Dogs are these furry friends that become a part of your family in no time. As per the American Kennel Club, there are about 75 million pet dogs in the U.S. It would be essential to make your home dog-friendly to accommodate your new pet. Here’s how you can go about it:
1. Avoid Rugs and Carpets
Carpets are best avoided as they accumulate dust, bacteria, and hair, which could cause human allergies. Instead, harder flooring such as porcelain tiles or ceramic tiles that are stain- and scratch-resistant would be better options. On hot days, the cool tiles provide a comfortable place for your dog to nap or rest on. If you’re particular about aesthetics, you could opt for wooden flooring as well.
2. Provide a Way In and Out
Dogs like running outside and playing around as much as they like spending time with their owners inside the home. However, as many as 60% of homeowners do not use the available outdoor space as much as they would have liked to, owing to a lack of shelter from the natural elements. For your furry friend to move in and out of the home, a convenient dog door would work great. You’d have to check the practicality though, based on your dog’s size and where you live.
3. Maintain a Dedicated Feeding Area
Keeping a designated area for the feeding dish and water bowl would make it convenient for both you and your dog. You wouldn’t have to worry about the food getting knocked over accidentally and your dog would know where to go for a meal. With a dishcloth or tray placed beneath it, you could avoid spills that you’d have to clean up later.
4. Keep Away Electrical Cables
If any loose cables or electrical wires are hanging around dangerously, it would be safer to conceal these to avoid any harm to your pet, or even you, for that matter. Thick cable protectors could be used to make them chew-proof. Tucking away any trailing cables beneath or behind furniture would be a good idea.
5. Keep Away Any Household Toxins
Having a pet at home means keeping away or doing away with cleaners, insecticides, etc. with strong chemicals. Instead, you could consider using ‘green’ or all-natural options. Additionally, some houseplants are poisonous to dogs, such as mistletoe, philodendron, etc. You’d have to clear these away as well.
6. Move Fragile and Precious Items Higher
Dogs tend to play and run around the house unhindered. This could likely lead to damage to fragile or breakable items. To avoid this, things made of glass, photo frames, vases, and any other precious, fragile items are best kept behind closed doors.
7. Get Trash Bins with Lids
Trash bins or cans have harmful chemicals, old food, non-eatables, etc. Dogs usually poke their nose into anything and everything. This could lead to nasty consequences if they were to eat something out of the trash, or knock it over and create a mess. Getting trash bins with lids is one way to avoid these undesirable situations. Alternatively, the trash bins could be kept in cabinets or closed doors.
8. Transform Your Yard or Lawn for Play-space
If you’ve got a lawn or backyard, you could make some changes to it, perhaps even beautify it, for your dog to play around in. Not just will it make your dog happy, but landscaping also adds up to 14% to the building’s resale value. At times, it could feel like the indoors restrict your dog from running, jumping, and playing freely. This is why developing the outside perimeter of your home would be great.
If you’re planning on getting a furry friend to add to your family, consider making the required changes to make your home dog-friendly.