Pet supplement brand, YuMOVE have teamed up with interior design guru and national treasure, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to create the ‘World’s Best Dog House’.
Dog ownership has skyrocketed from 9 million to 12 million across Great Britain. The ‘World’s Best Dog House’, which launches today, has been created to encourage all pooch parents, whether experienced or those who acquired a dog during the pandemic, to think about making simple swaps and essential lesser known adaptions within their own home environment to benefit a dog’s life.
After conducting research with 1,000 dog owners, YuMOVE can reveal that even the most experienced owners are not aware of some of the most important home improvements that can be made to turn every home into a pooch paradise.
In a multiple choice questionnaire, 65% stated that dog toys were the most important, with only a small number of owners listing ergonomic bedding (12%), elevated food bowls (29%) and non-slip rugs (26%), which can all dramatically reduce the risk of certain joint issues, as essential items,
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has spent his career creating the best home environments for people and, as the proud owner of three dogs, he is teaming up with YuMOVE to inspire owners across the country to create the best possible home environment for their canine companions.
While LLB brought the flair with a delightful colour scheme and bespoke printed wallpaper and bedding that features imagery of his own beloved dogs Estella Piglet (12), Dylis Daughter of Gladice (11) and Midge Marriott (4), YuMOVE brought the care by working alongside its team of veterinary experts, including superstar vet and founder of Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon, to highlight the lesser known in-home items that can make a real difference to a dog’s long-term joint health, happiness and wellbeing by creating the ‘World’s Best Dog House’.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said: “I’ve been saving the planet from design disaster for decades, but I think this could have been my toughest challenge yet. While shopping for chandeliers and dog-friendly drapes, I’ve been working with YuMOVE’s team of veterinary experts to ensure that the ‘World’s Best Dog House’ design is as perfect for my dog’s long-term health as it is wonderful on the eye.”
“I took inspiration from the Italian designer Emilio Pucci. With hand-drawn, bespoke wallpaper featuring a series of self-portraits of my beloved Stella adorning the walls and ergonomic bedding. Gentle inclined steps lead to the mezzanine painted in non-slip paint. And to make dinner time more comfortable, raised bowls elegantly decorated in emerald green to match my dog’s eyes complete my masterpiece.”
Features of the World’s Best Dog House and how to add them to your home
- Flooring: All of the flooring within the ‘World’s Best Dog House’ were applied with non-slip paint, while non-slip mats that are kind on doggy joints were placed within the pooch pad. Add non-slip mats to your slippery surfaces in areas of high traffic in your own home.
- Food and water bowls: Raised food bowls make chowing down easier for your canine companion and ease the strain on the joints. Raising your dog’s feeding and water bowl to between elbow and shoulder height can improve their comfortable access, and make meals times more comfortable.
- Beds: Like the beds in the ‘World’s Best Dog House’, the perfect doggy bed needs to be large enough for a dog to stretch out on. They should be well cushioned to protect a dog from the floor below, and reasonably firm so they are predictable to walk. A personalised print is an optional extra, but who doesn’t love a self-portrait?
- Stair adaptions: The stairs in the ‘World’s Best Dog House’ were a bespoke design created for LLB’s dogs and featured gentle depths and heights that are easier on doggy joints. Each of the steps were applied with non-slip paint, to make ascending and descending less troublesome. Stairs and steps can be troubling for a dog’s health and wellbeing, but there are plenty of solutions like stairgates to stop access or ramps to make climbing easier.
Dr John Howie, CEO and founder at Lintbells said: “Lintbells mission has always been to make sure that dogs enjoy an active life, for their whole life and to do this we are dedicated to ensuring dog owners are fully aware and informed about the lesser known aspects of every day life that can impact a dogs long-term health and wellbeing. We know that owners want to do the best for their pets, but some don’t realise the damage a typical home environment can cause to a dog’s joints. We’ve created the ‘World’s Best Dog House’ to educate owners about hidden dangers in the home while showing them how easy it is to create the best in-home environment that will benefit the long-term health and wellbeing of their beloved pet”.
Hannah Capon added: “Dogs are incredible at coping and carrying on and we often don’t detect they are having difficulties until they are in considerable discomfort. Making quick and easy at-home adaptations helps dog’s live happier lives, while enhancing their long-term health and wellbeing.”
In a period where dog ownership has increased by a third and, with more people spending more time at home, renovations and DIY have become popular. Now is the perfect time to make simple and easy changes that will create the best possible home environment and living conditions for the our much-adored furry friends.
YuMOVE’s research further illustrates this with 72% of owners stating they would make improvements within their homes in the future to help their pet be as comfortable as possible.
For further inspiration and advice from Laurence and YuMOVE’s team of veterinary experts on how to make easy at-home swaps, visit www.worldsbestdoghouse.com.
