Putting a dog washing station in your house will help keep your furry friend and your home clean. Whether your dog loves or hates bath time, a well-designed space will make clean-up more efficient and less stressful.
Create a comfortable and practical space that meets your family’s needs. Consider these five design tips for a home dog washing station.
1. Make the Walls and Floor Water-Resistant
Just like bathrooms are designed with splashes of water in mind, you should choose water-resistant materials in your wash space. Aside from water coming out of the spout, a wet dog will shake off a lot of water afterward! Make clean-up and maintenance a non-issue with durable materials. Cosmetic diamond plate sheets add style to home interiors and protect your walls from moisture. Plus, they’ll look good year after year.
2. Place Towels Nearby
The next design tip for a home dog washing station is to install hardware for towels nearby. Depending on the kind of fur your dog has, you could end up going through a lot of towels in one cleaning session. Keeping towels close by makes them easy to grab. For dogs that feel anxious at bath time and hate to wait in the shower, the faster you can dry them off, the better.
3. Have Adequate Storage
Of course, towels aren’t the only supplies you need. Dedicate a space to your pet’s grooming products, which might include shampoo, brushes and clippers. This can make bath time much easier since you won’t have to scramble looking for supplies. That way, if your dog gets dirty unexpectedly, you can go straight to the dog washing station.
4. Consider the Tub Floor Height
If you have a small dog, you might want to raise the tub floor. This can save you from straining your back and knees as you kneel or stoop to wash your dog. You can install steps so that your dog can walk up on his or her own.
Alternatively, having the tub at about the same level as the regular floor makes it easy for senior dogs to walk in without the need for steps. And, in general, a lower tub has greater versatility. For example, some pet owners like to use unraised stalls to hold their pet’s food and water bowls when it’s not bath time.
5. Install a Handheld Shower Head
Finally, install a handheld shower head to make cleaning a breeze. You can target specific areas of your dog, making it easy for you to wash away shampoo or clean dirty paws. If you want to use the station for purposes other than washing your dog, having a shower head makes it easy for you to do other tasks like washing off dirty boots.