We were blessed to be able to custom build our home in 2021 and in doing so we were able to include an awesome space just for the dogs, which we refer to as the Dog Room. It’s a part of our home which we can access directly through our mudroom.
Our set up includes a large storage space, a separate exterior entrance to make it easy for dogs and puppies to get outside and it allows for easy entry for guests coming to visit, and then it also has a separate laundry room just for dog/puppy wash. One thing I really like is that the dog’s laundry room shares a wall with our master bathroom, so I can easily hear dogs and puppies if they are being too noisy. Our laundry space has some cabinet and counter space for food prep, a dog wash station and stackable washer and dryer for all our dog and puppy laundry (sometimes we are doing 4+ loads a day). This laundry area allows us to keep that rotation of laundry going without having to share with our household laundry.
My husband is then able to wash his dirty farming laundry here too. My only regret is not putting in a half bath for guests to be able to use when visiting.
The Dog Room is where we whelp and raise our puppies, where our big dogs sleep at night and also spend their down time when they aren’t mingled into the house. We have a sofa sleeper in the Dog Room that I sleep on when whelping puppies; I usually sleep on it for the first week or two to make sure mommas are doing well with the babies. We also included a TV for entertainment for myself, our daughter and of course for the doggies and puppies, they love the background noise! We have a whole process for setting up (and tearing down) puppy pens that allows us to accommodate 2-3 litters at a time.
What’s nice is that the dogs get to roam the space, and they get to sleep on their choice of the couch, dog beds, crates (if necessary) or the floor.
Here are some photos of our Dog Room:
Here are some photos of the puppy pen set ups we use as puppies grow while they are with us.
Puppy Pen/Whelping Box – Newborn to approximately 3 weeks old:
Puppy Pen – 3-5 weeks old. Litter box is slowly introduced starting around 2.5-3 weeks old.
Puppy Pen – 5 weeks to 8 weeks old
The summer of 2024, my super talented dad put together a wonderful outdoor puppy play yard space for us. We strategically set it up with some fencing around the exterior door and carefully placed gates for the ease of getting a litter of puppies outside without having to chase everyone around the yard.
The puppy play yard has K9 turf and pavers for the surface with some seating for us and the dogs of course, along with a ball pit, swimming pool, puppy slides, tunnels and too many toys and bones to count. This space has been a wonderful addition to our set up so far!
