DIY Network

Introducing Oliver From "Barkitecture" episode DBAR-103

Oliver is a pug mix.

Meet Oliver. He is a two-year-old pug mix who has been adopted by Julie and Josh Beeler. They are a young couple with a new home who have found themselves the proud parents of a rambunctious and adorable dog. Find out what it takes to incorporate a feisty young dog like this into your family and how to build a doghouse that will fit his style, and heritage. See it all happen in this episode of Barkitecture.

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Oliver has found a loving family.

Oliver

Julie and Josh just got a new housemate...Oliver. Initially, Josh was not a dog person, but with this little guy, how could he not be converted? Pugs are originally from China. With their royal heritage, pugs make a real sweet addition to any house. However, because Oliver is a pug, there are some health issues that must be dealt with.

Dr. Karen Tobias and Kenny Alfonso are on deck to help Oliver and the Beelers transition into one big, happy family. Dr. Karen will offer the Beelers helpful hints and tips for taking care of pugs. Since Oliver will be an inside dog, Kenny will build him a funky and functional doghouse in the house.

The pagoda design is ready.

Doghouse Plans

In contemplating the design for Oliver’s doghouse, Kenny took into consideration the ancient ancestry of pugs. Also, Julie and Josh wanted an inside house...which opened the door to use some really nice wood and trimming in a design that both the Beelers and Oliver would love. A Chinese pagoda is on tap! For Oliver, it will be a doghouse, but for the Beelers, it will be a beautiful piece of furniture.

The beauty of a real Chinese pagoda is that it only looks difficult to build. The basic frame will consist of a box made of white oak plywood that will be decorated to give it that pagoda feel. The element that makes this more than just a doghouse is the roof structure. The traditional sloping lines of the roof will be achieved by using 1/8 inch press board and finished with architect roofing shingles. Because of Oliver’s size, the footprint of the house will only need to be 24 inches by 16 inches.

Barkitecture Tidbits:

• A harness is a good idea for a pug due to their inherent breathing problems.

  Common harness types: the muzzle harness, the no-pull harness and the standard harness that fits over the front shoulders of your dog.

• Both leather and nylon leashes work well on dogs. Be sure that you get a leash that is the right size for your dog.

• In 1785, a dog became the first living being to use a parachute when a French inventor named JP Blanchard dropped him from a hot air balloon.

RESOURCES :

Young-Williams Animal Center
Website: www.knoxpets.org

The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Website: www.aspca.org

Petfinder.com
Website: www.petfinder.com