As you know, DogTipper has partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Pet Blogger. One subject we wanted to explore for this partnership is the topic of welcoming guests to your space…both guests who are pet lovers and those who aren’t pet lovers. (Yes, we’ve heard rumors that there is such a thing!)
When Fellow Dog Lovers Visit (Especially Those Visiting With Their Dogs)
If your guests are fellow dog lovers, count your blessings! Whether your guest is staying with or without their own dog, you’ve got a kindred spirit coming over who can enjoy your dog, keep him safe, and share some favorite local spots for dog lovers as well.
If your friend is bringing their dog over, step one: get out and get moving. The excitement of greeting another dog is best done outdoors, on leash, on a joined walk. Especially if your guest and her dog have been traveling by car, the visiting pooch is ready to get moving and there’s no better way to bring dogs together than on foot and paw. Leash your dog and hit your local trails. While you and your guest catch up, the dogs can be checking each other out as well.
In our area, we’re lucky to have many great trails. Since we’re in the country, we have a lot of space to roam but, if we decide to head into the city, we’re super fortunate to have some great places for dog lovers. Austin is a wonderfully dog-friendly city; Apartment Guide even named it one of its “Top 5 Cities to Visit with Your Pet.” and has many great dog parks and off-leash areas including Auditorium Shores on the banks of the downtown Lady Bird Lake, Red Bud Isle, Emma Long Metropolitan Park, Barton Creek Greenbelt Preserve near Zilker Park, and more as well as many pet-friendly festivals. Stores like Dogadillo and Lofty Dog welcome two- and four-legged customers. When it’s time to take a lunch break, restaurants such as Boat House Grill, Rudy’s BBQ, Whole Foods Market, Austin Java, and more welcome diners and dogs out on their open decks.
When you return to your place, give your dog and the visiting dog space. Place their food and water bowls in separate rooms. If your dog has a tendency to guard resources such as toys, pick them up before your guest arrives. If your dog is crate trained, he may also appreciate a little quiet time in his crate, away from the excitement of the guest and her dog.
When Guests Who Aren’t Dog Lovers Visit
If your guest is not a fellow dog lover, the situation is a little trickier. You’ve got someone who will notice that dog hair on the couch and does not hold the same appreciation for doggie kisses as the rest of us. Nonetheless, the visit can still be a success with a little pre-planning:
- Clean, then clean again. We all get accustomed to that faint dog odor and don’t even notice it; rest assured that your non-dog loving guest will most definitely notice it. Make a checklist of cleaning supplies and rent a Rug Doctor and clean the carpet and your upholstery before the guest arrives.
- Groom your dog. Make sure your dog is clean and clipped. It will cut down on shedding and remove that doggie smell.
- Make some plans. Consider giving your dog a little vacation as well with a day of doggie day care. Your dog will burn off that excited energy that having a guest in-house can release; when your dog returns home for the night, he’ll be exhausted and will hopefully crash in your bedroom.
- Go over the rules. When your guest arrives, give a quick rundown of your rules: your dog should only go out on leash, we keep the toilet lid closed, etc. If you feel awkward about explaining the rules, make a cute little sign, especially for the toilet, explaining the house rules.
- Keep a watchful eye. Through no fault of their own, your non-dog loving friend may not realize that her medication could be toxic if your dog gets it, or that the sugarless gum in her purse is also toxic, etc. Keep a vigilant eye out for problems before they happen.
Welcoming a guest to your space…and your dog’s space…is a great way to celebrate summer. With a little forethought and preparation, you, your dog, and your guest will have a visit that’s something to wag about!
Whether you’re living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of a space for you and your pet on https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/blog/. If you’re ready for a whole new space or are looking to move, Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you find the perfect pet-friendly apartment community.
Disclosure: Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
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