It can seem like a never-ending battle when you have dogs and you like to keep a clean house. Endless amounts of hair can be found under the sofas and in the rugs. Dirty paw prints are traipsed all through the floors and that wet dog smell just won’t go away. You love them like your children but you wish there was a way of keeping everything clean while letting them enjoy themselves. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Flickr

Groom Your Dog

All dogs moult. It varies how much dogs of different breeds moult but even if you have a short haired dog, you’ll still find hair everywhere. To stop your dogs from shedding all over your furniture, it’s important to brush them at least 3 times a week; more if your dog has long hair. The more hair on your dog, the more can fall off, so make sure your dog’s hair is cut by a professional groomer on a regular basis. It’s not just to save your furniture. Your dog will need to be cut to stay cool during the warmer months.

Install an Outside Tap

Most of our dogs go to the toilet in our gardens at least three times a day. During the Summer months, if the garden isn’t cleaned properly, the smell can intensify. The last thing you want is a waft of something nasty every time you open the back door. Consider installing an outside tap by contacting your local plumbers. The job takes less than an hour usually, and it doesn’t cost much. You can then attach a hose pipe to the tap and you’ve got a way of quickly getting rid of the smell. You can also pick up pet friendly disinfectants at local pet stores.

Pic Source

Pet Vacuum

When you need to replace your vacuum, it’s worth investing in a vacuum designed for cleaning pet mess. Not only will it be easier to remove hair from furniture and carpets, the sharp suction also allows you to clean up dirty paw prints when your dog has been on a wet or muddy walk. Of course, it’s important to clean your dog’s paws before they enter the main house, but you can never guarantee you’ll get every piece of dirt off them.

Flickr

Go for Walks

Exercising your dog is more important than you may think when it comes to keeping your house clean. This is especially important for younger dogs because it ensures their energy is lowered and they’ll have less interest in being destructive. So, if you a cushion you’re particularly fond of, make sure your dog is stimulated both physically and mentally. When a dog is tired, it’s more likely to obey your commands than get into mischief. So, if you tell your dog to wait at the door while you get a towel to dry it’s fur off, it will be more inclined to please you and obey.

It may be hard keeping up with mucky pups but the loyalty and companionship you receive in return makes it all worth it.