Berber rugs and pets => Wool and the dog <=
Pets, whether purebred or unlikely mutts, are our best friends. They're also the essential decorative accessory for any self-respecting Instagrammer or blogger! That's for ELLE Decoration articles. In real life, ours, dogs, cats, dwarf rabbits, and other furry or scaly companions, whether exotic or not, naturally influence how we decorate our homes. Let's face it, we don't really like the sight of puppy, kitten, or parrot urine and poop on white wool rugs with black diamond patterns... With a few feathered exceptions, our pets live on the floor and therefore have to coexist with our Berber or Moldovan rugs . But rest assured, believe me, a pet and a Bohemian Chic Interior rug make the perfect combination for a chic and bohemian decor.
The dog and the wool rug
Whether it's a hunting dog, a guard dog or a lapdog for its granny, with or without pedigree, the male dog is a wolf in disguise, the female a fully realized she-wolf.
The Berber rug is made of wool. Some city dwellers may have forgotten, but let's remember, wool is sheep's hair... And our four-legged friend is a distant descendant of the wolf. So naturally, there are canine affinities that are hard to resist. Yes, your canine companion, whether it's a poodle, Labrador, greyhound, or Australian Shepherd, will love your Berber rug more than anything. You can't help it; that's just how nature works.
But don't worry, a well-behaved, house-trained dog won't urinate on your brand-new Berber rug. On the contrary, it will come and sniff it and lie down on it as soon as it gets the chance. If, however, Fido, Rin Tin Ti, Snowy, or Rantanplan happens to have an accident on your rug, don't panic. Don't abandon your faithful companion because of a few drops of pee; there's a paragraph about this eventuality a little later in this article.
The cat and the Moroccan rug
A cat, whether house or apartment, is a tiger in disguise. Personally, I believe that rugs have a soul. Call it mysticism, superstition, or gentle madness—I don't care. Your wool rug is like a sheep dreaming of reconciliation with the great predators that so terrified it in past lives. Laugh all you want. But when you witness the passionate love your feline develops for this new wool rug, you won't be able to help but think that, in a way, I'm right.
Cleaning urine off a carpet
Let's not kid ourselves, it can happen. Especially if the animal is young. So, yes, it can happen that a puppy urinates on a wool rug. Yes, it can happen that your baby (which is another kind of pet...) can't hold it once on that soft, colorful Azilal rug. Don't panic. Remember that wool is sheep's hair. In nature, sheep aren't always very clean. Yet their wool is beautiful and white. For urine, banish any products because the cure can be worse than the disease. Your best friend is a bottle of sparkling water. Dilute it with San Pellegrino or Perrier, and blot with a white towel. I insist, a WHITE towel, or WHITE PAPER TOWELS. Obviously, if you blot with a fuchsia towel, you're setting yourself up for some unpleasant surprises.
This technique works for the vast majority of tasks if they are tackled early.
Removing dog or cat hair from a carpet
Is your Afghan Hound a long-haired dog, or is your Angora cat very Angora-like? Again, don't panic. Patience and a gentle touch are often all it takes. Your best friend is your vacuum cleaner. But not on the highest setting! If you vacuum your carpet, whether it's new or old, there's no danger to the carpet. Your pet's hair will go into the vacuum bag, and the carpet fibers will stay on the carpet. Thankfully!
And, if you're lucky enough to get a good snowfall, remember to lay your rug upside down on the fresh snow for a few hours. It's by far the best way to care for a rug. The Berbers of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains know this and still do it today.
And if you want to learn more about caring for a wool rug, modern or vintage, read this article on the subject.
Benefits of mats for dog owners
As you'll see in the last paragraph of this article, a rug is essential if you love your pet. I have a dog. I love her more than anything; she's a female Australian Shepherd. But I also have hardwood floors, and the sound of her claws on the wood can be irritating. I'm sure the dog owners reading this know what I mean. A rug is a perfect sound insulator. A rug will give you precious hours of sleep without resorting to complicated training techniques, believe me! You'll love your bulldog, husky, pointer, or cocker spaniel even more! And, killing two birds with one stone, you won't be able to live without your beloved pet!
If you already own a dog, then you're not allergic to dog hair. There's absolutely no chance you'll develop a wool or dust mite allergy by adding a rug to your home.
Dogs and cats say thank you to Instagram!
We've noticed that our interior design photos featuring a dog, cat, rabbit, or any other pet with one of our rugs receive more likes, more comments, and are shared twice as often as those without pets! Whether registered with the LOF (French Kennel Club) or not, or a retired mutt, your furry friend will make your home photos infinitely more vibrant and shareable. The great thing about dogs and cats is that all breeds are photogenic. Greyhounds, Maine Coons, Bichons, Dalmatians, Siamese, or Poodles—they all make the perfect mix and match with a Berber or Moldovan rug. Your pet used to have their own cushion, but forget about that. They'll soon be claiming the living room rug.
Dog or cat owner, discover Carpet Therapy!
It's scientifically proven (or so I believe...): A large Berber wool rug soothes aggressive bulldogs by 64% and increases the sociability of a spaniel or retriever by 12%. A puppy that grows up on a Bohemian Chic Interior rug is half as likely to develop behavioral problems. And the savings on veterinary bills are substantial. A cat that sleeps on a Bohemian Chic Interior Moldovan rug is less prone to overeating, and you'll save money on cat food. The scent of wool soothes a pregnant dog and reduces the mortality rate of the upcoming litter by 29%. Small dogs are less nervous, large dogs are calmer, and medium-sized dogs have more self-confidence. On a Bohemian Chic Interior rug, training your dachshund or German shepherd becomes surprisingly easy. The animal is docile without losing its personality. It's affectionate but remains a happy dog. As for cats, their fur becomes shinier and softer after less than three nights on one of our mats. For your dog or cat's coat, it's an investment you won't regret.
A thick rug reduces joint problems in older dogs. In nature, the wolf, a relative of the dog, walks on soft ground. In your home, the floor is much harder than in the forest. A pet that spends 80 to 90% of its life indoors may not get enough exercise, but it will also be walking on a harder surface than the natural habitat for which it was originally bred. A wool rug can remedy this problem and prove beneficial to your pet's health.
Advice from a carpet-dealing breeder
The sister of a friend's cousin is a two-time European champion in dog breeding. She assures me that she covers the floor of her kennel with Moldovan kilims. "I do it for their durability and also for their look," she tells me. Furthermore, the floral patterns and hunting scenes sometimes found on these rugs have a beneficial influence on the future performance of hunting dogs, and, I've also noticed, truffle dogs.
Choose the size of your mat according to the size of your dog
I'm not going to lie to you or mince words. There's a simple formula for choosing the right size rug based on the size of your pet.
The length of your rug should be at least 7.5 times your pet's height at the withers. The width should be between 4 and 6 times the distance between the front and hind legs when the animal is standing.
Dog breeds are social animals that nevertheless need space. A rug can be considered a territory to defend for your guard dog.
If you own a feline, then it will be more of a hunting territory.
There is no known relationship between the thickness of a rug and the shape of your dog's ears.
Bohemian Chic Interior's Warholian Gift
Want to showcase your bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or tabby cat? And show off your interior design skills to the world? Then don't hesitate to send us photos of Fido, Felix, or Saturnin on a rug, under a coffee table, or perched on a Normandy wardrobe. We'd be delighted to publish your picture.