Show some extra special love to your fiercely-loyal furry friend by making your home the perfect pet sanctuary with these must have features for a dog-friendly home. Dog owners everywhere can agree that our furry friends are more than just a pet—they’re a part of the family. So, ensuring they’re comfortable in your home is very important. With that in mind, we’re sharing some must have features for a home that you (and your dog) will love!

A bay window

A bay window with a view provides dogs and cats with hours of entertainment. They can watch people and cars, enjoy a little sun and take a long nap. With a cushion that’s just for them, you won’t have to worry about them putting their paws on the trim.

Pet friendly flooring

If you don’t want your home to smell like a dog house, you’re better off avoiding carpet in areas where your pets spend the most time. There are a lot of possible flooring options, but we like real hardwood flooring best. It’s hard, looks great and you can refinish it. Another great option is luxury vinyl plank (lvp). Luxury vinyl plank flooring is much sturdier than traditional floorings like laminate or linoleum and is known to be scratch and water-resistant.

Food & water Station

Making feeding time a snap calls for a feeding station. The perfect setup has a low cabinet with sealed containers of pet food, plus bowls for food and water. Dedicating a nook for this purpose keeps the bowls out of the way when walking by.

Everybody has to eat and your pets are no exception – but your pet friendly home can make this part of your day just a little bit easier. Here are a few convenient features to include your pet’s eating and drinking habits into your new home’s design.

• Built-in Pet Food Storage: Add pet food storage to your home’s kitchen cabinets or in the pantry. Not only will it keep pet food bags from clashing with your home decor, but you know the food will be safe from your cat or dog because it’s kept in a secure space.
• Built-In Food and Water Bowls: Keep your kitchen looking neat and tidy with a built-in area for pet bowls. A dedicated space makes it less likely that you’ll trip over the bowls and prevents food from spilling everywhere. You can even take it to the next level and install a faucet near the pet food station to make it easier to refill water bowls.
• Outdoor Water Bowl: An outdoor water bowl is a huge advantage for pets and their owners in the warm summer months. Incorporate a permanent water bowl into your home’s landscaping by placing a sturdy basin underneath an outdoor water spigot to ensure your pet has access to water throughout the summer.

Dog washing station

The height of pet luxury is an indoor dog bath. Dogs are harder to bathe, and they often hate a cold outdoor hose bath. Instead, you can offer them a spot to get a warm water wash and dry. You can build in a complete shower, or install something that looks a bit like a large sink with a walk-in area. An added hook helps to keep the pet in place while you wash.

Organization & storage

Don’t forget storage and hooks for hanging leashes and other pet gear to help to keep everything organized. We also love to have a basket that’s dedicated to dog toys to keep everything in one central location and easy to tidy up.

A fenced-in yard with non-toxic landscaping

Check to ensure that the flowers, shrubs and trees on the property are not poisonous to pets. Some common yard flora that can be poisonous to pets includes perennials like mums and irises, annuals, including begonias and shrubs, bushes such as azaleas and certain oak trees. 

Plush dog bed

Don’t downplay the importance of a plush dog bed; a bed made of high-quality materials creates the ultimate space for your dog to relax, unwind and recharge after their busy day of play.

We got Riley’s favorite bed from Jax & Bones and had it engraved with her name by Mark & Graham. She absolutely loves it! She always takes her favorites treats straight to it, and snuggles up with her stuffed animal on it when she naps. It’s been 3 years since we purchased it, and it’s still like new!

What are your must have features for your furry friend? Share in the comments!