Create a pedigree kitchen for your pooch

If there’s one thing that truly defines the British as a nation, it’s our love of pets, with an estimated 8.5 million dogs and 7.4 million cats, which, according to the RSPCA, means around 1 in every 2 households owns a pet of some description.

dogs-in-the-kitchen — Make sure your kitchen doesn’t turn into a dog’s dinner!

For a country that is a mere 151,000 square miles in size (give or take a few feet), only 8 other countries, that are all significantly larger geographically, have a greater dog population.

Indeed, it is testament to the love we have for our furry friends that the Crufts dog show, which marked its 125th year in 2016, is such a celebrated event each and every year. The 4 day event, held at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, attracts over 20,000 participants, a live audience in excess of 150,000 and an average televised audience of over 1.5 million, with highlights shown every day on Channel 4.

Pets, and dogs in particular, hold a special place in our hearts thanks to their unswerving loyalty, forming the sort of bond that makes them an integral part of the family. And, as an integral part of the family, it’s only fair that they enjoy our homes as much as we do. Which is why, here at HCSupplies, we’ve got some great tips on creating a kitchen that’s “best in show” when it comes to catering for your pampered pooch.

Dog days in the kitchen

These days, we don’t expect much from our dogs apart from an enthusiastic greeting as we walk through the door and a bit of companionship now and again. The thought of a faithful servant who will fetch our paper and slippers is now a little outdated (I mean, who wants a chewed smartphone?). However it was a very different story when we look back in history.

Dogs were bred to earn their keep and one breed in particular, known as the Turnspit dog, was (as the name might suggest) bred to turn meat roasting on a spit. The dog is first mentioned in the 16th century and an illustration from the 19th century shows a dog with short legs and a long body which would have turned a wheel suspended from the ceiling.

Although now extinct, the Turnspit or Kitchen dog, as it was known, is considered to be a relative of the Glen of Imaal Terrier by some sources, and the Welsh Corgi by others, which may explain why the little nippers could be found scurrying around in Queen Victoria’s kitchen. Allegedly, she used to keep retired Turnspit dogs as pets.

Dog designs for your kitchen

Of course, we’re not for one moment suggesting your furry friend needs to lift a paw for his or her treats. So why not take a leaf out of our book and treat your canine chum to one of the following:

dog-in-kitchen-basket — Every dog has his den. So why not make it as comfy as possible with an under worktop basket?

Under worktop den

A favoured spot for mutts up and down the country, the “beneath-the-kitchen-worktop” home is always a cosy spot for your dog to kick back and relax. Why not build this into your kitchen design with an access point and warm, soft back board for them to relax against?

Dog door

Why let the cat have all the fun, when you can let your dog in and out without having to keep your kitchen door open! With a signal transmitted from the dog’s collar, he or she can gain access to and from the garden, meaning your dog doesn’t have to give you any hints when it comes to pee-pee time!

Chow time

Of course, the kitchen is where we food is made for every member of the family, so why shouldn’t your pooch be any different? Whilst both our meals are prepared on the kitchen worktop, this is where the similarity ends. There’s a reason why we commonly refer to a mess as a “dog’s dinner”, and that’s because dogs don’t really play by our own rules of etiquette when eating. More often than not the dinner will end up all over the floor.

High time you got a high tech solution? With the PetNet Smart Feeder you can control how much your best friend eats from your smartphone using an app, which can only be a good thing if he or she could do with losing a few pounds!

So when you’re designing your new kitchen, don’t end up in the dog house. Make sure you choose a good quality work top from HCSupplies for a well-groomed space that you and your furry friend will love.