A Dog’s Life? How About Pool, Sun Deck, Soft Rug?

Joshua puts on the dog every day of his life in his L-shaped California ranch house with the sliding glass doors and the Oriental rug.

The snow-white Maltese is the 10-year-old canine owner of a doghouse that lists for a modest $8,250, including the kidney-shaped pool. It was bought for him by Paul and Melinda Arneson, who describe themselves as “dog people.”

Their friends, they say, think they are crazy.

Joshua is one of the first to occupy a new line of critter mansions built by an architect and sold to affluent pet owners. The homes range from the Inner City Kitty Condo--an $11,000 cathouse--to the modest $4,250 Manhattan Kitty Penthouse. The condo has four levels and room for four cats.

Steven R. Steinheimer--architect, artist and dog-owner--specializes in building models for architects and developers. He’s had a hand in some of Washington’s major structures, such as its subway and the Federal Triangle complex, now being built.

For $13,500 Steinheimer will build twin San Francisco row houses, 4 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. A single row house goes for a mere $8,000.

He got the idea that luxury homes should go to the dogs (and cats) after watching a developer give an expensive model to his children as a toy once its official use was ended.

One of Steinheimer’s first creations, the L-shaped ranch, was snapped up by the Arnesons, who live on the same block as Steinheimer’s downtown Washington studio.

Joshua has the choice of entering the house through swinging front and side doors, or through sliding glass doors at poolside. The pool, in lesser paws, would be considered a water dish.

And no, he hasn’t learned to slide open the doors, but he is working on licking them open.

“He was eager to look into it, but not to go inside,” said Melinda Arneson. After a while, along with dog treat enticements, he ventured in.

The Inner City Kitty Condo is a tower on four levels, with a tree running through the middle, all made of wood and glass. The $4,500 Pantheron, with columned porticoes, is carpeted.

Steinheimer’s creations were featured on a network television show and resulted in telephone calls from pet owners who just couldn’t wait to order.

Steinheimer’s own dog, a basenji, was struck by a car recently and is recovering from surgery. Not in a glass-and-wood sanitarium, but a plain, low-rent wire cage.