If there's something we can agree on is the importance of keeping a tidy and healthy house. Also, we love our animal companions. We've compiled this pet-friendly list of suggestions to prevent the fur and dirt from encroaching on your house.

• Regular grooming. One of the main pet owners' complaints is the hair, the tangled clumps that swoop across the floorboards, or on the upholstered couch, which was once white but has now become whatever color the dog has. Regular grooming can reduce sheds significantly. There is no need to visit an expert groomer; you can simply do a quick brushing every few times throughout the week. It can be a great way to bond with your pet and can help strengthen the connection. If you are able, brush outside in order to eliminate skin particles in your home that may cause allergies. Regular bathing is essential in reducing smells of "dog stink." Clean dogs are a vital part of the home that is kept clean by a dog!

• Clean up paws that are muddy before they enter the house. Make sure you have an extra towel and perhaps a small tub of water by the doorway to clean the paws when your dog comes into the house from the backyard or from a recent walk.

• Exercise your dog regularly. Don't be lazy with your walks. A bored dog can be an animal that is destructive. You can take your dog for frequent walks (or runs according to your dog's breed). Provide them with enrichment toys when they're at the house or out in the yard for them to focus their attention on their enjoyable activities, i.e., not taking the stuffing from the bulbs or pillows from the garden.

• Put a placemat on the dish your pet eats in. It is best to choose a placemat that will be easily cleaned by using soap and water or a rug or mat that you can toss into the washing machine with a load of clean towels every other week. This can help minimize the risk of spills of water and food. Since we're talking about this, make sure you use stainless steel or non-porous silicone dishes and food bowls for your pet's food. Materials with pores, like plastics, could harbor bacteria that could be harmful to your pet.

• Vacuum as much as you can. There is no other way to avoid it. Even if you're cleaning your dog's coat or wiping your feet clean, there's always going to be dirt and pet hair within the home. It's inevitable. The more you clean, the more effective. We recommend households with pets clean all of their homes every week, at a minimum, and areas with high traffic being cleaned more frequently. If you have pets or children and pets may require you to complete a thorough vacuum at least twice per week. It's an enormous amount of work; however, it can greatly improve the quality of your life.