July is Doghouse Repairs Month. While in many households our dogs share our beds, it’s still nevertheless a good idea to have a doghouse that can offer shade and general weather protection when the family is outdoors relaxing or entertaining.
There are some really fabulous doghouse designs that are not only functional from a canine standpoint but will make a nice garden feature too, such as a doghouse with a “roof top” garden to grow anything from pretty flowers to herbs. Growing roof top plants also helps to reduce heat within the doghouse.
If you have a more traditional design, put on your checklist to take a close look at the framework to ensure there are no loose pieces of wood and protruding nails that could cause injury. Varnishing will protect the wood and, if you are feeling creative, consider a coat of paint in a fun color and even a design on the sides. Kids would love to be involved in such a project.
If your doghouse has a pet bed or mattress, check that it is still in good condition and doesn’t need replacing. Pet beds housed outside can be a haven for fleas and other bugs, so it needs to be washed regularly.
Also, consider attaching a water bottle to the inside of the house. Bottles with a stainless-steel ball-tip valve keep water from dripping and causing a mess. However, they need to be washed out regularly and refilled to prevent algae growth.
An outdoor water fountain attached to the exterior of the house or in a shady spot will also provide your pooch with water on tap. The PetSafe® Drinkwell® Everflow Fountain connects to a standard garden hose and automatically refills to the preset desired water level.
