Apr 6, 2020
How to Control Dog Hair in Your Home
There are many incredibly wonderful things about owning a dog — going for long walks, playing outside, snuggling. Plus, it can be incredibly fulfilling to take in a dog, particularly if you are adopting from a shelter or rescue.
But there’s one thing that frustrates dog owners all over the world, especially if your dog happens to have long hair: shedding. Keeping your house clean and free of dog hair can feel like a never-ending battle. If you’ve got a long-haired dog, or if your dog just seems to shed all the time, here are some practical tips to keep the dog hair in your home under control.
Stay on Top of Grooming
Try not to avoid those grooming sessions. A quick brush of your dog every day in your garage or outside in the yard can help cut down on all the time you spend sweeping or vacuuming up dog hair during the week. Daily brushing sessions can help decrease the amount of hair you see around your home, and they can also give you a great opportunity to bond with your canine companion. Brushing can be soothing for your dog, and they’ll associate the comforting session with you, improving your overall relationship. It’s also good for your dog’s fur and skin, and it can improve the overall look of their coat.
Visit a Professional Groomer Regularly
For an extra deep cleaning session, you should see a professional groomer. Experts recommend a grooming session every four to six weeks if possible. Professional groomers know how to safely bathe and trim your dog’s fur, and they have lots of experience handling all different types of dogs. Though it can be fun to bathe your dog at home, if you don’t rinse out the shampoo or dry them off properly, it can lead to certain skin conditions. If you do bathe your dog occasionally at home, be sure to use dog shampoo only. The pH balance of human shampoos is different than that of dog shampoos, so find a product that is good for your dog, not for you.
Try an Air Filter in the Home
Pet fur and dander in the home can cause allergy suffers to experience a worsening of their symptoms. You can cut down on this problem by adding additional stand-alone air filters to your home. Often, the built-in filtration system that comes with your heating and air conditioning units won’t be enough to control the dander and fur in your house, especially if your dog is particularly prone to shedding. Keep some extra air filters in the home to help with overall control and be sure to stay on top of changing the air filters on your A/C and heating units regularly.
Cover Trouble Spots
The best way to keep up with pet hair in the home is to cover your cloth furniture or other trouble spots with some type of washable slipcover or rug. Adding slipcovers to your furniture makes it a lot easier to deal with the dog hair — you can simply remove and wash the cover when necessary. Put down some extra rugs in places where you know your dog loves to sleep; this can keep that dog hair out of your carpet, making cleanup simpler and easier overall. You can even throw an extra sheet over a particular problem area if you need a quick fix.
Get a Pet Vacuum
Regular vacuuming and sweeping are a must if you have a long-haired dog breed in the home. A weekly vacuuming session will go a long way toward keeping the dog hair at bay. Though you can use a regular vacuum, there are many types of vacuums made to deal specifically with pet hair. You might also consider a programmable, robot-type vacuum that can make the rounds every day in your house. The more diligent you are about cleanup, the easier the dog hair will be to manage.
Do Your Research
If dog hair in the home is a deal breaker for you, you should seriously consider whether having a pet at all is the right choice for you. If you know you want a dog, but you can’t stand the thought of dealing with the maintenance of all that fur, do some research. Find a breed with shorter hair or one that doesn’t shed as often, and consider looking for that dog at your local shelter or rescue.
Remember, you don’t have to buy a dog to get what you are looking for. Local shelters are full of purebred dogs that have been abandoned or given up, so give your local rescue organization a call. Staff members are typically very knowledgeable about the dogs they have, and they would be thrilled to help you find the perfect pet.
