I don’t blame our dogs for our messy house - probably it would be messy without them. But I do recognise that you need to keep on top of it. If not, there’s a danger that ‘the mess’ will get on top of you.
My husband and I have no routine with the cleaning. Usually it’s done when I start moaning about the state of the stairs, or the lounge carpet, and I moan most when we have people coming over. For me that’s the best motivator.
We are quite an unconventional couple in that we don’t really have specific jobs that either of us do. We both muck in and do what we can, when we can. But if I know someone’s coming round, I feel it reflects on me if the house is dirty or at best messy. Mark doesn’t see it like this. If he has time, he’ll hoover; if not it’ll have to wait.
Dog hair is the most obvious visible sign that the house needs cleaning. It gets everywhere as you’d expect in a house where the dogs have few barred areas. Our bedroom used to have an ‘open door policy’. But that’s stopped since we got so fed up with having a hairy duvet!
Here’s Georgie in the ‘good old days’.
We have a dog gate on the bedroom now and our bed is for us only. It took a while to re-educate them, especially the youngest one, Jessie, but now they lay with their noses poking through the bars waiting for morning when we’ll all be reunited again.
It does get me down when the house needs doing. I get irritable and cranky and usually Mark picks up on it and will vacuum the lounge when I’m out.
Here’s a particularly bad day when Jessie got hold of some tissues!
Jessie used to fight with the hoover, barking madly, trying to grab the end of it. Now she follows us round, stepping carefully out of the way, interested but not agitated. When I do the stairs, she’ll always sit one step above the brush, moving up as I complete each step. Jessie likes to be involved in everything!
So I accept having dogs is a messy business but of course I wouldn’t have it any other way. We do our best to keep on top of it, throwing covers over the settee, brushing the wooden floors as often as we can, changing the newspaper under the dog bowls. None of our friends have complained yet but they’re probably being polite! Our house undoubtedly has a rich canine aroma but I prefer not to think about that. Having a house that smells like a kennel must be dreadful. Obviously ours doesn’t . . . does it??
7 responses so far ↓
gingela5 // October 27, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Amen to that! I probably should vacuum daily with all of the dog hair but it’s just way too much trouble! People know that we have dogs and to expect dog hair when they come over!
Lexi // October 28, 2008 at 5:25 am
We’re always covered in dog hair (and the whole house is too.) We have wood floors also. It’s so much nicer than carpet. I can’t imagine how awful it’d be to have fur stuck all over carpeting. We don’t even have throw rugs anymore.
I couldn’t bring myself to keep them all out of the bed. Mr. Billy is such a good foot warmer when the weather gets cold. Plus, my hubby leaves early in the morning for work and it’s nice to have the dogs’ company.
Hilary // October 28, 2008 at 8:53 am
Yes it was tough excluding them from their morning cuddles with ‘the alphas’ (as we like to think of ourselves!). Tough on them and us. But I must admit, not having hair on/in the bed is a big plus that we’ve got used to now.
Sara // October 28, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Oh, a woman after my own heart. I swore never to vacuum more than once a week - even though at times I step over piles of dog hair - there are just too many other important things to do than cleaning up dog hair - like blogging and taking pics or going out in the air for a good bit of fun.
And the tissue - I had to train myself to keep the bathroom doors closed at all times…..as to the rest of it…I just replace the blankets when the holes get too wide - for some reason my dogs like chewing their bones under the blankets? And then I toss all that is unnecessary…..less dusting —-I won’t tell you how many dogs I do have - as it is a fright.
But I’m just glad to know someone else in this world struggles with the same dog issues that I do. ….. my hounds get mad at me if I leave them in the car and then start chewing - sigh!
Hilary // October 28, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Sara, PLEASE tell me how many dogs you have?? I’d like a third but we have no money now, let alone with another one and all the lovely doggy things I’d have to buy!
Jenny // October 28, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I am also glad to know that there are people out there that have the same doggy issues that I do. I look at your pictures and wonder how my home got onto someone elses blog. I also have a doggy that looks like your black lab. She is actually a miniture version of your puppy. I will have to post pictures of my other girls so you can see.
goodbear // October 29, 2008 at 6:58 am
oh, i hope your friends never complain. if one of my friends complains, it will be ignored and i won’t expect them back…