Spring Cleaning — It’s for the Dogs!

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By: Hilarie Erb

When you are ready to tackle spring-cleaning projects, don’t forget the things that belong to your dog! Beds, blankets, and furniture covers should be washed several times a year or more, just as you do your own bedding. But a thorough yearly cleaning is usually fine for things like toys and crates and maybe the inside of your car (especially if your dog does not ride in a crate).

When it comes to bedding, it is helpful if you have dog beds with removable, washable covers. These are easy to launder on a regular basis. If your dog’s bed is a large but washable stuffed one, you will need to take it to a laundromat with an extra-large, heavy duty washing machine. You might use, in addition to regular laundry detergent, a laundry sanitizing product. High heat in the dryer will also help to sanitize items but follow any instructions on the item to be sure this won’t damage them.

Often forgotten are the dog’s toys. Most soft toys can be laundered in your washing machine and put in the sun to dry. You can even put some rubber and plastic toys in the wash, though they might need to be in a zippered laundry bag to be sure they don’t get damaged or cause damage to other items in the load. Some hard dog toys can also be put in the dishwasher, and if there is any doubt, wash them by hand with warm water and liquid dish detergent.

Regularly inspect your dog’s toys for tears and breakage. Throw away any that are past their prime and are unsafe. Soft stuffed toys and toys with squeakers inside need extra careful examination. With dogs who enjoy destroying toys like these, the safest thing to do is keep them out of reach except when you are actively playing with them or directly supervising.

Many life-threatening situations and expensive surgeries have resulted from dogs ingesting pieces of toys that caused bowel obstructions. After the toys are cleaned, pay attention to what your dog plays with. Toys that became boring can seem brand new and exciting after a good wash!

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.