Introduction

The debate on responsible pet ownership has focused on the relative merits of legislation versus education. Little thought has been given to the potential role that design might play in helping people to enjoy their pet and avoid unwanted pet behaviours.

We first took this question up in 1992/1993 with the development of guidelines for pet-friendly architecture. The final report was called Pets in Urban Areas: A Guide to Integrating Domestic Pets into New Residential Development. It was undertaken with assistance from animal behaviourist, Robert Holmes and architects Goad Fink. The Study identified elements of housing design that might contribute to a pet's behavioural patterns and quality of life.

The Guide is now five years old and warrants updating, in particular, because there has been a sea change in attitudes to apartment and townhouse living. What was once an unpalatable policy of the government to encourage higher urban densities is now a development reality with the effects of higher densities being visible in urban centres around Australia. In these circumstances, the need for guidelines becomes a design imperative rather than some vague notion that designing with pets in mind is a good idea.

What's different from the first edition?

This edition has been completely rewritten. The first edition was the first foray into pet-friendly housing design undertaken anywhere in the world. Since then, we have obtained valuable feedback, new material and the opportunity to observe residential developments all over Australia in the context of planning for pets.

In particular, the following changes have been made.

1. The design principles have been brought out clearly, in line with the shift to a performance-based approach to residential development;

2. More emphasis has been placed on high and medium density development; and

3. The guidelines themselves are generally more sophisticated and detailed reflecting feedback and observations made in the intervening years;

Aim

The aim of the Guide is to identify aspects of dwelling design that:

• help to integrate pets into a household in accordance with that household's needs;
• reduce the incidence of unwanted behaviours; and
• reduce the impact of unwanted behaviours that do occur.

Scope

The Guide applies to the design and development of new dwellings (flats, apartments, town houses and houses) as well as extensions and alterations to existing housing stock. In most cases we are talking about housing in cities, although the principles and guidelines are applicable to towns and rural areas as well. In this Guide pets are defined as owned dogs and cats.

Intended Audience

The guide has been prepared with a number of audiences in mind and with the expectation of it being read at different levels.

At one level, it is hoped that the Guide will encourage everyone to think about pets in decisions about residential development. This includes home owners, architects and developers as well as Councils and other authorities who approve housing and subdivision plans, develop housing strategies and who are interested in ensuring that design reflects the diverse housing needs of the population.

At another level, it can be used by local authorities as a municipal pet management tool since design is one way to help people to be responsible pet owners.

Structure Of The Guide

The following section looks at why we should consider pets in planning and design. The Guide then explores what successful pet ownership might mean and the potential role of the pet's home environment.

From this general discussion, we have identified six design principles that should be the basis for any consideration of pets in design and development. These principles include:

1. Maximise space available to pets;

2. Environmental enrichment;

3. A view of outside world;

4. Confinement;

5. Acoustic separation; and

6. A safe and comfortable environment.

Ultimately any design response needs to be judged against these principles, rather than a literal copying of the specific guidelines that follow.

We have then identified nine elements of design where the principles might come into play. These elements include:

• Housing density;
• Housing type and precinct design;
• Open space and landscaping;
• Fences;
• Car parking and vehicle access;
• Dwelling entry and interior;
• Windows;
• Disposal of excrement; and
• Restraint of cats.

Within the discussion on each we provide examples and guidelines of how to implement the general ideas. Depending on the circumstances of the site, not all will be relevant and some will be more important than others.

Why consider pets in Housing Design

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