The world according to Dean the Basset
Dyson recruits canine help to advise consumers about winter dust and dander
It’s a dog’s life, and that certainly sums up Dean the Basset, a media sensation and celebrity pet who has his own internet following. This droopy-eyed hound who likes to binge-watch Netflix when he’s not chasing squirrels, has been written up in Time, Rolling Stone, Glamour, Forbes, and seems to hobnob with some of the world’s elite.
This furry global star who was born in southern Ontario on a snowy night more than three years ago is proudly Canadian, a fact that comes through in all the work he does (including charity work). Today, he lords this over his two human owners, Carly and Nathan, with a sense of superiority most likely brought on by being told he’s the best little puppy in the world.
Dean certainly likes to share his life and wisdom with the world; he recently teamed up with Dyson to, um, talk about winter weather and what it does to a person’s home — especially when pets are involved.
(According to a recent survey by Dyson, half of pet owners feel like there is always pet hair to clean up, regardless of how much they clean.)
Research shows cold weather means keeping doors and windows closed tight, and cranking up the heat — which can create an ideal environment for dust mites to thrive. Add to that furnishings, pet dander, bedding and beds — where an average bed can contain up to two million dust mites — and you have the makings of a miserable winter. Dust mites can trigger unfortunate reactions such as asthma, eczema and more.
What can people do with pets to keep the dust and dander down? According to Dean’s owner, Carly, keep on top of things by dusting and vacuuming daily, rather than letting things build up. And “when grooming your pet, try doing it outside or in a garage.” If you’re grooming indoors, stay in a smaller, dedicated area, like the basement or where your washer-dryer is.
“As for dust mites, an easy trick is to take items that usually collect dust (i.e. pet toys), place them in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight. This will not only kill the dust mites, but also odour-causing bacteria.”
Other tips include washing your bedding more often — in very hot water to keep the dander and dust mites down.
Look for bedding that’s specially designed to deflect dust mites. Invest in a humidity monitor that can track if your house is too dry or too humid (too little irritates your sinuses, too much and you may have mould and mildew growth.)
Declutter as much of your home as possible. And when you are vacuuming, don’t forget to clean drapes, blinds and upholstery, too. Change your furnace filters more often, brush your pets more often.
And lastly — crack open a couple of windows to get fresh air in.