Helping your dog during house remodel

Remodelling the entire house takes around a month, and while for you it might not seem long, for your dog it looks like strangers are wandering around the house, breaking walls and painting walls for years. This means that you need to make sure they feel comfortable and stay safe during the entire time. It doesn’t really matter if you repurpose your garage, refinish the hardwood floors, build a new fence or install a new entrance door, they all stress your pooch and you need to make sure they don’t get anxious.

Here are some guidelines that should help you keep your dog safe during the entire project.

Don’t change their routine

Both cats and dogs are creatures of habit, and they find comfort and safety when they can predict what happens in their world. But when you renovate the house you throw away all the predictability out of the window because when your house is a mess, your dog is stressed out. So even if there are people breaking walls inside the house, try to stick to your dog’s routine as much as possible. And if you cannot spend your day playing with them, take them to a kennel where they can spend and socialise with other dogs. It will help them forget about the things that happen at home.

Create a containment space

If you want to keep your dog safe while constructors remodel your house, you need to contain them.

Place them in a room far away from the renovations, with a door that closes securely. If you remodel the interior of the house and you have a yard, take them outdoors where they can be away of all the stress. To help them make positive associations with the containment space, feed them there, offer them treats, and play with them. It’s important your dog to feel secure in the area you contain them. If you need to tare your entire house down, the best idea would be to bring them to a hundepensjonat.

Your dog needs a safe place

Their kennel is the safest place in the house if they’re used to stay there when you’re away from home. The kennel provides them with a safe and comfortable space where they can go every time, they need predictability. Move their kennel to an area you don’t plan to renovate a few weeks before the constructors arrive. If your dog isn’t kennel trained then they probably have a bed or blanket they sleep on. That object is their safe spot and you should bring it to the room where you plan to contain them. If you plan to take them to a kennel Gardermoen, bring the blanket or bed with them because it makes them feel safer.

Keep the dog away from toxins and dangers

You should keep your dog away from all the mess, power tools, wet paint, freshly vanished floors, and electrical cords. They are toxic for pets. During renovations, constructors often uncover asbestos and mould, and they are toxic for both animals and humans so it’s wise to isolate your dog from the renovation site.