3 DIY Home Projects Inspired By Our Dogs

by | Mar 12, 2020 | Raising Dogs

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This year, we're going to tackle three projects inspired by our dogs that will make our home more beautiful while keeping our dogs happy and safe. We prefer to do the projects ourselves, because it's more cost effective. And the money we save can be used to make the project better or on other projects down the line. We plan to redo our dog yard and make it bigger while preventing our little escape artist from getting free. We're going to build a She Shed were I can do meal prep without taking over the kitchen. And I'm going to redecorate my home office and update the dog beds that surround my desk. Do you have plans for the summer?

Longer days are here and warmer temps are right around the corner, which means three things for our family:

  1. Long daily dog walks.
  2. Bringing raw meaty bones back into the diet – the dogs eat them outside.
  3. Home projects galore.

Every year my partner and I sit down and haggle over the projects that have to be done. He is a project junky. Of course, if you ask him, he'll tell you that these things HAVE to be done. And, if I'm being honest, when a project is complete, it looks amazing. He knows what he's doing.

Usually, our outdoor projects are focused on making our property look gorgeous. This year, however, we have a few projects that involve the dogs.

Our first project for 2020 is to redo the dogs' yard. We have an escape artist so we need a sturdy fencing system that can keep our dogs contained and safe when they go outside.
Apollo chewed his way through the fence – this is the second time he's done this.

1 – New Dog Yard

Currently, our dog yard sits on one side of our house. We're going to pull up the current fence, which is nearly 14 years old and falling apart, and replace it with a non-electric fencing system from Pet Playgrounds. We've been thinking about redoing the dog yard for several years and the addition of a Husky Mix to our family made this change necessary and it quickly rose to Priority #1 when Apollo kept finding ways to get out of the yard. People warned me that Huskies are escape artists, I didn't think we'd have a problem until now.

My partner found Pet Playgrounds when he was looking for fencing options for the new dog yard. We need something that is large (2,500 square feet) and escape-proof. In looking at the Pet Playgrounds website, we decided to go for the six-foot max option, which is a triple-layer fencing system. What we love about Pet Playgrounds is the fencing discourages digging, chewing, and climbing. The reviews are good and the price is within our budget.

2 – A Raw Feeder's She Shed

I need a place where I can do meal prep without getting in anyone's way. I used to take over the kitchen and this prevented my partner from making a meal because he was hesitant to make anything in a room with exposed raw meat. I tried to do meal prep in our laundry room, but the space is too small. And my partner took over the garage for his tools and equipment and there isn't much space for me. So he offered to help me build a She Shed.

We have a shed on our property that we could convert to a She Shed, however, I want something new that sits next to the house. My freezers and fridge are in the garage and I don't want to have to walk back and forth across the yard with food, but I don't mind walking 20 feet. Hey! I buy in bulk and those boxes are heavy!

This year, we're going to add a She Shed for the property. Since my boyfriend has taken over the garage, I need a space to store my supplies and do meal prep for our dogs and cat. I love the idea of having my own space.
I would love a She Shed similar to this – just a little bigger.

We can get an affordable garden shed from Tuff Shed or Costco. I like the idea of Tuff Shed because they'll come out and build the shed for you and it's very affordable. However, I think we'll probably go with a shed from Costco and build it ourselves for half the price. I'd rather put that extra money towards cabinets, a stainless steel table, and running electricity to the shed for my meat grinder, heat for the winter, and some music while I work.

3 – Redecorate the Office

And, finally, I want to redecorate my office. Not exactly for the dogs, but it's because of the dogs that I have need of an office. Right now, I'm working in a room that used to belong to my stepson (his bed is still there). I'd like to clear out the room, replace the carpet with tile that looks like hardwood (we have it in our living room and it's gorgeous), and reorganize the room to have a space for my desk and to make YouTube videos as well as space for the dogs to chill while I'm working.

I'm looking for a rustic home office. Something that I can share with my partner (he can have a drawer since he's taken over the garage). I have nearly everything I need to make it happen, I just need to find the time to do it. The flooring will have to wait, but the room can be done in a weekend with some patience, creativity, and hard work.

This year, I'm going to redecorate the headquarters of Keep the Tail Wagging. This will be the third redecoration, but this time I have a game plan and I'm excited to get started. Of course, there will be dog beds.
I love the rustic and comfortable look of this office.

We have plenty of dog beds, but I might replace a few of the old ones (one is 10 years old). Costco has orthopedic dog beds with the bumper sides for less than $50 each. I can pick up a couple of those this weekend and get started. I just hope that I can get it done in one weekend.

Home Projects Can Build or Break a Relationship

You know how they say that you get to know someone when you travel with them? I think the same can be said when you do a project with someone. A long time ago, I learned that someone has to take the lead on our projects and unless I plan to do a project by myself, it's best that J takes the lead. Not because he's the man, but because he has far more experience and better vision than I do.

J will take the lead on re-doing the dog yard and helping me with the She Shed. I'll take the lead with my office, occasionally asking him to help me with furniture. Just writing this post has given me the inspiration to get started this weekend on re-doing my office. How hard can it be?

Do you have any projects for 2020?

This year, we're going to tackle three projects inspired by our dogs that will make our home more beautiful while keeping our dogs happy and safe. We prefer to do the projects ourselves, because it's more cost effective. And the money we save can be used to make the project better or on other projects down the line. We plan to redo our dog yard and make it bigger while preventing our little escape artist from getting free. We're going to build a She Shed were I can do meal prep without taking over the kitchen. And I'm going to redecorate my home office and update the dog beds that surround my desk. Do you have plans for the summer?

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2 Comments

  1. Kimberly on March 25, 2020 at 1:24 pm

    I began adding digestive supplement to his diet. I started with a supplement called FullBucket (https://keepthetailwagging.com/fullbucket) and have since transitioned to Bio Case Plus (which has digestive enzymes that work better for him) and fermented foods like kefir and fermented fish stock.

  2. Judith Kayser on March 25, 2020 at 1:19 pm

    I’m new to raw (2 months) I Am motivated but my dogs poop eating, anal gland problem, and knowledge of how horrible kibble is for dogs. I get a custom ordered product delivered that has ground meat/ poultry/ fish and herb. so far no results for anal gland or poop eating. She does have much improved stool. She is a hot dog and from my reading has lots in common with your Rodrigo. Is there anything you did with him that you felt helped R with poop eating and anal gland s? I believe Rodrigo has those issues resolved?
    Thanks so much

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