One of the great things about living in the Twin Cities is how dog friendly our area is. Minneapolis is not only full of large scale dog parks, but our friendly companions are also welcome in many local breweries, ice cream shops, and hardware stores to name a few. With the area being such a good place to be a dog owner, it’s time to have your home and property follow suit. Here are some home improvement project ideas for those abodes that have puppers living in them.
Mud Room Renovations
After a day rummaging through the mud at a dog park, the biggest challenge becomes cleaning up a dog before he or she renovates the entire home décor with paw prints. The best spot to cut dirt off in its “tracks” is the first area that you enter – likely the mud room. Porcelain tile in that area is a must for easy cleaning but some homeowners have gone so far as to build a small “dog shower” into their mud room. Small step-in showers with a half-wall work great for this – just something to think about.
Dog Window Nook
One of the best past-times for dogs while their owners are gone for the day is “sitting there.” You can help boost that hobby by building the doggo a nice window nook. Having something to keep the dogs stimulated is important while they have down time and a peer into the outside world through a window does just that.
Ramps With Stairs
There are a number of areas in your home where a dog could benefit from having a slight ramp installed in lieu of, or in addition to, stairs. This usually isn’t safe going from say first floor to upstairs, but where there are 3-4 steps (deck, window nook, bed) a ramp can be a huge convenience. Not having to navigate stairs not only helps older dogs, it is beneficial to younger dogs prone to joint problems as well.
Fence System
If you do work long hours, a fence system so indoor dogs can access the outdoors is also probably a must-have feature. By installing a “doggie door” to the outside, the pup can do their business as they please without you having to commute home for lunch or forego an after work cocktail just to let them outside. Fences also let the dog get some sun and Vitamin D in the summer which boosts health.
Heated Floors
For Twin Cities pet owners, heated floors are another idea! These work best under tile floors which works out great because that’s what most pet owners should have due to ease of maintenance. Your dog will love laying on the warm floor – especially when the Minneapolis temps approach the chilly winter months. This is also a renovation that the human can enjoy too!
If you want to spoil the pup in your life, we hope that these dog-friendly renovation ideas will help. Contact us for any home replacement projects like roofing, siding, windows, insulation, or decks.