In the Doghouse and my 6th Gotcha Day!

You may have been wondering what we've been doing in Scotland this week, between Rosie's surprise birthday party and Gabbi's "No Fireworks Please!" birthday celebration tomorrow.

Well, we've been house-hunting. Now that Rosie and I are an old married couple, it just didn't seem right to stay in her family house with all those roommates (besides, have you ever been around 5 dogs who all want to use the fire hydrant at the same time? Not a pretty sight!)

So we set out to find a little place we could call our own.

This first place was advertised as a "great starter home, a real fixer-upper!"

A real "tear'er downer" is more like it. Or a "terrier downer!" Plus, there simply was not sufficient room for our collection of new and pre-chewed tennis balls. Next!

Gabbi and Jake came with us and fell in love with this cute little bungalow - no doubt because the roofline was reminiscent of Jake's distinctive ear! And don't you love the bone shutters?

Although they had second thoughts when they saw the swimming pool. You know how that attracts friends, relatives and all sorts of unsavory types. Lacie! Go put some clothes on! There could be puppies reading this!

HRH Auntie Princess Bailey think she belongs on a pedestal. This house seems perfect for her. And fortunately for Auntie Martha, it looks to only be big enough for one crowned head at a time!

Lacie thought this classic Colonial was just perfect! "There's a house for Scruffy and Baby Stan in the front yard and I can live in the slightly larger brick house behind them!"

Rosie and I next visited this "Asian Zen" inspired house. First of all, the paper walls made me nervous, in case any of our houseguests were paper-trained. And you know what they say about Chinese houses - an hour later and you're hungry again. Rosie also thought the MSG in the house made her look bloated. Next!

While Asta is indeed an Urbanista, she fell hard for the charms of this plantation-style house. (I think she could imagine herself as Asta O'Hara in a hoop skirt, sipping iced tea on the veranda.) Stanley wasn't so sure he could fit in the front door but Asta assured him there was a larger door out back and that he wouldn't bump his ginormous head inside. (There was a moment of confusion when she called him "Stanley Butler" - as Stan wasn't so keen on the idea of having a butler, but Asta smoothed things out.)

Even with his penchant for his vintage roadster, Eric Square Dog is a Tate Modern kind of terrier. 90-degree corners, clean lines, no distracting geegaws. This place was perfect for him. Even has a nifty car park for his Zoomer. I would suggest you get some curtains before Toffee comes to visit, though. (Snicker, snicker....)

After so much time spent in the hot Florida sun, Snoop rightly thought Kira might want something with an excellent cooling system. But she just laughed when she saw his first choice.

She had something decidedly bigger in mind.

Sir Hamish is a traveling sort, but has been complaining lately that Gail has been reluctant to always bring him along. This should solve that problem nicely.
On to house #3. This one was better than the last two, but too small and way too sweet. You can see Rosie's reaction. Eight paws down. Will we ever find our dreamhouse???

Lorenza fell head over tail for this hound-hacienda! Love the red-tile roof and the romantic balconies...
...but even more important, there was ample closet space inside for her couture wardrobe!

With the addition of the newly rebuilt barn on the Relentlessly Huge Estate, this barn-inspired home seems perfect for Mango. First of all, it's as big as a barn. And secondly, there's a ventilated screened second bedroom for those evenings when he's had one too many of Dexter's 12-bean burritos.
"That's it!" Rosie yelped. Not too big, not too small, not too modern, not too twee. And it has a rose-colored roof and roses climbing up the side. Our dreamhouse! Sold! Now we just have to move in all our tennis balls....

A note from Mommy: Those are all REAL dog houses! I've messed with the proportions of the dogs but they are all actual dog houses, most the size of garden sheds. Thank Dog they don't make dog apartments... Petey might get ideas.

One final thought....today is my SIXTH Gotcha Day! So I had to share one of the very first photos of me. (By the way, that rug is long gone but I'm still here!) Happy Gotcha Day also to Ike!
Just look at those paws, I mean, can you stand the cuteness???