Dog wash stations can be extremely helpful because they provide a safe environment for your dog and yourself. You can typically find pet stores and groomers offering to schedule times for dog owners to use their dog washing stations for a set fee. However, these fees can start to add up quickly, especially if you have a dog that requires more frequent baths or own multiple dogs.
So, investing in an at-home dog wash station may be a more costly investment at first, but it’ll pay itself off in no time. While you can work with professional contractors to build a dog wash, you can also create your own DIY dog washing stations. Here are some DIY plans that can help you get a better picture of what this sort of project can look like.
The 10 Dog Wash Station Plans
1. PVC Pipe Outdoor Dog Shower by Instructables
| Materials: | 3-way elbow, PVC pipes, hose swivel adapter |
| Tools: | PVC cutter |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This outdoor shower is a simple way to wash your dog without creating a mess in the home. All you have to do is assemble and piece together PVC pipes and poke holes throughout. Then, you connect the finished structure to a hose, and water will spray out of the holes once the hose turns on.
This shower is a great way to rinse off a muddy dog before it enters your home. So, it may not be the best project for giving your dog a thorough wash. However, it’s effective in getting a lot of dirt off your dog, and it can also keep them cool on hot summer days.
2. How to Build a Dog Washing Station by Family Handyman
| Materials: | Brad nails, trim-head screws, magnets, PEX pipe, GoBoard, Baltic Birch plywood, plexiglass, flat steel, drawer slides, aluminum channel, exterior screws, shower pan, mortar, sealant, shower fixture, tile, wood glue |
| Tools: | Circular saw, gutting guide, drill, finish nailer, jigsaw, miter saw, plumbing tools, router, table saw, tiling tools |
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
This DIY plan will help you build a dog washing station from the ground up. It’ll require some time, but the end result will be worth it. You’ll have an elevated dog bath and safety steps that your dog can use to get in and out of the tub.
The structure will require reconfiguring some plumbing, so if you don’t have experience with this, make sure to contact a plumber. A plumber can help you safely create a faucet that can redirect some water to the dog wash.
3. Elevated Dog Wash Station by Instructables
| Materials: | Plywood, drywall, water pipes, bath basin, showerhead, screws, bolts, washers |
| Tools: | Drill, saw, glue, screwdriver, wrench |
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
This dog wash station is a great solution if you’re straining your back while bathing your dog. The instructions also include three walls so that all your dog’s splashing stays contained inside the dog wash.
While the instructions don’t include steps, you could easily install some stairs or a step stool to help dogs safely enter and exit the dog wash. You do have to be familiar with some plumbing to install the showerhead and drainage system. Other than that, this dog wash is a fairly straightforward project.
4. DIY Dog Shower by Thermaland Oaks Homestead
| Materials: | Plywood, tin tub, hitching ring plate, wall-mounted faucet, plywood, sealant, showerhead, screws |
| Tools: | Drill, wrench, saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This DIY dog wash uses a large metal tin tub to create a station in a farmhouse style. It’s a great structure to install if you have a spare outdoor faucet. The station just requires a basic plywood platform that the tub can sit on.
This plan also has a hitching ring plate that you can use to hook a leash to your dog. This can help your dog safely stay in place as you wash it.
5. DIY Dog Washing Station by Lowe’s
| Materials: | Rocks, plywood, weed barrier, bricks, trellis |
| Tools: | Shovel |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This dog bath station is an easy setup that you can complete in a day. All you need to do is clear out some space near a water spigot, lay out a weed barrier, and add a layer of smooth rocks. Once you’re finished, you just have to place a border of bricks to contain all the rocks.
A trellis can work as a nice backdrop, and you can also use it to hang towels. If you’re concerned about your dog running off, you can add a ground anchor nearby to clip a leash.
6. DIY Dog Bath for Under $200 by Double Muscle Line Bulls
| Materials: | Tub, cinder blocks, brass tees, PEX pipe, spigot |
| Tools: | Pipe cutter, saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
This simple dog wash station has an easy structure, but the plumbing can be a little challenging. So, if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to contact a plumber.
Once you figure out the plumbing, you’re free to use whatever materials you need to create the rest of the station. This particular DIY plan uses cinder blocks as a platform for the tub because cinder blocks are cost-effective and mobile.
7. DIY 360 Dog Wash Ring by Instructables
| Materials: | Clear garden hose, tee pipe |
| Tools: | Dremel tool, pliers |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This easy dog washer ring is a fast and easy trick for washing down your dog. All you have to do is create a hoop out of the garden hose that’s large enough for your dog to pass through. Then, you poke holes in the hoop and attract the ends with a tee pipe.
After that, you just screw on the tee pipe to your regular garden hose, and you can have your dog walk through the hoop. Along with rinsing off your dog, this tool is great for keeping your dog cool in the summer.
8. Fur-tastic Dog Washing Station by HGTV
| Materials: | Bricks, pebbles, trellis |
| Tools: | Measuring tape, shovel, drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This dog washing station is another easy outdoor DIY project that requires just a few basic materials. All you have to do is measure out a space large enough for your dog that’s also next to a water spigot. Next, level the ground with a shovel and line the area with bricks. Then, lay out some pebbles to prevent your dog’s paw from getting muddy.
After that, install a wall trellis that has holes wide enough for you to hang towels, buckets, and other grooming supplies. Once you finish setting up the trellis, the dog wash station is ready to use.
9. DIY Dog Wash Station by DailyPaws
| Materials: | Shower pan, tar paper, thin-set mortar, shims, plumber’s putty, shower drain, cement board, aluminum bullnose edging, subway tile, tile adhesives, tile spacers, grout, grout sealant, Teflon tape, showerhead, faucet, drywall anchors |
| Tools: | Tape measure, leveler, tile cutter, tile snips, notched trowel, drill, hacksaw, miter box, tile float, tiling sponge, bucket, protective gear |
| Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
This project requires a good amount of time, but the end result is worth it. It’s a great project to add to any remodeling projects for mudrooms, laundry rooms, or large bathrooms. Aside from configuring new plumbing, the most challenging part of this project will be laying out the tiles neatly and evenly.
Once you finish the base of this wash station, you can easily add on shelves and overhead cabinets to store dog shampoo, brushes, towels, and other grooming supplies.
10. DIY Dog Bathtub by All Dogs Are Smart
| Materials: | Freestanding tub, table, caulk, PVC pipes, catch basin, showerhead |
| Tools: | Saw, wrench, sandpaper |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This DIY dog wash station has a simple setup. It’ll work best in an area that has an unused faucet, such as a laundry room. All you have to do is find a freestanding tub or plastic bin that’s large enough to contain your dog. Then, you cut one side of it off so that your dog can easily hop in and out of it.
You’ll also have to cut a hole at the bottom of the tub so that water can drain out. PVC pipes can help direct water to the desired location. Once you complete these basic steps, you can customize the wash station with other items such as a table or showerhead.
In Conclusion
It can be intimidating to start a project as big as a dog wash station. However, there are all kinds of DIY dog wash stations of varying levels, and you can start with an easier project. Once you start learning and getting a better understanding of how plumbing and tiling work, you can create more advanced projects.
Soon, you’ll end up with a unique dog washing station that meets all your needs. So, just get started and see where your DIY adventure leads you.
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Featured Image Credit: Elisa Barrantes, Unsplash
The 10 Dog Wash Station Plans
