All-Star Chem-Dry 
In one of our previous posts, we addressed a pressing question: is pet urine the end of your carpet? The answer is, ideally, not at all! There are a variety of things you can do right after a pet urine incident to lessen the damage. And, with Chem-Dry’s PURT process, the damage can essentially be reversed. But ideally, your dog wouldn’t be urinating on your carpet at all. Is there a way to prevent it? Today, we’re giving you our best tips to do just that!
Mind the time
One of the simplest ways to prevent your dog from having accidents inside is to get them outside on time. Dogs can hold their bladders for around 8 hours. This can vary depending on age, breed, and size. However, dogs, like humans, like being on a regular bathroom schedule. If you work outside the home, try to let your dog out to potty last thing before you leave and first thing when you get home. Depending on the length of your workday, it may be beneficial to hire someone to let your dog out partway through the day to use the bathroom, or to ask a roommate or neighbor to do so. Dogs want to please their humans, so give them opportunities to go in the right place, and they’ll avoid the wrong ones!
Thoroughly clean messes
Dogs navigate by their smell and are creatures of habit. What does this mean for pee in your carpet? If a spot smells like a bathroom, it may be used as a bathroom again and again. This is why it’s so important to completely remove pet messes from carpets and rugs. It’s not just about the visible stains, it’s also about the smells! Pet urine will leave behind microscopic crystals when it dries inside of carpet fibers. Traditional store-bought cleaners are not enough to get these out entirely! Home remedies can help, like using white vinegar and water to neutralize the odor, but this is not a guarantee.
Your best bet is to have the spot professionally cleaned to ensure that all odor and crystals are completely gone. A bonus is that our All-Star Chem-Dry team can also check your carpet out! There may be other, older messes that you’re unaware of. If partially cleaned urine in the carpet can lead to repeat messes, imagine what a spot that’s never been cleaned can do! Urine also contains ammonia, which isn’t the best for your respiratory systems- or your pet’s. So get those spots gone, and totally gone, as soon as possible.
Reward right behavior
While our specialty here at All-Star Chem-Dry is carpets, not canines, this is a solid tip. According to the American Kennel Club, positive reinforcement for dogs is the way to go. The short version is this: reward your dog for the things you want them to do. When they realize that good behavior means treats, praise, or petting, they’re more likely to do it again! So when your dog potties outside, make a big deal out of it- throw a party if you have to!
Okay, we’re kidding. But make sure to give your dog lots of affection and maybe even a treat when they go to the bathroom where you want them to. This will encourage them to repeat the behavior and stop using your rugs and carpets as a pit stop. The more they associate peeing outside with good things, the less likely they are to revert to going inside when it doesn’t offer the same rewards.
If you’re having trouble with pet urine in your carpets, please give us a call! All-Star Chem-Dry’s innovative PURT process will completely remove the stains and odor. Not only that, but it’s non-toxic for both humans and pets. There’s no need to waste time and money on ineffective cleansers- let us get your carpets as good as new!