As a dog owner, you will be used to making plenty of compromises. Your dog is an important and much-loved member of the family, so you probably don’t mind. This guide is going to look at 25 life hacks for dog owners to make their lives just a little bit easier.
25 Fantastic Life Hacks for Dog Owners
1. Calm Down a Puppy
If you have a puppy who refuses to sleep by himself, then this might be because they feel a bit lonely. Try putting a worn t-shirt of yours in their bed to calm them down. They will already appreciate the safety you offer, so your smell might be enough to give you a quiet night’s sleep.
2. Don’t Let Hair Clog the Bathtub
If you have a dog with long hair then you might find this hair will clog up the plughole when bathing. A simple way to prevent this happening is to lay a baby wipe over the plughole and press it in slightly. The baby wipe will allow water to pass through, while preventing hair from making its way down the drain. This will make life much easier since you don’t need to unblock your bath.
3. Repairing Scratches
If your dog has scratched your wooden furniture, then it might make your furniture look old and tired. A simple way to fix these scratches is to use a walnut. That’s right, rub a walnut over the scratches, and this will blend the scratch so that it is less noticeable. The oil from the walnut will cover the scratch and mask it.
4. Soften Food
Dogs may love eating meat and wet food but struggle with their kibble. It is, however, good for them, so you need to encourage them to eat it. One solution is to soften the kibble using warm water or chicken stock, if you have any.
5. Brush Teeth
Good dental hygiene is important for dogs as well as humans. Get them used to having their teeth touched by sliding your finger along their gums from as early an age as possible. When they are used to this, get yourself a dog toothbrush to clean plaque and stuck bits of food out of the teeth. This will save you money in the long run since you won’t have expensive dental treatments to pay for.
6. Protect Paws
The paws of your dog are pretty delicate. In cold weather ice and snow can cause irritation. To give some protection put a thin layer of Vaseline on the pads of their paws.
7. Learning Catch
Catch is a fun game to play with your dog. But when they are learning, they might not appreciate having a toy hit them in the nose until they learn to catch it. A good tip is to practice with popcorn. It won’t hurt them and they get a tasty snack at the same time.
8. Check the Pavement
In the summer, the ground can get pretty hot. You might not notice because you’re wearing shoes, but dogs don’t get that luxury. Place the back of your hand on the pavement for a couple of seconds to check how hot it is. Avoid going out during the heat of the day where possible, and try to stick to shaded areas of the path when it’s very hot.
9. Taking Medicine
Getting your dog to take his medicine is never easy. Nobody enjoys forcing pills down a dog’s throat. However, there are some simple tricks you can use. Try putting the tablet inside a cooked piece of penne pasta for a quick solution. Or if your dog is very difficult, slide it into a sausage. They will end up woofing the sausage down so quickly they won’t even notice the tablet.
10. Keep your Grass Green
Dogs going to the bathroom on your lawn can start to kill off patches of your grass. If you notice yellow patches in your lawn, then water them heavily. The water will dilute the urine and keep your grass looking lush and green.
11. Remove Hair from Furniture
Picking hair off furniture is difficult to do, and vacuuming it off is a thankless task too. Instead, use a pair of rubber washing-up gloves. When you are wearing the gloves, rub your hands over the furniture. The static will stick to the fur and pull it off. Then simply rub your hands together over the bin to throw it away.
12. Install a Smart Dog Door
If you want to leave your dog at home while you’re out then you might want to give them access to your garden. To prevent the neighborhood cat from coming in uninvited, it’s a good idea to install a smart dog door. This uses specially coded collars to allow only your furry friend inside your house.
13. Soothing your Dogs Tummy
If your dog has an upset tummy then you will want to feed them something plain. Home cooked rice and chicken are perfect for comforting your dog’s digestive system.
14. Slow down Food Time
If your dog woofs their food down too quickly then it can cause problems for their digestion. Simply put a ball in your dog’s bowl to make them slow down and take their time to eat.
15. Stop your Dog Chewing Wood Furniture
Get some bitter apple spray to put on wooden furniture if your dog keeps on using them as a chew toy. This will prevent them from finding it tasty without being dangerous.
16. Getting rid of Urine Smells
If your dog has an accident on the carpet then it can smell horrible. Although there are plenty of commercial products available, you can knock something up yourself to eradicate the smell of dog urine. In a cup mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda. Apply this to the stain using some paper towel. This will get rid of the smell which will prevent any repeat accidents.
17. Minimize Mess
After your dogs have been out on a walk or in the garden they can quite easily track dirt all over your house. A simple solution is to use baby wipes to quickly and effortlessly clean your dog’s mucky paws.
18. Paddling Pool for Fun
A cheap kids paddling pool is perfect for entertaining your dog on a hot summer’s day. Not all dogs like water, but if yours does a paddling pool will provide hours of entertainment.
19. Don’t Leave your Dogs in a Hot Car
Make sure you never ever leave your dog in a hot car. Dogs can very quickly overheat especially when they are left in a vehicle on a hot summer’s day.
20. Dog Clothes on the Cheap
If you have kids with some old dolls they no longer play with, these clothes might be perfect for your dog. Give them a try, it’s much better than just throwing them away.
21. Make Cleaning Easier
Washing dog beds is never easy. You can make it a lot simpler if you put your dog beds in a pillowcase. Then the pillowcases can be washed a lot easier than the whole bed.
22. Calm Stressed Dogs with Lavender
If you have a dog who gets anxious and stressed easily, then you can calm them down by putting a few drops of lavender oil onto a bandanna and tying it around their neck.
23. Use Diaper Bags
You can normally save some money using diaper bags instead of puppy poop bags. They are normally cheaper and will do exactly the same job.
24. Make Toys
If you’re struggling to keep your dog entertained, then put a sock over an empty plastic drinks bottle. Your dog will love chewing on it and making a sound.
25. Freshen Breath
Instead of spending money on an expensive breath freshener, you can add a pinch of parsley to your dog’s food bowl. This will freshen and neutralise bad odours in your dog’s mouth.
Hopefully some of the 25 simple life hacks for dog owners will help to make life with a dog just a little bit easier.