I WAS recently reprimanded for not featuring my beloved dog Perry enough in my columns, and so I’d like to rectify that with immediate effect and also to dedicate this piece not only to Perry but to his best paw-pals Alison and Connie. I’ve always had dogs, and when designing my house I almost unconsciously made design decisions that would accommodate Perry.
Here are some of the ways you can make living with four-legged housemates easier.
If you are choosing hardwood flooring, bear in mind that your dog’s claws may cause little scratch marks here and there. Most people don’t mind the characteristic patina that wood floors naturally acquire over time, and scratches can usually be polished out, but it would make your life easier overall to opt for other hard flooring such as tiles, LVT, or a good laminate- especially around entranceways. Having flooring that is easy to wipe clean is going to make your life a lot easier when you and your furry pal come in from wet and mucky walks. You can also put down a large mat that your pup can easily be dried off on before scampering away.
Puppies love chewing and all dogs love jumping on furniture. If you have a young pup, it’s a good idea to wrap protective material around the legs of your furniture and around any electrical cords until they are out of the teething phase and to keep chew toys around at all times. In all cases, it’s a great idea to invest in material that is easy to clean and scratch-resistant in rooms that your dog is allowed in. I opted for velour fabric on my couch and bench seating which holds up against Perry’s paws and is very easy to wipe clean.
Zoning your home is not just a great design decision, it’s also helpful for your pet to know where their domain starts and ends. Dogs love dens, so if you have areas in your home that you don’t want your dog to go to (rooms with delicate furniture or upstairs bedrooms, for instance) then keeping your dog confined to certain areas is not only helpful for you, it can also create a sense of security for your dog.
To create these zones, it can be helpful to install baby gates, grates, or Perspex dividers, as dogs don’t always like doors, they want to see what’s going on in other areas, even if they’re not allowed to go there. Younger pups may also scratch at doors, which can cause damage. If a baby gate or grate isn’t an option, you can prevent this damage by applying a Perspex or acrylic panel to the bottom of your door until your dog learns to stop scratching.
Dogs love looking out windows. Most dogs will take their job as chief security pawfficer (sorry) very seriously, and that largely comprises keeping a watchful eye on the perimeter of your home. If you have a sofa near a window, chances are your furry sergeant on duty will like to assume a vantage point by sitting or lying along the back of it. When planning your home design for a dog, it might be an idea to build a window seat where your dog can keep watch and be entertained by all the comings and goings in your neighbourhood. It will look great and will keep your dog off your furniture. Make sure they’re able to jump up and down easily if they’re small.
If there’s one thing your dog loves more than looking out the window, it’s being with you. Most dogs are social creatures who just want to be by your side and involved in everything you’re doing. You can facilitate this by dotting dog beds around your house (where your dog is allowed) so that they can chill out and keep you in sight as you cook or work. I love the cute dog beds from the Irish company Woof & Purr.
If you don’t like the look of dog beds, dogs also love sheepskin blankets, which look more refined when dotted around your home. I also adore built-in dog beds, beneath desks and side tables, below the stairs, or even under beds. This works particularly well if your dog is crated, as crates can be bulky so building them into existing structures can be a huge space saver.
Your furry companion will need more stuff than you may realise, and designing for where to store that is important. Having a designated storage space for dog food is key because dog food can smell. I have a special cupboard in my kitchen just for my dog; it’s a ten-centimetre wide cabinet between the wall and my fridge, which would otherwise have been panelled over but which I installed a door over instead as this tiny space is the perfect width to store food, treats, toys, and even hooks for his winter wardrobe.
If you don’t have a cupboard to spare, invest in a sealed container for your dog’s food. It’s also a great idea to have designated storage near entranceways for leads, collars, harnesses, and a dog towel. You can install hooks or if you prefer to keep these items out of sight, a tasteful basket is perfect.
Keeping dogs clean is much easier if you have a designated wash space. I’m lucky because my dog loves playing with the garden hose, so enticing him into the garden for a rinse is easy. I also installed shower hoses in my bathrooms, as having a handheld sprayer is much easier than trying to wash him under a fixed shower. If you’re in the early stages of designing your home and are lucky enough to have a utility, consider a dedicated space for washing your dog. A shower basin or small tub with a handheld sprayer will make your life easy, and as a bonus will be ideal for washing mucky shoes too.
