Pet lovers believe they are the most adorable creatures in the world. You a little buddy to get you going with your series. You share thoughts with no one to cut you off mid-speech. When tired, you have company to walk around. The love for pets is endless.
Well, you can go on and on about their excellent sides; till it gets to the damage. Even the most friendly and cute pets can turn to be destructive to your home. These are the times you will get mad and regret ever owning these four-legged buddies.
Maybe not so fast. You can keep the relationship by using these tips. They help you limit the damage, thus keeping your relationship.
Deciding if you are ready for a pet
The critical part before getting a pet is ensuring you are ready for one. This is more crucial than even the damage itself. Getting a dog is more like introducing a new family member. It needs care, time, and other needs like any other household occupant.
Only get a pet when you have the time to care for them. They will need attention and some snuggling. Keeping it also digs into your pockets. Only have one if you can afford to give it the best care. Give it food, provide medication, and even the proper shelter.
Where you stay is also another consideration. Rental properties are somewhat not the best for keeping pets. Most landlords have rules against the pests. Others would also only allow smaller pets. It even gets more challenging when you share part of the property. It can easily become a nuisance to the neighborhood.
While these might seem a lot, they are legitimate concerns. Failure to check them out is the easiest way to frustration. Also, only then can we be ready to handle the home pet damages.
Protecting your Home from Pet Damage
- Train the pet
One of the best traits of pets is the ability to learn. Give your pets the basic household training. This involves simple commands and signals. Let the whole family be in line with the training. It thus becomes easy to manage even when you are out of the home.
You can also consider going a little more with the training. Find a professional pet trainer to help it develop more techniques. This allows it to stay more active while also having better playtimes.
The best way to go about training is starting when they are young. You have most probably heard the adage, “it’s hard teaching an old dog new tricks.”
- Pet-proof your home
The best way to keep your home from damage is by limiting the prospects of damage. There is no better way than to remove the possible hazardous items. Look around for things lying around, like plants and food.
Cutting down on the clatter and other objects around the house reduce the mess and prevent damage to the home. Also, look into how other additions like new pets affect the pet. Talk to the vet in case of a change of behavior.
- Protect the furniture
Pets like furniture. They tend to scratch the seats while also depositing waste playfully. The cost of repairing the damage is not as pocket-friendly. Keep the furniture in place by providing a protective cover. You can choose to cover the whole furniture or part depending on the pet’s behavior.
The other option is to use the sprays and other protective gear. This stops the pets from getting near the furniture.
- Provide scratching pads
Cats and dogs love scratching surfaces. It is in their natural domain to do it. It helps them in sharpening claws and to stay in shape. So, don’t hold it against them, instead provide a scratching surface. Consider having a post or a pad. You can also use it as the training post while at it.
- Get a home insurance cover.
No matter how much caution you take, some damage is inevitable. You can never foresee all the possible damages. At times the home proofing and other measures will fail to work. That is where comprehensive home insurance comes in.
Most people tend to take insurance about theft and burglary. Others would also look only at the outdoor repairs. They overlook the basics like pet damage. They end up paying out of pocket, which can be quite costly. With a comprehensive cover, you don’t have to worry about it all.
Let the insurance cover for the damage and home maintenance while you have happy times with your pet. The several insurance options available also mean you don’t have to incur a lot.
- Don’t let the pet get bored.
The point of pets getting bored is not talked about enough. Imagine getting a pet if you don’t have the time to keep them happy. Part of keeping them happy is not letting them get bored. Keep them active through time outs. Let them exercise to get the happy hormones going.
A happy pet does not any business scratching around. It knows when and where the fun is. They have something to look forward to.
Buy the dog toys and teach them how to play—nothing beat playtime like with your bet.
- Have litter boxes in the right places
The smelly pet shit is not the best of the smell you want, hitting you in the house. You can control it by providing convenient litter boxes. The places should match the number of pets. Cats, for example, do not like sharing the litter bins. For that, only one would use it while the others mess up your places.
Also, keep the litter boxes tidy. Take them out daily and clean them before putting them back. Given you had already trained them, it won’t be any harder to use.
Bottom Line
Having pets is fun; the home damage that comes with it is not. However, you can have one without the other. You, therefore, must take the initiative to protect your home. Use these tips to keep your home safe from pet damage.
