I fell for the built-in dog bath trend – after living with it for a couple of years this is what I wish I'd known before adding one to my utility room

Dog shower with bed and feeding drawer.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Keeps dog washing out of the family bathroom
• Looks integrated and stylish in a utility or boot room
• Warm water and pull-out spray are genuinely useful
• Can also be used for scrubbing muddy boots and filling mop buckets

Cons

• Can take up a lot of space (especially if accommodating big dogs)
• Not always easy to get them in and out
• Floors and surrounding areas can get very wet
• Can make the rest of the house smell doggy

I’ll admit it, the built-in dog bath trend sucked me right in. Insta-perfect utility rooms with gorgeous decor, dogs being hosed down calmly at a sensible height for back comfort, mud neatly contained – what’s not to love? After years of washing our dogs in the family bath upstairs – a process that was messy, back-breaking and gave me the ick – I was ready for an upgrade.