These days renting an apartment, lifestyle blocks or homes that allow pets has become increasingly difficult in Australia. This is simply because landlords fear that the presence of a pet can be quite damaging to their households.
But, our pets are an important part of our lives! They support us not only emotionally but also help keep us company throughout our busy lives.
So, if you're a first-time pet owner looking to adopt a fur-ever friend for your rented property. Then this guide will cover everything you need to know about:
• Choosing the right pet for your home
• The Many Ways you Can Keep Your Home Smell Free
Choosing The Right Pet For Home!
Everyone these days always tend to look at adopting dogs. But, is a dog really the right pet for your home & lifestyle?
Remember when we adopt a pet we are making a commitment to love & provide the best of care towards our fur babies. So, here we will cover what pet will be best suited to your lifestyle and home.
Playful Pups
If you're renting a large property where you'd have plenty of backyard space and time. Then you can potentially commit to getting a dog.
Now, even if you live in a small home or apartment you can still get a dog. When you decide to go for a dog, you will need to find the right dog breed that fits your lifestyle, personality, and home.
If you have a relatively busy lifestyle, small apartment home but active personality then try looking for smaller breed dogs who would be okay to be by themselves for a few hours. You also want to look for a dog who is able to adapt to a changing environment, who is used to the public environment and who is not much of a barker.
So, here we have listed our top 5 small dogs best suited to apartment living. As an added bonus all these dog breeds tend to be low shedding as well!
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Bichon Frise
- Bulldog
- Cockapoo
- Italian Greyhound
When you decide to go for a dog, you will need to find the right dog that fits your lifestyle, personality, and home.
If you have a relatively easygoing lifestyle, large rented sub-urban home then try looking for medium to large breed dogs who would are moderately active, playful and couch potatoes when they need to be.
Here's our top 5 medium to large breed dogs that make a great companion to active owners.
- Pitbull
- Great Dane
- Bull Terrier
- English Mastiff
- Chow Chow
Friendly Felines
Not interested in dogs? Prefer cat?
Cats make great pets for any household. Most often cats tend to be more independent and adaptable than dogs. They are more easygoing and low maintenance.
If you're looking for a laid-back kitty who doesn't mind being alone too long then look for these cat breeds. According to catster.com here are a few kitties suited to apartment living.
- British Shorthair
- Ragdoll
- Persian
- Sphynx
- Russian Blue
The Many Ways You Can Keep Your Home Free from Pet Odour & Pet Fur
It seems like when it comes to hygiene the biggest problem pet owners face is controlling the odor & tumbleweeds of fur put out by our pets.
Pet Odor and excessive pet fur seem to be one of the biggest problems pet owner's face when their landlord comes for a house inspection.
So, if you're dealing with the very same problem then here are the many ways you can keep your home free from pet odor and pet fur!
1. Ventilation is key!
When the environment you're in is humid and warm, then this means pet odor will cling to and linger around your home. As such, ventilation of your home plays an important role in keeping your house smelling fresh. In order to ventilate your home, you can keep your windows open thus allowing the outside air to mix in with the inside air. You can also invest in an air cleaner. This is because air cleaners tend to have activated carbon in them. The activated carbon tends to absorb nearly all the pollutants and pet odor in its area.
2. If you have carpets, invest in a carpet cleaner.
Sometimes pet odor can cling to our carpets. This is normal! And it's quite easy to get rid of. If you go to your local hardware store you can always rent a carpet cleaner that will ensure your carpets look clean and fresh. If however, you don't have access to a carpet cleaner then you can try this pawesome odor buster technique for those really persistent pet smell.
Sprinkle a fair amount of baking soda on your carpet and work it into your carpet by brushing it thoroughly into the fibers. Next, take equal parts of water & vinegar and spray it thoroughly across the carpet. Leave this solution on your carpet for around 15 to 20 minutes. After 20 minutes you can blot the carpet with water and vacuum.
3. Invest in proper pet stain & odor removers
If your pet has an accident or if your pet has stained your carpet then use a proper pet stain and odor remover such as Nature's Miracle Pet enzyme digester.
When your doggie first stains the carpet you must first soak up all the urine before it sets into the carpet. To do this, try using thick pads or towels. If the urine has already set then you can Pet stain and odor removers which you can find at your local pet store.
4. Doggie scented sprays!
Did you know you can get pet colognes and deodorizers that are completely safe for your pet!
Many of these pet colognes are often soap free and don't tend to affect the natural oils on your pet's skin. These deodorizers and colognes help control pet odor while leaving your pet smelling fresh. It's really just a doggie deodorant!
5. Don't over bathe your pet! Use alternatives
The biggest mistake pet owners make is that they over-bathe their pet too often. Over-bathing your pet can result in hair loss, ear infection and dry skin. You never want to strip the natural oils produced by your pet's coat as these oils protect the skin from the harsh environment.
Instead of over bathing your pet, try using odor controlling pet wipes, pet colognes, and pet dry shampoo.
6. Dealing with kitty litter
When it comes to cats sometimes the biggest issue is dealing with the odor from kitty litter. So, here are a few tips on how you can reduce the odor from your cat's litter.
Look for absorbent cat litter; for example, clay-based litter tends to be highly absorbent! If you've got a cat who hates scented litter. Add baking soda to their litter in order to reduce odor. Make sure to clean your cat's litter 2 to 3 times daily & completely change his litter once a week. Invest in a litter box with a filter. These filters often absorb excess odor.
7. The magic of air fresheners
The use of air fresheners near your pets can be quite detrimental to their health. So, here are some pawesome air freshener alternatives!
- Use naturally scented candles that won't be too harsh on your pet's nose.
- Invest in a natural essential oils diffuser. Just don't keep these too close to your pet! Only use it occasionally as the scent can be quite disturbing for your pet.
8. DIY odor absorbers and fresher’s.
Trying to be a little thrifty? Here are two pawesome odor absorbing ideas for those pet creative pet owners
Idea 1 Place fabric softeners In the zip linings of your pet's bed, in shoes and in various crevices around your home. This will help keep your home smelling fresh!
Idea 2 Is courtesy of Laurennaturals. They give an excellent, short and simple DIY tutorial on how to create an activated charcoal absorber.
9. Creating a cleaning routine
Dealing with excessive pet hair and pet odor? Make sure you have a proper cleaning routine that will ensure your home remains free from pet odor.
Here are a few cleaning routine tips that will help keep your home clean & fresh.
- Wash your pet's bed once every two weeks.
- Vacuum your home once a week if you have a small dog or as often as possible if you own a large dog.
- Wash your own bed sheet and covers once a week! Use fabric sprays for your mattress.
- Don't steam mop a pet urine, this is because the heat from the steam can set the urine on your floors and carpets making it very hard to get rid of pet odor.
10. Get a deshedding brush
Sometimes animals who shed excessively may leave behind tumbleweeds of fur around your home. Even fur off an animal can cause a lot of odor in your home. So, it's highly recommended that owners invest in a de-shedding brush and brush their pet's once a day outside the house. This will get rid of any loose hair and dirt lingering on your pet.
