You are quite correct about airflow. Metal boxes will block the signal, however. My first suggestion would be to clear off the top shelf of that cabinet and install it in there.
If aesthetics are that important, buy an Apple airport (white and low profile), an Asus (black and looks like modern art) or buy a tall bookcase and put the router on top, out of view.
Likely trading them for his drug of choice (perhaps it is ink). There were reports of people in the US stealing Tide laundry detergent for the same purpose.
I visited the official site for adopting military dogs (http://www.37trw.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120718-079.pdf) . There is an 18 month waiting list for these dogs and most are adopted by their military handlers. Virtually none of them are not adopted out. Things seem to be working out well for them. Not sure why anyone is making a fuss.
I did this in the vaulted ceiling of my garage. The pulleys are still there. Impractical on many levels, especially in an area that one wants to keep clean.
If aesthetics are that important, buy an Apple airport (white and low profile), an Asus (black and looks like modern art) or buy a tall bookcase and put the router on top, out of view.
As for the one inch "punch" how is that different than a good, hard shove?