Building your own house is a dream that many people share but that only some of us ever get to fulfill. After all, it's a massive and pricey undertaking, and it takes a year or more to pull it off. You have to hire plenty of people and then answer the question of whether to oversee the project yourself or bring in an expert. Either way, there will inevitably be surprises along the way, and generally speaking, these surprises will be incredibly expensive and challenging. There will be project bloat, disappointments and compromises.

Still, just because it's difficult doesn't mean it's not possible—and if you can't really do it, you can still learn a lot about your goals and preferred lifestyle by imagining it. If you do build such a home—whether in your head or in the real world—it wouldn't be right to forget to share it with the ideal canine companion. After all, a dog is what makes a house a home! You have to find the right dog for your lifestyle, and since you've already tailored your home to your perfect specifications, matching the dog to the residence guarantees the perfect pooch for you. Let's figure out what dog belongs in your dream house with you!