Life can be crazy, especially if you own a dog. Between feeding, grooming, exercising, training, playing, pottying…well, you can start to feel like you spend all your time (and money!) caring for your dog and not enjoying him. Here are 20 hacks to help you spend less time doing the “chores” associated with dog ownership, so you have more time to just enjoy your best friend.
#1 – Giant Carabiner for Walking
Use one of these giant carabiner to hold multiple leashes at the same time, while giving your dog’s more freedom than a couple allows. Plus the handle is soft and easy to hold.
#2 – Doll Clothes for Tiny Pups
Small dogs can wear the clothes off the dolls your kids have outgrown.
#3 – Pillowcase Bed Covers
Use pillowcases to cover your dog’s beds and mats, that way you can just slip the case off and wash it.
#4 – Muffin-Tin Feeding
Use a muffin tin to spread out your dog’s food. It’s cheaper than one of those maze bowls. Make it harder by cutting tennis balls in half and covering each cup.
#5 – Baby Powder for Mats
If your dog had bad mats, sprinkle baby powder in them. It will help loosen it so you can brush it out. Bonus, your dog will smell nice!
#6 – Rubber Glove for Hair Removal
If you don’t have a lint roller, you can use a rubber glove to remove hair from your clothes or upholstery.
#7 – Lavender Bandanna
If you have a stressful dog, put a few drops of lavender oil on a bandana and tie it around your dog’s neck. It will calm you both down.
#8 – Carabiner For Tie-Out
If you are going somewhere you want to secure your dog to sometime – a tree, a café table, etc, use a carabiner on the handle of the leash so you can attach your dog without have to unclip the leash from the collar.
#9 – Quick Cleaning
Use vinegar, water and baking soda to scrub out dirt on the cheap.
#10 – Pill Giving Made Easy
Save time by making a dozen doses of your dog’s medicine all at once. Put a small amount of peanut butter in an ice cube tray. Put your dog’s pill(s) in it, and cover with more peanut butter. Freeze. Label each one with a stick with the day on it, that way everyone will know if the dog already had his meds. If your dog doesn’t like peanut butter, try organic, no sugar added applesauce!
#11 – Teeth Brushing
You can spread your dog’s toothpaste onto a chew toy so he self-brushes.
#12 – Diaper Bags do Double Duty
Diaper bags are often less expensive than doggy bags and if you already have a baby, than it’s one less thing on your grocery list.
Related: 12 Best Diapers for Dogs
#13 – Sock Bottle Toy
Take an empty plastic bottle, stick in an old sock and tie the end. Instant crinkle toy on the cheap.
#14 – Sock Squeaker Tug Toy
If your dog dissects his toys to get that squeaker, you can just reuse all those squeakers by sticking them in socks and tying the ends. Tie multiple socks together to make a squeaky tug toy.
#15 – Save on Shampoo
Put a plastic pitcher and dilute that doggy shampoo at about 3 or 4 to 1. It will make it easier to get shampoo evenly on your dog and it will save you money. Have different colors for shampoo and conditioner if you like.
#16 – Dawn Flea Bath
If your dog has an active flea infestation, wash him in Dawn to kill the adult fleas on him. Then proceed with your flea treatment.
#17 – Parsley for Fresh Breath
Instead of expensive doggy treats, just sprinkle parsley on your dog’s food for fresher breath.
#18 – Socks on Paws
If your dog suffers from allergies, put old socks on his paws to keep him from licking them raw. You can tape them on using vet wrap. Use ones with grips (slipper socks) for smooth floors. (small dog? use doll socks).
#19 – Keeping Small Dogs In
If you have a small dog and large spaces in your fence, use an inflatable Elizabethan collar to keep him in the yard.
#20 – Jean Treat Holder
Take an old pair of jeans, cut off the legs just above the crouch and sew across the bottom. Run a belt or nylon webbing through the belt loops and you have a treat and toy holder. Or, add a strap if you wish to carry over shoulder instead of around your waist.
Toledo, United States.
