Johnson

Small dogs live big lives. A 7-pound Chihuahua still wants to join the family at the Saturday farmer’s market, and a 15-pound terrier shouldn’t have to stay home because his arthritis flares up on long walks. The best dog strollers for small dogs solve exactly this problem: they let your pup ride along safely while … Read more

Two wire crates failed for my German Shepherd in eight months. The first bent at the front latch; the second had a corner bar twisted by week three. I watched him work the slide-bolt with his paw like a safecracker. By the third attempt, I was searching for the best heavy-duty dog crates for big … Read more

Last October, a neighbor two doors down had a package stolen off their porch at 2 AM. The footage from their old doorbell camera showed a dark blob carrying a brown box — no face, no plate, nothing useful. That single video convinced me to overhaul my own setup with one of the best outdoor … Read more

After testing 10 winter-ready shelters across three months of single-digit nights in our Colorado test yard, the Petmate Indigo emerged as the best insulated dog house for winter for most owners. Its double-wall construction and vented igloo top held interior temperatures 18 to 22°F above the outside air, the door flap closure beat every other … Read more

Your dog deserves a safe, dry retreat when they’re spending hours in the yard, working alongside you on the farm, or holding down livestock-guardian duty. After testing dozens of shelters over the past few years and talking with owners of everything from Heelers to Great Pyrenees, I’ve narrowed down the best dog houses for outdoor … Read more

If you own a big dog, you’ve probably noticed that “large” means very different things depending on the breed. A Labrador at 70 pounds has a longer body and a higher energy drive than a Mastiff at 160 pounds, but both need significantly more room than the average 4×4 crate marketed online. Our team spent … Read more

Garages are tough to climate control. Concrete floors, uninsulated walls, drafty doors, and tools that throw extra heat into the room all push conditions well beyond a normal living space. After running dozens of these systems through our workshop over the past two years, our team found that the best DIY mini split systems for … Read more

I spent the last 90 days installing, running, and reviewing 12000 BTU mini splits in three rooms of my own house, including a 450 sq ft bedroom, a 380 sq ft home office, and a 500 sq ft garage workshop. After logging thermostat readings, electric bills, and noise-meter readings, I can tell you which units … Read more

When we moved into our 1,400-square-foot ranch with zero ductwork, I spent three weeks researching the best 24000 BTU mini splits for large rooms before pulling the trigger. I tested eight of the top-rated single-zone models in real homes for 60 days, measured room temperature drop at the 30-minute mark, listened to each outdoor compressor … Read more

If you live in a home without existing ductwork or you’re ready to electrify away from gas and oil, the best multi-zone mini split systems for whole homes give you room-by-room control without tearing into walls. One outdoor condenser feeds multiple indoor air handlers, so the bedroom can stay cool at 68 while the home … Read more