Keeping your home clean and beautiful while also making sure your dog is engaged and happy can be a challenge. There are a wide variety of treats and toys designed to entertain your furry friend, but not all of them are conducive to retaining the appearance of a lovely living area. Here, I’ll impart the knowledge I’ve learned in my efforts to keep a happy dog and a clean home so that your furry friend can be an integrated part of your home.
Rawhide/Rawhide Substitute Treats
Pros: Rawhide treats are a classic for a reason. First of all, they’re cheap. Depending on the size, you’ll usually only shell out a few bucks for these. Rawhide is also beneficial to your dog’s oral health by removing plaque and bits of food from their teeth. Another advantage of rawhide is that it’s durable and long-lasting.
Cons: Have you ever touched a rawhide bone that a dog has been chewing on? The rawhide gets soft and moist and basically starts disintegrating, which makes it easier for your dog to digest, but can leave yucky bits and pieces on your carpet and furniture. Once this stuff dries, it’s hard to clean up. I would suggest giving these treats to your dog in an uncarpeted area with little to no upholstered furniture.
Note: It’s debated whether rawhide is suitable for dogs due to its preparation. I give my dogs a rawhide substitute, which is almost identical to real rawhide, but is better for their digestive tract.
Plush Squeaky Toys
Pros: Most dogs love plush toys, especially if they have a squeaker or two inside. The best thing about these toys is how widely available they are. Not only can they be found in every pet store, you can usually find one or two in the pet care aisle of any grocery or drug store. Plush toys are also relatively cheap, usually ranging from $5-$15.
Cons: Once your pet tears one of these guys open, you will have stuffing virtually ALL OVER your house. This is especially annoying on carpeted floors. Also, bits and pieces of plush toys can fall off and litter your floors, or worse, go in your dog’s tummy. There are plush toys that come without stuffing, which are a better option, but they are still the worst toys for keeping your house and dog in top shape.
Plastic Puzzle-Type Toys
Pros: These toys are my top choice for their ability to keep dogs entertained while causing the least damage to the home. With these toys, you insert one or several treats and the dog has to figure out how to retrieve them. Durable and long-lasting puzzle toys will rarely leave you with a mess to clean up.
Cons: One of my dog’s favorite toys is a hard plastic disk that I put small treats in. She then scoots it around the floor, pushing and turning it until it dispenses a treat. Sometimes, in her excitement, she pushes the toy into the baseboard or wall. This can leave a small dent or mark on the baseboard. Also, if you live in an apartment like I do, the knocking of the toy on the wall may disrupt your neighbors.
Rope Toys
Pros: Like rawhide, rope toys are widely available and pretty durable. These types of toys are affordable as well, usually costing $10-$20, depending on size. Rope toys are great for playing a good game of tug-of-war with your pup.
Cons: After a bit of wear, rope toys can start to break down. This means that the little threads that the rope is composed of can start falling off. These threads can then get scattered throughout your whole house. Also, your dog may start to ingest these small threads, which can cause digestive issues.
Automatic Treat Dispensers
Pros: Relatively new to the pet market, automatic treat dispensers are a popular option for pet owners. These gadgets can be linked to your phone, allowing you to see your pets while you’re away from home. You can dispense treats to them with the push of a button. Automatic treat dispensers are a great option for those who work long hours away from home. Also, since the treat dispenser stays in one place and is relatively small, it won’t clutter your home like a bunch of dog toys all over the floor will.
Cons: The biggest drawback of the automatic treat dispenser is its price. Even the most basic of models goes for around $200, which might be out of some people’s price range. And, if you own a large, boisterous dog, you may not want him in close contact with expensive appliances, so this might not be the option for you.
A Canine Companion
Pros: Getting another dog can be very beneficial for your existing pup. Having a friend to play with can keep your dog from engaging in nervous behaviors like scratching, digging, and chewing. This in turn will keep your furniture, floors, and walls looking their best.
Cons: Obviously, bringing a new dog into your environment can lead to problems, the biggest of which is potty-training. Puppies WILL have accidents in your house, so if you just installed new carpet, don’t get one! But even older dogs may have unpredictable habits when you first bring them home. They may feel the need to mark their territory anywhere from your couch, to the walls, to your bed, and nobody wants that! Definitely leave your new dog in a crate when you’re away until they get used to their new environment.
Throughout my 10 years of dog ownership, these are some of the ways I’ve learned to live harmoniously with my dogs. Maintaining a nice, tidy home while keeping your canine content can be a challenge, but it is absolutely possible. Hopefully these tips help you and your pets accomplish that goal.
Julie Conklin
I did not know about the automatic treat dispensers that you can watch and control while out of the house. Sounds like something worth saving up to buy instead of buying the toys that easily get torn apart and not only fun for your pet but for you as well.