Best Home Improvement Tips for Dog Owners

For first-time pet owners, adopting a dog is a joyous and fulfilling task. However, most tend to overlook the inconveniences, sudden bouts of energy, and occasional mud-prints on hardwood floors. If your home isn’t built to accommodate a four-legged friend, it can become challenging to keep them secure—especially when you’re away. 

If you thought breed shopping was a difficult decision, you might be in for a ride when pet-proofing your home! In this guide, you’ll learn how best to facilitate a pet-focused home renovation project. 

Select the Right Flooring

There is nothing more disheartening than coming home to a torn-up carpet or garish nail marks on your stunning wood floors. No matter your impeccable taste, you aren’t going to see your flooring last if you’re selecting non-dog-friendly materials! 

Consider materials such as:

• Tile: This durable material is long-lasting, timeless, and impressively scratch-resistant. With tile floors, mopping up spills and vacuuming shed is effortless. 
• Vinyl: Inexpensive and waterproof, vinyl isn’t just a durable material—it’s comfortable underfoot and pleasantly realistic. 
• Cork: This antimicrobial material is surprisingly comfortable and does an excellent job of keeping allergens at bay. It is also water-resistant, which brings a sigh of relief to owners still potty-training their pups. 

Use Dog-Safe Materials

With significant home renovations comes the need to wipe, sweep, and mop. However, bacteria-killing cleaning agents can just as quickly prove hazardous to your pet. 

When disinfecting your space, ensure that all chemicals are out of reach. These include products that contain the following ingredients:

• Alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Bleach
• Phenolic compounds (look out for labels with contents that end in -phenol)

If you can’t avoid using the materials listed above, it’s best to dilute them—never use more than recommended. Leave time for surfaces to dry before allowing your pet to wander into the area. As an added measure, keep dog paw wipes handy. 

Secure Your Pet or Hire a Sitter

Smaller living spaces may not leave enough room to quarantine your pet as your property undergoes renovations. If you lack square footage, consider hiring a pet sitter or boarding your pup at a pet hotel. 

For some, picking out a sitter is as simple as consulting a pet-loving neighbor. For others, the process may require research. When shopping around for a professional sitter:

• Schedule an interview and home tour—this allows your potential sitter to establish a comfort level between themselves and your pet. 
• Consider their veterinary experience. If your potential sitter isn’t medically trained, provide them with emergency contact information and necessary supplies. 
• Craft a daily schedule that includes walks and feeding. Ensure that your sitter is knowledgeable about what your pet can and cannot eat. 

Don’t Forget Landscaping

Remember, even a lap dog will enjoy the occasional sprint across the yard. If you’re remodeling your garden, do so with your pet in mind. If your pup enjoys a mouthful of grass, consider hearty greenery that can withstand frisky paws. 

Similarly, avoid plants that are toxic to your dog. Instead, opt for pup-friendly flora such as:

• Spider plants
• Parlor palm
• Some succulents
• African violets
• Boston ferns
• Venus flytraps

If you live in a state with a snowy climate, avoid landscaping that features drops, rocks, and other dangerous elements. 

Construct a fence tall enough so your dog can’t leap over it and deep enough that Fido can’t dig his way through. Finally, purchase durable materials such as wood-slat or vinyl—these can easily withstand a beating from pushy paws. 

Think Carefully About Décor

If you’re new to pet parenthood, you’ll quickly learn that your fragile pieces and four-legged friends don’t quite make for an ideal partnership. Secure family heirlooms and delicate home décor on upper shelves and minimize floor pieces. 

If you’re a fan of extravagant displays, consider placing items inside a closed decorative shelf. When furnishing your home, incorporate stain-resistant fabrics such as leather and microfiber. These materials can withstand the occasional paw mark, a brush of dirt, foul odor, and bacteria. 

The Bottom Line

Dogs are a valued member of any family and should feel just as much at home as you do. Between budgeting for their needs and creating a pet-friendly household, incorporating dog-focused features makes for a rewarding effort. 

Consider these additional tips and features if you’re looking into making some pet-friendly upgrades to your home. 

About The Author: Mike Powell is a dog lover who owns and writes for his blog, Dog Embassy. With his years of experience, owning a dog, Mike extended his knowledge by sharing tips on how to build a relationship with dogs through his blog.

 Image by Ángel Garcia from Pixabay