Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, especially for those who’ve never owned a dog before. You’ll learn how to emotionally connect with another being without ever saying a word, and experience the joy of raising an adorable puppy into a beautiful dog. If you currently live alone, you’ll discover how it feels to have someone waiting for you when you come home, and never have to worry about feeling alone again.
While a new addition can be rewarding and exciting, it can also be challenging and tiring. A lot of work goes into caring not only for the puppy, but also for you and your home. Puppies have a lot of energy and love to play, but unfortunately they – like any dog – are prone to dirtying your house. From actual dirt tracked in after a walk outside to the fur all over you couch as a result of their shedding, you must be prepared for everything and anything. Most importantly, you need to learn why a clean dog is essential to keeping a clean home. And although it can be tricky, below are a few tips we put together to help assist you.
1. Cleaning supplies that are made especially for puppy accidents – such as going to the bathroom in the house, or throwing up when sick – is essential to have on hand at all times. While you can’t always prevent your puppy from having an accident, you can prevent the accident from smelling up your home and ruining your furniture or carpet by cleaning it as soon as possible.
2. Your puppy should be bathed about once a month depending on their breed and how dirty they get throughout the month. Between washes, still try to keep your dog as clean as possible with a few simple remedies, such as the below tricks.
• Keep a mat outside of your front door to help blot some of their dirt off your puppy’s paws when you return from a walk. Additionally, store grooming supplies near the entrance so you can do a deeper clean of their paws to further minimize any dirt or possibly bugs that your puppy can track into the house and all over your furniture.
• Brush your puppy – even hypoallergenic puppies with hair – on a daily basis will prevent over-shedding, meaning less fur on your furniture and carpet. This will also help to keep their fur healthy and prevent infections from matted hair.
3. Vacuum the carpets at least once a week to remove any fur or any dirt that your dog tracked in. If possible, also shampoo your carpets as often as possible to best eliminate all dirt and keep your home from smelling like a dog.
4. Regularly clean your puppy’s items, especially those that can contain fur – such as their bed or any clothes you may put on them. Other items that should also be regularly cleaned include their toys and the placemat that holds their water and food bowl. You can find advice for washing pet toys at the Honest Kitchen.
By following these tips, you will keep your home and your new puppy clean. While owning a pet can be a lot of hard work and take up much of your time, there is nothing quite as joyful as experiencing life with a dog.
