Your dog is an important member of your family, and when you are planning a remodel to benefit your family, you also need to remember your dog.
When you plan a remodel, you tend to think of the perks, amenities and details that you and your family will enjoy, but it’s important to remember that you need to plan your home improvement projects with your dog in mind. Not only do you want to make sure that your remodel is safe for your dog, but you also want to make sure that you include any designs that would also benefit your pet. Check out the following five home improvement tips to help make your remodel dog friendly.
1. Heated Floors
Adding heated floors to your bathroom or basement remodel may seem like a perk for you, but it’s also extremely beneficial to your dog. Your dog spends a lot of time on the floor, and even though they may not show it, that cold floor may not be the most comfortable thing for them to sleep or walk on all the time. By adding heated floors to your remodel, you will be adding a special perk to the remodel for your pet who will certainly enjoy cuddling up on a nice toasty floor.
2. Wood Floors
When it comes to remodeling most rooms in your home, especially living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens, you should opt to use wood floors instead of carpets. Wood floors are more durable than carpet, which means that your dog is less likely to ruin the floor because hardwoods cannot be torn or chewed like carpet. Plus, if your pet were to have an accident or track mud in through the house, it’s much easier to clean up the mess on a hardwood floor than a carpet.
3. Indoor Kennels
Using those standard wire or plastic crates to house your dog is not the best option. Not only are they unattractive, but they’re so large that it’s hard to find a spot to put them so they’re not in the way. Instead, you should opt to create an indoor kennel. Use the space underneath the stairs or turn an unused closet into an indoor dog kennel filled with a comfortable bed, food and water, and even fun pictures of your pet. This will be a nice little retreat for your pet, and it will certainly stand out as a perk when it comes time to sell your home.
4. Fences
Having a nice yard for your dog to play in is important, but keeping your dog close to home (and keeping other animals outside of your yard) is even more important. This is why it’s always a good idea to make sure that you add a fence to your yard. Placing a secure fence around your yard will ensure that your pet stays where it belongs, which keeps it safe from running away. Plus, having a fenced-in yard can also keep out other harmful animals, such as coyotes.
5. Outdoor Houses
Your dog will love spending time outdoors, but you want to make sure that they have protection from the weather. For example, if it starts to rain or if it’s a hot day, you want your dog to have shelter. This is why it’s a good idea to make sure you have a dog house in your yard. This way, if your dog is too hot on a sunny day, they can go in the dog house for shade. You can always buy a standard dog house from your local pet or home improvement store, or you can opt to make one yourself.
Rachel Doyle is a blogger and animal lover with DogTrainingCollars.com who writes about animal training and safety.
