Living on a farm often means that things get very dirty. Our dogs are no exception and in an effort to minimize the amount of ‘farm’ they bring into the house, we set out to build an easy-to-use washing station. In this blog we will show you how to build your own dog grooming station.

How do I Set Up a Dog Grooming Station at Home?

We started with a 2’x2’x4’ galvanized metal trough, available at Home Depot or most feed stores. We cut out one of the curved ends, but left a few inches at the bottom so it would hold water in as it drained. We used a 4” grinder with a cutting wheel to do this. Be sure to wear safety glasses and leather gloves!!

Next, we cut a hole for the drain at the end opposite the entrance we just cut. We used this sink drain here, and recommend you get one with a drop-in strainer as dog grooming is hairy work. We then used a hole saw on a cordless drill to cut the appropriate size hole for the drain. Once we did this, we masked off both the drain hole and the outside of the entrance that we cut. We used a spray on bed liner kit to spray the black polyurethane that provides protection and traction for the wash basin.

Using plumbers putty, we then installed the drain per the instructions. Then we installed the metal edge trim on the sharp-cut edge of the trough. At this point, we built a wood base over an existing drain we had put into the barn floor for this purpose. Not everyone will be doing so much dog grooming that they need to have the connection to the main line, so the drain could be plumbed outside or to anywhere you would like the water to drain. We went as far as to install a fixture and a hose that is connected to an on-demand electric water heater, which is a very nice feature for the pups. Dog grooming is never easy, but having an appropriate station and set up to do so makes it much more pleasant!!

Spray Coating | Kitchen Sink Drain | Faucet | Rubber Strips | Drain Kit

How Big should Dog Washing Stations be?

The size of your dog washing station will depend on your own dog grooming needs. Our Great Pyrenees is a larger dog, so we choose the 2’x2’x4’ tub. If you have a smaller pet, you can buy a smaller tub. Our installation instructions will still be the same, though you may need to scale down the size of the drain to match.

You also have to consider what other steps are in your dog grooming routine. We have spa days for our fur babies, so we set ours up in the barn where we have plenty of room. If you are just looking for a place to shower, you just need enough room for the tub and some space to move around it. This could easily be installed in a screened-in porch, small shed, or garage if you don’t have a barn or a large bathroom. This could even work outside if you have the right climate!

How Much does it Cost to Put In a Dog Shower?

Dog grooming can be pricy and that’s why we decided to build our own dog washing station. If you follow the links we provided in the post, it comes out to about $800. Half of that is the faucet we chose. If that is out of your price range don’t worry, that is just a ballpark. You may find that a more affordable faucet could still fit your dog’s grooming needs.

Our goal on the homestead is to stay debt-free, so we have learned to use what we have on hand before we go shopping. We did not want to break the bank on dog grooming and I am sure a lot of our readers are the same way. An old shower head you have on hand could work just fine or you might have a wash basin that would work as a tub.

Deshedding Tool | Dematting Comb | Grooming Products | Training Collar | Dog Bed | Engraved Collar

If you have any questions about how we did our dog washing station or cost-saving tips you would like to share, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Hugs,

Christina & Trevor