Living in a condo is ideal for pet lovers like yourself. The condo community offers a safe and secure, healthful and charming environment for your furry friends. Keeping pets in your condo entails bigger responsibilities. No good neighbor would want to annoy his fellow neighbors, especially about something concerning their lovable furry pals.
Know how to manage your condo pets to ensure a harmonious community living. Here are some tips for you.
Know the house rules and regulations on pets
The Homeowner's Manual is your bible on community rules and regulations. All residents are required to register their pets with the Property Management Office. Due to limited square footage in condo spaces, pets may be restricted to small dogs, cats, birds and aquarium fishes only. Exotic pets might have meager chances to be allowed.
To guarantee that all pets are well-managed, there are limits on their quantity and size. Every household is limited to 1 aquarium with a maximum size of 40 gallons and only one cage; for birds, the maximum size is one cubic meter. For dogs and cats, you can keep a maximum of 2 with each pet weighing 25 lbs or less. Fully grown dogs and cats must stand 15 inches or less standing on their feet.
Get your furry friends vaccinated
Vaccination is not optional. It's mandatory whether you live in a condo or an apartment. It's for everyone's protection, including your pets. The DMCI Property Manager will require you to submit a written certification from a licensed veterinarian. The inoculation is at your expense.
There are two types of vaccines for pets: the core vaccines and the non-core vaccines. The core vaccines, as the term implies, are the basic and vital inoculations. For dogs, these include vaccines for rabies, distemper, canine parvovirus, and canine hepatitis. For cats, these are those against rabies, distemper, feline calicivirus, and feline herpesvirus type I.
The non-core vaccines are those recommended based on your pet's lifestyle. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira bacteria for dogs. For cats, these are protections against feline leukemia virus, Bordetella, Chlamydophila felis, and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Keep your pets inside your condo home
You have dominion over every corner of your indoor space. But the hallways and common areas are subject to condo restrictions. Keep your pets inside your unit. They are discouraged to roam free whether or not they're friendly or fully vaccinated. As a responsible pet parent, you know the risks this may have on your pet, and to other residents who are not comfortable with having pets roaming freely around the neighborhood.
Never let your pets become a nuisance
As a pet owner, you're obliged to know how to discipline your condo pet. You know all too well that there will be uncontrolled instances where pets can become a nuisance to others. A responsible pet parent would know how to avoid this.
When does a pet become a nuisance? When it exhibits unruly, aggressive or dangerous behavior that causes injuries to people or other pets or property damage. It's also considered a nuisance when it makes noise continuously for 10 minutes or intermittently for 2 hours to anybody's disturbance at any time of day or night. You should be able to detect if your pet is under any distress, and know how to address its predicament. Bring your pet to a vet regularly to make sure it's in good health.
Cleanliness is a common rule in all places, especially in an exclusive community like your condo. Your pets may be allowed to walk around the community every now and then, provided that they are held on a leash, and that you clean after them, Your pet will never be regarded as a nuisance if you know how to keep them properly groomed and happy at all times.
Etiquette in common areas
According to studies, dog owners may get more exercise and other health benefits than their peers with no pets. They walk faster and for longer periods of time and are less likely to be obese. Aspire to walk your dog as often as possible. However, take note of rules and regulations when taking your pet outside your home.
Always use the designated pet elevators provided in your community. Using the stairs is encouraged for mid-rise communities, which can be a great exercise for your pets, and for you as well.
Introduce your dogs to other dogs in a neutral environment to avoid any untoward interaction between them. There is less chance of disturbance in common areas such as the open lawn if dogs don't feel the need to protect their territory.
When you're not at home
You don't have control over your pet dog when you're out, so it's important to train it not to bark when it senses friendly foot traffic outside. Teach your dog to identify positive association with your neighbors. You can do this by asking your neighbor to pass by your door several times then tell your dog to “leave it” or any other similar command. Use reinforcement by immediately rewarding your pet with a treat after the exercise. You may need to do the training for 10 to 15 minutes for several days.
Consider installing smart cameras in your condo home to allow you to monitor your pets wherever you may be. You can link the camera to your smartphone, tablet or laptop for live feeds.
Living with a pet is good for your physical and mental health. A furry companion can help you reduce stress and better manage anxiety and depression. For some people, pets offer a special type of friendship that humans couldn't provide. Bring your loved furry friends into your condo home.