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What would you consider when designing a dog-friendly home?
Imagine you were designing a home (including exterior landscaping) to be used for several decades by a family that will have dogs (various ages, breeds, personalities, etc.).
Be as DETAILED as possible about decisions/consideration for floor plan, materials, placement of fixtures (electrical outlets, lighting) and even furniture design.
greekman,
Just curious. In your home, are you the one who handles :
* mud, leaves and snow tracked in on paws?
* dog vomit and other bodily fluids from sick dogs?
* carrying young, injured, sick or elderly dogs up and down flights of stairs?
* containing/supervising young, injured, etc. dogs?
OK. Dog-friendly isn’t exactly the right phrase, but it’s fits in the question title, unlike “What would you consider when designing a home that will keep you from pulling your hair out just because you have a dog?” 
Agility Man,
Thanks for all the ideas. The flooring links alone are worth 5 points.
1. First, the environment around the house.
–big fenced-in backyard that has some provision (mesh beneath the fence, stone/wood border on the inside of the fence) to make it difficult for dogs to dig underneath it.
–yard is big enough and flat enough for dogs to run, have an agility or rally-o course, tolerate several dogs but perhaps also a small kennel (for those times when you have several dogs back there but don’t want all loose at once)
–a backyard spigot (for a house and sprinkler or to set up a kiddie pool for dogs to soak in).
–at least one sunny spot for dogs to lay in and chew bones during good weather.
–at least one spot with some ground cover like ivy (smaller dogs will hide in the ivy and jump out to play/surprise others).
–one area (like a shaded corner) that is an default toilet area so you don’t have a backyard littered with dog feces.
–a shed or storage container to hold agility equipment or large toys or things you can’t leave out 365 days a year and don’t want to bring inside.
2. The house
–one level (especially if you have bulldogs, doxies, older dogs with joint problems).
–a back door that is built to either accomodate a doggie door or easy exit for dogs.
–flooring: tile would be easier to cleanup but it provides bad footing for dogs and also leads to skidding (a problem if the dogs get moving), carpet if you’ve got good house-training.
–wall surfaces that won’t be scarred if a ball or toy you toss rebounds off of it.
–Not a loud doorbell or chime (that you’ll have to train the dogs not to treat as a signal to freak out when someone comes, probably better to just have a knocker).
–short-term confinement areas. If it’s bad weather (and the dogs all need to be inside) and grandma with her walker arrives for Thanksgiving, where can you easily put the dogs so they don’t jump up on her or 3 year old Timmie? So it’s good to have a main-floor room that can easily handle your pack for a brief period of time.
–a basement that serves as a good play area in winter or bad weather that has appropriate flooring (probably some of the rubber mat options that lots of agility centers use–easy on the joints, easy to clean, easy to put down, absorbs sound–websites listed below).
–there would be doors (either through the garage or front door) that would easily handle a travel crate (especially for big dogs) so this might require french doors for easy entrance/exit.
–a garage that has enough width for a car and then all of the stuff to set out for a show/trial/trip (crates/ex-pen/supplies, dog waiting eagerly) without being cramped as you load the car to fit it all in.
–provisions for a whelping room. You have a female who gets pregnant (or is in heat) and you need a separate room for her and the litter) or to keep her away from any intact males. A good whelping room means it needs to be on the mainfloor (think of 6 week old pups negotiating stairs).
–if the dogs sleep inside, then the room they’re in has provisions for running water. This could be a passive solar heater on the roof, individual design, white noise device. But the continuous sound of running water is calming for dogs (one of the animal shelters in my area has running water above the main floor where they keep dogs and you hear almost no barking).
–a good feeding space. Meaning food is close by (and can easily be kept away from dogs like a closet that they can’t damage by pawing at) and floor space to handle bowls that is easily cleaned up if there’s a spill.
–at least a couple of spots in the house that are “sunny” and ideal for a dog to curl up in and bask in the sunrays and dream of cats to chase and bones to chew.
–something near the front door that will accomodate all of your dog “stuff” that you need when you go out for walks: bags, leads, raincoats, small bags of treats, the toys you stuff in your pockets when you walk to the park, collapsable bowl with water bottle, all of the things you sometimes need on walks. Maybe it’s a closet, a shelf, some hooks but you know you’ll need it so how do you minimize the clutter and create organization–that’s the question.
–a main room that can handle all of your pack (don’t know how many dogs you’re talking about) and your family. That means besides your sofa or easy chairs, you’ll need to accomodate a couple of dog beds or beanbag chairs.
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D.light Kiran Solar LED Lantern
$15.00
The Kiran is the world’s most affordable high-quality solar LED lantern, and is a bright and durable replacement for kerosene lanterns. It provides even space lighting for the home, workplace, or on the go. It can function as general light source or serve as a primary task light. With an integrated solar panel and multiple-setting handle, the Kiran is extremely flexible and convenient to use….
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Smart Solar/Smart Solar 3656MRM4 Ladybug Solar Light Set. 4 pack. Red
$32.70
Ladybugs are always good to have in your garden, especially when they can light up your yard! The Smart Solar 3656MRM4 Ladybug Solar Light Set is solar-powered and ideal for decorating shrubs, flowerbeds, walkways and other outdoor areas. The set includes 4 ladybugs that plug into a separate solar panel that can be placed up to 9 feet away, allowing you more versatility for placement. Photo cells …
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Maxsa Color-Changing Solar-Powered Globe Path Light
$39.95
Color-Changing Floating Globe
? Light gently changes through all the colors of the rainbow.
? Or choose your favorite color to create a mood.
? Floats in water or mounts on included ground stake or included table stand.
? Automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn.
? Provides up to 8 hours of light after dusk.
? Easily installs in seconds. No wiring. Includes 2 rechargeable NiCd batteri…
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Time-Saver Standards Site Construction Details Manual
$44.30
This efficiency-boosting resource gives you fast access to 350 of the most commonly used site construction details. Details for curbs, steps, lighting fixtures, walls, and much more are ready to be copied from the convenient spiral-bound, lie-flat format. In addition, this manual offers you a clear view of each detail both in section and in a photograph of a sample installation. To further simplif…
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The Landscape Lighting Book
$38.30
A national authority on this emerging field offers a comprehensive guide to the art and science of designing, erecting and maintaining an outdoor lighting system. Presents in-depth coverage on how to plan, design and build a project; reviews all technical components and materials; discusses specific issues of landscape design setting and its elements–plants, sculptures and structures, water featu…
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Easy Gardens Volume 17 – Romantic and Cottage Gardens (Easy Gardens A to Z)
$3.99
You can have fun and feel pride in your gorgeous sunny or shady garden. It requires little or no maintenance to look beautiful year around if you follow the simple steps in âEasy Gardens Volume 17 â Romantic and Cottage Gardens.â For 20 years I lived in Philadelphia and enjoyed my peaceful retreat which bloomed 12 months a year. Your fragrant romantic and classic gardens can be…
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DOSCH HDRI: Mountain Backgrounds
$149.00
Over 30 Dosch HDRI-products allow users to incorporate highly realistic & complex lighting in their 3D-scenes. The color and luminosity of objects (e.g. trees, cars, a building facade) in the surroundings will impact the appearance of the rendered 3D-model ? likewise will the fiery red-tone of a sunset cloud create a realistic mood of such an event in reality.Perfect shadow casting and reflections…
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