June 4, 2024 Rachel Young

Dog Friendly Home Shopping Guide For Dog Parents

Whether you are getting a new dog or already have one, it's crucial that your home is welcoming for them too!

It is estimated that 12 million households (44%) have pets in the UK. As dog owners, of course we want nothing but the best for our four-legged companions. That’s why we have created this dog friendly home shopping guide with all the essentials you need to ensure your dog feels cosy and settled.

Katja Rooke via Unsplash

Shop Dog Beds

A dog bed is a safe haven for your pup as it offers them a sense of security, and a place to retreat to when they want some alone time. Most dogs (depending on age) sleep for around 12-18 hours a day, so they’ll need a comfy bed of their own to get that much needed beauty sleep!

After all, according to a scientific study, a good night’s rest improves your dog’s memory and makes them smarter! If they had a good sleep, your dog is more likely to learn new commands successfully. We all know it’s hard to devote to learning when you are half asleep, and it’s no different for our furry best friends.

White Boucle Fabric Bed for Dogs

The best dog beds we have to offer are the incredibly comfortable Boucle Fabric Beds. Not only are they cosy for your pup, but also, they look very stylish in your home. Boucle beds are machine washable, so this means they last the test of time unlike the cheaper variety you may buy elsewhere.

If you have a smaller dog that tends to be allergic, we suggest the cosy Small Nest Dog Bed featuring an anti-allergic quality filling material.

For a cheaper option, the Zee.Dog Bed is pawsome for dogs who spend 80% of their time sleeping! It’s also great for dogs of all sizes, is hypoallergenic, anti-scratch and soft on your dog’s fur. Plus, the Zee.Bed is super easy to clean with two zippers for easy removal. This can be paired with one of the Zee.Dog bed covers in red or green.

Shop Dog Mats

If you and your pup love to explore, then a Travel Mat is a must-have for your dog friendly home collection. When your car is full and you can’t fit the whole dog bed in, travel mats can save the day as they are so easily foldable.

Travel mats are a great tool to have when you're out at a dog friendly pub or café. They help encourage your dog to sit and stay in one spot. That’s one way to stop them from sniffing around for scraps of food (though they may still try!)

Better yet, if you plan to travel during the summer with your furry pal, you can opt for a Dog Cooling Mat. A cooling mat will ensure your pooch stays comfortable, cool, and refreshed. They also provide relief for older pets who suffer from painful joint inflammation.

Shop Dog Bowls

As your dog will be using these bowls for food and water several times a day for many years, you’ll want to make sure you choose the right material of dog bowl.

There are a variety of different dog bowls to choose from including stainless steel, ceramic, and plastic. Within this section, we will explore everything you need to know about each type so you can choose the right one for your dog friendly home.

Mart Production via Pexels

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel dog bowls are known to be a vet’s functional favourite for a dog friendly home. This is because the material is the least likely to hold pathogens that will make your dog sick. Unlike plastic dog bowls, stainless steel is difficult to scratch and has no cracks for food leftovers to get stuck in.

Some additional benefits include:

Stainless steel dog bowls are very easy to clean and do not harbour bacteria.
They are durable and can last forever!
They do not have the risk of leaking potentially toxic chemicals into food. Whereas plastic or ceramic bowls with low quality paint could.
Non-Slip Stainless Steel Bowls will not slide on the floor when your dog is trying to consume their water or food.

If Stainless Steel sounds like the perfect choice for you, we have a variety of them to choose from. Including the brilliant Tuff Dog Bowls by ZeeDog that are not only super sturdy but corrosion and rust resistant too.

Ceramic Dog Bowls

Ceramic Dog Bowls are sturdy and stand the test of time. That’s why they are such a solid choice for a dog friendly home. Plus, they are available in pretty colours and patterns adding an extra aesthetic appeal to your interior.

Unlike plastic dog bowls, ceramic is less likely to chip, scratch, or crack. This means they are less likely than plastic to develop bacteria or other harmful substances that can be bad for your dog’s health. Ceramic bowls are also non-toxic and free of harmful substances like BPA that can be sometimes found in plastic dog bowls.

To summarise, ceramic dog bowls have the following benefits:

Ceramic bowls are durable and less likely to crack, chip, or scratch.
They are easy to clean and are dishwasher friendly!
Ceramic bowls are non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals.
These bowls are also aesthetically pleasing, available in a variety of colours and designs. A beautiful addition to your home décor!
Ceramic bowls help to keep your dog’s food and water at a consistent temperature. This makes them especially useful for the warmer summer months and the cold winter months too.

Has ceramic won you over? Check out our Ceramic Dog Bowls below.

Plastic Dog Bowls

Plastic dog bowls are cheap and easy to find. However, they may not be the best choice for a dog bowl. Many experts such as vets, nurses, and dog trainers believe plastic to be the worst option available as chemicals may be contained within the material when produced. It’s thought that these chemicals can then leach into your dog’s food or water and cause health issues.

Plastic is also easily scratched so leftover food can become stuck within the crevices. This allows for bacteria to develop over time, something you do not want your beloved furry friend exposed to! You may be thinking, ‘well, my dog doesn’t mind eating poop, so I doubt they care what bowl I choose for them’. But such bacteria that builds within these bowls can lead to skin irritation, inflammation, and infection… it can also lead to further issues in the future after exposure.

Melamine Dog Bowls

Melamine is hardwearing and damage resistant. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to chip or crack, making them a great alternative to plastic. Melamine dog bowls are also bacteria-resistant and available in many shapes and colours for you to choose from.

The Melamine Dog Bowls by Zee.Dog (Terranova and Desert ) are made from 100% human food grade melamine with a matte finish that looks good within any dog friendly home decor! They even have a non-slip textured base to ensure the bowl stays in place and keeps food and water off the floor.

Shop Dog Placemats

Now you have chosen your dog bowl, it’s time to look at Placemats for your dog friendly home! If your pooch is one to make a mess when they eat or drink, a placemat will help you protect your floor from water splatter and other spillages.

We have a variety of placemats available to save you time on cleaning up after your pup’s mealtime messes!

Silicone Feeding Dog Placemat: Our top-selling basic placemat is skid resistant, waterproof, and created to keep food and liquids off your lovely floor! Available in 3 versatile colours to choose from to blend seamlessly with your decor and mood.
Mess Free Silicone Placemat: Provides superior protection against your dog’s mealtime mess! The 100% food grade silicone material is waterproof and comes with gripper dots that allow your pet bowls to stay firmly in place as your dog enjoys their meals. It also features a raised edge to prevent food and water spillages.
Loxley Woven Bone Placemat: Made for eager eaters, this fashionable placemat keeps your dog’s food and water off the floor. This luxury bone placemat is created with 100% natural jute fibres, adding an air of premium to an everyday necessity!
Sit & Stay Dog Placemat: Are you looking for a trendy placemat to blend in with your home decor? This stylish café design will add a trendier look to your dog’s eating and drinking area in your home. Each mat is waterproof, easy, to clean, and will help protect your floor from spillages.

"Loxley" Woven Bone Shaped Placement Mat

Shop Dog Treat Trays

When your pup has been a very good boy or girl, you’ll want to reward their positive behaviours with a delicious treat. If you like to bake your own dog treats, a Treat Tray is a handy addition to your dog friendly home. Plus, they are super fun as they come in a variety of different shaped moulds for your pup to enjoy!

In the summer months, they can be used to make your pup their very own Pupsicle to cool off with. Just simply pour in your choice of liquid, such as a Furr Boost dog drink, and then freeze!

They are a must-have for any pet bakery to create healthy, homemade treats for your lucky furry friend.

Shop Dog Treat Jars

Once you have made your dog treats (or bought some of your dog’s favourites) a treat jar is a must-have in your dog friendly home. Just one shake of the treat jar will have your dog come running!

Our Ceramic Treat Jars are a pawfect storage solution that will look very stylish within your dog friendly home. Each trendy container is crafted from heavyweight, FDA-approved ceramic that stands strong against slippages and spills.

There are different colours to choose from too, so you can seamlessly blend them in with your interior’s design. Sound good? See our three best examples below.

Shop Dog Toy Storage

Does your pup have a lot of toys that end up being spread about across your home? We can’t help but treat our furry friends with lots of toys. Especially since there are so many different types out there that are crucial for their daily enrichment! But that doesn’t mean your home has to look messy!

The Capri Pet Toy Storage is ideal for holding all your dog’s playthings when they are not in-use. It also has a soft-sided design that easily collapses for storage, with handles that make it easily movable from room to room. Due to the different colours to choose from, you can blend this pet storage in with any style of decor. Just look at how cute they look!

Plus, it’s handy for holding more than just your dog’s toys! You can also place pillows, blankets, or even towels within the sustainable, 100% organic cotton container. It’s a real trendy storage solution for a stylish dog friendly home.