Owning a furry friend is a joy, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Apart from taking care of their pet, homeowners must deal with another big issue, “cleanliness”. I find their fur adorable, but then during the shedding season, it can be a lot of work. Owning two retrievers, when it was time to add another dog to the mix, I went with a Spoodle only because I could not deal with any more shedding in the house, as handling the shedding of two retrievers can get tricky in itself.
While vacuuming the floor sounds easy then, when you have to clean every piece of furniture as well because there is hair all over, it can get on your nerves. Hence, here are a few tips I have learned over the years to ensure you do not get frustrated cleaning the house when the dog sheds a lot. Following are some tips to keep your home clean with a dog.
1. Opt for a Hypoallergenic Dog
This is only for homeowners considering dog adoption but does not own a dog yet. Upkeeping a house if you have a dog is a job in itself, but when you get a breed that sheds a lot, it adds to your job when you clean the home. An easier way to deal with this is by getting a poodle or doodle dog that does not shed. This means your house is going to be hair free and clean.
If you already own a dog that sheds, you probably need more advice in this area; hence, keep reading further.
2. Get a Robot Vacuum Cleaner
I used to vacuum my house once in two to three days earlier, but after owning a pet, it has become a daily job. Finding time to vacuum the entire house is a big time-consuming task. Technological advancements have made it possible to just click a button on the phone that starts the robot vacuum cleaner. I have auto-set a fixed time daily when it starts vacuuming the home. During the shedding season, I sweep the home twice a day without effort, and my house stays clean.
3. Get a Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner to Keep your Home Clean with a Dog
When you have a dog, it is not just the floor that gets dirty but also the bed, couch, and other furniture surfaces. Getting easy to handle handheld vacuum is the best idea to clean these surfaces. You can do it twice a week, and it will keep your entire home clean. This also is helpful when you quickly need to clean an area, as it takes just a few minutes to get it done.
4. Brush Your Dog Daily
It helps when you brush your dog daily so the dead hair is removed, which stimulates the follicle to produce new hair. You should ideally brush your dog twice or thrice a week. You should brush in the direction of hair growth so that he’s reduced shedding by preventing breakage at the end of strands. Avoid using wire brushes and stick to ribber brushes which will not injure the skin.
5. Use a Good Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
You should bathe your dog at least once in two weeks using a good shampoo and conditioner that is meant to be used during excessive shedding. There are many medicated shampoos available that your vet can recommend.
6. Train the Dog to be Less Destructive
Dogs need training from an early age. They should know the rules of the house, such as tearing newspaper is not allowed. They may be destructive in the beginning and tear away papers and boxes that need to be discouraged. Train the dog well to be well-behaved, even in your absence. This will make sure the house looks clean, and the dog does not create a mess.
7. Exercise the Dog Enough
Dogs are active animals, especially if you own a large breed dog; it is highly energetic. If you do not exercise it well, it can get destructive inside the house due to high energy. Hence, you need to ensure they get enough walks that will calm them at home. If you have a backyard, that helps to stimulate the dog, but if you live in an apartment, then apart from regular walks, you can also make use of puzzle feeders that can challenge them mentally, which will keep them calm indoors.
8. Keep a Check on Deworming
Dogs need to be dewormed regularly, or else it can deteriorate their health. Worms eat away essential nutrients, as over-shedding is one of the symptoms you need to get checked with the vet. A lot of times, when you de-shed the dog timely, the hair fall automatically reduces a lot.
9. Add Supplements
If it is the shedding season, your dog is going to shed invariably. The only thing you can do to minimize this is to add supplements to the diet. You should consult the white-faced before doing so. Do not just start supplements that the vet does not recommend.
10. Get Your Dog Checked
Sometimes, when you feel all tricks are failing, excessive hair fall can be an indication of something more serious. Get it checked by the vet, who can run some tests to ensure your pooch is healthy. Do not ignore it for long, as you may miss out on getting the treatment at the right time.
The Bottom Line:
Keeping a clean house when you live with pets is always extra work, but with a few of the tips discussed above, you can tactfully have a good time with your pet at home while keeping the house clean. It might get out of control at times, but remember, it is not the fault of your furry friend. You just need to be patient and handle this situation tactfully. Your furry friend is trying their best to keep you happy.
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