Homes and Dogs can lead to mess and chaos. Like having a young child, if you have a dog there are some steps you must take to make sure that the house itself is dog friendly. If they can get into that washing-up liquid, into the fridge, outside your bedroom barking in the middle of the night, burning themselves on the bathroom’s Vertical Radiator or even just inside after getting very dirty in the rain-sodden muddy patches in the park, then you may need to revamp your home to make it friendly for them. What’s more, dogs are not cheap to keep, so finding ways to cut costs by installing some nifty investments is a great way to keep you and your pet happy.
On top of this, dog patterns and themed homeware are also very fashionable. Even if you don’t have a dog (yet) but are obsessed with their aesthetic, there may be things you can find to help bring a bit of a bite to your home. Dogs are a massive obsession for some people and finding the right way to express yourself through your interior décor can be very tricky indeed. Luckily, we’ve found some homeware goodies that will raise your “woof” and will definitely provide a few laughs.
Dog-Friendly Home Accessories
Baby Gates
Yes, we know this isn’t a childcare article! But the same goes for children of all species. A baby gate at the bottom of your stairs means that in the middle of the night your dog can’t escape and come barking at your bedroom door at some ungodly hour. This can also help with safety, making sure that your puppy doesn’t fall down the stairs or hurt itself in the middle of the night. This also sets some boundaries for the dog to begin learning and lets them know what spaces they are permitted in and which they are not. The baby gate is latched and is completely dog-proof.
Radiator Covers
Like all animals, Dogs can have accidents when it comes to household objects. Especially at a young age, dogs can be a little unsure on their feet and a hot radiator could leave a bad burn on their sensitive skin. Buying a radiator cover to protect both your canine pal and your radiator's infrastructure is not very difficult at all. Making sure that you have one for your Radiators, whether it’s made of wood, stone or metal, can keep you certain that nothing bad will happen to your dog.
Remove Household Chemicals
Household chemicals can be easy for curious puppies to get into. They may be attracted by the new smell, or even by just the fact that they can eat or slurp it down. It is often said that babies learn with their mouths and the same goes for dogs as well. To keep dogs away from the cleaning closets, simply make sure all doors are closed and can’t be opened by wondering paws. Also make sure that all lids on your cleaning materials such as washing up liquid, bleach and varnish are securely fastened and will not be able to be tampered with. You can also make sure that they are out of reach from animals, and stored high up in a cupboard.
Hide Electrical Cables
As mentioned before, dogs learn through the tasting. This is especially true when they’re teething and what better thing to chew on than those wriggly soft coated worm-like wires at the back of a television set? Make sure that there can know electronic short circuits or electric shocks by safely tucking away any wiring out of sight of your dog. This is a very easy task to undertake and could mean you save both your dog’s life and money on your electrical equipment.
Chew Toys
On the note of Dogs and their wandering jaws, one great way to distract your puppy is by investing in chew toys. These toys are often shaped like some of the dog’s favourite things, including bones, animals and steaks. Others are multi-patterned so as to keep the dog's attention. Visual stimuli such as this are well-known as psychological tactics. Other chew toys make a noise to once again attract the dog’s attention. Chew toys can be bought from almost any pet shop and are usually made from rubber so as to make them more durable and therefore satisfying for your dog. This is a great treat for your dog, whether they’re teething or not and can keep them occupied for hours.
Puppy Sand or Mud Pit
If you’re lucky enough to own a garden, and a large one at that, you may find that your dog wants to spend a lot of fo time roaming outside in it. Many breeds of dogs are instinctive diggers and you may find your new allotment ruined by the more active dogs. Your new grass may be ruined as well leaving your garden looking like a warzone. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to invest in sandpits or mud pits so that your dogs can dig away and make as much mess as they desire. This will leave ruined flower beds and dangerous and unwanted mud holes as a thing of the past.
Waterproof Garden Shelter
If you are lucky enough to own a garden, then investing in a dog house in your backyard will definitely keep your dog happy. Although canines are naturally outdoor creatures, they still suffer the same effects of rain and cold weather as we do and therefore buying or building them a safe shelter in the garden for when the weather gets stormy will keep your animal occupied in the summer months as well as their paws off the more delicate items inside the house. Make sure your dog's house or shelter is kitted out with blankets and has some form of food or water for them to eat. Barking outside your door at ungodly hours will be a thing of the past when your dog has its very own safe space in the garden.
Throw Blankets and Rugs
It is a good idea to keep in mind what you spend money on inside the house. If your carpet is very expensive then it may be ruined by your dog’s general scruffiness. If you’re looking for a good way to stop your dog from ruining your stuff, it may be an idea to simply spend less on expensive things your dog can ruin. For instance, buying a cheap throw for your sofa so that your dog can snuggle up next to you without ruining the sofa material is always a great idea. A cheaper carpet or even just wooden flooring can be a great way of saving when you own a canine. If you do want to slash out on your home décor and interior design, then make sure you splurge on the stuff that the dogs can’t reach, for instance, antiques on shelves and art.
And this brings us smoothly to our last point. If you are a dog lover who finds themselves dogless, there are plenty of decorative accessories for the home which you can spend your money on.
Get a Dog Portrait
As mentioned above, art can be a great thing to invest in if your dog is making a mess lower to the ground. There’s no way they can get to the upper walls which is why good art is always worth a look for. Even if you don’t have a dog, many artists will take a photo of your favourite dog and create a unique painting based on it. If you’re looking for a canine creative, all you have to do is check the internet where you’ll find many talented artists who will delight in your dog.
Dog Breed Door knobs from And Mary
Door knobs aren’t the first thing you’d think of when you decide to buy dog accessories. But beautiful designers And Mary have various door knobs for your home, in a variety of different dog breeds. These range from Dalmatians to Bulldogs and are a cute and quirky attribute to any dog lover’s bedroom door. The doorknobs are easily installed and like a round doorknob are easily twisted, the shapes perfect for any room.
Watchdog finials from Anthropology
For a more rustic feel to your bathroom, these faded metal towel racks are encrusted with noble-looking dogs on either side. These come in bronze and silver and will add a touch of class to your bathroom that only a canine could bring.
Saint Bernard Duvet Covers from Society 6
These microfiber duvet covers are boldly emblazoned with junk food and St Bernard emblems, bringing a great dash of character to your bedroom. This duvet set is perfect for snuggling up to your dog and brings a great amount of creativity to your bedroom. What’s more, the duvet is reversible to be white on the other side so if you have a guest with a phobia of digs or plain as day doesn’t like the pattern, they can reverse it so as to have a simpler design.
