When I think about dog houses I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic. It’s a tug of sentiment for my own childhood I‘m sure. I have positive associations with the dog houses I remember from when I was a kid. I can’t help but think of things like: The Little Rascals, Norman Rockwell paintings, pulling my small red wagon with my pooch dutifully on board (attentive to all as we moved along as if nothing in the world could be more important than what we were doing right then), and, of course, Pluto and Snoopy. Now those two had great adventures around, in, and even on, their dog houses. Theirs weren’t luxury dog houses by any means, and neither was my dog‘s. Theirs were just basic four wall dog houses with a cutout door in the front, a sloped gable roof and maybe a name painted above the entrance. But as I mentioned earlier, there’s quite a difference between these and some of the luxury dog houses out there. Consider this.
  

Did you know that you can actually get a dog house that has running water, heat and central air? I know! And the exterior design options are endless. You know those home plans books with all the little drawings of home plans? That’s basically what’s available now in luxury dog houses; pretty much anything you want. There are even some with actual furniture like couches and beds in them. The list of amenities goes on and on: indoor and outdoor lighting, stone facades, dining tables (with cutouts for food and water bowls), windows, bath tubs, welcome mats, insulated walls, multiple rooms, and of course, all beautifully landscaped. The super luxury dog houses are huge; big enough for you to go visit your dog at their place! I’m not sure who is buying these things, but it’s nice to know there are dogs out there living the life of luxury.
 

As for me and my dog, we like living together, most of the time. Don’t get me wrong, I think luxury dog houses are great. They certainly put to shame the four-walled wonder I nailed together last summer. But, I figure what he don’t know won’t hurt him. And besides, I let him in the house quite a bit. I guess my dog sort of has it in the middle. He has lots of space and some  indoor comforts, but he isn’t allowed to sleep on the couch or bed, and he certainly doesn’t join the family for dinner at the table!