Is it possible to keep your home clean when you own a dog? Yes it is.
The key to being a dog owner is to stay organised and have all the right tools to hand. Dirty paw marks, funny smells and pet hair are the biggest issue for any pet owner.
I choose a dog that is supposed to not malt but she sure does and I am forever grateful for my handheld hoover.
There are a few keys points to making owning a dog a lot easier and still maintaining a pristine home.
Exercise
Make sure you give your dog plenty of play and exercise time. Hetty has two one hour walks a day morning and mid afternoon and playtime when the kids come in from school. This way when she is at home and I am sat working she will generally just sit on her blanket and sleep. I am lucky from day one I trained Hetty into sitting on blankets and throws. She very rarely sits anywhere else as she finds comfort in her blankets. Then the beauty is I can wash them regularly and keep those dog smells at bay. I do add into the wash vamoosh as this is great as dissolving pet hair.
Grooming
Regular grooming with a daily brush and a weekly shower can really help. There is also a great range of really good products that you can use on your dog that are safe and will make you dog smell amazing. The dog grooming gloves are amazing plus I am a fan of the Pet Head Deodorising shampoo and this hasn’t caused Hetty any irritations. . She is also groomed once ever 6 weeks by a local groomer and Hetty gets the best blow-dry! ……..I do also use a little pet fresh cologne
Doggy Toys
I regularly soak her plastic and hard toys in warm soapy water and put what is left of her soft toys in the washing machine.
Door Mats
Invest in washable door mats and buy spares so that you can give these a weekly wash. Make sure you have these door mats at every entrance to your home. You will find they make a big difference and save you from always washing the floors.
Wiping paws
Your dogs little paws will tread in a lot when you are out and about on your walk. We take our shoes off as soon as we come in but it’s not that simple for dogs. I keep a tub of paw wipes by the doors and Hetty knows to sit on the door mat and wait for her paws to be wiped before she can come in. It took a little training in the early days but now she is a little star at passing her paws. You can also leave a couple of old rags or old tea towels by the door too and just wash after using. In the wetter and muddier weather a little waterproof jacket can help stop the dirt from coming in too.
Pet bedding
I have chosen to use a wipe able plastic bed for Hetty that I pad out with cushions and blankets. I regularly wash the blankets and then daily wipe over the plastic bed .Hetty also sleeps in a dog crate which I wipe over too.
Accidents
Occasionally dogs will have accidents in your home but they are really easy to clean up especially if you spot them quick. For urine and dog mess on your carpets simply use a squirt of washing up liquid and water and blot the mess out using a clean cloth. Do not rub it. Come back to the affected area with a splash of white wine vinegar mixed with water and blot again until. The white wine vinegar will break down any odours that can be left.
There are also some great products on the market that work well and are perfectly safe to use around pets. This stain and odour remover, has been specially developed with a special blend of Pro-Bacteria and Enzymes that targets pet stains and odours it also works great on removing vomit and can be used on carpets, upholstery, or any other water-safe surfaces.
Carpet stain and odour remover
Then for hard floors you can try hard floor stain remover, which works great on works great on sealed hardwood floors, sealed stone floors, linoleum, vinyl, brick, concrete, marble, and ceramic tile
Pet Hair
Hetty wasn’t supposed to moult but she does. It’s not much but being a black dog I notice and as soon as I do I grab my Handheld hoover and get them straight away. There are a few other options for pet hair too. lint rollers, I find these great for getting the hair of your clothes. A wet rubber glove is also great for picking up dog hair. Also don’t forget the vamoosh is great for breaking down the pet hair in the wash when washing blankets etc.
Last year the thought of getting a dog was hugely over whelming for me and I really was very anxious but everyone in the family had wanted one for such a long time. We did a lot of research and doggy sat a few times to see if I could cope. I don’t see it as hard work just a few extra daily tasks but the enjoyment Hetty has brought to the family has been amazing. Working from home most of the time can be very lonely and Hetty has filled this gap and got me out on two good walks a day where I am talking to other dog owners and feeling much more confident around people.
I am so pleased we have Hetty she really is the perfect family pet.
Thank you so much for reading
Lynsey and Hetty xoxo
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