by Diane Quinn

Created on: September 24, 2011

Small dogs can’t help it, they like to keep busy.  Running here, sniffing there, it’s no wonder that they sometimes get a little dirty.  Keep your home clean and tidy despite any doggy accidents by following a few cleanup tips for small dog owners.

< Tips for grooming your dog

If your budget doesn’t allow for professional grooming, keep in mind the following tips:

• Start early—As soon as possible familiarize your dog to your touch from the tip of his enigmatic, wagging tail to the end of his busy nose and everything in between.  Grooming is actually a wonderful way to bond with your dog.  If done early, consistently, and without a cumbersome technique, he will accept your calming touch in the same way he did grooming by his birth mom.

• Keep brushing-Short-haired or longer-haired dogs all need frequent brushing with tools designed for their specific coats.  Avoid buying the cheapest scissors or electric shears that will only make grooming your dog that much more difficult and that won’t last very long.  There is even a specialized tool called the "Furminator" that’s designed to remove your dog’s dry undercoat.

• Off to a bad start?—Don’t worry too much if you haven’t been using the best grooming habits or techniques.  Your mighty dog is so smart that even training mistakes on your part can be corrected.  Patience, consistency and loads of love can work wonders!

< Pet-safe cleaning products for your home, yard, and car

The ASPCA says that most household cleaners can be used safely around your home if you follow label directions precisely for proper use and storage.   

Other pet-safe cleanup tips for small dog owners include making your own all purpose cleaner for counter tops, floors, walls, car surfaces and even carpeting.  Take a half cup of white vinegar, one quart warm water, and dissolve four tablespoons of baking soda in a clean spray bottle.  If this mixture fails to get do the trick, find a good enzyme cleaner like Nature’s Miracle that should work well on old urine, blood stains, and vomit. 

On the caution side, never use chemically laden fabric softener sheets directly on your dog’s coat as an odor remover.  Before using fertilizers or pesticide products in your yard, read the label concerning pet safety around the treated area.  If you observe excessive drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea in your dog, call your vet immediately. 

< How to remove pet hair effectively from furniture and clothing

Just running a damp hand over a couch cushion is one of the simple cleanup tips for small-dog owners that might work great for a Beagle, but not as well for a Shih Tu.   When you can’t keep your hands off your adorable doggie, just be careful what you use to remove his pet hair effectively on delicate fabrics.  It’s easy enough to run a vacuum over carpeting or furniture upholstery, but other surfaces require a more delicate touch .

• A clean rubber glove or sponge grabs loose dog hairs on most fabrics without using water. 

• On finer fabrics lint rollers work best—just watch that you don’t leave a “sticky mark” on dark colors.

• The use of a product called "Fur-Zoff" is gaining in popularity.  More environmentally friendly than rollers, only a delicate sweeping motion is needed to remove hair from any fabric surface.

 If you keep in mind these cleanup tips for small dog owners, you and your mighty dog should have a long and harmonious life together.

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