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Pet-friendly homes involve more than toys and a bed. From choosing pet-safe materials to providing designated areas, there are many ways to incorporate pet-friendly elements into your home.
Creating a dog-friendly house is about making your home a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for your canine companion. Your effort will be rewarded with a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling bond with your furry friend.
Here are some practical tips for transforming your living space into a comfortable and safe environment for your pets.
Designate a Dog Zone
Designate an area where your dog can eat, sleep, and relax comfortably. Consider using a cozy bed, crate, or dog den in a quiet corner of the house where your dog feels safe and secure. Creating a specific area like this for your dog can help manage their behaviour and establish boundaries within your home.
Choose a quiet, low-traffic area of your home where your dog can relax undisturbed, and outfit the space with comfortable bedding, toys, and whatever else you think they need to make it inviting and enjoyable.
Food and Water Station
A consistent feeding routine with nutritious dog food is essential for your dog’s health and well-being. Establishing a designated feeding area can help create a structured feeding schedule and prevent overeating or food aggression.
A food and water station contains spills and messes in one area, making it easier to clean up after your pet. You can store dog food, treats, and other feeding accessories nearby. This ensures that everything your pet needs is easily accessible and organized in one place.
Secure Hazardous Items
Inspect your home thoroughly and identify any items that could harm your dog. This includes household cleaners, chemicals, medications, plants, foods toxic to pets, sharp objects, small toys or objects they might chew and swallow.
Keep these hazardous items out of reach and securely stored in cabinets, closets, or high shelves where your pup cannot access them. Use childproof locks or latches to secure cabinets and drawers containing cleaning supplies, chemicals, and medications. Store food items on your counter in sealed containers to prevent your dog from eating them.
Remove Toxic Plants
Familiarize yourself with common household plants that poison pets. Some examples include lilies, azaleas, oleander, sago palm, and philodendron. Research each plant in your home to determine its toxicity level and potential effects on dogs if ingested.
If you’re unsure about the toxicity of a particular plant, err on the side of caution and remove it until you can confirm its safety. Replace it with pet-safe alternatives that are non-toxic and harmless if ingested. Pet-safe plants include spider plants, Boston ferns, African violets, and air plants.
Utilize Pet Gates
Pet gates can help prevent dogs from accessing areas of your home where they may encounter hazards or potential dangers. These areas include staircases, kitchens, or rooms with fragile items or electrical cords. Restricting access to these areas can reduce accidents, falls, and injuries.
Pet gates can also help manage your dog’s behaviour and prevent unwanted activities, such as chewing on furniture, raiding the trash, or entering forbidden areas.
Create a Safe Outdoor Space
Ensure your outdoor space is securely fenced to prevent your dog from wandering off. In addition, ensure that there are no wildlife and other animals that could threaten. Check for any gaps or weaknesses in the fence that pets could escape through, and repair or reinforce as needed.
Provide adequate shelter and shade in your outdoor space to protect them from extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, rain, or snow. Install a doghouse, gazebo, or covered patio where they can shelter from the elements and rest comfortably outdoors.
Consider placing water-resistant outdoor beds or mats in shaded areas for your dog to relax and cool off. Always supervise your dog outdoors to ensure their safety and well-being.
Provide Enrichment and Toys
Dogs can easily become bored and restless if they don’t have enough mental and physical stimulation. This commonly leads to behavioural issues such as excessive barking, chewing, digging, or aggression.
Providing toys and enrichment activities keeps pets engaged and entertained, reducing boredom-related behaviours. Rotate these toys regularly to keep your dog interested.
Minimize Noise and Stress
Loud noises and stressful environments can cause anxiety and discomfort for dogs, leading to increased stress levels and potential health problems. Minimizing noise and creating a peaceful environment helps dogs relax and feel safe.
Create a quiet, designated space where your pup can retreat during stress or anxiety. Use soundproofing techniques such as curtains, rugs, and sound-absorbing materials to reduce noise levels in your home.
