If you’re a brand new pet parent, your must be madly in love with your little fur baby at this point. Granted, caring for pets doesn’t come cheap, but it’s one of life’s greatest pleasures. They bring us peace of mind, unconditional love, and even relieve conditions like anxiety and depression. All we want, and should, do is give everything back. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. That peace of mind can be disrupted, especially for apartment residents in such trying times. COVID-19 doesn’t make it easier — we’re dwelling at home more than we intended to, and our pets don’t necessarily love it.
The truth is that living (or moving) with a pet should make life pleasurable, not complicated. Isn’t that the whole point of getting a pup, after all? That, as well as being a respectable tenant, calls for extra responsibility on your part. Let’s take a look at some tips on how to live with one or more pets in an apartment of any size, choosing the best pet supplies, and doing so without making it a chore, rethinking your decision, or being called out.
Comply with your apartment’s pet policies.
If you’re already living in a pet-friendly unit, that’s great. It’s one less issue to deal with. With that in mind, make sure you carefully go over all apartment regulations, which vary from property to property. Avoid grabbing any lists from the internet, as the rules may not apply to your property specifically.
If you’re moving into a new home and are convinced you’ll take a pet with you, make sure you’re choosing a pet-friendly unit. This, and sticking to the rules, are hardly the stressful parts, though.
The stress comes with the actual moving. Packing things up. Relocating. Getting home, and still having seemingly endless work unpacking before you can relax. As if it wasn’t stressful enough, your pet can sense that same oddness you do when coming across an empty house and starting a life somewhere else. Relocation doesn’t have to be stressful at all. It only is because people may not hire the right professionals.
When choosing a moving company to help you out, don’t settle for less than winning customer service. For instance, these Maryland movers boast years of experience and extra-friendly staff to count on. Plus, you can get a free quote before settling an appointment. As local movers, they also bring the know-how to save you time (and money!) on move day. With more peace of mind, your pup will be calmer as well.
Make additional space for your furry friend.
You see no problem living in a tiny apartment, and you couldn’t care less about a backyard, either. If your pet could talk, they would certainly yell at you for this. The trouble is, your apartment probably has a lot of unused belongings laying around. Your pet could use the extra space to roam freely and de-stress. In this case, renting a storage facility can be helpful.
Researching self storage units for rent near you is the perfect solution to make additional space if you’re running out of it, need room to store large items, or simply want to free up those square meters. Make sure your belongings are in a great place by finding a storage facility with climate control and security features.
Potty train your pet. ASAP.
It’s easier to train your pet when it’s a puppy or a kitten, but that doesn’t mean you can’t teach grown pets where to relieve themselves. Is it harder? Definitely. But not impossible. Plus, being in an apartment means you’ll need to strategize: your pet must do their business somewhere private to avoid stinking up the whole place. If you do have a yard you and your neighbors are allowed to use, that’s even better. But the job gets stinkier the more pet visits the backyard gets.
It pays to suggest a pet waste removal service for apartment building backyards. In North Aurora, Illinois, the team members of the “Scoop Troop” saves residents the dirty job of scooping up dog waste that’s been lingering for days, and for a fair price. Look for equally efficient services in your area or look up “pet waste removal North Aurora Illinois“, and you won’t have to worry about the cleanup.
Give your pet positive reinforcement training.
Apartment owners prefer residents with trained, obedient dogs. No doubt. In fact, some apartment policies demand that the animals in the property have some kind of proven training. That’s to ensure their obedience and reinforce the owner’s compliance to the building’s rules.
As a tenant whose pet is allowed in the building, that’s the least you can do. See, landlords have a lot on their plates already. They often hire a property management company (Venterra Living is one of them) to guarantee excellent service for tenants and keep tabs on payment, complaints, and repairs. When you think about it, disciplining your pet is a bargain.
Look at it this way: not only will your pet refrain from giving you and others a hard time, but you’ll also get to spend quality time with your furry family member every day.
Give your pup exercise at least once a day.
Does your pet get the zoomies often, and you have no clue what to do when it happens? They can be loud and tough to stop. Zoomies, as well as fear barking, result from an attempt to release stress, and of course, fear. That’s because your pet doesn’t belong in confined spaces. Your furry friend belongs somewhere with fresh air and plenty of green space to run and play. No, your succulents don’t count.
There’s no “ideal” exercise time for pets. The number of hours it should spend walking, running or jumping will depend on its age, weight, breed, and energy levels. If you find it tough figuring this out and have no spare cash to take your pet to a vet, you can safely walk your pet at least once a day and do plenty of exercises at home.
Be sure that, during the daily walks, you don’t ignore stairs, steps, and ramps for a bit of challenge. Other quick and easy exercises you likely already do at home include playing fetch, playing “hide and seek”, using a feeding toy so they can exercise while they eat, Calling them on top of a flight of stairs, and reward them every time they go up, and running or jogging with them for a minute or two. This ends up being great exercise for you, as well.
Give your pets plenty of love and attention.
You’re busy, and that’s fine. Owning a furry friend comes with perks, but it also adds a few extra hours of work to your week, and no one knows it better than you do. Though you have a lot to do and then some, you’re still your pet’s whole world. If they’re happy and satisfied, they sure won’t be a pain to care for. A well-fed, pampered, healthy, and loved dog will give you a dreamy living experience and reassure you that moving with them was your best decision. Now you know what it takes to enjoy your pet’s great company without stressing yourselves out — or being evicted.
