We Australians love our dogs, and only want the best of the best for them. However, actually living with an indoor dog is not without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for any homeowner is actually keeping a clean home in the face of your dog’s shedding and drooling.
However, it is possible to keep your house clean and tidy even if you have a dog. Owning a dog, no matter whether they’re a tiny Cavoodle or a giant Saint Bernard, does not mean you just have to live in a mess. You just need to be proactive about cleaning and maintenance.
Whether you’re looking for sales for puppies in Melbourne or already own your own breeding business, our tips could help you keep doggy odours and messes at bay. Read on to learn more.
5 Tips for Keeping Your House Clean with Dogs
1. Have a regular bath schedule for your dog
Lots of dogs love to dig and roll around on the ground when they play outdoors. This often results in them tracking in lots of dirt when they come indoors. Most of the time you can get away with just wiping them down with a pet wipe or damp towel, but many dogs benefit from having a monthly bath.
This is also important for dogs that have very oily skin and fur, such as Labrador Retrievers. Regular baths can help keep them smelling nice. However, you should use a specially-formulated dog shampoo that doesn’t completely strip their skin of the natural oils.
2. Groom your dog often
One of the easiest ways to keep your house clean is with preemptive action. Brushing and grooming your dog regularly helps ensure that their fur ends up on the brush and not on your clothes or furniture. It’s also a great time to check your dog for any bruises, bumps, or wounds that you normally wouldn’t notice – a potentially life-saving step.
Before doing this, it’s a good idea to do some research into the type of brush that works best for your dog’s coat. Different breeds have different types of fur or hair, and the brush that works well for a long-haired Newfoundland may not work as well for a curly-coated Toy Poodle.
3. Keep their feeding area clean
Most dogs love to eat, whether it’s wet food or dry kibble. When they get a little too excited, it’s normal for them to spill some food or water from their bowl or feeder. Keeping your dog’s feeding area clean can help prevent unpleasant smells and unsightly stains from developing.
If your dog is a particularly messy eater, it can be a good idea to get a pet feeding mat that goes under their bowls, much like a placemat. Most pet feedings mats will be waterproof and have a non-slip texture so that the dog’s bowls don’t move around.
We recommend a mat with a raised edge so that any spills are contained to the mat. This can be important if your house has wood flooring that may become warped or stained if any moisture seeps beneath the flooring. It’s also a good idea for the mat to be food-safe and easily washable.
Other things you can do include taking away leftover food once feeding time is done, and washing the bowls after each meal.
4. Clean up messes quickly
Even housetrained dogs can have accidents, especially if they are feeling unwell. When your dog or puppy has an accident, it’s vital to be able to clean up the mess as soon as possible. Keep a complete cleaning kit handy.
You can use rags or kitchen towels, a spray bottle of your choice of cleaner and a roll of garbage bags. It can be a good idea to have this kit all in one bag or carrier, so you can even bring it with you when you’re out for a walk.
It’s important to clean up your dog’s messes immediately so that the smells and stains do not have time to set. Dogs can tell where they’re supposed to go potty based on how a place smells, and they may become accustomed to going to the toilet in the wrong place.
Keeping your house free of the smell of doggy urine and faeces will help them learn that they should be going potty outdoors, instead.
5. Wash and disinfect their bedding
We humans tend to wash and clean our bedding fairly regularly, but do we do the same for our dogs? If anything, their beds should be cleaned even more frequently since they can track dirt into their beds if they haven’t been wiped down after outdoor play time.
Dog beds can also become a breeding ground for ticks and fleas, which can cause all sorts of health problems for your dog.
Most dog beds will come with a removable cover that you can easily toss in the washing machine. Any soiled towels or bedding materials can be disinfected with an enzymatic cleaner before going through a wash cycle, as well.
Dog beds without a removable cover can be more difficult to clean, but not impossible. You may try to vacuum up any stray dog fur, then soak any obvious stains with an enzymatic cleaner. Soak the bed in warm, soapy water for an hour to loosen up any dirt and grime that has built up, then scrub and rinse. Wring out the dog bed and let it dry (preferably in indirect sunlight).