How do you cope with messy dogs?

[KazzyK810]

I'll readily admit to being pretty persnickety about my furnishings, but any dog I've had has always been allowed on my furniture. It's their home too! And while I like nice stuff, it's a home, not a showplace. Stuff is going to get old & worn no matter what, so might as well enjoy it while you have it.

I vacumn my fabric furniture weekly, not really because of ZoE, but because it helps prolong the life of it. You know how much dirt is in dust? And the forced air heat/air that I have kicks up alot of dust no matter how often filters are changed (I sure do miss the radiator heating of my England home). If I throw a blanket on the couch, ZoE is more likely to nap on it cos it's snuggly. I make my bed every morning, so even if she were to get on it, my sheets would still be clean, but I usually close the doors to the bedroom when I leave. ZoE gets a bath once a week and if we go for a walk after a rain and she gets a little muddy on her paws, I just wash them off when we get home. Having a pup does mean you have to clean a little more often, but it's sure worth it

[lovespandp]

How do you deal with a dirty dog and a dirty DH??

[chestermama]

chester gets his feet wiped off before coming in, I have put a basic flat sheet on top of my bed to keep it clean and the couch no problems yet

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by Britster

Honestly, I have no issues.... Jackson is outdoors a LOT and does not use pads or anything, and he's always on all furniture. Dirt tends to go off him by itself a lot of times... if that makes sense. It doesn't really 'stick' to his hair. The only time I must dry him off is when he gets out of the pool otherwise he rubs himself dry all over the couches... or it was it REALLY rainy muddy outside then I'll wipe him off. But in general I hardly ever wipe him off and he doesn't get anything dirty. He gets a bath about once a week or so, sometimes every 2 weeks.

I feel pretty much the same way about my dogs, I don't sweat it, and they don't seem to get the furniture dirty. Of course, I would never buy light colored furniture.

[camile]

I use pads and they aren't out to play when its wet. The only issue I have is the bits of grass and "stuff" they pick up in their hair, mine are in long coat. So, they get their undersides brushed as soon as they come in and it isn't tracked all over the house.

[KendraE]

My boys have never been allowed outside (potty pads) until recently....My wonderful DH built a "yorkie yard" (see albulms) that has rubbery type mulch for "grass"....We never have dirty dogs or dirty feet!!! Its an investment, but well worth it!!

[Marilize]

Thanks for all the wonderful advice! I am definitely going to try the gate to see if that helps. The thing is that they have a doggy door which gives them access to the garden and they run in and out all day, tracking in dirt. I clean them after our walks, but I can't be here to wipe their feet every time they use the garden.

I usually don't really care about these things because dogs will be dogs and I want my dogs to be happy. But the couches I'm getting are a gift from my dad and they've been in the family for years, so I really want to take good care of them. And I'm finally settling in my own apartment and my perfectionist streak wants everything to be nice and perfect I know it's not possible with dogs, but I just want to find something that works for us.

I'm going to buy some extra fleece fabric to cover the bed to keep it clean. I'll do the same thing for the couches if the dogs keep getting on.

This might be a strange question, but do your Yorkies "respect" your furniture? Do they jump around on it, wrestle on it, etc. I grew up without dogs in the house, so I have no frame of reference.

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by Marilize

This might be a strange question, but do your Yorkies "respect" your furniture? Do they jump around on it, wrestle on it, etc. I grew up without dogs in the house, so I have no frame of reference.

Dogs don't have the same reasoning skills we do- they don't understand that furniture is expensive and should be treated well. Mine jump all over the furniture and wrestle on it- Chloe uses it as her personal jungle gym, climbing all over the back pillows and down the arms

[shodanusmc]

Easy, I just yell out "Marge"

[gemy]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

Easy, I just yell out "Marge"

LOL Steve we really need to talk Marge into joining YT. We would get the "straight" goods then.

[gemy]

Well first off, I let go of my perfectionist cleaning habits once I passed 50..lol

But we have big dogs too and they are not allowed on the furniture. We have slowly been transitioning to leather furniture, and that helps a lot!. Razz I've not been successful with keeping off our only material fabric couch, so I've put an afghan on it, he just loves to curl up on the blanket.

I used to sweep/vaccum every day, my other three animals are horrid shedders. Now I do three times a wk, and live with the hair balls.

If it is messy out, I take the pups in via the garden room, and they are crated until they dry off, and I give a quick leg/belly brush, although sometimes the scamps get ahead of me, and one day I had 12 sets off muddy footprints from the back of the house to the front of the house! I was not pleased cause I just had finished washing all the floors.

Oh yes we got rid of our carpets and have hardwood and slate/marble throughout our home. Best decision we ever made.

Maybe you could get arm covers for the couches and use a throw quilt over the back of the couch, that should help.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by gemy

LOL Steve we really need to talk Marge into joining YT. We would get the "straight" goods then.

The Dogs and I keep her way to busy, and she has to do a lot of traveling for work. The plan is for her to work until she is 80 or so, so I can keep posting free and clear on YT, and that we will have the money to keep the dogs in the beds they are acccustomed to.

Marge is not at all like me. She is nice and gets along with everyone. That is why she can still live with me.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by gemy

Well first off, I let go of my perfectionist cleaning habits once I passed 50..lol

But we have big dogs too and they are not allowed on the furniture. We have slowly been transitioning to leather furniture, and that helps a lot!. Razz I've not been successful with keeping off our only material fabric couch, so I've put an afghan on it, he just loves to curl up on the blanket.

I used to sweep/vaccum every day, my other three animals are horrid shedders. Now I do three times a wk, and live with the hair balls.

If it is messy out, I take the pups in via the garden room, and they are crated until they dry off, and I give a quick leg/belly brush, although sometimes the scamps get ahead of me, and one day I had 12 sets off muddy footprints from the back of the house to the front of the house! I was not pleased cause I just had finished washing all the floors.

Oh yes we got rid of our carpets and have hardwood and slate/marble throughout our home. Best decision we ever made.

Maybe you could get arm covers for the couches and use a throw quilt over the back of the couch, that should help.

Carlo is the only one that makes a mess with his drool after drinking, and his paws which are the size of snow shoes. He sometimes will go into the garden area when it is raining, and have mud on his paws. I keep several large towels where they come into the Laundry room, and will wipe them off. The little Yorkies are great. No real mess by them.

I bought Marge a Dyson Pet Vacuum to use when she feels it is time. I also know how to use it and do my fair share, which is about 25% of the total.

[ritapatt]

My dogs have to walk on a long strip of scrap carpet to get from the outside door thru the garage to the house door. That pretty much cleans off their paws. Maybe a piece of astro turf outside the doggie door would help wipe off some of the mud? I also trim in between the pads of their paws so they clean up easier.

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by Marilize

Thanks for all the wonderful advice! I am definitely going to try the gate to see if that helps. The thing is that they have a doggy door which gives them access to the garden and they run in and out all day, tracking in dirt. I clean them after our walks, but I can't be here to wipe their feet every time they use the garden.

I usually don't really care about these things because dogs will be dogs and I want my dogs to be happy. But the couches I'm getting are a gift from my dad and they've been in the family for years, so I really want to take good care of them. And I'm finally settling in my own apartment and my perfectionist streak wants everything to be nice and perfect I know it's not possible with dogs, but I just want to find something that works for us.

I'm going to buy some extra fleece fabric to cover the bed to keep it clean. I'll do the same thing for the couches if the dogs keep getting on.

This might be a strange question, but do your Yorkies "respect" your furniture? Do they jump around on it, wrestle on it, etc. I grew up without dogs in the house, so I have no frame of reference.

Mine rolls around on the couch. My IGs also like to use the back cushions to rub their backs. I've got one that will wipe her mouth on the furniture after meals if you don't watch her. THAT drives me crazy.

One of the best ways to keep your babies off the furniture is to give them comfy alternatives. Find great beds that they really love. That works with most my dogs, but not my two little velcro dogs.