Pet Perfect: Be a Great Pet Parent & Neighbor

Your Harrisonburg apartment community is everything you were looking for, and the pet-friendly dog park is an excellent bonus – Sadie loves meeting new dogs to play with. Your Harrisonburg apartment home is perfect for you, but are you a good community member and pet parent in return? Use our tips to help make sure you and Sadie are model neighbors!

Pet-proof your apartment to prevent accidents and keep your pet safe. You can prevent costly damage (and the possible loss of your security deposit) by hiding electrical cords and creating safe areas for your pet to play and scratch. If your dog is left alone for most of the day, you may want to train him to relax in a crate, a safe space where he can wait for you to return.

If you own a kitty, keep your feline friend indoors at all times unless he is crated or on a leash. Windows should have screens and doors should be kept shut so that your cat can’t escape, and make sure he isn’t allowed to roam on the balcony. Roaming cats create property damage and spread diseases, causing them to be a nuisance to community members, so keep your cat inside.

Maintain a regular cleaning schedule and pick up all messes as promptly as possible. Cat litter boxes should be cleaned regularly, and waste must be disposed of appropriately – your neighbors may be offended by litter boxes that aren’t changed daily. Vacuum frequently to stop dog and cat hair from floating into common areas where it can create irritation for allergy sufferers, and keep your neighbors from having to step into a messy situation by always cleaning up after your dog.

Groom your pet regularly and keep her clean – apartment community members will enjoy visiting with your dog much more if she smells nice and looks neat and tidy. Use effective and reliable flea control for your pet – fleas spread disease and parasites and are capable of infesting common areas easily. Check with your veterinarian that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations required by law to protect you, your neighbors, and your pets.

Brush up on Fifi’s obedience training – your dog should be leashed unless she is in the dog park or inside your apartment, and good manners keep you from having to drag a barking, snapping beast away from your neighbor’s children or another community pet. Teach your dog to be quiet on command to help minimize noise, and keep her stocked with plenty of toys when you are away so she won’t get bored and be tempted to bark and disturb your neighbors.

Apartment dogs benefit from plenty of exercise, so take your pup for long walks regularly. The apartment community dog park is a great place to meet neighbors with dogs your pet might enjoy – you can set up a “puppy play date” and make a new friend for Rover. If your pet is left alone for long intervals of time during the day while you are at work, consider hiring a dog walker to prevent bad habits and break up the tedium of the day.

NEVER allow any pet onto a balcony without supervision. It is perfectly acceptable to provide a small square of “doggie grass” or a litter box on your balcony for a new puppy or a pet who has difficulty getting to common areas but be conscientious about keeping this area clean so your neighbors aren’t exposed to offensive odors. If your dog is elderly or you are house training a new puppy, you might want to choose a ground-floor apartment to make those frequent “potty trips” as easy as possible for you and your pet.

Think about your neighbors when you determine your pet’s bathroom routine. When you can possible, avoid bathroom trips at odd hours when most people are sleeping. If you have to take your pet out very late or very early, be as quiet as possible to avoid disrupting others.

Be honest when you discuss your pet’s needs and size with your landlord. Following all the rules and requirements of your apartment community is the easiest way to ensure that your apartment community management will work with you to make you and your pet happy. Their requirements are based on their experience and their desire to optimize their ability to meet the needs of pets and their owners.

Your Harrisonburg apartment community places you in the best spot to enjoy this extremely pet-friendly town. Use these tips to maximize the benefits of living in a pet-friendly apartment community with your best friend.