Paw-Fectly Prepped

Thanks to the hard work done by Project Adore, you can now house larger mixed-breed dogs in your HDB flat. With the removal of weight restrictions and an increased maximum height of 55cm, you may want to consider these factors to get your home ready for a bigger dog

- Yaiza Canopoli

1 Flooring

The hands-down most ideal flooring option for dog owners is vinyl. It’s scratch and stain-proof, inexpensive and easy to install, and makes your pet’s life that much easier with its non-slip properties. Linoleum is a good alternative but the downside is the price tag. Its major plus is that it is significantly more eco-friendly than vinyl flooring. The suitability of other flooring types varies. Natural floors, such as hardwood, scratch and stain easily, while ceramics and laminates are slippery, which can injure larger and older dogs.

2 Doors and gates

Notoriously anxious when separated from their owners, dogs often scratch doors and try to enter off-limits areas of the home. To protect your doors, consider installing a protection screen that covers your dog’s standing height, especially if they’re on the taller side. While this won’t stop your dog from scratching, it will significantly minimise the damage to your door’s surface. A more thorough measure is to keep your dog out of certain parts of the home with pet gates, which can also protect your four-legged friend from tumbling down steps and getting caught in dangerous areas of the house. If you want to minimise scratching without limiting your dog’s movements, pet flaps can be installed through your doors. However, keep in mind that these could lower your HDB flat’s resale value further down the line.

3 Furniture