Plenty of doting pet parents spoil their pooches with fancy treats, beds and spa treatments.

Technology consultant Howard Rubin and his wife, Suze Rubin, bought their bearded Collie, Buster, a $1.825 million house.

In their 56 years of marriage, the Rubins, both 77, have owned 12 homes in New York and Florida. They were living in Boca Raton when they decided their 120-pound dog had enough of the heat and humidity. "Summer is warm here and you can't really go out and play," said Howard.

So in 2019, the Rubins bought a house in Pound Ridge, N.Y.-what they dubbed "Buster's Retreat"-and moved there full-time in 2022. Now hoping to try Florida again, the couple have purchased a house in Boca and are listing their property for $2.9 million.

Howard is a professor emeritus of computer science at Hunter College, and Suze is a retired veterinary technician, school psychologist and volunteer EMT.

Set on about 2.76 acres, the Rubins' Midcentury Modern house is roughly 5,000 square feet with four bedrooms. The circa-1955 house has an open floor plan that affords Buster ample space to wander around. "It is like a party all day for him," said Howard.

The Rubins were given their first dog-a Newfoundland-by a neighbor in Pound Ridge, shortly after buying their first home there in the 1970s. They have owned eight dogs, 10 cats, five horses, a hamster and rabbit over the years.

Almost 9 years old, Buster has arthritis and more allergies than they can count-"The only thing he can eat is turkey," Howard said-but he is exceptionally bright. He is trained to work with memory-care patients and can read commands on flashcards.

On a recent Zoom call, Buster-sporting a short summer haircut-wandered into Howard's office and lay on the ground, occasionally lifting his head.

Americans love to pamper their pets, including some who design luxurious digs for the four-legged members of their family. Some have even sold multimillion-dollar vacation homes because of a beloved pet.

The Rubins said they tailored their home around Buster. They spent roughly $2 million on renovations-mostly related to the home's infrastructure, a new kitchen and bathrooms.

For Buster, they added two sun shelves to the swimming pool so that he could lounge comfortably. "He loves water but he doesn't swim," said Howard, who has never been in the pool himself. "We never use it. It's his."

In the backyard, there is also artificial turf with drainage and a fenced area they call Buster's "playground." Howard said there are strategically placed umbrellas and Japanese maples so Buster "always has protection for his fuzzy body." The composite pool deck deflects heat. "We don't want his little feet to get burned," said Howard, adding that Buster likes to lie on the deck and watch landscapers work. (As if on cue, Buster picked up his head.)

There are toy stations throughout the home and nine televisions. "He loves to watch a show called 'Paw Patrol,'" Howard said, referring to the cartoon featuring six rescue dogs. Every room has a fan, and although Buster has a large dog bed in the living room, none of the guest bedrooms or couches are off-limits.

"I wouldn't say we've given up part of our life for him, but we've changed our life for him," Howard said.

Although they bought the Pound Ridge property for Buster, the Rubins are looking to sell because Suze wants to try living in Florida full-time again, said Howard.

Pound Ridge is an affluent, rural town in Westchester County about 45 miles northeast of Manhattan. The median home sale price in Pound Ridge was $1.6 million for the three months ending in June, up 11.8% year-over-year, according to real-estate brokerage Redfin.

"People are willing to pay a premium for turnkey properties," said listing agent Sally Slater of Douglas Elliman, who said the market has boomed since 2020. It isn't unusual for properties in great condition to sell within days for the asking price, or more.

Howard said Florida is definitely a trade-off for Buster, though he can be more social there. Their home is on a corner lot, and Buster has been known to enthusiastically greet pedestrians who walk by. "He's like the local mayor," Howard said.