On Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:08:08 -0400, Janet Boss wrote:

Is your basement a finished room?

There's 1 finished room, but 80% of basement is combination of
workshop, storage, laundry, etc.

Not sure I'd want a dysplastic,
arthritic dog (ok, any dog really) in a cold/damp concrete area or
confined to a crate (why is she?).

No confinement to speak of. She has a doggy door, spends about 14
waking hours/day with me, takes meals down there.

She has to negotiate the first 5 steps to get to the doggy door
which she uses many, many times each day.

I'd want her in a warmer area, as
few steps as possible, ortho dog bed. My 12 yo dog is not doing
stairs as easily these days, although how well varies depending on other
activity. She spends her days hanging out with me, wrestling with the
young dogs, fetching balls, and then sleeping on beds. Confinement
would lead to more stiffness IMO.

Confinement is not an issue. She looks fine on walks ("hunts" to her).
I can see some pain in her face when she ascends the stairs, and she
always hesitates before descending. She used to virtually leap up/down
the stairs.

It's wonderfully cool in the basement. I sometimes go down there to
read, work on things, etc. Rather hot summer here.

P

"Law Without Equity Is No Law At All. It Is A Form Of Jungle Rule."