Bigtex, sorry about your pups, they just don't live long enough, do they? We were fortunate to inherit a fantastic black Lab/Golden Retriever mix when we bought this house from an estate. He was the last owner's dog. He would roam freely, and everyone in a 3-mile radius of the house knew him. After he died (at age 17) we went dogless for a couple of years. We just didn't want to go through that loss again.
Then these girls came along. They are are sweet animals. Tula and Zara are sisters from the same litter, now 8 years old. They take me for a 3 mile walk every morning. My Health and Happiness dogs.
Where do I keep my cellar? In the cellar, naturally. Our house was built on the foundation of a very old barn. 2' thick stone walls. Temps are fairly stable down there, at least the changes are gradual. Humidity is kept at around 50% with the help of a commercial-grade dehumidifier and a couple of fans to keep the air flowing.