When it comes to providing for our pets we will go to any length to ensure their comfort and happiness. However, there are times when amenities may be cost prohibitive. But owning your own cool dog house doesn’t have to mean it will be an expensive dog house. Here we will discuss ways to get that cool dog house that will be the talk of the neighborhood and keep your pet cozy while not over spending.  

ARE YOU CRAFTY?

YEP! I can totally build my own cool dog house.

Fantastic! You’re a DIY person or one that knows their way around a toolbox. This method will be the most effective way to not break the bank. A simple internet search for designs or plans for cool dog houses (or the old fashioned way and seek out ideas at your local bookstore) revealed a lot of ideas and instructions on how to build a cool dog house using parts that are easily accessible from your neighborhood hardware store. The pieces you need may very well already be in your possession from previous projects. You never know what might be hiding in your garage.

If you’re a green driven person, utilizing recycled materials can create unique and cool dog houses too.  Here is one made from recycled glass bottles.

You can also be innovative and add solar panels or a small herb rooftop garden to your cool dog house.

While there is no real advantage or market for a used dog house, you don’t have to avoid visiting garage sales or flea markets to find the idea for your cool dog house. Many items can be hollowed out or re-imagined to cater to you and and your pet’s personality.

That old wood encased televsion or armoire that someone wants to get rid of could be the perfect base to structure your very own DIY cool dog house.

NOPE. I have no artistic ability or time. Does that mean I can’t get a Cool Dog House?

Okay, so you don’t know which side of a hammer is which. That’s fine.  There are many options out there ranging from plastic to wood to the durable cypress fir that Advantek utilizes in our dog houses.

Shopping for the cool dog house that is the perfect match will take a little research. You want to make sure it is ideal for your pet. Since we all love our pets, we may tend to overthink the process. This is normal and nothing to worry about. We all want to provide the best quality that we can.

Start simple.

Where do you live? Is it urban, suburban or country? If you have a balcony of only 20 square feet on the 25th floor of a high rise apartment building in Chicago you need to think about… wind… cold? (More on climate choices next week.) But if you live in Florida where the grass stays green all year and space may not be limited, your options are much more vast.  What is the size of your pet? Just because we love a design doesn’t make it the right choice.

Satchel may look happy in his cool dog house but we’d hate for him to bump his head.

Do you need to worry about predators? While we never want to think about it, we do need to be proactive and not reactive when it comes to protecting our pets.  Do you live in coyote or snake country? Don’t forget about the safety of your pet when searching for your cool dog house.  One option is to include your cool dog house inside of an enclosed structure. Advantek’s Pavilion Pet Gazebo is one such idea.  Inserting your cool dog house will provide your pet with additional protection.

There’s also the old fashioned way.  Go to your local retail locations and compare. While we may spend most of the time on the internet doing the research there’s still something about going out there and taking your pet with you (many pet stores welcome our furry family members inside) and letting them sniff out what cool dog house is for them.

Autumn is finally here and with it comes cooler weather, color-changing leaves, and our favorite: pumpkin spice lattes. The changing of the seasons is cause for much celebration, however it’s also a good time to evaluate your pet’s safety in the changing climate. So before you take a sip of that PSL, here’s a few pet safety tips to consider for Fall.

Keeping Warm Without Burning Your Pooch

Photo courtesy of Michel Filion

This is the time of year when fireplaces are crackling and space heaters are getting plugged in again.  Your pet will most likely get curious about the dancing flames and suddenly warmer-than-usual area.  Just be sure you keep an eye on your pet around heating devices at all times when they are in the same area.

Feed Your Pet More Food

Photo courtesy of Jörg Schubert

You may not be the only one eating more for Thanksgiving this year. Now that it’s much cooler, your pet will need to start generating more body heat than he did throughout the Summer. Not only that, but the cooler air may mean more energetic animals and more walks for your dog. The mix of a more active lifestyle and the need to create more body heat will mean that you may want to consider feeding your pet more food during this time of year.

Outdoor Dangers to Consider for Pet Safety

Photo courtesy of Aleksey Gnilenkov

Now that the sun isn’t scorching the hot asphalt and making the air hot and sticky, it’s more tempting to take your dog for impromtu walks. While this is good for your dog’s health, there are just some dangers you may want to consider for pet safety concerns. For one, snakes are preparing for hibernation and may be in a more aggressive mood. Secondly, October is a big hunting season, so be careful while out in the woods.

Trick-or-Treating

Photo courtesy of Petful

Halloween is right around the corner! While it’s fun to dress up you, your children, and your pets, it may be smart  in terms of pet safety to just take super cute pictures of your pet all dressed up and leave them at home while trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, Halloween is a time for both tricks and treats as pranksters may think it fun to scare you and your family which may frighten your pet and cause them to get loose and run away, among many other potential dangers. Don’t worry though, if you want people to see your adorable pet all dressed up as the Little Mermaid or Thor, post your pictures on our Facebook page and we’ll be sure to share them for our followers to see!

Watch Out for Pests – And Ways to Get Rid of Them

Photo courtesy of michieru

Ticks and fleas are coming back out and they are hungry little pests. Whenever your pet comes back in from playing outside, be sure to give them a thorough pat-down to make sure they haven’t contracted any ticks or fleas. Additionally, Autumn is the time for rats and mice, and with that comes the chemicals used to get rid of them. Check your property to be sure no chemicals are within reach and easy to get into. You won’t regret it!

So what’s the best way to consider pet safety? Do research for what to look for in the outdoors in your area. You may also want to consider some sort of containment for your pet whether you’re camping or just sitting on your patio enjoying the cooler weather. Whatever you’re doing, you don’t have to worry about your pet outdoors as long as they are safe inside of one of our Pet Gazebos. That way you can enjoy that pumpkin spice latte without thinking, “Oh, what did he get into THIS time?”