You want to ensure that your pets are safe and sound when you’re away from home during the day, but you also want to keep your house and furniture clean and damage-free, right? If you’re like a lot of pet owners, you may have considered keeping your dog or cat in the garage while you’re away, but is it safe? Yes! You just have to follow a few simple rules to give your pets a safe and comfortable place to stay while you’re out of the house.
And we’re not talking about building a cage in the garage for your dog, either. Instead, in this guide, you’ll learn how to turn the entire garage into a big, comfortable enclosure that’s perfect for your furry friends!
Getting started
First, you’ll want to consider the advantages of keeping your dog or cat in the garage instead of keeping them in a kennel or cage in the house:
- Giving your pets the run of the whole garage gives them a lot more space and freedom. At the same time, if they’re accustomed to staying in a cage while you’re away, you can always give them that safe, close space by putting the cage out in the garage and leaving the door open. Then they can go in and out as they please.
- On cold winter days when you need to leave the house for extended periods of time, leaving your pets outside can be more than uncomfortable – it can be outright dangerous. Even if they have an outdoor enclosure, there is still a very good chance of frostbite on extremely cold days. An insulated garage gives your pets a cozy place to stay while you’re away.
- A lot of dogs bark at people walking by the front of the house when they see them through the windows. In your garage, your dog won’t be able to see people on the street, so it won’t be as likely to cause a disturbance for your neighbors while you’re at work. Not only that, but when your dog does bark, people won’t be as likely to hear it. Why? A well‑insulated (R‑16) garage door doesn’t just keep cold winds or hot sun out – it also acts as an effective sound barrier, as well.
Helping your dog acclimate
It can take a little bit of time for dogs to adjust to new environments, especially if they’re a little older. So, if you’re concerned about helping your pup acclimate to staying in the garage all day, you may want to start by putting it out there for shorter periods of time at first. You may also want to start by blocking off a given section of the garage where you’ll put your dog’s bed, toys, and anything else it needs throughout the day.
As your pet gets used to staying in the garage, you can gradually increase their space to give them more freedom. To make the whole process easier, be sure to spend a little bit of time in the garage with your pet(s) before you head out for the day, especially whenever you change their enclosure space.
If your dog is already house-trained, you probably won’t have to worry about accidents in the garage. If you’re leaving a puppy in the garage for longer periods of time, you may need to work with it on some training. Puppy pads can help reduce messes a great deal. If you’re leaving a cat in the garage, just make sure to leave a litter box out where your pet(s) can find it when they need to go.
Controlling the temperature and insulation in your garage
If you’re thinking about keeping your pet in your garage, you’ll need to ensure that you can control the temperature. If your garage isn’t insulated, that’s going to be a futile effort, but if your garage is well insulated, your pet will have a comfortable and safe place to hang out while you’re at work.
Make sure you set the temperature in your garage to at least 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) in the winter. In the summer, set it to a reasonable temperature and/or leave windows open (out of reach of your pets) to get some ventilation in the space.
Humidity in the garage is something you should also consider, as well. You’ll want to keep humidity below 50% for your pet’s comfort, and you can do this in a number of ways, including improving the insulation in your garage and/or using a dehumidifier in the space while your pet is there.
Feeding your pet in the garage
If you normally leave food out for your pet during the day, don’t change anything about your normal routine – just put the food and water in a safe place in the garage where your dog or cat can reach it. If you don’t normally feed your pets during the day, then you don’t have to start doing it now. Just make sure that they have enough water for the day and that they get enough food in the morning and evening.
Comfortable spots to sit and sleep
If you want to make this experience as positive as possible for your pet, you’ll definitely want to see to their comfort while they’re in the garage during the day. Put a comfortable bed out for them so that they have somewhere soft to sit and lie down when the floor of the garage is not as warm or dry as they’d like. You’ll also want to bring some toys out to the garage for them, as well, and you may even want to bring out an old t-shirt of yours to give them a familiar smell that will make the space feel more like home.
Remove potential hazards
In addition to making the space comfortable, you also have to ensure that it’s safe for your dog or cat, as well. Make sure that any toxic chemicals you have stored in the garage are locked away and that your pets won’t be in danger of stepping on anything sharp or dangerous. Ropes, straps, and cords can be choke hazards, as well, so make sure you put those away too.
If you don’t have a well-insulated garage door
Your garage door is essentially the fourth wall of your garage. If it isn’t weather-tight and well insulated, contact us today at 1-800-409-3667. We can help you choose a great door to fit your needs, and we offer a wide selection of colors and styles to fit your home’s architectural style, as well. So call today, or you can get an online quotation, as well.
Want to check out what kinds of doors you could get? Our Design Centre lets you create the exact garage door for your needs, style, and budget, and you can get some great ideas with our image gallery, too.
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