Designing a dog friendly house that will be easy to clean

Is it possible to keep your home clean and stylish once you get a dog?

The simple answer is yes, of course, it is. While it can be difficult to balance the practical needs of having a dog with keeping your house clean and tidy, a few stumbling blocks should never stand in your way of achieving peace within your home – plenty of other people manage it on a daily basis, after all.

Now, we aren’t all blessed with the ability to redesign our homes to cater to a dog’s daily needs, but there are simple things you can do to prepare your property for a dog’s arrival. Solid flooring, including hardwood, laminate, and tiles, really lends itself to a dog; it’s much easier to clean and can reduce the amount of time you need to spend vacuuming by a considerable amount. Simply endeavour to clear up messes and accidents as soon as they occur, and steam mop floors with a gentle detergent to keep them fresh. If you have carpets, and cannot afford to replace them just yet, think about investing in a quality vacuum cleaner that is specifically designed for pet hair.

Dogs tend to be something of a whirlwind, so think about your home’s layout. In much the same way as you would baby-proof your home in the expectation of a new arrival, consider how a dog may react to certain aspects of your home. Do you have lots of breakables close to the floor? Now may be the perfect time to de-clutter your home somewhat! Do you have impractical fabrics and soft furnishings dotted around? Remove cushions and expensive rugs to areas of the house that the dog may avoid, and consider cheaper, washable fabrics for all of your furnishings. Throws, in particular, can be a godsend for keeping your house clean and tidy.

Whether you’re adopting a puppy, an excitable breed, or even an older dog, buying a dog crate can help to reduce the time you spend cleaning. Your new canine companion will retreat to its cage that contains a large dog bed to sleep in, or whenever it needs a little space, helping to keep your carpets and cushions free from the majority of its hair.

Minimising the issues that will accompany your new dog

They do say that prevention is better than a cure: rather than spending hours each day cleaning your home or repairing damage, try to step in before spillages, breakages, and messes even occur. For example, regularly trim your dog’s nails, ensure its bowls are positioned on a wipe-clean mat or surface, conduct regular grooming to limit the amount of stray fluff flying around your home, and purchase a good quality lint roller for your clothes and soft furnishings. There’s no need for expensive chemicals either; simply attend to accidents with a damp cloth and a gentle detergent, dabbing and then rinsing as soon as you can.

Resign yourself to a few simple facts; your dog will come home with muddy paws. It will probably bring pests into your home, and you’re likely to spend a good portion of your time wondering where that smell is coming from. Limit the stress these issues are likely to cause by spraying carpets, curtains, and furnishings with an air freshener such as Febreze. Keep a bowl of tepid water, a towel, and mats by your front, and back door to clean your dog’s paws upon entry, and get used to brushing your dog’s fur before you head inside, particularly if you’ve been for a walk through long grass. Ensure your pet is regularly vaccinated, and get used to treating them with wormers and flea tablets for dogs to lessen the risk of irritating pests invading your home.

Dogs can turn your world upside down, providing hours of entertainment, love and cuddles, and stimulation, not to mention the motivation you may need to head outside for a brisk walk at least twice a day. While a dog’s sudden appearance in your life can alter the way you spend your time, and perhaps even your behaviour, it can also turn your house upside down. Regardless of how mentally prepared you are for a new dog, the reality can be something altogether different.