Pet owners rejoice – no longer must you share your beautiful bathroom space with your beloved four-legged friend. Likewise, the days of standing outside in the freezing cold, hands red raw, sloshing the garden hose over your poor shivering dog are over. And this is all thanks to the rise of the dog shower.
The best place for a dog shower is within your utility room, given this room's practical wall and floor finishes and easy-access to outside.
With this in mind, our guide to creating a dog shower in a utility room is here to take you through everything to consider should you love the idea of a dedicated dog washing station. We spoke to a range of design experts, as well as those well-versed in animal care, to ensure your pooch feels utterly pampered.
Designing a utility room dog shower
First up, you need to think about the main requirements of this new space. While your utility room ideas always need to focus on this being a practical space, if you plan on installing a dog shower here, there are some additional considerations to bear in mind.
"Designing the perfect dog shower in a utility room is all about combining practicality with ease of cleaning," picks up Martin Smith, founder of shower enclosures retailer Showers to You. "Any dog owner will be familiar with the fact that a dog will shake its fur if it gets wet, especially if it has stepped in a muddy puddle. So, firstly, you need to ensure that you have the space to install a dog shower. Secondly, you need to accept that it will get messy."
With this in mind, here are the main points that should guide you in your design.
Martin Smith
Martin Smith is the owner of family-run Showers to You who have experts across all fields relating to bathrooms, from enclosures to showers, and heating to bathroom furniture.
1. Make sure it's big enough for your dog
It might sound obvious, but to be fit for purpose, your dog shower needs to be spacious enough not only to fit your furry friend into, but also to complete the job of shampooing and rinsing done. If you are dealing with small utility room ideas and have a large dog, this could be problematic.
"The shower space needs to be spacious enough to fit your dog entirely while providing enough room for movement," confirms Dr. Aimee Warner, the resident veterinarian at Waggel. "A 90 x 90 cm shower area suits most dog breeds but bigger breeds need additional space."
"A tiny dog might only need a sink-style set-up, but you never know when you’ll fall in love with a bouncy Labrador, making your sink useless," adds pet care expert Ben Doyle, founder of Dirty Bertie. "So, don't just think about your current dog, think about the type of dog(s) you might have in the future. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 1m x 1.5m of floor space for medium to large breeds."
It is a good idea to go as big as is practical in order to give you and your dog enough space(Image credit: LochAnna Kitchens)
Aimee Warner
Aimee Warner is the resident veterinary authority at Waggel, the innovative UK-based pet insurance company, where she delivers expert guidance on a comprehensive range of pet health issues. As a trusted voice in veterinary care, Aimee combines clinical expertise with practical advice that pet owners can implement immediately.
Ben Doyle
Ben Doyle is a pet care expert with over a decade of hands-on experience across the industry. Formerly the founder of Pet Checkers, a leading pet sitting and dog walking company, Ben now runs Dirty Bertie, a dog shampoo brand created for dogs' specific coat types. He also built DogNameGenerator.ai, a smart, AI-powered tool helping new dog owners find the perfect name for their pup.
2. Position the shower carefully
The spot in which you locate your new dog shower within your utility room layout ideas is key to its success.
"Keep the shower as close as possible to the back door," advises interior designer Tracy Pearce of Pearce Design Group. "This will help mitigate muddy-paw messes. More than any other decision, this is critical."
When thinking about where to place your new canine wash station, take into account that at some stage of your dog's life, there may be the need to place a ramp leading it up to to help with access.
In addition, it makes sense to keep it away from any areas where you plan on hanging freshly-washed clothes to dry out.
Tracy Pearce
Tracey is founder of PDG, which boasts a talented in-house team of designers who excel in creating innovative, bespoke solutions tailored to each client's unique vision and needs. Tracy has over 29 years of design experience under her belt and her impressive portfolio spans upscale homes and includes notable appearances on some hit TV series.
3. Elevate the dog shower to save your back
Designing pet friendly homes means thinking about both your pet's as well as your own needs. As well as thinking about how your dog will get into the shower, you need to think about how comfortable it will be for you to wash it once it is in there.
"A very important consideration is to elevate the shower," picks up Tracy Pearce. "So few dog showers feature this element, with the result that bathing your dog can become back-breaking. Keep in mind, however, that for large dogs, it can only be as high as the dog is capable of getting into."
"Installing a raised shower platform measuring between 50–70 cm high will prevent bending and ensure safer handling of active dogs," adds Dr. Aimee Warner.
4. Dog shower kit or custom build?
There are two ways to go about constructing a dog shower – take a custom-build approach, or pick up a kit. Just like with shower enclosures for humans in many way.
"Pre-built kits or dog baths are affordable and easy to install," advises Ben Doyle. "A custom-built dog washing station idea that matches your existing decor will cost considerably more.
"You basically have two options," continues Ben. "The first is pre-built kits, like the Incredible Dog Shower. These are essentially 'plug-and-spray'. They're as easy as a washing machine to install.
"Your other option is a custom set-up, which will no doubt be more expensive and take longer," continues Ben. "But remember, it's essentially just a mini shower. Any bathroom fitter could build it."
A dog shower kit, such as this one from Incredible Dog Shower, makes it easy to get up and running(Image credit: Incredible Dog Shower)
5. Choose an easy-to-hold shower
As one of the essential elements of a dog shower, you need to think carefully about the types of shower that are going to work best here.
"Wall-mounted, pull-out shower heads are ideal, giving you maximum control when rinsing muddy paws or thick coats," advises Martin Smith.
Style aside, you also need to prioritise water temperature.
"Water temperature control is essential," says Dr. Aimee Warner. "The installation of thermostatic mixer taps will provide a gentle warm water flow. Dogs get distressed by cold water and hot water poses burn risks.
"A flexible shower hose with a gentle spray head will provide control while reducing noise levels which can create stressful conditions," adds Dr. Warner.
6. Ensure your drains are up to the job
Your dog shower obviously needs to feature a drain to take waste water away, but a standard model might not be up to the task.
"We recommend that the drainage system be slightly more robust than in a standard domestic shower, especially if you have long-haired breeds," says Martin Smith. "We recommend an easy-access trap to prevent long hair clogging the pipe."
In addition to a drain within the showering space, it is also wise to consider how you will deal with water on your utility room floor. You could view it like a wet room and incorporate a central drain to remove water that has escaped.
A drain in the floor will mean any water that escapes the shower can escape(Image credit: Park Luxury Design)
"The shower area and its surrounding space need non-slip flooring to prevent accidents from happening," points out Dr. Warner.
"Textured porcelain tiles or rubber flooring work particularly well, or you can use a non-slip shower mat too," adds Martin Smith.
Other good choices include natural stone and luxury vinyl tile or planks. If you want to include underfloor heating (which will really help dry the floor out quickly), check that your chosen flooring is suitable.
8. Choose easy-to-clean finishes
It will make life much easier for everyone if select your wall covering ideas with maintenance in mind.
"Water-resistant wall panels or tiled splashbacks are a must — we often install full-height panels in wipe-clean finishes for quick maintenance," says Martin Smith.
"When dogs get wet, they shake," points out Ben Doyle. "Make sure everything is wipeable: the walls, floors and ceilings. Waterproof wall panels or tiles are easier to keep clean than painted surfaces."
This is one element of a utility room dog shower you really don't want to forget – somewhere to get that sodden fur fluffy and dry again. If you are incorporating a dog shower into your laundry room ideas, you might already have this covered.
"A drying station should be incorporated into the design when there is sufficient available space," advises Dr. Warner. "A built-in bench with towel rail or wall-mounted dryer enables efficient and comfortable drying of your pet."
Dr. Warner goes on to issue a warning when considering appliances for this space.
"When selecting a blow dryer, choose a pet-friendly model that produces low noise to prevent anxiety in dogs," she says.
If that all sounds a little over-the-top, Ben Doyle has some reassuring tips.
"You should always dry your dog after a bath or shower, especially if you want to keep the rest of your house dry," he begins. "For most dog owners, a stack of old towels and a dog-safe hairdryer will do for hosing your dog down after a muddy walk. That said, if you want to properly groom your dog, or have a double-coated breed like a Labrador or German Shepherd, a dedicated drying station might be worth the investment. Just keep it separate from the wet area, as water and electricity don't mix!"
Shop dog hairdryers
2400W Pet Blow Dryer
With two temperature settings and a choice of three different nozzles, this pet hairdryer promises to be three times more powerful than standard dryers, meaning dogs get dryer faster.
Ezekiel Pet Hair Grooming Dryer
With its low noise levels and lightweight construction, this pet hairdryer makes grooming your dog stress-free for everyone involved. It also comes with five nozzles.
Portable and Quiet Dog Hair Dryer
If you are short on space in your utility room then this is perfect. It allows you to brush and dry your pet at the same time, offers two temperature settings and is nice and quiet to use.
10. Don't forget the need for good dog shower storage
It is highly likely that you'll be using your utility room for more than just showering your dog, meaning great utility room storage ideas are a must to keep the space clutter free and organised.
"To keep your dog’s leads and shampoo bottles in one place, stainless steel fixtures are ideal, as well as easy-to-clean acrylic or composite panels," suggests Martin Smith.
"Designate a storage area for your dog's items like shampoos, combs and towels," picks up Evelina Juzėnaitė, principal interior designer at Planner 5D. "Also, think about where and how you will dry and store wet towels. For example, I know people who dry on a towel rail but I immediately throw everything in the wash and then throw it in the tumble dryer then put it away."
Evelina Juzėnaitė
Evelina Juzėnaitė is the Principal Interior Designer at Planner 5D, the 2D/3D home design platform using AI to enhance the design experience and empower users to create their dream homes. Her expertise in AI tools allows her to provide clients with an intuitive and efficient design journey, from concept to completion.
FAQs
How can you ensure your dog shower doesn't ruin your utility room?
While utility rooms are the perfect spot for a dog shower, you want to design the space so that it doesn't get taken over by your washing station. Aside from hardwearing, easy-to-clean finishes and good storage, don't forget ventilation.
"A proper ventilation system is so important. It plays an essential role because it controls humidity levels and stops mould growth for both health, maintenance and cleanliness purposes," explains Dr. Warner.
"Water is always about moisture – and dogs are about smell!" points out Evelina Juzėnaitė. "Often there is a mix of different smells and it’s not pleasant for you. To avoid that (and mould), you need ventilation.”
Even if your utility room has a window, it is also highly recommended to install one of the best extractor fans you can get your hands on.
Above all, when designing your new utility room, you want to think about how the space will benefit all members of the household.
"The goal should be to create a peaceful functional area which supports regular pet care without causing pet anxiety," says Dr. Warner.
That said, you can also look at ways to reduce your own stress by looking into the best flooring for dogs in all areas of your home if you want to keep maintenance to a minimum.
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Natasha was Homebuilding & Renovating’s Associate Content Editor and was a member of the Homebuilding team for over two decades. In her role on Homebuilding & Renovating she imparted her knowledge on a wide range of renovation topics, from window condensation to renovating bathrooms, to removing walls and adding an extension. She continues to write for Homebuilding on these topics, and more. An experienced journalist and renovation expert, she also writes for a number of other homes titles, including Homes & Gardens and Ideal Homes. Over the years Natasha has renovated and carried out a side extension to a Victorian terrace. She is currently living in the rural Edwardian cottage she renovated and extended on a largely DIY basis, living on site for the duration of the project.
