We’ve all been there. You get caught in the rain while walking your pup or take a particularly messy romp on the beach. It’s all fun and games until it comes time to bring your muddy, stinky pooch back into the house.
Luckily there is a stylish solution to this very problem. According to a recent New York Times report, dog showers are the latest home decor trend among pet parents.
Ken Malian, co-owner of GreenRose Fine Homes & Design in New Jersey, says dog showers have become so commonplace in luxury homes that his company now plans to include them in all their $800,000 and up designs.
“The fact is, when you walk a dog, whether you’re in the fields or walking on the sidewalk, your dogs pick up salt and mud,” Malian told the Times.
Dog showers are more than just status symbols. They are safer for pets and their humans. The higher platforms make it easier and more comfortable for owners to wash their dogs. They also give owners more control over their pups, minimizing the risk of injuries posed by slippery standard bathtubs.
William Harrison, principal architect of Harrison Design, explained to TODAY Home that it is typically large breed dog owners who request this safer, more convenient option.
“You try bathing a big dog at home; it’s a big mess! Not only is the dog unhappy in the tub, but the suds, fur and water get everywhere,” Harrison said.
If you are worried about the resale value of a home with a custom dog shower, there are other practical uses for this setup. Most dog showers are simply shallow raised basins with detachable sprayers. What parent, hiker or frequent beach-goer couldn’t use a rinsing station to prevent life’s messes from traveling into their home?
Clients usually have dog showers installed in laundry rooms and mud rooms where our own human messes tend to accumulate. According to Hannah Crowell of Nashville’s Crowell & Co. Interiors, adding an additional plumbing line to these areas really isn’t that costly.
If you are ready to install a pup shower of your own, contact any of the experienced designers mentioned in this post or simply perform a Google search for home design services in your area. With the popularity of this trend, any professional experienced in bathroom design should be able to help you.
H/T to TODAY
Featured Image via Facebook/Cabinetry Concepts & Surface Solutions
