A home that works for people and pets!

So I mentioned in my Home-a-rama preview post (after getting a sneak peek at one house) that in the years we’ve attended in the past, there seemed to be a new trend that each house incorporated. For example, last year all/most of the basements left the ceiling joists exposed and didn’t cover the concrete floor. After our sneak peak this year, I predicted “destination garages” or “brewery basements.” I was wrong 🙂 One trend this year was dedicated pet spaces.

I have a list of post ideas that I’m always adding to, but living with pets has been on that list for awhile. This is mostly because we moved from a house that was perfect for our dog to a house that could have been better for him. Sadly, we decided to put our English Bulldog Rocky down about a month ago. He was 12 and a half, and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. He was a really great dog. I was terrified of dogs when I was little. I got better with them as I got older and began to be embarrassed by my fear, but I was never at ease with them until Rocky came into my life. Letting him go was overwhelmingly sad. I still haven’t even mentioned to my coworkers that he died. I’ve been too afraid I will get emotional at school. However, I do think I’m getting to a point where I can talk about it. So, this post is dedicated to the Rockstar.

Our Corner of the World Blog | Home-a-rama dedicated pet spaces
Me and Rocky – Christmas 2006

 

You might remember that we had some great pet spaces at our last house

Our Corner of the World Blog | Home-a-rama dedicated pet spaces
😉 Home-a-rama perfected what we started (this picture is pre-renovation of our first house)

 

Here are some other trends in doggy care:

Our Corner of the World Blog | Pet Friendly Homes! - Wedgewood Building Company 2016 Home-a-Rama
Wedgewood Building Company. I love the area for the dog in the garage! It keeps the dog contained and there is a place for baths. A few of the homes had garage pet showers. However, I recommend paying for dog grooming. An garage shower for Parker, though? SOLD
Our Corner of the World Blog | Home-a-rama dedicated pet spaces
Old Town Design Group – Great durable floor for a dog space. I also LOVE the dutch door. We often talked about that for our mudroom.
Our Corner of the World Blog | Home-a-rama dedicated pet spaces
Gradison Design Build
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Christopher Scott Homes. Nice, but Rocky (who sneezed all the time) would have destroyed those walls. We would need something a little more wipeable.
Our Corner of the World Blog | Home-a-rama dedicated pet spaces
Hoss Homes. This outdoor shower is definitely convenient for pets since it puts them at your level. However, it can’t really pull double duty for pets and dirty humans.

I love all of these pet amenities. I think my must haves would be a fence (visible or invisible), a doggy door, durable floors, and a comfortable and durable space that you can corral the dog. If we could go back in time (and know that Rocky would live several years in this house), we would have made these things a priority when we moved. We are still adjusting to life without a dog. It feels very weird at times. We loved Rocky. He was a part of our family, and will always hold a special place in our hearts for him.

What are your pet must haves? Stay tuned for more Home-a-Rama fun!

Jalene

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