Growing up, my family always had pets. We had cats, a dog, sometimes a rabbit or a lizard – we always shared our home with pets. Now that I’m an adult, and I choose to do the same, having a pet comes with a few more complications than it did when I was a child. Over the years we have found that prepping your home for pets is a must – it not only makes clean up easier, but life can be more efficient as well. Let’s talk about a few ideas for pet owners that will make life easier.
Build a fence
If you’re a dog owner and you have a backyard, installing a fence will make your life so much easier. Don’t get me wrong, my dog loves a good walk – she gets to sniff every tree and claim her territory along the way, but she loves to be able to roam free as well. I understand the pain of having to walk a dog every few hours. I’ve lived in a dozen or more places and only 2 of them have had fences. Those late-night walks in the rain are a thing of the past now (unless you’re into that kind of thing of course).
If you’re worried about how much fences cost, you’re in luck, there are many different types of fences that vary in price. There should by a style and price point that will work for you if you do your research. I chose to build a fence myself, which is another great way to save money. Check with your local government or home owners’ association and make sure you’re meeting all of the requirements or restrictions and give your dog some freedom!
Replace your floors
This is again tailored to dog owners – Dogs have the uncanny ability to destroy carpet in the blink of an eye. They always find a way to scratch hardwoods, and I’ve even had a dog knock over a table and crack tile in my kitchen. The easy solution to all of these hazards is to replace your flooring with luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Many brands of LVP tout a 100% waterproof product with up to 20 mil scratch barriers. LVP is made up of multiple layers of different materials, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cork, fiberglass, and foam. The construction of the product makes it impact resistant as well.
Again, if you’re worried about the cost of LVP, take a look at what your local flooring store has to offer. There are products anywhere from the $1 per square foot range and up. I also chose to install the flooring myself after receiving a few quotes from professionals. There are tons of DIY videos out there and you can save tons of money.
Install outdoor lighting
In my neck of the woods we have coyotes. An increase of new construction has limited their natural habitats and driven them into more populated areas. I wouldn’t necessarily mind sharing my space with coyotes, but they pose a danger to small pets. Although coyotes are mostly scavengers, they will attack and kill smaller dogs. What I have done to protect my pets is install outdoor flood lights that are motion sensor activated. Get on amazon – there are plenty of cheap, solar powered, LED flood lights that will do the trick. Coyotes get spooked by lights and this should do the trick to keep your pup safe at night. Plus, the lights will provide another layer of security to your property to keep out unwanted humans as well!
Did I miss something that you think belongs on this list? Let me know if you have any ideas for pet owners that I didn’t cover! Sign up here to get helpful emails!