Can You Use Crawlspace as Doghouse in Summer?

Find out why it's OK to let your dogs rest in your crawlspace on hot summer days as long as they are housetrained and won't use the space as a restroom.

LESLIE: Alright. Now we’ve got Ed in Tennessee on the line who has a question about a crawlspace. He wants to know if he can use crawlspace as doghouse in the summer. How can we help you today?

ED: I’m thinking about putting my dogs in my crawlspace. I’ve got a large crawlspace and I was wanting to – they’re big dogs and I was going to take and build beds out of treated lumber and put shavings in them – cedar shavings. And just wondering if there’s something I haven’t thought about doing that, if there’s a downside to it.

TOM: Well, are they housetrained? Are they going to treat the crawlspace like the backyard, so to speak?

ED: They’re housetrained.

TOM: As long as they’re going to keep it clean down there, my friend, I don’t see any reason why you might not want to use crawlspace as doghouse. It certainly will be cool and comfortable for them in that space in the summer.

ED: That’s what I was thinking, so …

TOM: You know, it’s pretty much like leaving them outside except they’ve got a little shade.

ED: Right.

TOM: But as long as they’re not going to cause any problems in there and use it as a bathroom, then I wouldn’t worry about it.

ED: Alright. Well, thank you very much.

TOM: Ed, thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.