The Ideal Bath Tub for a Couple of Big Doodles

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I'm in the process of house hunting and one of the challenges I've found is getting a house that has a tub or shower that is ideal for bathing doodles. A lot of newer or renovated houses now a days have soaker tubs, which are imposible to lift 72lbs dogs in and out of, let alone the maneuvering to get them clean. If I were to bath the doodles in a soaker tub, I'd need spend a good 30 minutes in there after them just to sooth my back muscles. Can anyone say Robaxacet?

Then there are the stand up showers that are usually in a corner, which are impossible to fit a doodle and a human in. I've seen stand up showers that are the rectangular space of a tub, but without the tub, just glass shower doors, this is better, but it still means that I have some awkward maneuvering to do to get in there with the doodles, unless I remove the glass doors, but then I'm sure there'd be a big mess to clean up.

So in the end I gave up on finding this in a house and resolved that whatever house I chose I will need to install somesort of showering/bathing facility for the doodles. Now that I've found the perfect house, just waiting to see if they accept my counter offer, I need to know what kind of a tub/shower would be ideal to install in the basement (and hopefully not too expensive). The drainage is all there, and there's plenty of space, so it is all possible (pending the home inspectors approval anyway).

So let me have it. What would be your ideal doodle tub/shower?

[Lynda Kamrath]

Another photo I found of Groucho on the grooming table.  He is 90 pounds and will "walk the ramp" to get onto the counter and then steps down into the sinks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a cooperative guy : )

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

What a good boy Groucho is.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Great discussion, Sherri. We have an unfinished basement and I was seriously considering putting in a doodle bath station. So this is giving me ideas as well. We are currently using our guest bathroom tub, but by the time I'm done with Monty, my back is killing me. Since we are getting a second dood, I really need to reconsider our bathroom situation if I don't want to pay for doggie self-bath every week. Thanks for posting this and I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures of your new house. When we were shopping for a house, I had no idea we are going to have a dog, so our backyard sucks.

[Susan, Scott, Stillbe & Carter]

I found another good article and photos of different setups

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2083197/list?utm_source=Houzz&ut...

Hope link works, otherwise go to www.Houzz.com and article is 'Pamper Your Pooch with a Dog Shower'

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I discovered Houzz.com too! it's awesome. I created an idea book for my new laundry room and doggie grooming centre, but now that I am officially house poor reality has set in.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! Right now I am leaning toward the Booster Bath. http://boosterbath.com/  This would be a quick and easy solution while I save up for some basement renos. The lady who owns the grooming supply store here was encouraging me to do the booster bath. It is supposedly durable, and easy to transport, and fold away when needed. It  comes with a shower head, and has a hose draining in the laundry room sink. It's not a perfect solution since it's kind of bulky and awkward looking but at least it's affordable and functional.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I love the ideas at Houzz.com ! What a great inspiration.

Sherri, let us know how the boosterbath works once you get it.