Having a kid is hard. Of all the things you have to consider, one might not think that factoring in the dog's feelings about suddenly not being the centre of attention would be high up the priority list - but for one new Dad, it certainly was.
Michael McGowan worried that his upcoming baby might make his Westie, Molly, feel a little left out and resolved to do something about it. When he found out that there was going to be a second, less furry (we think) bundle of joy in his life, he built his pup her own den under his stairs.
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"Molly found out she was going to be a big sister to a little human, so I decided to build her a room of her own under the stairs, before the baby arrived," said Michael.
"I thought I would try to give her her own little space to make the transition easier."
Now new arrival Catelyn and new home owner Molly are the best of friends.
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"She [Molly] is very gentle and doesn't really bother with her [Catelyn], other than the odd sniff," said Glaswegian Michael.
"Her own space definitely helps - she often goes away for some peace and quiet when we have lots of visitors."
According to Michael, Catelyn "will want to get in there and play when she's bigger - we can see her sitting on the sofa with a book. When we have young kids over at the house, they always want to get in and play, which Molly seems to enjoy, so it might be hard to stop her!"
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The logistics of it weren't easy, but Michael had some expert help. "I had a small idea and wasn't even sure if it would be possible to achieve," added the doting dog father.
"I wanted to use what I thought was 'dead space' under the stairs to build a small space for our dog. Paul (our builder) was able to advise on the best way forward, before completing the work to a very high standard."
"He was very clean and tidy, bang on time and delivered exactly what was required. Not only did he finish the new doorway to tie in with the existing decor, he fully plasterboarded and even added additional power points in order to fit lighting. Although a relatively small job the end result is outstanding...the best doghouse in the country, bar none!"
Michael and Molly's new play area turned out so well that it has been entered into the MyBuilder Job of the Year 2017 contest, which seeks to reward the best home improvement of the year.
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Impressive work, isn't it?
Words: Mike Meehall Wood
Topics: Dog, UK News, DIY, Funny, Interesting, Animals