apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Maybe you could TEACH her to stay put when her presence around the house is inconvenient, instead of putting her behind bars? Dogs LEARN and are glad to be TOLD HOW not to make nuisances of themselves, and besides they understand very well when they are not welcome into YOUR territory. A porch is the same as a crate is the same as a leash. No cuteness will substitute for TEACHING. Sorry if I sound a bit brash.

That's very clever and attractive. And I understand that sometimes it's necessary.

Honestly sometimes a containment area is quite useful, especially if its not an issue of the dog's behavior as much as the nervousness of a stranger in the home.

Also, my new dog would love having her own hidey-hole area to herself.

I'm assuming she doesn't use it for more than a couple hours at a time, but with that in mind, its really cute-looking.

chemoni, that is a bit harsh. My brother is a vet and encourages his patients owners to crate. It's very humane when done properly and the above photos are a perfect example of that.
By the way, I have two dog, both of whom prefer sleeping in their crate - I don't ever need to tell them to go into their crate or every close the crate door.

I second Judy's comments. Dogs actually like being crated, as long as their owners do it properly and they aren't confined for long periods. There's nothing wrong with it.

And Annie is beautiful!

that is so cool! i thought it was the top of a staircase until i looked harder. well done!

Oh you cruel, cruel craters! How could you do that to your poor, poor animal. Let them be free! Run wild in the streets! Can't you see the pain and suffering written all over that poor dog's face. The melancholy eyes, the dejected posture, the tucked tail. It's so obvious that Annie hates her crate.

Now to be serious, that first poster needs to get a grip. If you know anything about dog psychology, they enjoy crates. It's in their genes to prefer caves and enclosed spaces because they feel secure there. It's also one of the most effective ways to potty train a dog. Do the research, there's tons of information out there about it.

um, yeah, having a crate for your dog is one of the kindest things you can do for him or her
we're not talking about a veal calf here...

not only is it a place for them to go when they're tired, its also a place for them to go when they're scared or nervous or sad
they can hide during thunderstorms, retreat when there's work going on up on the roof (or god forbid mom & dad are fighting)

if they're happy with their "den" then they won't do things like sleep on your bed (or face)
and by the looks of the beautiful annie, i think i'd only want her in my bed on the very coldest night when the pipes have burst and the furnace has gone out!
she's beautiful, but HUGE!

Nice job.
Annie is obviously so well-loved!
:)

I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I once got into my brother's dog's crate because I thought it would be funny (and, it was, but everything that humiliates one is funny), and my brother's dog came over and was like "what is SHE doing in my space?" Anyway, point being, he likes his crate. He doesn't sleep in it anymore, but when he was younger, he'd go there a lot by himself even if he was just napping...and the door didn't even need to be latched.

I've learned that some dogs like to be crated and some dogs don't, just like some people like to sleep wrapped up with a blankie and some like to sprawl out across the bed. It's just a matter of preference for the pooch and his/her people. My dog loves his crate and snuggles up in there every night. We had a Golden who hated her crate so we only used it long enough to get past the potty training/teething times.

Anyway, Annie is adorable and her little home is just perfect. I love the mailbox on the door. This looks like something you'd special order from a doggie boutique for much, MUCH more than it cost to DIY.

Annie is very cute and I love this idea. This dog is obviously very loved.

Signed,
Another Evil Dog-Crater

My aunt has raised and loved Tibetan spaniels her entire adult life and she swears by crating. As others have said, the perhaps heartfelt exhortations of the first poster ignore dogs' inclinations towards "dens". The crate, when properly used, is no more a cage than are a human's own bed, apartment, or car.

And the ceramic tile is a brilliant solution for the floor. A beautiful dog with a den to match.

I'm surprised that Annie can't just jump outta there if she wanted.

It's a really cute, well executed idea.

Looks like it couldn't have possibly been that little money; looks like $1,000 or more. VERY nice. Looks very appropriate for its setting, too.

Very attractive! I have a metal kennel for my dog I'm dying to make more attractive.

That's an excellent solution. And the above posters have taken care of the "mean crate" issue quite well.

Side story: my dog Hanzo loves his crate. Once when we were visiting my parents my wife and I had to go out. We left Hanzo free to roam the house, knowing my parents would be there to keep an eye on him. Apparently he sat at the door and whined the whole time, despite offers to play and go for a walk.

The next day we crated him when we went out to get groceries. He happily bedded down and chewed his bone without a single whine.

Crates can make happy dogs.

What an original and well-executed idea!

I do crate my pup, but even if a person was anti-crate I can't see how this set up would seem that disturbing...there is no top, there is lots of light and ventilation, I am sure their dog feels absolutely a part of what's happening.

While I don't personally like columns I think it is a great acheivement. Bravo.

we can't make blanket statements about all dogs. i did not crate train my almost one year old dog, housebreaking was easy and simple. not every dog needs a crate, but some do. my only concern is uneducated dog owners that use the crate to lock up a pet for extended periods.
by the wayi think i saw annies pooch porch on court tv the other day as a witness box.

I'm sorry but only one word springs to mind: CRUEL.

i dig it. kind of reminds me a child's playhouse, except, uh, for dogs.

It is a very nice-looking little structure -- but is there enough room for her to lay down and stretch out? And, maybe her getaway was "picked up" for the photo - but it looks like it is lacking a cushy, snuggly something to make the time pass in comfort. But, it summer, huh.
(And, I love that the cat is on the outside, looking in!)

My dog was crate-trained. She hates her crate during the day, then gets visibly upset if she is not put in it at night. When she's resting around the house, she seeks out crate-like areas (mostly under tables) to rest in. If we want her to go in the crate, we give her a treat, and she generally does so happily, as long as she doesn't have to stay long.

She's a Sheltie, and like Border Collies, they need "jobs" - if they don't have one, they'll adopt one or often become destructive. Her self-appointed job is Being A Watchdog, and she's a good one. But she needs to be told when she's off-duty, and for her the signal is being closed in her crate. She doesn't rest well outside of it, and has been distraught on the few occasions in which she's been left "on duty" all night because someone fell asleep on the sofa without putting her to bed first. She's also usually crabby the next day, just like someone who didn't sleep well.

To me, the item on show is interesting, but looks a little bulkier than I'd personally like to see in my home. (It's very squat... everything seems too weighty for its low height.) But I think it's most important that Annie is happy with it, not me.

I'd like to move in this household! My favorite dog breed AND a black kitty!

Wow, you built that thing yourself? Quite a feat. That's a serious piece of architecture, and it's actually bigger than some Manhattan apartments. :)

Bernese are sooo beautiful! Annie's a knock out.

miranda, your dog is uncomfortable outside the crate because you trained her in the crate. i still don't understand the blind faith in the crate, when in fact healthy well adjusted dogs have been living with people for generations without crate training.
we used to call it home training and housebreaking.

That looks wonderful -- what a great design. You are a DIY inspiration!

Um, anti-craters, humans put their offspring in playpens and cribs, no?

Kudos on this tres-Martha Stewart-ready solution (and I say that as HIGH compliment!!)

very nice.