@bertucci02

Pet Friendly Furniture

Featuring some of our favourite #TeppsPets image submissions!

We know you love your fur babies, and who doesn’t want to cuddle at home with their favourite 4-legged friend? We also know that you love having nice furniture in your home and want to do everything you can to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, sometimes pets and furniture aren’t the best together. Anyone who has come home to chewed, scratched, or stained furniture knows the frustration and annoyance that can come from your animal behaving like, well, an animal.

This helpful guide will help you determine what to look for when buying furniture for a home with pets.

@bertucci02

Supervise Your Pet's Access to Furniture

Fabric upholstered furniture is sadly never completely pet-proof or stain-proof. While many modern fabrics can resist moisture and stains, there is always the chance that your fabric could be damaged by your pets.

Unfortunately, the easiest way to keep your pet from wreaking havoc on the furniture is to train them not to be on the furniture unless they are supervised and invited to join you on the sofa. Having a throw or a blanket available for pet time adds a layer of protection to your furniture when enjoying time with your pet.

@winstonthepapillon

How to Reduce Damage from Scratching

If your dog or cat likes to scratch, dig, or claw at things, you may want to consider finding furniture with a tightly woven fabric with performance materials, microfibre or an upholstered piece with a pattern that is less likely to show the marks.

Also, don’t forget to trim your pet’s claws regularly. Consistent nail trimming will help reduce your pet’s need to scratch and file their nails on your furniture.

How to Reduce Damage from Chewing

For chewing, the best way to keep a dog or cat from the temptation of those tasty-looking chair legs is to provide them with ample alternatives. Chew toys, bones, rawhides, catnip toys, and treats can be good distractions. Pets often turn to destructive behaviour out of boredom or anxiety, so pets who receive a good amount of exercise and playtime are often more relaxed and don’t need to channel bad behaviours onto your furniture.

@nicolevallancephotography

How to Control Messes From Shedding

While more of a nuisance than an actual damaging factor, shedding can be a prominent indicator of how often your pet is on your furniture. Use lint rollers or pet-specific hair removers to help you control the pet hair. A good brushing of your pet will remove that shedding hair before it even comes into contact with your furniture.

@kipthecorgi

Have a Good Protection Plan Ready

Sadly, your pets aren’t perfect, and accidents do happen. Whether it’s your pet or other household mishaps, your furniture is prone to stains, cosmetic damage, rips, tears, or even burn marks. The best way to defend against these annoyances is a protection plan.

Tepperman’s has a variety of Protection Plans to protect your investment find the one that’s right for you.

https://www.teppermans.com/protection-plan

@erinbirtwistle

Choose the Right Fabric

Your upholstered pieces are the most vulnerable to pet behavior and damage. Leather, distressed leathers, and synthetic fabrics are, in most cases, the best choices for pets. Regardless, you'll save money, time, and stress just by choosing a fabric that both you and your pet will love.

Leather

Benefits:

Easily Remove Hair / Easily Wiped Clean / Odor Resistant

Disadvantages:

Vulnerable to Scratching / Doesn't Hide Blemishes

*Distressed leather will be able to better hide blemishes.

Fabric (will differ between types)

Benefits:

Easily Remove Hair / Easily Wiped Clean / Can withstand mild scratching / Tightly Woven to Resist snagging with pet claws

Disadvantages:

Can absorb pet odours / No Pattern to Hide Blemishes and Licking may Leave Water Marks

@winstonthepapillon

Don't Let Pet Worries Keep You From Enjoying New Furniture.

Your pets are a wonderful part of your life, and your furniture is an enjoyable part of your life at home. With a bit of thought and patience, you can get the best of both worlds. Don’t let a fear of stains or claw marks keep you from buying your dream furniture.

Remember to keep your pets well-groomed, keep them occupied with chew toys or scratching posts, and teach them not to chew on your sofa. Keep in mind that performance fabrics and patterns will help reduce visible marks and stains.

If you don't want to share your chair or sofa, consider furniture specifically for your pets. Dog beds and cat trees will give your four-legged friend a comfortable place to relax that is their own.