Paris Hilton’s pooch resides in this canine castle

While many of us are working like dogs just to keep a roof over our heads, it may really be a dog’s life after all. Though the mortgage meltdown and falling home prices have sent us into the current real estate recession, some of our furry friends aren’t feeling the effects of this economic plunge as, despite lean times, their owners continue to house them in deluxe digs. I’d love to meet these pedigrees living the life of luxury. Maybe some of us can move in with them.

There are of course alternatives to the over-the-top pooch palaces.  I’ve come across some that, although not inexpensive, are notable for their design, some for their functionality, some for their humor, and still others for their price point:

Celebrate modernism with The CUBIX from mybestfriendshome.com

A custom design from Holey Associates, San Francisco

Inspired by wolves dens, the Cave, from Canine Art Caves

Contemporary Mutt Dog Dwelling from Modern Objects

Great for small dogs: The Magis from Unicahome.com comes with step stool

Sleek enough to go with your designer furniture: Eddie’s Room from plushpod.com

The sculptural Cave from plushpod.com

For those with a taste for the open plan…from gopetdesign.com

Ec0-friendly Dog Treehouse from pettreehouses.com

Rrroof! Green roof dog houses, including “Obama House” (left), from sustainablepet.com

Value dog shelters that will make your tail wag.
In the Target tradition of offering great design at a reasonable price, the retailer stocks a number of well-priced dog houses:

Room with a View, $99.00 from Target

Spot can lounge under the Cozy Wood Cottage’s awning, from Target

For a very small dog’s digs, you can’t beat the Waffle Block’s $12.00 price tag, from Target

If a bed…well, a really state-of-the-art plush bed is all Fido needs

Eclipse bed from funnyfur.com

Holden Pet Bunk, from pampermepuppy.com

Wowo Pod, from pampermepuppy.com

And lastly, throw yourself a bone. Stay in the doghouse yourself for a night:

Cozy up inside the world’s biggest beagle. Guests at the Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho, enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the dog’s decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists Dennis & Frances. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle.