In terms of loyalty few can argue the allegiance of a dog. They are referred to as “man’s best friend” after all and are typically cherished as a family member. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes an average-sized wash basin just cannot accommodate a proper bathing process.
These days homeowners are opting to include a dog wash or “dog shower” in their home in order to take the best care of their pet. This is perfect for those who live in areas where the climate can get too cool to bathe them outside in the winter. In this post we will explore how to create a dog wash to suit your needs, as well as take this opportunity to feature one of our favorite designs.
Meet Tino, Emmy, and Louie. These three pups live their best life with mom and dad, going on hikes, road trips, swimming at the beach – all of the fun travel things! They can require some major cleaning after their adventures, and we designed just the right dog wash to do it.
One of the first requests the homeowner made was to elevate the shower floor. This allowed for less bending over while cleaning the pups, and also helped to keep the water up off of the main floor. They did make sure, however, that the curb was not so high the dogs could not jump up there on their own which is key for larger breeds. (We are trying to save our backs here!)
When choosing a location for the dog wash they selected the laundry room. This allowed for quick clean up of dirty towels after drying and plenty of storage for shampoo, combs, and anything else they may need.
Aligning with the aesthetic of the home we selected a ceramic tile for the walls that looked handmade. This line from Settecento Tile is called Hampton and is 3″ x 12″ in matte white. The shower floor tile is a porcelain mosaic by Crossville Studios called Nest in a mix of Joyous Oak & Olive. We disassembled the mosaic and laid it all running the same direction so that it looked like teak wood. Using porcelain and ceramic tile as opposed to a natural stone or wood will cut down on maintenance time and cost as natural stone and wood both require occasional sealing, depending on how often the dog shower is used.
A handheld shower head allows for flexibility with moving targets and the temperature and pressure valve adjusts to meet the desired level for both functions. The curb sits 6″ higher than the shower floor to help keep the water in. Finally, a linear drain at the far end of the shower functions well with a sloped floor to coax the flow of water in that direction.
Whatever your situation may be, a functional and beautiful dog shower can be achieved with planning and purpose in mind. Treat your best friend to the cleaning they deserve, and the function you need!
Article written by Jennifer Scott
You can see more of this beautiful custom home in
our Portfolio under Stratford Transitional.
Photography by Kevin Meechan.
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