More than ten years since I first noticed the brand, I’m pleased to see that the furniture grade dog crates by DenHaus are still available. The only one that looks large enough for a Bull Terrier is the TownHaus which is a rather traditional styled wood piece in a rectangular shape. At close to $400 it’s a lot more than a VariKennel, but it looks very nice and comes in a variety of colors. I really prefer the sleek look of the oval ZenHaus and round BowHaus but given the number of dogs and crates I already have I don’t think any of the Hauses are in my future soon! This might be a good item for dog show vending at large shows – where they can reach people with passion for dogs and money to spend on high end dog crates. I have a couple of friends that have put their wood or metal working talents to use making some really cool dog crates so it’s good to see someone make a commercial product from that idea.
In the ensuing years, as dogs are more and more perceived as and treated like family, the availability of furniture-like dog crates has increased dramatically. I think it’s telling that the TownHaus referenced above has decreased in price since I first noticed it in 2009. A Google search for furniture grade dog crates yields over 2 million results, with the DenHaus products in the middle of page 1 results. Ads served alongside the search show that mass market and online retailers are also getting in the act with wood and wood-like dog crate options.
While DenHaus survives, the website where I first noticed it, Main Street Dog has evolved into a hodgepodge of dog product promotions and dog advice articles. The site sells advertising and I’m getting the feeling it’s been watching me, I saw several ads for products I researched while writing this post.
Julie King mentioned she had seen a VERY similar product to the BowHaus at the Novi PetExpo in 2008. The AlumaDen bears a striking resemblance to the round crate, right down to the design of the ventilation holes. Coincidence?