In 1983, Bill Watterson pitched In the Doghouse to Universal Press Syndicate. However, the strip was deemed hard to sell and rejected. Watterson then went to United Feature Syndicate with the same strip, and received a better reception. Although Watterson complied with the syndicate's suggestions to focus the strip on Calvin (originally a side character), the comic was ultimately rejected by United Feature. However, it was eventually picked up by Universal Press Syndicate, which warmed up to the strip after its design revisions.