Dog Proofing Your Furniture

When you invest money in a piece of accent furniture, you will want to take care of it. It is critical to protect it over time to get the most out of your investment. However, If you have dogs in your home, you’ll need to learn how to dog-proof the furniture.

While our dogs are a much-loved family member, they can also cause some destruction and chaos in our homes. Here, we look at the eight best options for dog-proofing your furniture and protecting your home from your best buddy.

Furniture Covers Can Be Life Saving

If you have a mass of dog hair on your couch or scratches on the wood furniture, one of the best tips we can give you is to use covers!

While the term “sofa covering” may conjure up images of your grandmother’s urgh covers, there is now a myriad of more modern styles ranging from slipcovers to washable blankets.

We understand that your dog prefers to relax on your sofa rather than the dog bed. So cover the area with the best dog couch cover you can find so you can strip away the upholstery, wash it, and maintain its good condition.

If the upholstery on your furniture is already damaged, you can reupholster it as long as you follow the instructions from the start. You can buy fabrics online to make your job easier because we all know that having pets in our house can take up a significant amount of your time!

Keep on Top of Grooming

a person grooming a dog

The extraction of unwanted pet hair is among the most difficult challenges dog owners face. While shedding is a normal process in all dogs, keeping up with your dog’s grooming can make a notable contrast in the amount of hair you see strewn about your home.

Regular brushing and trips to your dog’s favorite groomer will help keep them smelling and looking great and limit hair loss. Consistency is essential in everything.

Are you tired of sweeping clouds of dog fur that find themselves around the corners? Maybe these best vacuums for pet hair can help.

Avoid Bare Wood If Your Canine Chews

You can avoid the distress of coming home to chew up furniture legs by avoiding wood furniture. Although not all pups chew on furniture, some young puppies find it irresistible. It’s easier said than done to teach a dog not to chew, especially if it happens while you’re gone.

If you own wood furniture you want to keep your dog’s mouth away from, there are products on the market that will keep your dog from chewing on it, such as bitter apple spray. It will stop your dog from chewing on your table legs if you spray it on them.

If your dog is particularly destructive while you’re away, we suggest crate training until you can regain control of the situation. Chewing on wood not only destroys your furniture, but it is also dangerous to your dog.

If your dog has chewed on your furniture, some wood can be repaired if the chew marks aren’t too severe.

Select Pet-Friendly Furniture Materials

dog sitting on a pillow and a leather sofa

Microfiber and leather are the two most popular materials for pet-proof furniture. Leather is popular because it is easy to clean, and the microfiber is widely known because it is durable. If you’re not on the lookout for new furniture, keep in mind that you can dress anything up with some nice slipcovers.

Microfiber

Because of its durability, microfiber furniture is an excellent choice for pet-friendly homes. Microfiber is less stain-resistant than most woven materials and is developed to repel wetting, though dog hair still manages to cling to it.

Microfiber is remarkably easy to clean using a damp cloth and does not appear to retain odors as much as other fabrics.

Leather

Leather (or pleather) furniture is ideal for pets because it is easy to clean with a wipe-down and does not attract hair like other fabrics. It also has a higher odor resistance than other materials.

And while leather is a popular material, keep in mind that it is easily scratched. If you let the dog sit on leather furniture, keep its nails neatly trimmed. If you get pet scratches, you can repair them yourself using leather repair products.

Consider Using Dark-Colored Furniture

Dark upholstery and furniture can help hide pet hair, stains, and dirty pawprints. You wouldn’t want to slave yourself cleaning and brushing, and dark furniture lets you conceal a small amount of dirt for a day or two until a more thorough cleaning is required.

Purchase a High-Quality Dog Bed

 

If you can find a nice comfortable bed for your dog, it can take the place of its favorite place on the couch. When it comes to dog beds, there are numerous options. There are bolstered, heated, orthopedic, and pillow beds, to name a few.

However, not all dogs will immediately fall in love with their new beds. If your dog does not naturally take to its bed, there are some simple steps you can take to get them used to it.

The more time your dog spends in their bed, the fewer odors, fur, stains, scratches, and puke you’ll find on your furniture.

Keep Pets Away From Certain Rooms

If you don’t want your dog in specific rooms of the house, make sure to keep those doors closed. Furthermore, if you don’t want your dog to have free reign in the living room when you’re at work, you can utilize baby gates to confine your dog to specific areas of the house.

Match Your Sofa’s Color With Your Pet

While this step might seem amusing at first, it is among the most important lessons you can take away from this article.

Because pets shed hair regardless of how well you brush, clean, or vacuum them, and if you wouldn’t want it to show up more noticeably on your upholstery and furniture, it’s best to match your dog hair to them.

A cream sofa, for example, might be a good choice if you have a golden retriever. A black leather sofa will make a big difference if you have a black Labrador.

It can be challenging to choose furniture that will withstand the humiliations inflicted by your dog, but if you follow the advice provided above, you should be able to find some that work for you and your best friend.