How To Turn A Basement Into A Dog Room
Warning
Never leave dogs in the dark during the day. Do not keep dogs on cement, which saps body heat and stresses bones and joints. Remember that bored or anxious dogs will chew drywall, woodwork, doors, furniture or anything else available. Choose toys that the dogs cannot shred.Dogs must not swallow pieces of toys or other objects.
Tip
The health and safety of your pets is the paramount consideration; a dank and dark basement is not a suitable dog room. Energetic, rambunctious dogs need a place to play. Dogs who are likely to get into mischief or conflicts if left alone may need separate quarters within the room.
How to Turn a Basement Into a Dog Room. Whether you have one dog or several, a place in your home that is exclusively a dog space can prove convenient and practical. A dog room offers play space, kenneling during the work day or at night and an indoor kennel when house activities are not dog friendly such as carpet cleaning or a dinner party. Read on to learn how to turn a basement into a dog room.
Step 1
Evaluate the location. Important considerations include whether or not natural lighting is available, the basement is dry, there is access to the outdoors, any safety hazards are removable and how finished the area is. Use health, safety and comfort as the criteria by which you assess your basement's potential.
Step 2
A dog room may be one room in the basement, a section of the basement or the entire area. Consider the dogs' size, personalities and activity levels. Once you have evaluated the area and the needs of you and your dogs and chosen the location, you are ready to decorate your basement dog room.
Step 3
Adjust the lighting. A walk-out basement with windows is perfect because your dogs will have natural lighting when they are in the room during the day. If this isn't the case, then hang full spectrum florescent lights in the room. Full spectrum lights better replicate natural lighting than regular bulbs.
Step 4
Reduce the humidity. If you have a very wet basement some serious improvements, such as installation of a drainage system or sealing of the foundation walls, may be in order. In any case, get a room dehumidifier and use it diligently during the warmer months. A dank, musty environment is unhealthy for pets as well as for humans.
Step 5
Cover the concrete. If there is no flooring in your basement put down vinyl floor matting, sold at hardware or home improvement stores. Remove carpet if present as it holds hair, dander, dirt and odors and is difficult to clean. Choose a surface that you can easily mop with water and disinfectant.
Step 6
Section off an area for the dogs or provide separate spaces for different dogs by using heavy gauge wire exercise pens that are available from kennel suppliers. These come in a wide assortment of heights, and can be arranged in different shapes and sizes by hooking them together. You can also purchase chain link kennel runs.
Step 7
Provide sleeping areas such as dog beds or crates with the doors removed. Put out toys for the dogs and rotate what is available to keep them interested. Keep fresh water available at all times.
Step 8
Make the room dog-safe by covering electrical outlets and removing electrical cords, sharp objects and things that can be chewed up.