Take back your living space by designing a fun, safe place for your dog to spend his day. Confining your dog and his stuff to one room in the home is much safer for the dog and gives him less things to get into.
Things You'll Need
- Spare room
- Non-carpeted flooring
- Semi-gloss paint
- Dog crate or bed
- Certificates, awards or photos
- Safety items
Instructions
Designing Your Dog's Room
Choose a room or area of your home for your dog's room. Spare bedrooms, finished basements and laundry rooms make good choices. Ideally, your chosen room should have reasonably easy access to the outside, but only when you are home and able to supervise outside time.
Consider new flooring. If the best room in your house for this project has carpeting, it might be beneficial to change it. Hardwood or tile make for easier clean up of messes and dog hair, and will hold up for years to come.
Paint the walls with semi-gloss paint. Dirt, paw prints and nose prints will wipe right off washable paint, making clean up a breeze. A fun color can also add some character to the room.
Furnish your dog's room. It can be as simple as moving in his crate or his bed, or you can purchase specially designed pet furniture. Available through many online sites and mass retailers, such as Target, you can find a fancy canopy dog bed or even an armoire if your pup has an extensive wardrobe. Of course, you could always just add his favorite chair and your dog will be just as happy.
Decorate your dog's room. Décor should be kept to a minimum and should be placed out of reach of your dog to minimize chewing. Certificates for obedience, dog sports awards or pictures of you and your pooch would be nice displays.
Dog proof the room. The final step is a good walk through to identify any potential safety hazards. Use cord covers for lamps and childproof caps for outlets. Make sure there aren't any nail heads sticking out from the trim work. The room should be a happy and safe place for your furry friend.