After finishing my tour of duty in the United States Army in 1981, I became very interested in canine training. I began as a stage-one trainer that trained canines for private and several law enforcement agencies in the metro Portland, Oregon area by 1984. After moving to the South Seattle area in 1989, I did canine training for private and search and rescue agencies around the Puget Sound until 1995. That led to being a foster home for Pierce County Animal Rescue with helping, re-training and finding new permanent homes for neglected and abused canines. Eventually ending up with two canines from my rescue efforts, “Pax,” a male Labrador/Border collie mix and “Angel,” a female Norwegian Rottweiler.
All my involvement with canines really took a toll on my emotions, as I became too easily attached to each one I had trained or rescued. Still looking for ways to remain in our canine community led me into building doghouses. After looking at several retailers and several hobbyists that built and sold doghouses, I came away not very impressed with what was being offered to canine owners that love their animals as myself. I wanted to construct a premium doghouse at an affordable price that would be durable as well as functional, and with curb appeal.
Canine Homes Northwest  began in November 2003, originally starting out with one style and size of doghouse. Now I have two styles of doghouses with three sizes in each of the designs. This is while working my regular full-time job during the week, as I build doghouses to occupy my spare time after work and on weekends. My wife, Valorie, also has a full-time job and her involvement is doing the custom painting for all special order doghouses. Canine Homes Northwest  is my at-home business, located in Spanaway, Washington.

Darryl