made by students to organizations like Friends of Jacksonville Animals and Epic Animals Outreach. The students have also added feeding stations to their designs. The animal homes are often carried by animal welfare officers to warn people of the danger of leaving pets exposed to the elements. They are then provided to low-income families for free.

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Dogs Are No Longer Allowed to be Tied Up for Hours on End in Springfield, Missouri

Dogs are no longer allowed to be tied up for hours on end in Springfield, Missouri. The city council unanimously voted to pass a bill that targets owners who leave their dogs tethered on chains.

City Council is enacting an ordinance to limit the tethering of dogs to temporary periods not to exceed 30 minutes. When dogs are tied up, dogs must be on a non-choke type collar.

The proposal comes at a time when many humane societies are spreading awareness that tethering pets is not only harmful to the animals but potentially dangerous for people as well.

Tethered dogs become bored, anxious and anti-social and this can cause a dog to negatively act out. It also gives rise to a higher chance of a dog lashing out and biting someone.

Dog owners who break the law could face fines.

Certain exceptions were highlighted in the bill and apply in circumstances where:

Tethering shall be allowed on rare occasions when it is necessary for the dog owner of a custodian to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be physically restrained for a reasonable amount of time.

Tethering shall be allowed for short periods of time for the dog to relieve himself.

During the time the dog is tethered, he must be provided with adequate shelter and water.

When riding outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle in transit or when tied to a legally parked vehicle, the dog must be secured by a non choke collar or body harness.

The complete wording of the bill can be read HERE. 

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Meet 'Fences for Fido' an Awesome Group of Volunteers Who Build FREE Fences for Dogs - Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington Areas

 Portland, Oregon - Fences For Fido, an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit, attends to all needs by building a fence, removing the chain, supplying a warm dog house, providing critical vet care and spay/neuter, and returning as needed to ensure the dog lives a safe, un-chained life. We are a 100% all-volunteer organization! We have NO paid staff!

Mission

To improve the quality of life for dogs living outdoors by removing chains, building fences, providing shelters, offering spay/neuter, and raising awareness about the physical, mental and emotional needs of dogs and why chaining a dog is inhumane and dangerous.

Awards

2009 News Maker of the Year: KGW TV and the Royal Rosarians
Several volunteers recognized as Hometown Heroes by local news station

Products

Six foot high welded wire fences
Wooden dog houses in various sizes w/ burlap sack dog beds filled w/cedar shavings
Spay/Neuter Surgeries for intact animals

Coordination, when possible, for help with re-homing animals.

Fences For Fido is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon building free fences for dogs living outdoors on chains, tethers or in small outdoor pens.  Our volunteers work in a large area of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.

Need a fence or know someone who does? - Request a fence online: http://www.fencesforfido.org/index.php/request-a-fence - Or call 503-621-9225
Fence requests can be made anonymously.

Join us at a build: www.fencesforfido.org/volunteering

PLEASE DONATE:  

Phone: 503-621-9225
Email: info@fencesforfido.org

Website: Fences for Fido



Video:

These volunteers are marking their 1,000th fence built to free dogs that are chained up and can't run free. For more information: 

This is what our volunteers do after the fence building is complete and the Fido is ready to be unchained. We make a large circle of love and, oh yeah, there might be some celebratory squeals as well. Welcome to our 'unchained pack' Cupcake; you are number One Thousand.

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Cold Weather Is Coming: Here's One Way to Help Outdoor Dogs

We’ve all witnessed dogs left to the elements during the cold winter months. You can allow frustration, anger, and a sense of helplessness to drag you down. Or, you can do something positive. The topic of outdoor dogs is a thorny one to be sure. Families struggle with a variety of issues from allergies to ignorance, and you’re never going to convince every last dog owner to see things your way. But, that doesn’t mean groups like Fences For Fido aren’t making a difference. This Oregon nonprofit caters to dogs chained outdoors by providing much-needed fencing, insulated dog houses, and free spay/neutering services. So what’s one way you can help dogs left out in the cold? Find an organization like this one in your area and volunteer! A little bit of your time can go a long way toward keeping dogs warm this winter.

To read more on this story, click here: Cold Weather Is Coming: Here's One Way to Help Outdoor Dogs FOLLOW US!