Tips for Keeping the Apartment Pet-Friendly and Clean

1. Learn to love your lint roller: When your roommate is furry, hair everywhere can become a fact of life. You don't have to wear your love for your pet on your sleeve when you have a lint roller handy to gather up the errant hairs
2. Baking soda and vinegar is a great all-natural, all-purpose cleaner: You're not actually going to lick your clean floors, but your pup or cat likely might. Keep a spray bottle with a solution of vinegar, baking soda, and water for a cost-effective, quick and non-toxic cleaner.
3. Get in the habit of wiping Fido's feet: You don't want to let the outside in if it means tracking in everything your pup's been stepping in. Keep a towel by the door, and if you reward the wiping of the feet with a treat, it will be a ritual your pup will look forward to.
4. Use baking soda to clean pet beds: Keep cat and dog beds clean and smelling good by sprinkling with baking soda, leaving 15 minutes and then vacuuming. Add a few drops of essential oil for an extra nice scent, especially lavender, which not only calms but also has insect repellant properties.
5. Rubber gloves for a quick trick to get fur off of furniture: Instead of using a special tool, just dampen a rubber glove and rub over the upholstery and other furniture. The fur will literally gather in your hands, ready for removal.
6. Keep toxic cleaners safe: Sometimes messes need the big guns, and for those cleaners that could be poisonous, be certain to store in a place where wandering pups and kitties won't get into trouble. 

Offering the finest in Mountlake Terrace living, Taluswood Apartments are not only pet-friendly, but they also offer a host of owner-friendly amenities. To find out more about all we offer, contact us. 

The post Pet-Friendly Cleaning Tips appeared first on Taluswood Apartments Blog.

1. Limit Time Outdoors

Winter can be hard on dogs, just like it's hard on people. When temperatures drop, keep your dog indoors. If your dog goes out for a little fun, keep track of how much time your dog spends outside, and bring your dog in after a short period of time. Some dogs need to stay warm by wearing dog sweaters and booties. Check with your pet's vet to see if these things could help your dog. 

2. Keep Up With Exercise

It's hard to keep your dog physically fit when the weather is cold and unpleasant. If you don't want to take your dog outside, exercise your dog indoors. Take your dog to indoor facilities where dogs are able to walk, and play with your dog inside your home. If your dog starts to gain weight, talk to your dog's veterinarian about ways to keep your dog moving. 

3. Catch Up on Vaccines

Winter is the perfect time to catch up on vaccines! Make your dog's appointment with the veterinarian. If your pet is more than one year old, he or she will likely only need boosters about once annually. Talk to your pet's vet if you're not sure what shots your pet needs, or when. 

4. See to Your Dog's Dental Needs

While you're at the vet, have your dog's teeth cleaned. Most dogs need to have their teeth professionally cleaned at least once per year. This is an excellent way to prevent your dog from losing teeth or suffering from a painful gum condition. 

5. Groom Your Dog Properly

Dogs with a lot of hair usually need it cut off in summer, only to have it grow back in winter. If your dog has a naturally long, full coat, talk to your dog's groomer to find out what style of cut is best for your dog at this time of year.

Looking for a Place for You and Your Dog? Come to Us

At Taluswood Apartments, we love dogs. We want to meet yours! If you're looking for apartments in Mountlake Terrance, WA, contact us today to see what units we have available. 

The post 5 Winter Wellness Tips for Dogs appeared first on Taluswood Apartments Blog.

If yours is most like felines, then chances are kitty isn’t too thrilled about the move. He or she may exhibit many nervous — and even destructive —  behaviors. Want to curb these early? Here’s how to help your cat acclimate to its new environment.

Let Them Hide

If the first thing your cat does when you open the door to your new apartment is run and hide, that’s okay. Your kitty doesn’t feel like they’re safe yet. It needs to adapt, and once it does, it'll reappear. Then your cat can begin staking out spaces that feel like home.

Make It Smell Nice

Whether you prefer catnip or even synthetic pheromones, these scents will attract your cat and make them feel more at home. It’s recommended you check with your vet to confirm if you should use these products in such a manner before you do so.

Set out Homey Touches

Make it look and feel like home by setting out your cat’s toys, blankets, bed, and food bowl. This tells your feline friend that this is its home now. If old scents linger on these items, the cat may feel more at ease.

No Outdoor Wandering

Your cat may be an outdoor pet, but in the first few weeks, its behavior can be unpredictable. You could take it outside and it might bolt. It’s recommended you wait two weeks before kitty goes outside. Even then, do it in 10-minute increments, extending that time more and more.

When it comes to pet-friendly apartment complexes around Mountlake Terrace, Taluswood Apartments stands out. Residents are allowed to bring two pets with a weight limit of 70 pounds per animal.

There’s also a wealth of community amenities to participate in and enjoy, including a playground area, an indoor hot tub, a heated indoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, a fully-equipped fitness center with free weights, creekside walking trails, and barbeques and firepits at the outdoor resident deck.

This fall, make the best home for you and your kitty at Taluswood Apartments. Call 855-450-2838 to set up your walkthrough today.

The post Tips for Acclimating Your Cat to Your Apartment appeared first on Taluswood Apartments Blog.

The Preliminaries

Have the right stuff on hand. You’ll need a collar and a leash appropriate for your dog’s breed and size. Also, stock treats or a special toy to use as a training reward. Consider investing in a clicker, which is very effective with an enthusiastic “yes” for every instance of correct behavior. Whether your dog is an adult or a puppy, if they have yet to undergo successful leash training, plan short and positive sessions.

Stop Pulling Behavior

One basic approach is waiting for a slack leash, then acknowledging and rewarding appropriate behavior. To help your dog with an occasional problem, understand the need to walk without pulling, mark and reward calm behavior to reinforce it. For puppies or dogs who already pull, stop, let the leash go slack, mark, reward and resume short walks.

Side-by-Side Success

Choose whether you want your pet on your right or on your left and train only to that side to avoid your dog running around and tripping both of you. Eliminate wandering and circling by making the leash short enough to keep your pet by your side. Also, effective is marking the correct behavior with verbal praise, small treats, or a clicker. Gradually increase the distance your dog walks beside you without rewards.

Persistent leash training problems require patience and repeatedly walking away, then letting your dog catch up to you. Sometimes a different type of collar or harness makes a difference. Even a few training sessions with a qualified obedience instructor can be a great investment.

Residents of our Mountlake Terrace apartments and their furry friends love taking walks around our lush, pet-friendly community. Call our office today for information on which floor plan best meets your needs.

The post How to Teach Your Dog to Walk on a Leash appeared first on Taluswood Apartments Blog.

5 Simple Dog Walking Tips

1. Try a Front Clip Harness

If you’ve noticed that your dog likes to pull on their leash in excitement, using a front clip harness can help to eliminate the unwanted behavior. With this simple leash direction change, you stay in control and your dog still gets out for some fun.

2. Let Them Sniff

While it may be a bit tedious after a while, stopping to let your dog sniff is a super important part of your walks. In fact, sniffing is directly related to positive brain stimulation that keeps your pet happy and stress-free.

3. Skip the Retractable Leash

Although they have a certain appeal, retractable leashes actually pose quite a few safety hazards for yourself, your pup and other people on the trails. The long length makes it difficult to control your dog and under the right amount of pressure, the leash can snap.

4. Clean Up After Your Dog

Picking up after your pet is not only an important part of being a good neighbor but it helps to prevent health issues for other dogs and people. Invest in a handy poop bag carrier that you can clip on your leash to ensure you never leave home without a bag and be sure to dispose of all bags properly.

5. Bring Water

If you and your dog will be out walking for more than 30 minutes, bringing along water to help keep them hydrated is a good idea. Because they have a more difficult time regulating their body temperature than we do, stopping for a drink is an easy way to help them cool down.

Explore the Great Outdoors With Your Dog

For more information about our pet-friendly community or to take a look at the available floor plans at our apartments in Mountlake Terrace, visit the team at Taluswood Apartments today.

The post Dog Walking Tips appeared first on Taluswood Apartments Blog.