Spring-Cleaning Your Home

It might surprise you to learn that a mother dog nursing a litter is a meticulous housekeeper, but it’s true. by eliminating mess and odours quickly, she trains the puppies to venture outside of the den when nature calls and maintains a healthy environment.

As a pet parent, you should do the same for your pups and adult dogs. Consider how much more powerful a dog’s nose is than yours – then imagine how miserable a dog might be in a house in which even the human residents are sneezing from the dust? Not only is it good for your dog physically, it’s good for his mind.

CLEAN COLLAR

A stinky collar can ruin the pleasures of a freshly groomed dog. But how do you clean a dog collar without damaging the webbing material or hardware? Put a couple of squirts of dog shampoo (which will help prevent skin irritation) in a bowl and fill the bowl with hot water. Let your dog’s collar soak for about 15 minutes. Rub the collar against itself to extract any ground-in dirt. If necessary, apply extra shampoo directly to the collar. Avoid using a brush, which could damage the material. Rinse the collar under running water and hang to dry. If you need to speed up the drying, use a towel to remove excess water before hanging.

BEDS AND BEDDING

Your dog’s bedding tends to attract a buildup of dirt and grime. Follow these four steps to ensure a clean, comfortable sleep.

1. Choose a bed with a removable fabric cover.

2. Vacuum the bed regularly to remove hair, dirt, and other debris. Follow up with a lint roller to pull away any hair the vacuum may have left behind.

3. Wash the cover and the bed base (if it’s machine washable) in cold water. Use a mild laundry detergent—no dyes or fragrance. Add a cup of baking soda to help neutralise odour.

4. Dry (in the clothes dryer) for about 20 minutes. To avoid shrinkage, finish by line drying.

DUST AND DANDER