From puppy showers to chip-activated pet doors to beds and food dishes built right into cabinetry, designers and home builders are offering new options that cater to Fido. And the pet amenities really do have Fido in mind, not Fluffy the cat: Most of these features are for the dogs. (Click here or on an image for a slideshow of pet amenities.)

Such investments might seem surprising -- until you consider that more than two-thirds of American households own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association. And the pet industry now totals an estimated $58.5 billion a year, having risen steadily at about 5 percent a year over the past two decades.

At California-based Standard Pacific Homes, spokeswoman Danielle Tocco says the company's livability studies emphasize that "pets are an important part of the family, so we decided to focus on dedicating space for just pets."

Its custom-built pet suites range from 50 square feet to 170 square feet—and $8,000 to $35,000.