Renting With Pets

Moving into a new place with your furry friend can be super exciting and nerve-wracking! Whether you’re still in the application process or introducing your pet to a brand new home, you can do many things to reduce the stress and start on the right paw. In this article, we’ll look at the different things to look for in a puppy-proof rental, how to increase your odds of getting a pet-friendly place and ways you can keep the damage to a minimum in your new home.

Pet Friendly Rentals

The first step to successfully renting with your pet is to look for and prepare a place that helps you and your best friend live a healthy and happy lifestyle together; this means considering some things:

What kind of flooring does your new place have?

Depending on the type of flooring in your home, you’ll need a plan for your pet. If you’re looking at hardwood flooring, you’ll have an easier time cleaning, but your pet may scratch up the floors. Alternatively, whilst carpet will be safer from day-to-day wear and tear, you’ll need to be vigilant about ensuring that you vacuum regularly. Vacuuming and cleaning regularly will prevent many issues such as fur buildup in the carpets and minor choking hazards. Additionally, accidents happen, so stocking up on pet-safe and carpet-friendly cleaning products is a good idea!

What will your wiring look like?

If you’re big into tech, you might be considering decking out your house with all the latest gadgets. All those cords and wires can be super appealing to a playful pup, so you’ll need to consider purchasing cord covers or closing off areas using things such as baby gates to prevent potential safety hazards.

How close is the vet?

Having an emergency vet nearby is hugely beneficial and can provide you with peace of mind. Consider researching local vets and putting their details somewhere easily accessible in your new place.

Is there a yard, and more importantly, is it fenced?

Whilst not essential, having a yard can be super beneficial to your pup for many reasons, including providing a space for playtime and safe toilet training. This area must be appropriately fenced off, with consideration given to the height of the fence and stability of any boards used. Suppose the place you’re considering doesn’t have a yard. In that case, it’s still essential to ensure any balcony spaces are safe for your pet and that you’re fully prepared for the extra responsibility that comes with owning a pet in an apartment.

Are all the plants in your backyard or garden safe for your pet?

Moving into a place with a beautiful garden or backyard may seem like a dream come true, but it’s essential to do your research and discuss any unsafe flora with your landlord. Some notable examples include foxglove, lupine, bird-of-paradise and daffodils, which can all be toxic to dogs.

What will bathtime look like for your pup?

After a big day at the park, bringing your pup home for a bath can be a daunting and messy task! Is there a backyard with a hose? Or will bathtime take place in the bathroom? Shower or tub? How will you get your pup to the bathroom without tracking mud through the house? As the questions stack up, bathtime can look like a lot of stress! Luckily there are alternative options for difficult rental situations, such as our K9000 dog wash services! Take a look at our directory and plan out the closest one to your new home.

These are just a few things you’ll need to consider when choosing and moving into your rental home; once you’ve found the perfect place, it’s just a case of applying!

Pet Resume

Pet resumes are precisely what they sound like, a resume for your pet! This documentation will help you stand out from the crowd and give your landlord a better idea of what renting to you and your pup will look like! It also shows you are an enthusiastic and responsible pet owner. So what details are on a pet resume?

Name and picture

Nothing wins over a crowd like an adorable puppy portrait, so if you’ve been itching to show someone a picture of your pup, now’s the time! Introducing your dog will make you and your pup more personable.

Age, gender, and breed

These details will help pad out your dog’s resume. Your pup’s age and breed can also help indicate how mellowed out their personality may be.

Personality

Whilst age and breed can give some reasonable indications of character; every pup is different! This is where you get to describe your dog in a short paragraph, have fun with this part.

Health and registration

Your dog’s registration details, desexing and vaccination statuses will let the landlord know that you’re a responsible pet owner.

Education

Any obedience courses or puppy schooling that your dog has will be a huge bonus, showing that your pup is obedient and well behaved.

References

This isn’t super necessary, but grabbing references can help provide credibility to your application. Consider asking previous landlords, neighbours or even your pup’s vet.

If you’re a creative person, you can make your own pet resume; otherwise, you can grab some templates online. Even a simple document will show initiative! You can take a look at a few different pet resume examples below:

How to Stop Your Dog Barking

Finding a place to live with your dog is only half the battle; once you’re in your new home, you’ll want to ensure that you make every effort to create a comfortable and happy environment for not only you and your dog but also your neighbours. A barking dog can quickly become an issue if flagged by your neighbours as disruptive or unreasonable. Luckily, dogs are easily trained. Some techniques and tips you can use to reduce your dog’s barking include:

Consider your dog’s needs

Before attempting to train your dog, consider whether or not their needs are being met. It’s essential to treat not only the symptom but also the cause. Is your dog receiving adequate exercise? Is your dog lonely? Does your dog receive enough stimulation? Boredom or loneliness are common triggers for barking. Consider solutions such as dog walking services, dog sitters and puzzle toys to fulfil your dog’s needs.

Remove perceived rewards

If your dog gets attention every time they bark, they will begin to associate the action with rewards. By removing rewards and replacing them with unwelcome outcomes, your dog will start to understand that barking does not provide results. Unwelcome outcomes refer to actions such as leaving the room when your dog is barking. Additionally, if your dog associates barking with you coming home, waiting till your dog is quiet will also deprogram this association.

Train your dog to bark on command

But wait, don’t we want to stop the barking? Yes, however, you create stimulus control by training your dog to bark on command. You can do this training by encouraging the bark using a toy or food reward. Once your dog barks, you praise your dog, reward your dog and repeat the word �speak’. This process is repeated till your dog learns the command. Once your dog understands and responds to the command �speak’, you must only reward your dog for barking when told.

Train your dog to be quiet on command

With the foundation set by training your dog to bark on command, you can move forward to introducing the word �quiet’ or �stop’. This command can be taught by saying your chosen phrase after telling your dog to speak. Once your dog starts barking, repeat the word �stop’ until your dog stops and reward them with a treat. Again, only reward your dog when the command has been used and responded to successfully. Eventually, you can begin attempting the command for normal barking, rewarding where successful. Read more about quiet training in this RSPCA resource.

Block their sightline

If your dog enjoys sitting at the window and barking at people passing by, consider blocking their sightline using privacy screening, curtains or opaque window film to remove the stimulus.

Set up a safe space

If your dog’s barking is anxiety-related, you may want to consider setting up a quiet private area for your dog to use when upset. This space should be located away from the front door and can be done using baby gates or a crate. Furnish this space with your pet’s favourite toys, comfy bedding and a white noise machine to reduce stimulus.

There are numerous reasons and strategies for excessive barking; however, if you’re struggling to train your dog successfully, it may be worth contacting a professional dog trainer for further guidance.

How to Stop Dog Shedding

If only you could train your dog to stop shedding! We’ve all been there, fur on the carpet, on the couch and mysteriously on your freshly washed t-shirt, but how do you stop it? Unfortunately, you can’t completely prevent a dog from shedding, but you can minimise it through regular grooming, a healthy diet and some surprising tools!

Grooming

There are many ways that you can amp up your pet’s bathing routine, including proper dog shampoo and a dog brush. Which brush you choose will primarily depend on your dog’s breed and coat type, but every dog can benefit from weekly brushing and a regular grooming routine. It’s essential to use a shampoo designed specifically for dogs to avoid skin irritation, which can only further exacerbate shedding. All of our K9000 dog washes include shampoo and conditioner dispensers and convenient two-speed blow-dry functionality to get rid of those pesky loose hairs.

Diet

If your dog is particularly prone to shedding, you might consider changing to an anti-shedding prescription diet (following a discussion with your vet). Additionally, Omega-3 shedding supplements can help reduce shedding and support digestion and wellbeing.

Other tools

Some other tools you may want to introduce to your home include air purifiers, dog hair vacuum cleaners and dog onesies. Air purifiers are especially beneficial in households with allergy sufferers as they can help reduce pet dander and hair in the air using powerful HEPA filters. Similarly, dog hair vacuum cleaners employ advanced HEPA technology to minimise dog hair in your household and often come with attachments for upholstery. Finally, a dog onesie can contain shedding, allowing you to trap shedding inside a spandex bodysuit. However, this may not be a popular solution with some dogs and still requires that the hair be released eventually.

Ultimately, controlling your dog’s shedding comes down to regular grooming and cleaning — the things we do for love!

Toilet Training a Dog

Maintaining your dog’s hygiene is crucial to a healthy living environment, but so is maintaining the hygiene of your home! One of the biggest challenges in this respect is toilet training. Whether you live in a small highrise apartment or a huge rural house, toilet training is possible with the right plan! Here are some tips for getting your puppy potty trained in no time:

Repeat, repeat, repeat

Dog’s love routines, so in the early days, you’ll benefit most from taking your puppy to your chosen toilet space every 30 minutes to an hour. This routine allows your dog to successfully use the toilet, at which point you should praise them and give them a treat to reinforce the behaviour.

Accidents happen

Make sure you have cleaning tools prepared for accidents; the last thing you want is to be confronted with a stinky situation unprepared! If your pup does have an accident, simply say �no’ in a stern tone and then guide your dog to where they should be doing their business.

Keep it clean

Stock up on doggy poop bags for a quick, hassle-free cleanup and help prevent your pup from tracking any poop back into the house.

Know the signs

Just like a toddler has “the dance”, puppies often show signs when they need to go. Some common signs include circling, sniffing the ground and seeking privacy.

Potty training your pup can take anywhere between a few days to a few months; however, you and your best friend can overcome any obstacle with patience.

With an arsenal of tools and a freshly printed pet resume, your move should go without a hitch. Moving into a pet-friendly rental with a best friend is a dream come true, and through proper training and grooming, you can make sure it stays that way for you and your neighbours. We hope these tips and tricks will help you have a happy housewarming!