I remember that feeling when I went from sewing on the kitchen table, to taking our middle son's bedroom and finally having a room designated to sewing. One tends to forget those little joys. Congratulations. I hope you never have to go back. RE: dogs. We have TWO Golden retrievers that just turned one. I will allow one in at a time, IF I have scoured the floor for pins, fabric or thread first. Then I bring them in with their bone to occupy them for about an hour.