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How to Keep Your Pet Calm During a Renovation

Renovations can be stressful for a variety of reasons, most of them very obvious. You have to destroy the place you live…on purpose, only to reconstruct it during your “free time”. Not to mention the expenses, the noise, the dust, and the dangers for your pet.

Most pets and animals are going to get very anxious during a renovation project. However, if you are renovating your home over the course of several years (like us), it’s going to become a challenge to keep your pets calm throughout this process.

Last weekend, I experienced this myself as my husband was sawing a hole in our living room ceiling for our new ceiling fan. The end result being that Rooney will be cooler for the remainder of the summer, but I can’t explain to him the long-term benefits of the scary noises and debris falling from the ceiling. Based on this experience, I started to think of ways to entertain and distract Rooney and thought I would share those ideas, along with a few others, here.

Safe Place

First and foremost, I highly recommend creating a safe place for your pet to be while completing your project that day. In some cases, this might be your yard, but yards aren’t always the best place for them if it’s too hot or cold. Occasionally, crates can also come in handy, especially if your dog is already crate trained.

At our house we also use a baby gate to prevent Rooney from walking through the work zone. The baby gate allows for more air flow so that it doesn’t get too hot in the room during construction, but also keeps him out of danger, and in some cases out of the paint can.

High-Value Toys and Treats

Make sure your pets have some of their favorite high-value toys and treats. For example, last weekend during the ceiling fan installation, we had Rooney in our room with his two favorite toys. While my husband was cutting the hole in the ceiling, I would distract Rooney with his toys which worked about 70% of the time.

For high-value treats you want to make sure it’s something that can distract your dog for an extended period of time. For example a stuffed kong can keep a dog busy for quiet some time and serve as a nice cool treat on hot days. Healthy bones to chew on can also help keep your dog busy and distracted during the loudest and most intrusive parts of a renovation.

Take Your Pet to Work

There are occasions where you might pay to have someone else renovate your home rather than DIYing, and you don’t actually have to be present during the construction. If that’s the case, and you have a pet-friendly office, it might be best simply to take your dog to work with you. As the construction on our home continues over the next few years, I can absolutely see this being a solution for Rooney.

Pet Sitters 

If you are doing the work yourself and can’t take your dog to the office with you, you make want to consider getting a pet sitter. Sometimes the amount of noise and distress is really unavoidable for pets. Renovations are already expensive, so it will be difficult to justify adding another expense to the list. However, if you think it will make your pet more comfortable, and you less stressed, it might be worth it set up a pet sitter during construction (or demolition). If expenses are an issue, perhaps you might even have a friend or family member nearby who can watch your pet for a few days during the most severe construction times.

How to Keep Your Pet Calm During a Renovation

Photo by Jenny Marvin on Unsplash

Exercise

Whenever I ask Rooney to be calm for an extended period of time, I am sure to exercise him before I do so. Daily walks before and after renovation can help keep your pet calm, especially if these are part of your daily routine already.

However, mid-renovation you might not have the time or energy to walk your dog. If so, there are many dog-walking apps and services available, which are often less expensive than a full days petsitting, perhaps your dog can go on a walk or hike with one of those services during the first hour or two of your renovation, making it easier to keep them calm in their safe space.

CBD

In some places this might not be a popular solution, or even a popular topic. However, here in the Bay Area, the cannabis community is growing and at a very rapid pace. Most of this growth has occurred since I left the veterinary hospital, so I don’t have as much personal experience with these treats as a solution. However, CBD chews, treats, and oils have been known to help with the following: “seizures, nausea, stress, anxiety, arthritis, back pain, symptoms of cancer, and gastrointestinal issues” (PetMD). Therefore, CBD could be a great solution to help your pet during a renovation.

However, when selecting a CBD solution for your dog, keep in mind that many items in the pet industry are unregulated, and this solution is still new, meaning, much of the data on efficacy and proper dosage is still being collected. Ideally, you can consult with your veterinarian (which is always my #1 recommendation), before trying CBD chews.

Medications

If your pet’s experience with renovations is very negative (i.e. they are destroying items or are extremely nervous and anxious), and there is no where for you to take them, you can always speak with your veterinarian about temporarily using medications to keep them calm during a serious renovation.

There you have it! Those are my top 7 solutions for keeping your pet calm during a renovation! Have you renovated your house? How have you kept your pet calm and comfortable?

We Got a New Vacuum! – Investing in a Vacuum for Pet Hair

Our very cheap vacuum lost it’s 5 year battle with Rooney fur. As any Corgi parent knows (or pet parents of any double-coated dog breed for that matter), keeping up with the shedding in our house is a full-time job. Rooney is always shedding, now of course there are things we do to reduce his shedding (see the last section for details), but he will always shed a lot. Which means, we need to have a good vacuum in our house.

A few months ago, we started to notice that our vacuum was leaving lots of Rooney fur behind on the carpet. Rooney “fur streaks” to be specific. So I soon found myself on the hunt for a new vacuum.

Color me surprised when I learned how many types of vacuums there are. According to ConsumerReports.com, there are stick vacuums, upright vacuums, canister vacuums, robotic vacuums, and of course handheld vacuums. To be honest with you, I immediately got overwhelmed trying to determine what would be the best option for our house. But I knew I wanted the following; a vacuum that wasn’t uber expensive and didn’t require a bag. Because we vacuum up so much fur, it wouldn’t be environmentally friendly to use bags. And, we often have to empty a canister several times when vacuuming the house (or even a room!).

My total knowledge of vacuum cleaners included the following:

  • Dyson: as far as I know they have a reputation for being expensive and fancy, but also very good. I didn’t want to spend over $150 at the moment, so these were out of the question.
  • Hoover: I think we had one of these when I was a kid, but I don’t know much about the brand other than that it exists.
  • BISSELL: This is really the only vacuum brand that we are familiar with. Our other vacuum was also a BISSELL and fit into our very tiny budget when we moved into our first apartment and lasted 5 years even though we only paid $40 for it! Also, I happen to know that BISSELL puts a lot of resources and research into creating vacuums for homes with pets, as well as time and resources to finding homes for animals. So they are a brand I like to support.

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As you can see, my knowledge of vacuums is very limited, so I’m not saying that we found the best vacuum ever. However, we did find a vacuum that has a canister, was under $150, and had tools that would allow us to easily clean couches and chairs. Not to mention, it also cleans up Rooney hair very effectively, has different settings that allow us to vacuum all the different carpets and rugs we have in our house (including a faux fur rug in our room), and supports the BISSELL Pet Foundation. And we found all of this in: the BISSELL Powertrak vacuum.

How Often Should You Vacuum?

So, now that we know that we have a better functioning vacuum, I was wondering if we are vacuuming enough?

Martha Stewart recommends twice a week for high traffic areas, but may vary based on number of people and pets in your home. Upon my research there were several sources that suggested that high traffic areas should be vacuumed a minimum of 3 times a week and possibly as much as daily if you have pets.

I think at best we were getting to vacuuming twice a week with our last vacuum. I’m not sure that we will ever have time for daily vacuuming, but making sure that we vacuum our living room and our bedroom (the two places Rooney spends the most time in) three to four times a week is our goal for the future.

Am I Vacuuming the Right Way?

Additionally, Martha recommends in her book, Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook (a recent Christmas gift from a good friend of mine) the golden rules of vacuuming:

  • Dust the room before you vacuum so that the particles that float onto the floor can be picked up by the vacuum.
  • Move furniture out of your way before vacuuming the room.
  • Start inside a room and work your way out of it.
  • Vacuum in long, slow, overlapping lines, and be sure to get any small objects at of your way.
  • Don’t let the vacuum canister or bag get too full, Martha recommend 3/4 full.

I definitely have some room for improvement here. While I am pretty good about not letting the canister get too full, and I often vacuum my way out of a room, I can’t say that I dust before vacuuming every time, or remove furniture every time I vacuum.

How closely do you follow these golden rules of vacuuming? Do you find that it makes a big difference?

Ways to Decrease Shedding

While having an excellent vacuum and vacuuming methods is great for keeping your home with pets clean, there are also ways to manage your dog’s shedding. Dr. Marty Becker suggests following the 3 C’s: cut, collect, and clean, outlined below.

  • Cut back on lose hair by making sure that you are feeding your pet a high quality diet. If you aren’t sure, your veterinarian will be able to guide you on the best foods for overall health and coat health.
  • Bathe your pet regularly. Bathing loosens and removes fur that will eventually shed. Rooney sheds soooo much right after a bath especially if I am a week late on giving him one. But, I know that was all fur that was ready to shed. You can also use a grooming and shampooing brush, like this one from KONG to help get some of the fur off of your dog during bath time.
  • Between baths make sure to brush your dog regularly so that you can collect the fur before it ends up all over your home. I have started brushing Rooney almost every day to gather up the fur he is shedding, I find that this makes a big difference in how much ends up on our furniture and the floor. A tip I want to share with other pet parents is brush your pet before you vacuum. Often, some of Rooney’s fur will end up on the carpet when I brush him, so it makes for easy cleanup afterward.
  • Obviously regular vacuuming is recommended, as well as a Swiffer for hardwood floors.

Those are all the vacuuming tips that we have for today. I would love to hear how you decrease the dog hair in your home, or if you have any ideas, tips, or tricks regarding vacuuming!

Blooper Photo just for Fun!

Remember last year (April 2016) when I started writing a blog post series called, “30 Days to a Better Pet Home?“. I loved writing that series, but I didn’t quite finish it. (I wish life didn’t get in the way, but sometimes it does). So I am working my way through some of the topics we missed. We hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: We are Amazon Affiliates and may earn a small commission for any purchases you make through the linked products or services on this blog post. Your purchase helps support My Kid Has Paws so that we can continue to provide you with content.

Move-In Day Essentials for Your Pets

Many people find themselves in the process of moving this time of year. As a matter of fact, according to the Census, most people move between the months of June and October. If you have already moved this year and I didn’t get you this post in time, I apologize.

However, for those of you who still have a move in your future, I want to talk today about some move-in essentials for your pets!

Move-In Day Essentials for Your Pets - with Casper

Rugs & Secure Flooring

This is especially true if you are moving with senior pets. You are going to want them to feel safe and secure moving around your new home, and that can be difficult when the flooring is slippery. If possible, before your pets walk into the home, try to put throw rugs or yoga mats on the ground so that they feel comfortable and secure while entering your home.

Microchip & Proper ID

A microchip and proper ID is SUPER important for your pet on move-in day. While you may be used to closing the door behind you, you will likely have movers, or family and friends, helping you move stuff in and out of your house, and they may not remember to keep the door closed.

In the event your dog or cat escapes, having your up to date contact information and your new address on both the microchip and ID is crucial for making sure your pet is safe in your new home on the first night.

Bed & Crate

In addition to making sure your pet can be returned to you if they escape, it’s also important to make sure they don’t escape in the first place. Creating a spot in your new home for them to be safe and secure from the noise and the bustle is important. Make sure to keep their most familiar blankets and beds with them where possible.

During the summer months the weather might be too warm to have your pet in the yard while you bring stuff in and out of the house, making a crate or bed in a cool spot imperative. If the weather isn’t too warm to have your pet in the yard, I highly recommend double checking the stability of the fence before letting them sniff their new yard.

Food & Water Bowls

For many pets, where they eat, drink, and sleep can quickly become their home. One of Rooney’s #1 priorities is “where is my next meal coming from?”. Setting him up with access to water and some food will go a long way to getting Rooney adjusted to his new home.

Let sleeping dogs lie on the Casper dog mattress.

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Toys & Puzzles

Let’s talk entertainment. While it is possible that your pet might be too stressed to want to play with toys and puzzles, they might make them feel more comfortable and will provide them with mental stimulation while you are moving things into your new home.

Mattress Sheets and Pillows

Whether you are buying a new mattress or setting up your old one, it will make your pet feel more at home if they can see and smell familiar items. In many cases, this means taking a nap on your bed. Try to make things look and feel as similar as you can for your pet. Bonus tip: Look at the room and home from your pet’s perspective and try to eliminate any added stresses from their environment (PetCentric.com).

Bonus Tips:

Have a New Veterinarian Picked Out

Because you never know what is going to happen, I would have your pet’s records already faxed over to your new veterinarian’s office (as well as a copy with you in case of emergencies).

Take a Week to Help Your Pets Adjust

This was a great idea from PetCentric.com. If you can work remotely or take a week off, that could really help your pet adjust to the significant changes that come along with any move. Having you around will help them feel more confident and comfortable in their new space.

What steps have you taken to reduce your pet’s stress during a move?

Pet Home Inspiration: SS Print Shop Dog Lover Prints

I have been a fan of Stephanie Sterjovski’s Print Shop (also known as the SS Print Shop) for quite sometime. Stephanie’s prints and her instagram provide lots of style inspiration.  Which is why I am so excited to tell you about her newest collection of Dog Mom inspired prints!

Lit Saturday 🔥 #LucyJolly #JackRussell #HappySaturday

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Recently, Stephanie added a new addition to her family….her Jack Russell Terrier, Lucy! Lucy is no doubt the inspiration for Stephanie’s newest SS Print Shop Collection.

 

I bet you can guess which print I have my eyes on!

If you order through Tuesday, August 15th, with the code MUSTLOVEDOGS, you will receive 25% off of your purchase!

What do you think? Don’t you just love these prints?

Photo Credit: All Photos are from SS Print Shop

Schedule a Photoshoot with Your Pet + A Special Discount!

A while back, we wrote about how Pet-Inspired Art can make your home complete. If you missed that post, you can check it out here.

Today, I would like to share with you Reasons to Schedule a Photoshoot with Your Pet + A Discount for Bay Area Pet Parents!

Schedule a Photoshoot with Your Pet + A Special Discount!

Golden Retriever, Sunny.
Here he struck a handsome field & stream classic pose for PawPawrazzi Pet Photography.

1) Photos are a Forever Keep Sake

When we got married, two of our dogs were already in their senior years and the photos that we have of them from that day hold a very special place in my heart and my home. Senior dogs make incredible pets. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to spend time with your dog in their senior years, you have something very special to look forward to.

While it may seem hard to think about, I think senior pet photography can play an important role in a person’s life. The photos I have of Beige, Rocky, and Maui in my home remind me of the important role they have played in my life.

“A camera is a save button for the minds eye” – Rodger Kingston

Schedule a Photoshoot with Your Pet + A Special Discount!

2) Memories

About a year ago, we had the opportunity to have a photo shoot with Rooney thanks to Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography. Not only are the photos incredibly important to us, but they remind us of a day full of beautiful memories, the trip we took as a family, and Rooney being silly in front of the camera.

3) Live in the Moment

If you are anything like me, you enjoy living a very busy and full life. Which at times leads to overwhelm and general craziness. Photography can help us slow down and live in the moment, even if only for a second.

If you live in the Bay Area and you would like to schedule a photoshoot, Anne Mary from Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography is nice enough to offer an exclusive discount to My Kid Has Paws readers: 30% Off On PawPawrazzi Professional Pet Photography Services & 40% Off All Collections!

You can find more information on how to contact Anne Mary to schedule your photoshoot here

Schedule a Photoshoot with Your Pet + A Special Discount!

Happy Hogan is 13 years young!

Have you had a photoshoot with your pet? How was your experience?

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