Did not know “dog-trot house” but did know “breezeway house” which is almost the same thing (but sounds better).
Lived all my life in New York. Never heard the term dog trot house. Now that I know what it is, I can’t recall offhand if I’ve ever seen such a house. I would imagine they’re less common in the north due to the winters.
I know this one and I’ve always thought it was a common expression.
Definitely a rare issue in areas where they were popular.
Also to keep the house from burning down.
A new dog-trot/run (I’ve heard it both ways) house was built about six years ago just a block from my home in Austin, part of the new trend of splitting full-size lots. Going past there a few days ago, I saw the barn door across the breezeway open for the first time.
I’ve heard them called “Possum-trots” when I lived in the Jacksonville area. My folks had a house in Harford County, MD, that had one, but long ago, they closed it in and expanded the kitchen.