A quick brushing a couple of times per week should help with shedding, and bathing weekly (yes, weekly) will help keep your house from developing a "doggy smell." Buy beds with removable washable covers so you can wash them every other week, too. If you want attractive dog beds, you can buy the Krypton ones (kind of modern fabrics) with stain resistant covers on them. I don't know what to tell you about the drool, though. Mastiffs are known for their slobbery goodness, so maybe just keep an old dish towel in your pocket at all times for wiping its face :)

I have 2 bullmastiffs, so I can relate. Here are a couple things that work for us. Keep his feet as clean as possible, so he doesn't bring mud in and scour the finish off your floors. Be sure to have a well-made dog bed that can handle frequent washings, as might become a wee bit stinky. Possibly set up a monthly grooming session with a groomer, because washing a really large dog is hard on the back and can be difficult if the dog becomes disagreeable. As far as the drool is concerned, buy some smaller dishtowels to use as "goober rags" and keep them handy, especially when guests are present. I commend you for adopting a large dog, and I wish you and your new puppy the absolute BEST. :-)

I have two medium large dogs (dwarfed by yours but big to me).

the saving grace for our floors; they have been taught to sit patiently at the door when they get back from walks to have their paws wiped down. totally worth the effort in training as it has reduced paw prints on the floor 80%.

their dog beds fit under our bed and the ones used in the living area fit under the couch for when people come by. that way they are out of sight.

finally a rhoomba. so if i skip a day i'm not overcome with furballs.

congrats on expanding your family. if you can't go large then you might as well go home! :)

In our house (2 big boys dark wood floors) we roomba and swiffer all the time.

I sewed some doggy "duvet" covers for the dog beds, and we wash them weekly.

Keep a towel by the front door for wiping muddy paws before your big boy runs inside... and gets muddy paw prints everywhere.

Unfortunately I've never found a solution to to design/dog crate problem.

I've seen several online tutorials for converting a dog crate into a table to disguise it somewhat, which I've been meaning to do forever... But, yes on architexas' recs - plus buying bed covers in a color that "blends" with your dog's hair color. My golden retriever only gets cream-orange shades of bedding in an attempt to disguise the hair. In fact, one of them is "marbled" in these colors and works particularly well, while not so attractive :(

Also, if your pet is sensitive to regular bathing (one of mine is) you can buy the dry shampoos, which work better than doing nothing 'bout the smell.

There was a DIY project a little while back on DesignSpongeOnline.com that showed how to make a "hide-a-way" dog crate. Look through the 'Before and After' section of the site. You'll find it no problem!

I don't think that my dog impacts my style at all! First of all, I don't mind the look of a dog bed. You have a dog, and he lives in your house. You have a couch; he has a dog bed. There's nothing to hide, as long as you have a cute dog bed. As for the kennel: just another necessity, like a stove or refrigerator. It's not like you're storing old office equipment in the middle of your living room. As long as it's useful (and dog beds and kennels are certainly useful), it's just a part of your room. As for the other stuff, like drool and fur, just keep cleaning! That's part of the doggie deal. I did notice, however, the photo of your dog climbing the stairs. To the bedrooms? Uh uh. That's where I draw the line. No dog in the bedroom. Also, no dog on the furniture. My furniture looks as good as it did before we got the dog. I love my dog, but I also love having a beautiful home. I'm the alpha (fe)male in my house. :)

Your style shouldn't suffer with a big dog... Your lifestyle will change, but your style shouldn't have to. I'm mainly curious why you would put dog beds all over the place as I would think he would be at home flopping anywhere (though I hope you don't let him on the furniture!).

I have a 110lb, extremely hairy (think 'fro all over) black dog that knows no shedding seasons. Pair that with white floors, etc, and you will understand that when I miss a day of the routine, I have hair everywhere. He has his cage/kennel with a piece of carpet and an old comforter in the bottom. Anywhere else that he chooses to sleep in the house, he does so on the floor.

Perhaps try removing the beds and letting your dog know that his cage/kennel is his place. If you must have something for him to lie on, try an old towel (or two sewn together) that you can easily move, change, and most importantly, launder. Towels will also prove to be handy if you ever go visit someone, because you can easily take them with you and the dog will know immediately that that is his space.

As for the slobber, the removal of throw pillows, and the hair, I think it is something that you'll get used to over time. The slobber and the hair are there to stay, but I think you'll find a routine that you end up falling into. I know I vacuum at least once every two days in the dog's main traffic areas (there are places he isn't invited that he knows not to go into, like bedrooms). With regard to the throw pillows, I think you could probably put them back once you and your new four legged friend get used to one another and establish some ground rules, but consider placing them at the very back of the seating area.

These have all worked for me like a charm. I wish you luck - he looks like a lot of fun.

I wouldn't try to hide the crate if I were you. We have a big crate like yours for our standard poodle (she's skinny but very tall). I tried a few things, and it just made the crate stand out more. Also, it made her not want to go in the crate anymore!

Brushing the dog daily (it only takes a couple minutes) and following it up with a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth. I make a variation on this spray, spray it on a towel, and wipe her. It is very quick, will keep your dog fresh between baths, and get rid of extra dirt.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2125571_make-natural-odor-spray-dog.html

I have an Akita (slightly smaller than yours, he weighs about 130lbs), who is about 11 years old. I admit I've had to dog-ify the house almost like you would for a kid, but nothing too drastic. It's definitely a life change, but they're enough of a reward that I definitely don't mind =)

And to the last poster, my dog sleeps in my room every night. I tried once to keep him outside but he made a racket and I couldn't take listening to him crying at the door for long--it just means extra vacuuming, he usually just curls up in a corner and goes to sleep, and unless you're allergic I don't see why it would be a problem.

If you find a solution to the drooling, let me know =) That's one hurdle I haven't figured out how to cross!

I too have a big lab mix dog (who sheds A LOT) in a home with hardwood floors. I agree with the above in terms of keeping the dog clean and hands down recommend the Furminator as a de-shedding brush...it is a bit pricey, but amazing and well worth it. I've purchased large-stylish outdoor patio furniture cushions to use as dog beds, they have removable covers and are easy to wash. If you can swing it, it is worth purchasing attractive dog beds/bowls/accessories because you'll feel like your home is more put together than overrun by a dog.

The best trick you can teach your dog is "on your spot" so that they will go back to their trendy bed. This is so nice especially when you have people over and the house is packed and to discourage them from getting on your furniture (which they do anyway when you leave.)

Another recommendation is to never purchase a microsuede anything--it holds onto dog hair so much! We switched to a leather sofa which is so much easier to just wipe off. I've had to learn to forgo some of my favorite fabrics because I'd rather have my second choice for bedskirts, furniture, rugs, and such and not spend all my time cleaning. It's a sacrifice, but so worth it!

Beautiful boy! Furminator is your friend. Roomba and Swifer will save your sanity.

Ditto to the furminator and the roomba. On the crate - is it necessary?

Ditto what flavorsplash said. The Dyson is also your friend.

I second the use of a duvet or cover for the dog bed. Our dog beds have machine washable, removable covers, but I stick a fitted sheet on top of that (I double up an old bed sheet) to make it even easier to do laundry. I'll wash the actual bed cover once a month, but the sheets get washed weekly. Sheets also make it easier to coordinate with a room (and with your dog's fur!), as there tend to be more color options. And if you choose a jersey fabric, fur will cling more to the sheet than to a hardwood floor. Our dogs have also been trained to love their beds and go to them, so they happily spend most of their time on there, containing the fur (and dirt and drool).

There are lots of things you can do to reduce shedding and associated dirt, many of which have been suggested already. In addition, I noticed a HUGE decrease in shedding when I changed our dogs' diet from Kibble to raw meat.

I'm considering turning my dog's crate into a kitchen island!

Pets are way more important than decor! They are part of the family! That said, you can still HAVE decor, you just have to think of your WHOLE family when you plan it.

I don't have big dogs, but 2 cats and 2 rabbits almost add up to one! You WILL have fur -- don't let it make you hysterical. Change any clingy fabrics to something harder finished and preferably in a color or pattern that disguises fur. (Slip covers might be a consideration.)

Big door mats for helping walk off outside dirt are a good idea.

A mat or tray under pet food dishes would help.

We have a basket for pet toys that the cats can get into, but that makes one place to gather them when cleaning.

I think one major thing, though, is simply allowing your pets to be what they are, and making the compromises to your otherwise perfect world that you have to in order to co-exist. Pets are messy. If you can't get over that, you shouldn't be a pet owner.

As for pets on the furniture, little cats shed but don't otherwise cause much damage (in my house). Big dogs would be more problematic. Still, I'd rather have furnishings pets are permitted to be on than pristine things they are forbidden to enjoy.

Doggy beds filled w/ cedar shavings will help keep down the doggy smell and as a bonus will help discourage fleas.

@Marianne, congratulations on the new member to your family! And how kind of you to rescue him!!

We adopted two medium sized young adults in the past month, so I feel ya on keeping the home clean and stylish!

My best advice:
- Echo weekly wash
- Echo frequent deshedding with the Furminator
- This minty pet deodorizer works wonders on the dogs and their crates
- This Molly Mutt dog bed duvet with stuff sack has been a stylish, functional addition to our home

Enjoy the pup! @MikeRobert

Washing dog bed covers (and crate bedding) weekly makes a difference with dog odor. Weekly brushing/wipe downs and bathing every second or third week also helps. Wiping off paws at the door will help with mud and dirt in the house. I find that dog saliva is one of the biggest culprits for odour, so if your dog drools a lot, wiping his face and jowls with a wet cloth on a regular basis might help.

I'd also like to suggest designated places for "dog stuff". If I don't keep the dog items contained, I find that they quickly spread all over the house.

I've got a basket (matches the rest of the storage baskets) in the living room for Charley's toys and a series of hooks behind the front door for leashes, jacket, harness, towel etc. There's also a small basket on the landing strip for waste bags and other small necessary dog items (lint brush, clickers, ball for fetch on walks, bitter apple spray). I also keep all of the dog clean up items together in a pail (rags, enzyme cleaner, white vinegar, etc) so everything is close at hand when accidents occur and I'm not frantically searching for something as the mess dries.

I also repackage treats and chews into glass cannisters (the big bags are stored in air tight containers in the basement) and have a basket on top of the fridge for feeding items (bowls, kongs, kibble dispensing toys, etc). Keep the water bowl on a large placement that can be wiped down (or swapped out when dirty) will help as well.

I also feed a partially raw diet (high quality kibble in the am, raw diet in the pm) and found that this improved both dog odour (and gas) and shedding.

-take your dog outside a couple of times a week and give him a good going over with rubber dishwashing cloves. Nothing gets dead hair out faster

-always keep his nails trimmed because overly long nails can be painful to walk on AND they scratch floors

-if you are too busy to exercise him regularly, hire a walker- a tired dog doesn't get into trouble.

-if you are unsure of how to train him properly, then take him to a basic obedience class and ask for help to train him not to go on the furniture.

-vaccuum regularly!

I had an English Mastiff growing up, your photos made me so nostalgic, they are great dogs. I don't have much advise, we had drool ALL OVER the house, including ceilings. I usually had a rag handy to wipe it before he shook his head, but it wasn't always possible.

I have a question -why do people put their dogs in crates? I never saw this growing up, but now I see most people doing this, what is the benefit (I am thinking of getting a dog)

Enjoy your new dog!

do i ever feel your pain... we have had boxers all our life and love them dearly, but the clean up is a pain. we have found a happy medium and here is what we suggest:

- buy all leather furniture if the dogs are allowed on it. we have a couch the dogs are allowed on, and it is leather. you can wipe it off quickly. buy a good quality leather, we had american leather, the couch lasted 10 years.

- any throw pillows/couch blankets, i buy stuff that is washable.

- i buy duvets for the bed that can easily be changed out and washed. so far pottery barn is the most durable. visit an outlet is you live near one, the prices are great.

- we just sweep up like it is part of our routine. do the dishes, do a 5 minute sweep. we have a dyson and love it as well.

- our first boxer ate grocery store food, and shed a ton. our second boxer has a sensitive tummy/allergies and has to be raw fed. but he barely sheds. i often wonder if and how diet plays in to shedding.

- i see a lady at the dog park brush her dog, outside the gate for 5 minutes before they leave. good idea. i bet that helps a lot if you have a dog with longer hair.

- i noticed some brand of dog beds pick up the dog smell, the dog beds from hunting or outdoor places seem to not hold the smell, although i love the cotton foo-foo ones at the fancy dog store. one thing we bought our dog as a lambs skin (like they sell at ikea) and he LOVES it. they are washable, but it never picks up the dog smell, i only wash them 2-3 times a year. i don't know why they don't pick up dog smell, it is amazing.

good luck, that's a big dog you have.

Marianne - your home is lovely and you are AWESOME for rescuing that big boy. He's adorable!

Another vote for a Furminator - best thirty bucks I've ever spent (Amazon). We use it daily on our German Shepherd mix pup and she sheds MUCH less in the house because of it.

I also don't know how I lived so long without my Dyson. During shedding season, I vacuum 3-4 days a week.

Frequent baths are fine for most dogs IF you use the right shampoo. From the better pet stores, not the supermarket.

In the family room, we have a sofa and our dog has her own (bigger) sofa (covered with a king-sized bedspread). She has a toddler-sized bed in the bedroom. She isn't allowed, and doesn't even want to be, on our furniture at all.

A house without a dog isn't a home to me. :)

Crates keep a dog under control while they are being housebroken, learning the rhythms of a new home and when they are recuperating from stress or injury. A crate utilizes the dog's natural denning instinct to prevent it from soiling inside the house, prevents chewing puppies from getting at dangerous/valuable objects and also provides a refuge when the dog wants to get away from it all. When you travel with your dog, a crate is a "home away from home".

Crating dogs requires common sense. For young puppies, the time spent in the crate should only be their age in months plus 1 hour for a good rule of thumb. Therefore, a 2 month old puppy can spend 3 hours in a crate. Adult dogs can spend more time in crates, but my policy is that they are allowed the run of the house once they know the rules.

Hi there! We have not one but two English mastiffs -- and they're both long-haired! (I'm one of the Shelterrific.com editors and I've written about them before; they're known as "fluffy mastiffs" and were both rescues.) We don't have a huge home because we moved to Seattle three years ago, where houses are expensive! Luckily, we have a decent sized yard and big dogs (our boy is 185 and our girl is 125) do a lot of sleeping! They do love to be in the kitchen when we're cooking though, go figure. Mastiffs are sweetest!! Excellent choice! So here's my advice after six years:

1) No matte finishes. You want paint that you can use a damp rag on to wipe off drool.
2) Have a cleaning schedule. We literally have "spit patrol" on our schedule three times a week (though sometimes we do it less). We just walk around the house and look for drool spots we didn't catch earlier. Our dogs love to eat, then shake. Oy.
3) Have a box dedicated to "dog towels." Keep a towel handy when you're sitting down. Our bigger dog, Sofa, loves to drink, then come lay his head in our laps. Towels are a must.
4) Easy to clean surfaces. We have a glass coffee table; much easier to clean off.
5) Dust cloths. One thing I didn't anticipate was how much dust our dogs bring in on their coats. We just have to dust a little more than we used to.
6) If you have a rainy season, have a lot of floor mats. We got several from IKEA that weren't too expensive. It's a lot easier than having to mop the floors constantly.
7) Try to feed your dog somewhere that's not in the main flow of traffic. There's just no way for a drooly dog to eat tidily. We are looking forward to finishing our basement so we have an area to feed them down there.
8) Leather and vinyl surfaces! We have a leather couch and chair in our living room. It's just easier to clean.
9) Bedding that you can wash, even the bedspread. Our dogs love to come over and put their jowls on the side of the bed to wake us up in the morning.

And mainly, just relax. When our newfy passed away several years ago, we made a vow that we would 1) never get a dog we couldn't lift and 2) never get a male dog who would drool. Now we have a 185-pound dog who drools constantly. Totally used to it. You know why? Because they are completely awesome!!!! Give your dog a big, slobbery kiss for me.
- Mary T.

P.S. Heavy duty toys! Recommend Jolly Balls for the yard and wubbas for water retrieval. They love them!

Rescuing an animal and providing him/her with a good safe home is SO much more important than a clean house. Thank you for sharing your home and love with an animal in need.

anapanda,

Our crate was initially used for training purposes. Dogs don't typically soil their crates (where they sleep), so they learn to urinate and defecate outside rather than in the house. Once our dog was house trained, he was crated at night and while we were out of the house.

My husband, like you, had never used a crate for his dogs, so he didn't get it. But he's been coverted. Our dog is now an adult, and we couldn't take away his crate if we wanted to. He LOVES his crate. And we stopped crating him as soon as we knew he wasn't going to chew up our house or pee on the rugs. We just keep the door open for him and he makes his way in there several times a day. (I think that dogs must like cozy spaces.)

One other thing on the weekly washing: if the pup develops dry skin, fish oil tablets can help with that, as can conditioning dog shampoos. We've recently had to put my (nonstop shedding black lab) on fish oil because he's developed dry skin, even though we don't bathe him weekly. It's made a HUGE difference, and he doesn't scratch at the dry spots anymore. They're the same fish oil capsules you buy for humans, and most dogs will eat them without having to be bribed.

a lot of good points here. I do highly recommend that you get a rubber grooming brush for your dog. These work wonderfully on the short hair that labs and mastiffs have. They are frequently used at dog salons.

http://www.petedge.com/product/Kong-Zoom-Groom-Natural-Rubber-Pet-Grooming-Brush/44216.uts

We have two american bulldogs that shed alot (no drool however).

1.I would echo....wipe the paws at the door.
2. Furniture- Our pets are not allowed to so much as put a paw on the furniture. They have their own furniture, but honestly, prefer the floor. Rug works just fine if you don't mind vacuuming or an old blanket. Easy to wash and remove when company comes. Bottom line, if you never let him get on the furniture you never when you're there, he'll find other favorite spots. Give him his space in every room he's allowed in and you take yours. He'll adapt...If he doesn't know what he's missing. Then, I don't think he is likely to do it when you leave. My dog tried it once, she was reprimanded and has not done it since.
3. Have a designated mud room with un-carpeted floors you can use as a holding room--A place you can have them go to to dry off. Most of the time if they get a little muddy you can just wipe them down leave them in the mud room and they'll be fine in a few hours.
4. Nix the cage. Our kennels are strictly for when we go out of town and are concerned about them being out for too long with no supervision until the dog sitter comes. We fold them up and store them until it is time to go.
5. Destruction. When they were little we would 1) let them know that we were not playing tug of war by telling them to "drop it." 2) just take whatever they had of ours and let them know it was a "Don't" and 3) give them something in their mouth that was comparable. (soft for a soft, etc). Eventually they learned the difference between ours and theirs. But keep LOTS of variety. Find a place to store his stuff where he can get to it and switch it up. Try Kongs.

Congrats on adopting your new dog. He is really beautiful and you have done a good thing by saving a life!

Here is a blog entry on this topic:

http://blog.k9cuisine.com/pet-care-and-tips/pet-friendly-decorating/

Don't know what your story is on throw pillows, but our dog used to steal them off the couches and then suck on them. (yes its weird...I guess its a comfort/nursing thing) We decided just to buy a throw pillow just for her and she stopped stealing ours. It does get pretty gross and gets replaced bi-annually, but the cheap-o pillow than the nice ones.

Thank you all so much for the feedback and suggestions!

My husband and I are seriously considering a rhoomba, and the feedback seems to be that it would be worth it. Also, we've just invested in a furminator, and are starting to stock up on drool rags.

Beemart and lowbrow- thank you for pointing us to that tutorial! While our crate is far too large for a desk (it stands about 48" tall), I like the idea of using it as a high table. Then I'd have a nice work surface in my studio to stand at :)

Creative License – that’s true. His stuff is functional and as such are getting incorporated into our décor without a second thought. I’m just looking for ways to actually INCORPORATE them instead of having them stick out so much. I like the idea of making custom slip covers for the beds – functional AND pretty, right? As far as going up the stairs, we have four floors, so he’s headed to see my husband in the office. We also have a pretty big master suite, so he gets to come up to the sitting area, but isn’t allowed in the closet, bathroom, or on bed.

One of Steve’s best qualities is that he came so well trained! He walks very nicely on the leash, is the big goofball at dog parks, doesn’t get on the furniture, and he actually likes his crate most of the time. As far as questions concerning the crate in general, we usually just leave it open when we're home and he goes in there to sleep when he's bored. It's like his little safety spot, and it has a nice cushy dog bed inside that he loves. When we go to bed at night, we say "crate steve!" and he jogs right in to settle down... and usually doesn't want to get out in the morning! We're some of the lucky dog owners who have a dog who wants to sleep in more than they do :)

He also loooooveeessssss getting a shower. If we’re not careful he tries to climb in with us every morning! In that vein, does anyone have a doggy shampoo they swear by that we can get?

SherryBin - I've lived with dogs before, and love Steve as much as anyone could. In fact we have 2 cats, a French Angora Rabbit, and this new dog, and in case there’s any question about my devotion to animals, I’ve worked at vet offices and got a minor in pre-vet science while I was in college. I'm fully prepared and willing to change my lifestyle for our animals, so please know that and don’t get on the defensive about my question. I'm just looking for creative hints people might have, because my personal style is definately changing a little to fit his needs.

Mikrama - I'm definately taking our brushes to the dog park tomorrow. I also have a few Ikea lambskins. While they're much to small for a dog who can top 180-200lbs, maybe I could sew them together for him! Thanks for the idea.

MaryTS - He never puts down his Wubba!!

To everyone else – thanks again for your hints! I’m going to try them all :)

ps - lhall - love the idea of nice baskets for his stuff and transfering his treats to glass canisters.

There are a lot of good looking, dare I say stylish, dog beds out there.

We have 2 dog beds in our house, one from Crypton in a cool William Wegman fabric, it looks great and cleans beautifully: http://www.cryptonfabric.com/pet-beds/cat-dog-beds.do

The only negative is the insert that comes with the cover, it's very puffy and our dog hated it, so we had a local foam shop make us an insert of orthopedic foam.

Here is our guy on his crypton bed: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29500172@N08/4595734151/

The other bed is from a bay area shop called George that sells pretty spiffy looking beds too: http://georgesf.com/s/shopdisplayproducts.asp?subcat=1&cat=beds

Enjoy your beautiful new companion!

Ten years of multi-big-dog household: hemp covers for the dogs beds are SO great. They wear like iron, they resist moldy/damp doggy smell (our climate is humid in both summer and winter). If you can get Kapok filling it is worth its weight in gold --aka you can rinse it, it airdries very quickly, it's bug repellantish and retains its good smell for years!

I know other big dog owners who have gotten kapok-filled yoga mats and have been thrilled with them.

Drool: I have one of those T mops that I use with whatever I have recently cut up as rags to do the daily (or, in the summer a few times daily) drool mop-up. While I sweep, I soak the rags in white vinegar, mop the floor with those, then quick remop/rinse with very hot water. I also always add white vinegar to the dog wash.

Not sure what your options are with mopping wood floors- I've got tile.

Go Big Dogs. And Little Dogs :)

I adopted a 9 week old puppy that was supposed to be a medium-sized Beagle mix. Instead he's a Great Dane/Lab. I think there is a period of adjustment for owners of large dogs. Once my dog (finally) stopped growing, I had to adjust to his size in relation to my small living space -- the fact that he's the same height as my kitchen counters and dinner table was the biggest challenge. After some time, and especially the more I fell in love with him, he doesn't seem so huge anymore and either my standards have changed or he's so much a part of my life that I don't notice his massive crate anymore. But cleaning, cleaning, cleaning is definitely key.

Congrats on your new addition! And adopting an adult dog is great - they're so much easier than puppies.

I have a cat and 2 German Shepherds (ahem German Shedders) in 700 sq ft. I echo many of the sentiments above. Furminator is a godsend. I use a dyson which gets so much dirt/hair out of everything it's scary.

Flor tiles are your friend for the occassional accident or even general wear-and-tear (really easy to pull one up to clean, and you can move the tiles around and replace individual tiles as necessary).

For their entertainment I keep rotating their toys to keep them interested. They destroy many stuffed toys but for some reason they don't destroy (but LOVE) skineez (sp?), I buy them on overstock.com which is way cheaper than in stores.

Mostly, relax! I let my dogs go everywhere and on everything - they live in the house too.

If I'm taking them out of town for a couple of days, one of the last things I do when I leave is Fabreze the place (not their beds), that seems to help. Cooling beds are great in summer, keeps them off the tiles and is better for elbow ouchis.

Lots of great advice! Our amazingly well behaved rescued lab-chow pup (now 6 years old - his wild days well behind him) gets a good brushing every week. Whenever I vacuum the house (HEPA filter a must) I then immediately take him outside & we spend some quality time with a brush. He tolerates it pretty well because he knows a great treat will follow. He's exceptionally clean otherwise & we only take him to a groomer once every three-four months or so. & one super adorable quality of his - I always wipe his paws when he enters our home after a walk if it’s wet or still raining outside (a frequent occurrence in Seattle). He actually expects me to do that now so every time we get inside & he knows his paws are wet he'll just patiently sit & wait for me to wipe his paws. He'll even lift them for me! (ok... I have to ask him to do it & it only works with front paws)...
Can you tell I am a proud pup lover? :-) Here is our kitty identified pup (oh yeah, he totally thinks he's a cat!):

http://craftscafe.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/throw-pillows/img_1289-jpg/

Best of luck with your adorable new family member!

& I use the furminator occasionally but definitely caution against overdoing, especially when you're new to this device!

I have a friend who had custom slipcovers made to fit over her dog crates. Now they coordinate with the upholstery and function as large side tables in her living room, you practically don't even notice they are in there.

I'm sorry someone has fooled you into thinking you've adopted a dog.

Having been around a mastiff, that's no dog, that's a slobber factory :-)

Good luck and pray he never decides to shake his head.

craftscafeonetsy,

What happens when you "overdo" the furminator?

I adopted a dog that gained another forty pounds after they told me he was full grown.
-He has his own beds in the living room and the bedroom (one from molly mutt as they are fairly stylish).
- While he doesn't get on the furniture when I'm home he's there as soon as I leave so we have a throw for one couch that he will sleep on all day.
- I swear by the Pledge Fabric Sweeper - really easy and the best thing I've found so far.
- My dog has pretty severe anxiety and it manifested as him chewing pillows and books when I first got him. When I replaced throw pillows I bought a few extra covers so I wouldn't have the problem of not being able to find them if the chewed again.
- We have a strict wipe your paw at the door policy and over the last three years he has learned to give me his front paws and then turn around to give me his back paws to be wiped at the door.
- When it rains I keep a towel on the porch and then one inside and he's learned to "dry" himself off once we get inside on the towel instead of the rug.
- I have hardwood floors and for an area rug I wanted black and white and so I bought FLOR tiles and got a few extra in case of any accidents.
- We used to have a crate (it just got to be too big to have that and his place/bed in a small living room) and I found a pattern for a crate cover and my mom sewed him a custom cover.
- When he was a puppy I went through a lot of stuffed toys. He doesn't care as much about those anymore and now we only buy toys that food comes out of - he gets exercise, uses his brain and then is tired and sleeps. I love the Nina Ottosson dog puzzles - pricey but worth it.
- In between professional grooming we go to a self-service dog wash. Its cheaper than the groomers and you don't have to clean up the mess.

I don't recommend the furminator for short-haired dogs - not only is it really expensive it doesn't do much for a short coat and I feel like it can be too hard on their skin - I like to use the rubber oval ones that you can find at the pet store. Regular baths gets rid of a lot of loose hair too.

I agree with the vacuuming and regular washing of bed covers. Lots of exercise will keep him sane. For me muddy paws put me over the edge - towel at the door works as does a wet swifter for the floors for a quick clean-up.

oh and I recommend a good quality oatmeal shampoo

i'm the "mom" to three rescues: a great pyrenees, a white golden retriever/aussie mix and an orange cat. they are ALL shedding machines!

i love having a nice home, but everything is replaceable; i love my pets soooo much more than any single belonging. that being said, these are my tools:

1. broom to sweep all the dirt and fur
2. shop-vac to vacuum the PILES of dirt and fur (yes, the shop-vac is the best!)
3. bona wood cleaner kit - amazing with drool spots!

ALL of the floors in my house are wood or concrete. NO rugs, except a utility type mat at the back door for muddy paws. i ALWAYS look for materials that are machine washable. dog beds are a MUST - grey ones to match my style:)

congratulations on the addition to your family!

Creative- if you "overdo" the furminator, you can literally brush your pet bald! Our kitties LOVE their furminator, and in the beginning, we didn't realize how effective it was, and brushed one of them to a very thin coat (you could see his skin in a few places). A call to the vet assured us that he'd be okay, and now we are very careful to furminate often, but lightly. (They are addicted to the feeling, we think.)

I second the readers who taught their dog to sit. I used the same technique with my lab- a few rag towels rotated by the front door. The command was "Foot, foot" and he'd lift his foot. You wipe the foot, and in the house he goes.

Finally, perhaps a quick Swiffer each night could help with the floor issue? I also recommend the Bissell Pet Eraser vacuum attachments- you don't need the full vacuum- the attachments are about $30 at Best Buy. Those saved my sanity, and I haven't found anything that works better.

BTW, I had to laugh at the statement about the shower. I have a cat like that. I usually scoot him out while I'm showering, but the second I get out, he's in the tub, splashing and will even go put his paws in the spray. He's a very weird cat.

Bee T - I know, it's too funny! You should have seen my face the first time I turned around from rinsing my face and saw a 150lb soaking wet dog looking up at me! :)

For everyone who suggested the Pledge pet hair thing - I'm getting that as soon as the stores open tomorrow! It looks too good to be true, but I trust your advice!

And thorndale - I'm going to be on the hunt for a nice old oriental rug for him to camp out on with his chew toys or food.

Thanks for the info on the furminator. I don't have one, but I want one after reading these comments. On the other hand..... I don't want a bald dog!!! So I'm hoping that if I limit it to once a week and brush gently, it should be okay?

we have an absolutely adorable 50 lb mutt who loves to carry pillows around etc. and what i have found really useful is to use indoor/outdoor pillows for decorative pillows. i got some from crate and barrel that are really cute and they hold up a bit better than your standard throw pillow and they wipe off pretty easily! i know she isn't exactly a mastiff, but my fluffy black pup certainly sheds! i try and furminate her as much as possible!

Here are a couple of things that work for me. Even though you have just one dog, place a few dog beds around the house. Generally, the dogs I have had like to be in the room where I am and they have always liked using dog beds (they seem to like having a designated place to settle). The cleaning advantage is that by settling on a dog bed in various areas of the house, less dirt, oil, and hair gets on the area rugs, carpet, etc.

Also, I have a dog door with an attached dog-mud-room (it looks like a dog house on the deck, attached to the house - it cuts down on the heat loss from having a dog-door here in Alaska - and the dog door can't be seen from the outside of my house, which is good for security purposes). In the dog-house-mud-room is a heavily textured rug. There are also two rugs in the house, next to the dog door. As the dogs enter the house through the mud room, it seems like the rugs kind of help clean their paws. By far the greatest share of the dirt from their paws ends up on those rugs as they enter the house, rather than all over the room. Of course, if their feet are really muddy, I still have to clean them at the door.

P.S. What a great dog!

@jfl -- I've just gotta say that both your loft and your big blond boy are gorgeous. The long white drape on the wall almost looks like a Tord Boontje creation. Is it?

My entry into the big dog sweepstakes is a lifelong quest to own a dogue de bordeaux (French mastiff). It'll have to wait until I live in something larger than a studio, though.

I also want a capybara, but that's another story.

Oh yeah I would have had a nervous breakdown if not for my roomba. We have 3 cats (one long hair), 2 kids under 8, and 2 Labs. Who SHED like no other. I bought a pet Roomba, and now I just turn it on when I go out, and come home to WAAAAAAY less hair. It even goes under furniture, so it's basically a God send. I also use my Swiffer a lot.

Once every few days I take our dogs out to the yard and give them a good brushing with the furminator. Also, I wipe their paws after a walk, especially if it's been mucky out.

I trained our dogs to NOT TOUCH throw pillows and the like. I put a pretty basket in the living room with toys they're allowed to have, and they usually just go for those. When we see them on furniture that's off limits, they get sprayed with a water bottle. Though, I am SURE they still creep on them when we're not home!

I got basic stainless steel bowls, about half a dozen of them, for food & water. They blend pretty well into the kitchen. I also sewed up a mat to go under them, that matches our kitchen towels. Our dogs no longer go in kennels, either. Not that we have anything against crates, but we don't really see the need to put them in one. When our Chocolate Lab was a pup, she was in one for a bit. I sewed up a cover for it, that just covered the sides and top. That way, she felt comfortable because she knew what was behind her and in front. And, used fabric that looked nice with our den's decor.

We got a sofa that is like a chenille, chocolate brown. When fur sticks to it, I put on a rubber glove, misti t with water, and in one direction, rub it over the sofa. The hair pills up and you can pick up hairballs of it super easy after that.

Make sure closets are closed at all times so your clothes dont get covered with hair, though I don't think Mastiffs shed TOO much.

You can also find fabulous home decor weight fabrics that wear well, and make slipcovers for all those dog beds. I mean, since you have them anyways, why not have them as pretty as possible?

CONGRATS on rescuing your dog. Both of our dogs were adopted. ONe of our girls came from a puppy mill and was in rough shape, but with some TLS she is AWESOME. It's so rewarding, because I firmly believe they recognize what you did for them.

uh with some TLC she is awesome. Ah, I need a coffee.

oh and about those pledge hair things- they're designed to be disposable... which is a big eco no-no. BUT here's a secret... take it apart, rinse it, let it dry, reassemble...and you can get quite a few uses from it.

i forgot! We also bought a Little Green spot cleaner. Um, can you say lifesaver???? Its small enough its SUPER handy for spots on furniture, the occasional "Accident" on rugs, carpets, etc. I use mine at least a few times a week.

We have two big dogs and to avoid having them laying on the rug in the living room all day and getting it furry/dirty, we placed two thin mat-type dog beds on our rug that blend in with the colors of the rug. Then we just wash them every two weeks when they get really furry. This way we don't have to carry furry beds upstairs to the bedroom, and they match the decor so they are hardly noticeable. Plus, the dogs love their little spot. Even if we are washing the beds, they are lying in the precise spot their beds usually live!

And these brooms are the BEST for fur: http://www.amazon.com/Sweepa-Deluxe-Rubber-Evriholder-Products/dp/B000RFDAQE

Mastiffs are such wonderful dogs! Congrats!

I have two dogs. One large and one small and I grew up with labs and a Newfoundland (drool? hair? Let's TALK about drool and hair!)

Here's what has worked:
- vacuuming is a must however careful with a Roomba, we had one and the dog attacked it until it was "dead"
- keep dog nails short to keep from scratching floors and holes in upholstered items minimal (if you can hear then tap, it's time for a trim)
- leopard print hides ALL dirt, hair, coffee spills, it's amazing and kind of chic as a throw on the sofa
- slipcovers (Ikea Ektorp in bleking white is easiest to keep clean and is ridiculously cheap). In fact, our large dog has her own Ektorp chair (dog beds? pah.) We just keep washing the slipcover and when it gets really grey after about a year, we buy a new one.
- washable coverlets on the beds (our dogs are allowed up with their pack -- us)
- painted plywood on top of crate and using it for attractive storage (blankets, plants, books)
- for drool? buy/sew pretty napkins and keep them in a box next to everywhere. Not only is this good as a drool rag when you need it, but it's good for messy humans
- if you don't have a washer/dryer, get one. The best way to keep your house clean is to do laundry

And although my girls have the run of our house, we are often complimented on how stylish it is. So it IS possible.

To start, your dog is so cute!

To answer, in a word....we don't. Not very well, that is! We have a black lab/husky/greyhound mix and she sheds like crazy. We also have two cats (one is black) who contribute to the hair problem. And they scratch.

We do have a Furminator, which always seems to be a popular tip. In the end, I think it's just comes down to keeping on top of cleaning, simple as that.

I do look forward to reading through these comments. I have 5 months pregnant and my nesting instinct is kicking in hard core, so I am stressing more than usual about the fur coating!

For shampoo and other grooming essentials, we use Earthbath: http://www.earthbath.com/index.php

We have a Saint Bernard and an English bulldog, so there is a lot of stinky dog smell in our house. We're very particular about the products we use on their skin and in their bodies (food is a very important part of keeping them healthy inside and our and your decor and home (and guests) will thank you for feeding great food.) Earthbath is natural, environmentally safe, and works great. We love the tea tree shampoo for our very smelly, oily bulldog (who, as with most bulldogs, has sensitive skin) and the oatmeal for our Saint Bernard (who tends to have itchy hot spots at certain times during the year.)

Nupro supplement also helps regulate their insides to help the outside smell good and stay clean. We use the silver label, because it has joint support built in. Mix it with water into dry food, and it makes a liver flavored gravy. I am the go-to guru for our rescue friends and through some rescue networks, and every dog I've ever suggested use Nupro has done great on it and loves the taste.

I second the Ikea Ektorp comment--the white is easy to clean, cheap, and replaceable without a whole lot of expense.

We do booger patrol twice a week (we should do it more, but frankly, who has that much time?!) We walk around with a wet rag (and a little Method multipurpose spray for stubborn spots) and wipe down any boogery drool we find on the walls and surfaces. My folks used to make my sister and I wipe our Saint Bernard's face in high school (a different Saint than the one I have now), each and every time she would drink, but I cannot be bothered to do that every time. If I'm right nearby, sure, I'll wipe him up, but frankly, if you come to my house unannounced and see drool all over my floor, tough. I have a Saint Bernard and that's just how life is in our house. :)

As for crates, not only do they assist in training, but they also can serve as your dog's "room". Dogs need the closeness that comes from pack living, and the crate symbolizes the pack closeness. We don't always have our crates up, because our boys have their own cubbies designed through furniture placement (the Saint has his bed between the end of a loveseat and a cabinet and the bulldog likes it under the coffee table) which they prefer and that's find by us. Some dogs need crates, others benefit from them, but don't necessarily need them for comfort. Just depends on the dog.

Also, for hair on furniture, a simple rubber glove will help take off quite a lot. I bought that Pledge pet hair grabber thingamabob (the blue thing with the grey carpet wheels) and it barely got up any of the bulldog's coarse hair from the sofa. So, $5 later, I went back to my cheapie cheap rubber gloves (some people like big yellow kitchen gloves, I prefer disposable latex or something similar because I'm lazy and I don't like cleaning off my gloves.)

One other thing to watch with decor with a big dog is tchotchke placement. My sister was watching our dogs for the weekend, and when we showed up at her place, she had a lit candle on her TV console. Instinctively, I removed it and put it up on a high counter. Saint Bernard tails are big, fluffy brooms that sweep everything on a 3 1/2 foot tall surface or lower to the floor. You'll get used to looking out for stuff like this, but it is something to consider when you're working on decorating certain lower pieces of furniture. Our coffee table usually has a book or magazine on it, but never something fragile because though it would be intentional on his part, our Saint would just knock whatever it is to the floor. And then the bulldog would go leaping across the room like a hairy shark to pounce on whatever fell and try to eat it. :)

I feel you on the dust. I live in a tiny home and I am a sucker for animals. We own five dogs; while I haven't had a chance to switch to leather furniture yet, its just a lot of REGULAR vacuuming.

Regarding bathing ----- I use baby shampoo...its water based so it doesn't dry out the skin as bad and it smells good!!!

Regarding crates.....while all my dogs are crate trained only 1 stays in a crate during the day, and two of them stay in the bedroom all day. I first used them for training purposes---especially for puppies. You don't want them getting into trouble every time you come home. My one dog that stays in a crate does so because he can't seem to grasp not chewing up my sheets on my bed or pillows on the couch. The two that stay in the bedroom just don't behave when they are out in the house alone. And the other two will chew their way out of the bedroom. So I think it just depends on the dog and whether or not you want to take the chance on having your things destroyed.

i also have an english mastiff who comes in at 200lbs, so i understand the large crate issue. i live in a tight space and the only place i can squeeze his crate is between the living room and dining room. i've come to terms with the fact that his crate is far too large to disguise. the best i've done with it is cover the sides and top with a black and white damask print curtain. it doesn't cover the front door so that he can go to bed whenever he pleases, and is far more attractive than a wire cage sitting in my house. if you came up with a better solution, please do share!!!

I'm happy I came across this thread. Lots of good suggestions for the challenges we face as mastiff owners! I'm going to implement several of these once we move into our new home...much easier to establish new habits in a new place. Thanks to all who contributed!

I do have an additional challenge, however. Our 100 lb Cane Corso -an italian mastiff- started having grand mal seizures earlier this year. Once the earthquake is over, we are left with a murder scene... imagine urine, soft stool, and thick frothy bile all mixed up as he thrashes about (sorry for being graphic but it's the reality). He is on a medication that has reduced the frequency and intensity of the seizures, but they still happen without warning. I know most dogs go through a pre-ictal phase before a seizure, but we have not been able to notice any signs so that we can prepare.

He really is a fantastic and impressive dog, and otherwise I have only positive things to say about him. I highly recommend the breed (to experienced dog owners due to their strong personalities) and I wouldn't trade him for the world. After reading this thread and seeing some suggestions for the more normal mastiff "issues" like drooling, I started to wonder if anyone would have some suggestions for our additional challenges. Maybe someone has been through this before. I thought about seeing if it is possible to train him to recognize when he was about to seize, and go to a designated safe place, protecting both his body and our house. If dogs can be trained to recognize when humans are going to have a seizure, they should be able to notice their own symptoms too, right?

I just realized this thread it over 2 years old, but if anyone has any thoughts, please share them!

Thank you :)

Hi Amichelle, not sure if you'll get this but I felt I might be able to comment on some higher level dog care than most. It does not rise to the level of what you are dealing with, but I've had animals with incontinence and bowel issues (one had partial paralysis so our little guy wasn't really aware of what was going on the bottom end of things).

I don't know if you can train a dog to sense the coming of his own altered state, but possible another trained animal companion could guide him. I realize it sounds absurd to mention a second animal while dealing with the health and hygiene concerns of one already, so I just mention it off hand.

As far as things that have helped me stay a little sane, (I've now got a cat that has anxiety and bladder irritation, as well as muddy, leaky, and puking dogs) it tends to involve waterproofing and washable covers for most everything. I'm sure most of this, you're doing already, but I am surprised sometimes how long I can go before thinking of a way to make things easier.

I found a great thin waterproof mattress cover, It's terry cloth on one side, and thin flexible polyurethane on the other. Apparently called Sleep Tite by Malouf. It looked unimpressive upon arrival but once on, it feels like it's not there at all. So now I have two, for 24/7 protection. And the thing is so much cheaper than the padded types which I would regret having to wash when the pee or puke fest inevitably occurs. I wish my couch was swaddled in this.

I also use a few of these things called waterproof sheet protectors. I have a Priva set, and a couple of generics. They're for incontinent people, so the sizing is not bad for a large dog. I'll throw it down on a dog bed or under a blanket to prevent accidents from seeping They wash up easily with a cotton top, and I suppose they are designed for the messes you'll likely put them through.

Also a carpet cleaner is almost mandatory if there's carpet to clean. I like to use vinegar instead of detergent solutions for cleaning carpets since it doesn't leave a residue to attract more dirt and grime. Also, enzymatic treatments do work well for lingering odors. I cannot stand strong fragrances so I've searched for unscented products. I'm currently using a powdered concentrate I found on amazon and it has diminished a surprise spot my cat has been abusing. One more treatment and I think it will pass my nose buried-in-carpet test.

If you have a lot of carpeting, I would even go so far as to lay down some protective floor
mats. Plastic, those interlocking foam mats, whatever might minimize the soaking of fluids during his seizures.

Good luck, I know how draining it can all get even when you love them enough to keep going.

To keep your dog clean and happy try Dogtails - Natural dog shampoo. Free shipping on orders $50 or more.

Here is a link:
http://www.dogtailsshop.com/products/dogtails-wash