How to have multiple pets and a clean home?

[C&L]

My dog just peed on my mother's rug but thankfully she isn't in the country.  If it was my rug, I wouldn't mind because it cost under $30 from IKEA. Their hand-woven rug cost more than most cars and was bought in an art auction years ago.   Thankfully, anti-icky poo is plenty powerful and I managed to make it undetectable. Most of my furniture comes from IKEA and I replace them readily.  I had been thinking about investing in a sectional from Restoration Hardware but I have 3 dogs.  I was wondering if there are people on this forum who manage to have an immaculate home with multiple pets.  My home is clean but I would hardly call it immaculate.  My mother, in particular, doesn't like to visit because some of my pets do shed.  How do you keep your house clean? Do you allow pets on furniture? Does your pets mess up your furniture? Is being a pet owner and having an immaculate home a non secquitur? 

[C&L]

oh I LOVE your response stacy!  My doodle is trained too!  He cleans the outdoors and love to pick up Acorn (please be careful Acorns are poisonous to dogs) and sticks.   I have a white sectional from IKEA called the Tylosand because my previous giant white dog shedded like crazy.  I bought these white washable furry blanket throw to cover it up.  My bf thought it was hideous because it makes our couch look like a 60s carpet. I've had it way before we got the doodle.  The funny thing is the doodle camouflages with the blanket.  I'm gonna groom him today so he would look good for the Trick O Treaters and I'll put up a photo.  I promise it will make you guys laugh! :-)  

[C&L]

Here is my adorable muppet! Just groomed him and he has that hilarious poof. 

[Sam&Bella]

I call Bella a muppet all the time! Especially when she gets up after laying on the side of her face...Then I call her flat face:)

[C&L]

Thank you ;)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, just forget about an immaculate house if you are going to share it with pets.  We have gone to all leather furniture and automobiles because they are easier to clean, everything else that can be washed.  I have never been a worrier about having an immaculate house but my husband was more inclined to have a place for everything and everything in its place. He has loosened up with all of our dogs.  Our son was good training for him also.  Yes, my pets are on the furniture and one even sleeps on our bed.  The others are too large.  We are selling our house now and have a 5-month-old puppy, so we are going to replace the rugs if the new owners want rugs in the house.  My neighbor replaced the rugs and then the new owners tore them all out and put in wooden floors.  Cleaning them works pretty well, but these carpets are several years old so could be replaced.  This puppy is not a chewer, but our puppies in the past have chewed up everything.  She is a digger and had a wonderful time today digging in the garden as I took out all the tomato plants and started to winterize the garden.  It is raining here now also, so that is a great change for California.

[C&L]

I used to have a leather sofa but the cats put a lot of holes in it.  We opted for a fabric ikea sofa but even this one had a few holes as Spunky likes to sharpen his claws.  I didn't declaw him because I find removing an animal's bones so your furniture stays neat is a bit cruel. I've tried to train it out of him but it didn't work.  I'm probably Ikea's best customer.  We get a new sofa cover or sofa about every 3 years now.  I feel that poodles are not chewers in general.  I had a golden puppy a long time ago and he ate everything.  

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, your dog is an adorable muppet.

[C&L]

aw.. thank you. 

[Diane and Alma]

I tell all my family and friends who come to visit that my home is made to be lived in. I am grateful that Alma sheds very little.  

Your doodle is adorable!  And I hope your mom doesn't read about her rug on this site.

[C&L]

Thanks Diane! My mom isn't a dog person hehe. My mom and I are very different people we are like night and day. The photos are the difference between my mom and I in a nutshell.  I am okay if things are messy.  My mom would have an aneurysm.  Although to my credit, that photo was taken after a crazy haircut. I promise I'm really not that messy. I really don't understand why someone would pay so much money for something that is meant to be walked on. 

[C&L]

Thanks Mary.  Unfortunately, those books are shoes are mine. haha The blue pair are my "indoor" shoes and the flip flops are my shoes. I've been house sitting for Halloween because my parents are both vacationing outside the country right now. I decided to dress up my dogs and pass out candy there. Their place gets slammed every year for Halloween. They don't return until early spring.