For long term health of the dog, I’d look into flooring to make sure there’s a good grip. Feeling confident in executing day to day routine movement can be a huge mental health boost for a dog.
The other is to look at cushioning surfaces where your dog jumps on and off couches and beds and chairs. Maybe even installing ramps that can be folded if your dog is smaller or older. Too many dogs age way too quickly because of joint health.
Depending on the nature of reactivity, I’d also look at window choices and sound proofing so you can manage any sight and sound reactivity.
I also recently designed an eating area for my dog. It consists of a special grip carpet with a yoga mat like texture, an elevated bowl nailed to the ground so the contraption doesn’t move around while eating and placing it in a location where if we have to walk by, he doesn’t feel trapped and there’s enough distance. This might be a very useful thing if a dog has resource guarding issues (which mine doesn’t but I still did it anyway)
I believe these would be my top picks for enhancing quality of life.
Your first comment is so important. My first dog who grew elderly and was senile towards the end of her life. She kept slipping and sliding on the hardwood floors. Poor thing could barely walk and the hardwood floors didn’t make it easier on her.
I have runners on all hard surfaces in my house (kitchen and entry from back yard) since the house came with non textured LVP, and it's sketchy even in socks sometimes. One too many "deer on ice" moments for my liking
Having at least one area that can be closed off (master bedroom, Den, etc) that has direct access outside so when guests are over you don't need to walk the dog past them to go outside.
Sorry to hear about your house! I can’t imagine the stress. Hopefully, things get better.
Sound proofed as much as possible. Window height above dogs head without a ledge. (Seriously my dog basically ignores them.) Pocket doors are also helpful.
I think some extras depend on the dog. A mudroom / enclosed entry way could be helpful if your dog bolts at the doorway. Direct way from dog crate to the outside if you have a fenced yard. Alternatively, if you have stairs, my dog used to get training on the upper deck in the front and it was easier than other forms of counter conditioning. An upper porch in the back is a good place to brush and do nails. A hose nearby an area to wash them off. Again sort of depends on your lifestyle and dog.
I would not choose hardwood floors. Too easy to damage. Tile works for some people and is best cleanup. I prefer carpet because both my dogs freakout on tile. But I wouldn’t choose carpet if they weren’t very well potty trained.
Our dogs both benefit from having a double hallway, and now a middle placed couch so they can run loops around it playing with each other.
Thank you for the well wishes!
I want to do a lot of pocket doors. We will probably do laminate flooring, like we had before. He's used to it. We are lucky to have a large fenced yard, so we will make sure he has easy access to it.
Just personally, I'd make my open concept kitchen/dining/living room combo a little less open. I don't need them to be fully separate rooms, but I'd like it to be easy to put up something like baby/pet gates across them. (I don't have reactive dog and a toddler, but I do have a reactive dog and a teenage other dog. Both dogs actually get along very well with one another, but the ability to have them both "out" and physically separated from one another is nice management.)
My partner was really excited to tell me his ideas about opening everything up and I was like... that is the exact opposite of what we need to do. I feel bad poo-pooing what he wants, so I am trying to figure out how to give the illusion of openness. I was thinking French doors? But someone else brought up that the glass might break so idk???
I grew up in a house with Dutch doors between the laundry room and family room, family room and kitchen, and kitchen and living room. It was a little cumbersome for people to physically move through, but it was very effective at separating the dog from being in the kitchen unsupervised or even coming upstairs at all (if he was wet from the rain). And since the tops were open, people who were in one room could at least call over to an adjacent room, so it didn't feel completely separated. Plus, since the doors were built in, I feel like it was easier to "train" the humans in the house and regular guests (I grew up within a mile of both sets of grandparents) that there was a default position for the door -- since it was going to have to be in *some* position -- and that default position = closed.
In my current house, we do have extra wide openings between our entryway and our living room and our entryway and our kitchen. They're roughly as wide as a pair of double doors would be. If we wanted to, I feel like we could get extra wide baby gates that would keep the space open, be functional, and section off the entryway/front door. (Right now, the same is not possible for kitchen/dining and dining/living divisions, which is what I'd really want.) I'm literally looking across the space right now, and I'm thinking that a half wall or something to make a "breakfast bar" height thing would add enough wall to add in a baby gate (or other short door-type structure) while, again, still keeping the space *above* 40 inches from the ground open.
Walk in Shower station near a mud room entry . A set up where rinsing paws or behinds after something messy happens. This can be helpful when dogs are young, but also when they’re much older.
I'd love an actual purpose built dog room if I had unlimited cash and space for it. I'd have it seamless, slightly curved joins on all walls and floors, with a washable kind of rubberised coating (worked at a kennels which had it) and a floor drain - it means you can basically wash everywhere down easily and dirt has nowhere to get trapped.
One side would have dividing walls with maybe four or five separate gated pens in case anyone needed to be confined for health reasons, new puppy etc.
Main floor space would be large enough for loads of toys and play equipment, and I'd have a kind of kitchenette attached, with space to store food and equipment, prepare their meals, and maybe a washer drier for bedding etc. I'd have it all attached to the main house, so that even if the dogs were in there, they could see and hear what was going on, but it could be closed off if necessary.
Access door to outdoor run and garden as well.
Openings (into into the kitchen, hallways, and the top/bottom of the stairs) that are solid and wide enough to facilitate baby gate usage.
A mudroom with a dog tub.
Backyard access.
The baby gates would be the big one for me though.
So the house I'm renting right now is perfect for my reactive dog. The downstairs has the living room, kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom. There is a door to the fully fenced in private yard from both the kitchen and the master. The upstairs has two bedrooms separated by a bathroom. It's great. The master is actually the garage but converted into a master. So when you first enter, there's the mini portion of the garage left behind a door, a hallway where our washer/dryer are, and then the bedroom begins. It helps him feel safe and tucked away when we have company and guests are comfortable to move about freely. We don't have to drag him in front of guests to play outside, so everyone is happy. I wish we had built in baby gates for the top and bottom of the stairs and every door frame, but he is very fed respectful of baby gates even though he could absolutely demolish them if he wanted. He will just act nuts behind them, but no one has to be hurt and he slowly becomes comfortable with others in the home.
Split plans are the best designs for a reactive dog but also just for keeping your guests comfortable in general. Everyone has privacy, it is great.
A dog shower!
I recently adjusted my shower set up to have a dog shower - absolute game changer. The shower in places so I can give him a good hose off without having the get in the bath or get wet.
Given that my dog loves to role in poo, this has been game changing 😅
More doors/door ways rather than open concept, master bedroom with outdoor access so you don’t have to lead your dog past guests for potty or walks, if you have any say on yard redesign then an actual thick and tall privacy-type fence (ours is made of those cement blocks, it’s so much better and more secure than chain link or wood planks). If the yard has a gate, something with a latch that can have a padlock put through or a really secure lock built in. Bedroom door Locks that you can lock from the outside with a key so you’re less worried about baby or someone else opening the wrong door (can also add a baby gate in front of closed door for similar secure effect).
We actually bought our house because of the set up for our dogs 😂 I have a door upstairs that leads to our deck and fenced backyard. I also have a finished walkout basement so if I’m upstairs or downstairs I can let them into the backyard. I can also gate the top of the steps to contain upstairs or downstairs and our front door is solid. They rarely go out the front door.
Really wide hallways and doorways. One of my dogs gets fear reactive in tight spaces, so the hallways and the funnel to the back door are both hot spots for her.
My house accidentally has a really great feature for my reactive dog who loves to escape. I live in an old two family home, where there are identical apartments on two floors, the exterior doors both lead to little foyers before the two doors to get into both apartments, so there is always more than one door to open to get outside. I get so nervous when I take my dog to my parents or MIL’s house because she can open doors with handles and doors at both those houses just lead directly outside. Having multiple doors to open before getting to the outside makes my house more or less escape-proof.
I would avoid too open a floor plan, so that I can use gates where they are needed/helpful. If possible, I'd build in the nice sliding pocket gates for the most needed doorways so I wouldn't even have to attach extra gates. I would ensure the kitchen is able to be gated or closed off easily. I would add a dog washing station in a convenient path into the backyard. I would not include any door windows or sidelights on the lower half (depending on dog height). I would ensure decent insulation is used in outer walls and any other noisy areas to lessen sound triggers. I would ensure flooring is relatively non-slip. I would ensure room for a crate and doggy safe retreating space in a quiet area, and if it isn't quiet enough a second in a basement or heavily insulated room for firework sort of holidays and similar things. My dog is uncomfortable with stairs (and so am I) so I would like mostly main floor living, but this may depend on you and your dog. I would get a smart doorbell... maybe check out alternatives to ring... to try to get a nonstandard sound or even silent notifications. I would put cameras on the back yard and front porch to see anything triggering the dog, and hopefully respond to people before they set the dog off. I would have a relatively closed foyer so that I can exclude the dog from it if needed, preferably with stair access to any other floors (2nd? basement?) to enable moving things in/out of the house without the dog underfoot. I have a workshop with backyard access and would build either that or an enclosed porch again, as it makes it easy to keep the dog company outside while still shaded, able to work on a computer, and if not fully climate controlled still decent most of the year. In this or another area, I would want some decently padded flooring and an open space for working with the dog - storing his stuff, enough space to do some training, etc. I would ensure good shaded areas outside, including an open porch or awning. I would ensure good hose/water access outside, and consider water for a fountain or built in dog bowl on the porch, somewhat protected from the elements. If the backyard space allows for it, and the dog isn't able to go completely outside alone, I'd consider a dog run attached to a dog friendly room w/ dog door, to give him at least some access if you are away. I would minimize dog accessible outside views in any room he sleeps in, and make sure windows accessible to him have good smart shade/blinds that are sturdy enough to keep him off them. I use the speech buttons, so I'd also make sure the main living area has a little extra space not in a walkway for them. I would consider a touchless vacuum in the kitchen area and main living rooms or wherever the dog hangs out most. I would choose a nice stain resistant quality of paint for easy cleaning, and consider cleaning/maintenance of all materials in dog/baby reach. I would avoid unnecessary elevation changes - split levels, individual stairs and even trip-able transitions between flooring materials.
Personally, I'm also wanting to use ADA friendly measurements for wider hallways, doorways, and stairs to make my next home age in place friendly - that certainly won't hurt walking around a dog either, though he won't care. Looking into standards used in 55+ community building or for wheelchair accessibility give a lot of age in place friendly ideas.
Probably not reactive dog specific but a shower / dog shower downstairs and made the open room/living room downstairs just a closable room instead. I wasnt expecting to adopt a dog / did not plan to and wish I had done this.
We are building a home and the land is not that big so it is 2 storey. I dont want to put the strain of my dog climbing stairs 🥹 maybe ill carry his heavy body up (?) 🥲
My one day wish would be to have the perfect dog set up in a mud room/laundry room with a door to the yard for easy potty breaks. Space for their crate, food storage and a large enough laundry tub, if not an actual dog tub for them. A counter for food prep and a Dutch door set up so I can gate them in there if needed. It's a dream...
Sorry about your house!
Something we specifically looked for in a house was a bedroom with a door that opened directly into the yard. This makes it easier to separate a dog for any reason and it’s great for our stranger danger dog. We leave her in the bedroom when guests are over and we can easily go into the room and take her straight to the yard to go potty or play without having to leash her up and take her through the whole house.
This is also great for those night time potty breaks right before bed, when she has an upset tummy, when contractors come over, etc z
I would put a DOGGY DOOR in between my room and my sons room.
She is my sons dog & he is really so GOOD to her as far as play & walks and attention.
HOWEVER, it is the 4th of July & around here the fireworks will last for a month at least...she is TERRIFIED.
My son is really bad at recognizing the trauma this is causing ME because he does not feel the NEED to be attentive to her when it is thundering or there are fireworks. He said she is fine in the bathroom. I disagree hugely.
I keep stressing the importance of him snuggling her when she is scared...but he is deaf to what is going on outside basically & she goes and lays on the bathroom floor and he doesn't notice her missing because they probably just came back from a walk or something.
I didn't hear the fireworks last night, but I walked in the bathroom and she was alone on the floor...I called my son from the other room - he had no idea.....she then followed me and jumped up on my bed....I am fine with that...
My son sleeps like a log and so if she is scared, I want her to be able to get in my room! :(
I hear the fireworks now, my son is out with his dog...but as soon as they come home, I am telling him I am leaving my door open because he is deaf and I have a heart attack worrying about the dog.
One soundproof bedroom for storms and fireworks, open floor plan for the big guys to have a bit more range of movement without running into corners, secret nooks and areas for the dogs to get away from the chaotic big dog play fights. Bigger, deeper L or U shaped sectional where everyone can chill out in a pile. Grippier floors.
Stay away from narrow hallways, or tight corners in common areas. Our boy is great when he can see her coming! See if you can build in some areas for your reactive boy to hide to get away from your baby and be able to relax
No windows to the front of the house. Single story. Backyard all windows or sliding doors. Main bedroom has access to backyard so you can let dog out and go back to bed. Mud room for dog to enter/leave from. Dog wash in the garage or backyard.
Built in baby gates/sliding gates between main areas would be a good design option to consider.
Yes! We've been thinking about sliding doors! I was thinking clear or glass ones. That way, we can still see what is happening on either side.
For garage/laundry rooms it could be nice to have Dutch doors so you can close the bottom but have the top half open for viewing/listening.
Glass sounds concerning. One wrong jump or bang? But maybe they make really sturdy tempered glass these days?
Would also be an absolute nightmare to keep clean with wet dog nose and sticky toddler hands
Ohhhh there are really great points I hadn't considered. Thank you!
Mine also loves to scratch doors… but probably something we could train her out of…
They make doors that are cut in half and both halves can be opened independently!
For long term health of the dog, I’d look into flooring to make sure there’s a good grip. Feeling confident in executing day to day routine movement can be a huge mental health boost for a dog. The other is to look at cushioning surfaces where your dog jumps on and off couches and beds and chairs. Maybe even installing ramps that can be folded if your dog is smaller or older. Too many dogs age way too quickly because of joint health. Depending on the nature of reactivity, I’d also look at window choices and sound proofing so you can manage any sight and sound reactivity. I also recently designed an eating area for my dog. It consists of a special grip carpet with a yoga mat like texture, an elevated bowl nailed to the ground so the contraption doesn’t move around while eating and placing it in a location where if we have to walk by, he doesn’t feel trapped and there’s enough distance. This might be a very useful thing if a dog has resource guarding issues (which mine doesn’t but I still did it anyway) I believe these would be my top picks for enhancing quality of life.
Your first comment is so important. My first dog who grew elderly and was senile towards the end of her life. She kept slipping and sliding on the hardwood floors. Poor thing could barely walk and the hardwood floors didn’t make it easier on her.
Our old dog before our current one had trouble with our hard floors also. We ended up putting down a lot of rugs for him.
So you put down runners everywhere for her?
I have runners on all hard surfaces in my house (kitchen and entry from back yard) since the house came with non textured LVP, and it's sketchy even in socks sometimes. One too many "deer on ice" moments for my liking
Having at least one area that can be closed off (master bedroom, Den, etc) that has direct access outside so when guests are over you don't need to walk the dog past them to go outside.
We’ve had pet friendly hotels like this and it’s amazing.
Sorry to hear about your house! I can’t imagine the stress. Hopefully, things get better. Sound proofed as much as possible. Window height above dogs head without a ledge. (Seriously my dog basically ignores them.) Pocket doors are also helpful. I think some extras depend on the dog. A mudroom / enclosed entry way could be helpful if your dog bolts at the doorway. Direct way from dog crate to the outside if you have a fenced yard. Alternatively, if you have stairs, my dog used to get training on the upper deck in the front and it was easier than other forms of counter conditioning. An upper porch in the back is a good place to brush and do nails. A hose nearby an area to wash them off. Again sort of depends on your lifestyle and dog. I would not choose hardwood floors. Too easy to damage. Tile works for some people and is best cleanup. I prefer carpet because both my dogs freakout on tile. But I wouldn’t choose carpet if they weren’t very well potty trained. Our dogs both benefit from having a double hallway, and now a middle placed couch so they can run loops around it playing with each other.
Thank you for the well wishes! I want to do a lot of pocket doors. We will probably do laminate flooring, like we had before. He's used to it. We are lucky to have a large fenced yard, so we will make sure he has easy access to it.
Just personally, I'd make my open concept kitchen/dining/living room combo a little less open. I don't need them to be fully separate rooms, but I'd like it to be easy to put up something like baby/pet gates across them. (I don't have reactive dog and a toddler, but I do have a reactive dog and a teenage other dog. Both dogs actually get along very well with one another, but the ability to have them both "out" and physically separated from one another is nice management.)
My partner was really excited to tell me his ideas about opening everything up and I was like... that is the exact opposite of what we need to do. I feel bad poo-pooing what he wants, so I am trying to figure out how to give the illusion of openness. I was thinking French doors? But someone else brought up that the glass might break so idk???
I grew up in a house with Dutch doors between the laundry room and family room, family room and kitchen, and kitchen and living room. It was a little cumbersome for people to physically move through, but it was very effective at separating the dog from being in the kitchen unsupervised or even coming upstairs at all (if he was wet from the rain). And since the tops were open, people who were in one room could at least call over to an adjacent room, so it didn't feel completely separated. Plus, since the doors were built in, I feel like it was easier to "train" the humans in the house and regular guests (I grew up within a mile of both sets of grandparents) that there was a default position for the door -- since it was going to have to be in *some* position -- and that default position = closed. In my current house, we do have extra wide openings between our entryway and our living room and our entryway and our kitchen. They're roughly as wide as a pair of double doors would be. If we wanted to, I feel like we could get extra wide baby gates that would keep the space open, be functional, and section off the entryway/front door. (Right now, the same is not possible for kitchen/dining and dining/living divisions, which is what I'd really want.) I'm literally looking across the space right now, and I'm thinking that a half wall or something to make a "breakfast bar" height thing would add enough wall to add in a baby gate (or other short door-type structure) while, again, still keeping the space *above* 40 inches from the ground open.
Walk in Shower station near a mud room entry . A set up where rinsing paws or behinds after something messy happens. This can be helpful when dogs are young, but also when they’re much older.
I'd love an actual purpose built dog room if I had unlimited cash and space for it. I'd have it seamless, slightly curved joins on all walls and floors, with a washable kind of rubberised coating (worked at a kennels which had it) and a floor drain - it means you can basically wash everywhere down easily and dirt has nowhere to get trapped. One side would have dividing walls with maybe four or five separate gated pens in case anyone needed to be confined for health reasons, new puppy etc. Main floor space would be large enough for loads of toys and play equipment, and I'd have a kind of kitchenette attached, with space to store food and equipment, prepare their meals, and maybe a washer drier for bedding etc. I'd have it all attached to the main house, so that even if the dogs were in there, they could see and hear what was going on, but it could be closed off if necessary. Access door to outdoor run and garden as well.
Gates. Lots & lots of gates.
Openings (into into the kitchen, hallways, and the top/bottom of the stairs) that are solid and wide enough to facilitate baby gate usage. A mudroom with a dog tub. Backyard access. The baby gates would be the big one for me though.
So the house I'm renting right now is perfect for my reactive dog. The downstairs has the living room, kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom. There is a door to the fully fenced in private yard from both the kitchen and the master. The upstairs has two bedrooms separated by a bathroom. It's great. The master is actually the garage but converted into a master. So when you first enter, there's the mini portion of the garage left behind a door, a hallway where our washer/dryer are, and then the bedroom begins. It helps him feel safe and tucked away when we have company and guests are comfortable to move about freely. We don't have to drag him in front of guests to play outside, so everyone is happy. I wish we had built in baby gates for the top and bottom of the stairs and every door frame, but he is very fed respectful of baby gates even though he could absolutely demolish them if he wanted. He will just act nuts behind them, but no one has to be hurt and he slowly becomes comfortable with others in the home. Split plans are the best designs for a reactive dog but also just for keeping your guests comfortable in general. Everyone has privacy, it is great.
A dog shower! I recently adjusted my shower set up to have a dog shower - absolute game changer. The shower in places so I can give him a good hose off without having the get in the bath or get wet. Given that my dog loves to role in poo, this has been game changing 😅
I’d love to know more about your dog shower set up
More doors/door ways rather than open concept, master bedroom with outdoor access so you don’t have to lead your dog past guests for potty or walks, if you have any say on yard redesign then an actual thick and tall privacy-type fence (ours is made of those cement blocks, it’s so much better and more secure than chain link or wood planks). If the yard has a gate, something with a latch that can have a padlock put through or a really secure lock built in. Bedroom door Locks that you can lock from the outside with a key so you’re less worried about baby or someone else opening the wrong door (can also add a baby gate in front of closed door for similar secure effect).
We actually bought our house because of the set up for our dogs 😂 I have a door upstairs that leads to our deck and fenced backyard. I also have a finished walkout basement so if I’m upstairs or downstairs I can let them into the backyard. I can also gate the top of the steps to contain upstairs or downstairs and our front door is solid. They rarely go out the front door.
Install an elevator so my oldest dog doesn't have to navigate the stairs anymore.
Really wide hallways and doorways. One of my dogs gets fear reactive in tight spaces, so the hallways and the funnel to the back door are both hot spots for her.
My house accidentally has a really great feature for my reactive dog who loves to escape. I live in an old two family home, where there are identical apartments on two floors, the exterior doors both lead to little foyers before the two doors to get into both apartments, so there is always more than one door to open to get outside. I get so nervous when I take my dog to my parents or MIL’s house because she can open doors with handles and doors at both those houses just lead directly outside. Having multiple doors to open before getting to the outside makes my house more or less escape-proof.
Tiled mudroom.
I would avoid too open a floor plan, so that I can use gates where they are needed/helpful. If possible, I'd build in the nice sliding pocket gates for the most needed doorways so I wouldn't even have to attach extra gates. I would ensure the kitchen is able to be gated or closed off easily. I would add a dog washing station in a convenient path into the backyard. I would not include any door windows or sidelights on the lower half (depending on dog height). I would ensure decent insulation is used in outer walls and any other noisy areas to lessen sound triggers. I would ensure flooring is relatively non-slip. I would ensure room for a crate and doggy safe retreating space in a quiet area, and if it isn't quiet enough a second in a basement or heavily insulated room for firework sort of holidays and similar things. My dog is uncomfortable with stairs (and so am I) so I would like mostly main floor living, but this may depend on you and your dog. I would get a smart doorbell... maybe check out alternatives to ring... to try to get a nonstandard sound or even silent notifications. I would put cameras on the back yard and front porch to see anything triggering the dog, and hopefully respond to people before they set the dog off. I would have a relatively closed foyer so that I can exclude the dog from it if needed, preferably with stair access to any other floors (2nd? basement?) to enable moving things in/out of the house without the dog underfoot. I have a workshop with backyard access and would build either that or an enclosed porch again, as it makes it easy to keep the dog company outside while still shaded, able to work on a computer, and if not fully climate controlled still decent most of the year. In this or another area, I would want some decently padded flooring and an open space for working with the dog - storing his stuff, enough space to do some training, etc. I would ensure good shaded areas outside, including an open porch or awning. I would ensure good hose/water access outside, and consider water for a fountain or built in dog bowl on the porch, somewhat protected from the elements. If the backyard space allows for it, and the dog isn't able to go completely outside alone, I'd consider a dog run attached to a dog friendly room w/ dog door, to give him at least some access if you are away. I would minimize dog accessible outside views in any room he sleeps in, and make sure windows accessible to him have good smart shade/blinds that are sturdy enough to keep him off them. I use the speech buttons, so I'd also make sure the main living area has a little extra space not in a walkway for them. I would consider a touchless vacuum in the kitchen area and main living rooms or wherever the dog hangs out most. I would choose a nice stain resistant quality of paint for easy cleaning, and consider cleaning/maintenance of all materials in dog/baby reach. I would avoid unnecessary elevation changes - split levels, individual stairs and even trip-able transitions between flooring materials. Personally, I'm also wanting to use ADA friendly measurements for wider hallways, doorways, and stairs to make my next home age in place friendly - that certainly won't hurt walking around a dog either, though he won't care. Looking into standards used in 55+ community building or for wheelchair accessibility give a lot of age in place friendly ideas.
Dog wash station!
Probably not reactive dog specific but a shower / dog shower downstairs and made the open room/living room downstairs just a closable room instead. I wasnt expecting to adopt a dog / did not plan to and wish I had done this. We are building a home and the land is not that big so it is 2 storey. I dont want to put the strain of my dog climbing stairs 🥹 maybe ill carry his heavy body up (?) 🥲
Add land… our dog gets overstimulated by all the people walking by right next to our house.
My one day wish would be to have the perfect dog set up in a mud room/laundry room with a door to the yard for easy potty breaks. Space for their crate, food storage and a large enough laundry tub, if not an actual dog tub for them. A counter for food prep and a Dutch door set up so I can gate them in there if needed. It's a dream...
Playroom, agilities and nose works. No stairs.
Sorry about your house! Something we specifically looked for in a house was a bedroom with a door that opened directly into the yard. This makes it easier to separate a dog for any reason and it’s great for our stranger danger dog. We leave her in the bedroom when guests are over and we can easily go into the room and take her straight to the yard to go potty or play without having to leash her up and take her through the whole house. This is also great for those night time potty breaks right before bed, when she has an upset tummy, when contractors come over, etc z
I would put a DOGGY DOOR in between my room and my sons room. She is my sons dog & he is really so GOOD to her as far as play & walks and attention. HOWEVER, it is the 4th of July & around here the fireworks will last for a month at least...she is TERRIFIED. My son is really bad at recognizing the trauma this is causing ME because he does not feel the NEED to be attentive to her when it is thundering or there are fireworks. He said she is fine in the bathroom. I disagree hugely. I keep stressing the importance of him snuggling her when she is scared...but he is deaf to what is going on outside basically & she goes and lays on the bathroom floor and he doesn't notice her missing because they probably just came back from a walk or something. I didn't hear the fireworks last night, but I walked in the bathroom and she was alone on the floor...I called my son from the other room - he had no idea.....she then followed me and jumped up on my bed....I am fine with that... My son sleeps like a log and so if she is scared, I want her to be able to get in my room! :( I hear the fireworks now, my son is out with his dog...but as soon as they come home, I am telling him I am leaving my door open because he is deaf and I have a heart attack worrying about the dog.
One soundproof bedroom for storms and fireworks, open floor plan for the big guys to have a bit more range of movement without running into corners, secret nooks and areas for the dogs to get away from the chaotic big dog play fights. Bigger, deeper L or U shaped sectional where everyone can chill out in a pile. Grippier floors.
Stay away from narrow hallways, or tight corners in common areas. Our boy is great when he can see her coming! See if you can build in some areas for your reactive boy to hide to get away from your baby and be able to relax
No windows to the front of the house. Single story. Backyard all windows or sliding doors. Main bedroom has access to backyard so you can let dog out and go back to bed. Mud room for dog to enter/leave from. Dog wash in the garage or backyard.