Simple ways to stop your pets destroying

Adopting a new pet is incredibly exciting, however it's important you pet-proof your home to minimise any damage. From hiding away scented candles to trimming your canine's nails, there are plenty of great hacks to help you protect your space. What people don’t tend to prepare themselves for is the damage that pets can do to your home.

Need some help? Take a look at the tips to help you reduce the chances of your pet wrecking your home...

1. MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE WELL EXERCISED

Full of energy and life, our pets need regular exercise to keep them stimulated. Just like humans, pets too can get bored at home, which is why it’s vital to ensure they are entertained.

“When dogs don’t have an appropriate outlet for this innate desire, it can lead to ‘problem’ behaviours that can cause damage in the home,” Rachel Rodgers, dog owner, says. “For some dogs, this may be digging which can manifest as ripping up soft furnishings like pillows, quilts and mattresses.”

To prevent any destructive behaviour, try giving your dog a ‘destruction box’ for them to rip up. Something like an old cardboard box or packaging is a surefire way to provide them with hours of fun.

2. USE AN ANTI-CHEW SPRAY AT HOME

Protect your furniture and accessories by spraying an anti-chew spray. With a naturally unpleasant taste, it will discourage your pets from chewing on carpets, curtains and furniture.

3. THINK TWICE ABOUT SCENTED CANDLES

Be careful with reed diffusers, scented candles and wax melts if you have pets. While they’re incredibly calming in the home, animals can easily knock them over. “Make sure that any scented candles are pet friendly and placed high up where your pet can’t reach them or knock them over,” says Lauren Rosenberg, an anxiety, fear and phobia expert.

4. CREATE A COSY SPACE FOR PETS

Give your pet a cosy, relaxing spot to unwind at home. Whether it's their own den or a soft bed, this will help them to give them a place to feel settled.

The team advise: "Crates are a quick way to do this but you can also convert furniture or even purchase furniture with spaces ready-made for dog beds, cat baskets etc. Having a little den gives pets a place feel safe if they are nervous or new to the family and have somewhere they are not being disturbed by other pets or family members!"

5. REMOVE ANY AT-RISK ITEMS

Nail scissors, tweezers, jewellery, medication or fragile vases can be easily discovered by inquisitive pets, especially young puppies. Keep anything like this well out of reach or tucked away in a drawer to prevent it being chewed on.

Pets love to explore, so it’s up to you to keep an eye on what they might find. Pay close attention to places such as bedside cabinets, sideboards or small bathroom bins.

6. KEEP YOUR BEDROOM PET-FRIENDLY

While a previous study found that sleeping with a dog in your room can improve your health, it’s important you do all you can to keep your bedroom pet-friendly. If you do choose to allow pets into your room, keep it a safe place that deters disruptive behaviours. Cats, for example, may scratch on the corners of your bed, so placing a scratching post in the corner is great to consider.

Cat sitter Anna Wan advises: “Keep your bedroom door open, so they can get to you if they want to, but also feel comfortable staying where they are knowing they have that option if they want it. And provide them with a place to sleep outside of your room which is their own.”

7. OPT FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

If you are struggling to train your dog, why not enlist the help of a professional? Many dog trainers have moved their services online, making it easier for owners to get help at home.

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COUNCILLOR REPORT

By Tim Rippington Last week at Full Council I asked a question regarding Mass Transit, and specifically whether the Council is considering the idea that a mass transit system could run up and down the A4 with little additional modification to current road layouts. The idea of trams or tram-like vehicles running both ways on a single carriageway is not new, indeed it has been used on the railways for centuries. I am worried that the council’s fixation with fully segregated lanes for firstly buses and then later mass transit will both delay the implementation of such schemes, and make them more expensive/ destructive.

I am pleased to say that the response I received was a positive one and I understand that the ideas I submitted have been added to the long-list of options currently being considered. Time will tell, but if we are still discussing how to do this in ten years’ time we will certainly have failed on our promise to deliver a working mass transit system to a city that desperately needs it. Although I had to self-isolate after receiving the dreaded “ping” last Tuesday, I was also able to ask a second question regarding the cost of retrofitting our housing stock with carbon neutral heating systems. If we, as a city and as a country, are to meet our climate emergency targets, it is vital that we start to replace gas boilers with other systems such as heat pumps, which draw heat from the air or water sources rather than burning gas or coal. Unfortunately, the government is failing us on this completely, with a tiny proportion of the money needed being made available to help with this retrofitting at the current time. Bristol is, however, well ahead of most other cities in terms of installing Heat Networks, which will supply heat to entire neighbourhoods from carbon neutral or very low-carbon sources. The City Leap project has also been set up to try to attract investors into the city and hopefully this will soon be up and running, as it seems government are not going to take a lead on this ony time soon. You can read more about what the council is doing here: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/policies-plans-strategies/the-energy-service?fbclid=IwAR0TAFNHlJJjveLxBoqpcg24wsMLTTqaM4Pym7tB2M9GneTwsxJMD4ufcAI

Also at the Full Council meeting my fellow councillor Katja Hornchen presented the petition from local residents calling for a once-way system and new double yellow lines in Wyndham Crescent. I will also be raising this at Cabinet this week, where funding for Liveable Neighbourhoods schemes in the city will be discussed. It’s really important that these schemes don’t just become the purview of the wealthier parts of the city, but are fairly spread for the benefit of all.