This Tuesday, August 26, is National Dog Day. At SweisKloss, we love our four-legged friends who frequently can be found roaming the office looking for belly rubs, treats and attention. And many of our clients are dog lovers too.

With this love in mind, we have thoroughly enjoyed creating spaces specifically for their canine buddies. We have designed areas that are suitable for their furry friends and at the same time convenient for the owners. From simple finishes to fancy dog playpens to backyard doghouses, we consider all aspects of a dog family’s daily life. We think through where to store their goodies and food, hang leashes, and bathe, and how and where they spend their days.

Fitdog

Photo courtesy of Fitdog

Creating a space that offered “mental stimulation and exercise in addition to daily care” was Fitdog’s mission when we designed their Santa Monica space. The boutique was designed for doggie day care and overnight boarding. It includes large and small dog play yards with plenty of space to run, play and socialize with fellow fury friends, kennels for napping and overnight sleepovers and a grooming area to ensure our canine buddies always look their best.

Dogs Just Want to Have Fun

For one of our clients, we designed a dog playpen in a section of the laundry room. The room has pretty wallpaper and fancy gates. It is an attractive way to allow the dogs their own space and to keep them contained.

We have designed outdoor spaces where dogs have the room to chase balls and frisbees and also feel safe and protected from visiting critters. For one client we enclosed the front yard with a fence that is just the right height to keep the dog in the yard while also giving him a view of the world beyond.

A recent new build included a spacious doghouse in the backyard with coverage to shield the doghouse from the sun, as well as a hose for easy cleaning.

Showering Them with Love

Prevent sore backs from bending over by installing a dog washing station in the mud room or laundry room. Washing stations include a small, raised bathtub, tiled walls or glass partitions, showerheads with long flexible handheld arms, niches for shampoos and treat canisters, outlets for blow-dryers, and all at just the right height to make bath time safer for the dog, easier on the human’s back, and less messy for everyone.

Trick or Treat

From full on meals to snack time, dog food takes up lots of space. We have designed built in cabinetry with extra-large spaces to store bags of dog food and treats. Similarly, we have customized cabinets to hold all the walking gear and accessories close to a side or front door for easy access.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Who doesn’t like to nap on the couch? Consider furniture, flooring and fixtures that are resilient to the wear and tear that can be caused by canines. Choose upholstery that is stain resistant, or better yet, with removable and washable cushion covers. Porcelain or hardwood floors are less likely to show scratch marks than softer woods.

Here's to celebrating our best friends!

SK’s Furry Family

Remi, Ricky and his girlfriend Chloe hard at work at SK

George mugs it up for the camera

Athena strikes a pose

Boba relaxes on a sun deck

Dog Days of Summer