Pet parents can probably agree: Bath time with a dog can be stressful—dragging a muddy pup around the house, only for them to double as an escape artist, while soaking you from head to toe trying to rinse them off. A solution? A multipurpose dog shower. Hanna Shiplett, principal designer and co-founder of Eden and Gray Design Build, answers our questions on this growing trend in barkitecture.
What is a Dog Shower?
Dog showers are essentially small, dog-size showers. They are usually raised to make it easier to wash the dog, and they have a short lip to keep water out. Instead of a standard showerhead, they have a handheld so you can reach around your dog. These washing stations are usually located in garages, mudrooms, or laundry rooms and can be built into new or existing homes.
Benefits of Dog Showers
If you frequently bathe your furry friend or take them to the groomer, it may make sense to have a place to wash them at home. This is one way to make pet parenting easier (and definitely cleaner). Ideally, the washing station should be near an entrance. This helps keep your dog clean and likely reduces the amount of mud and dirt tracked into the house. The shower can also be used as a pet-feeding station, a place to water plants and rinse muddy boots, or as an unloading zone for fresh-cut flowers. As these pet zones gain popularity, they can also be seen as a great amenity for future buyers, and they can even add value to your home.
Dog Shower Cost
We won’t sugarcoat it: It’s a luxury item. “Building a dog shower in an existing home costs about $5,000 to $9,000,” Shiplett said. On the low end, he estimates this includes about $1,000 for tiling, about $2,500 for plumbing (more if you need to add a water hookup), $500 for framing, and the rest for on builder costs. The higher end will increase the cost, and you may need to budget for a permit.
Design Tips and Considerations
If you’re installing a dog shower in an existing space, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- A minimum space of 3×3′ is required; any less and it will be too tight.
- The best place to put a dog shower is in an area with an existing water hookup. If you don’t have an existing water hookup, it’s still possible to build a shower, just plan to spend a little on plumbing.
- Even if you have a small puppy, plan your shower as if you had a medium or large one. You never know what kind of dog you, or future homeowners, will have down the road.
- Remember to include a storage solution—shower niche, shelf, or cabinet—to keep soap and tools hidden.
- Make sure the surrounding surfaces can handle some exposure to water (dogs shiver after bathing). That means you may need to waterproof or replace the flooring directly outside the shower or in the walkway to and from the shower.
- If tiling the floor in and around the shower, choose tile with a slip resistance of at least 0.5. This is a coefficient from 0–1 that indicates how much a tile is holding; the higher the number, the less slippery the surface.
- Determine how high you want the shower. The higher the shower, the less likely a pet will escape, but a higher shower also means it may be more difficult to get a dog inside.
