Dog parents know that their pup is worth every hair tumbleweed and chewed shoe that they must deal with to have the precious pooch in their lives. However, who wouldn’t want an even smoother interaction with man’s best friend?
Below are 25 dog-care hacks to prove once and for all that owning a dog in this era of genius ideas and gadgets has never been easier.
1. DIY a treat-dispensing toy to entertain them for hours.
Source: heidisoldhouse.blogspot.com
Or until they eat all the treats. Cut open a tennis ball with a scissor and stuff it with their favorite snack. Get the tutorial here.
Or use an IQ Treat Ball to mentally stimulate your pooch.
2. Play fetch downhill to tire your dog out faster.
This trick is great for high-energy pets that need to run it out.
3. Use a carabiner to easily leash your dog.
Source: imgur.com
Don't spend 10 minutes undoing knots when you get out of the grocery store. Loop the leash handle through the carabiner, wrap it around a post, and hook it onto the remaining length of leash.
4. Put a ball in your dog’s food bowl if he or she eats too fast.
Source: baggybulldogs.wordpress.com
They’ll be forced to move the ball around the bowl, which prevents them from scarfing it all down in one lick. Read more about it here.
Alternatively, use a Slow Feeder Dog Bowl to help slow down your dog’s eating time by 10X!
5. Make an ice lick by freezing toys, bones, and chicken broth into a cake mold.
Source: lifehacker.com
It'll keep them hydrated and occupied for hours.
Also, check out these 3 Super-Easy Frozen Dog Treats You Can Make at Home in Less Than an Hour.
6. For an on-the-go water break, try a collapsible water bowl.
Get it here.
7. Make a dog car seat using a laundry basket, a pillow, and a blanket.
Source: instructables.com
To keep your dog safe and in one spot, wrap a blanket around a pillow, place the pillow in the laundry basket, and use the excess fabric to drape around the basket to soften the edges. There's a chance you'll want to curl up in there, too.
8. To DIY a cute dog bed, use a crib mattress, a fitted sheet, and a wooden pallet.
Source: marvelouslymessy.com
Get more info here.
Or you can make custom pet beds using cheap IKEA toy doll beds.
Here's even more fun DIY project ideas for dog lovers.
9. And if you want to reduce clutter in the bedroom, put your crate where a drawer would go.
Source: ikeahackers.net
Add a small tension rod and sheer fabric to make it disappear during the day. Learn how to make it here.
10. If your dog hates the crate, opt for a pillow instead.
Source: hometalk.com
If you have kids, they'll want to sleep in there, too.
Also, check out a great way for repurposing wine barrels and making them into beautiful dog beds!
11. You can also hack an Ikea shelf for a super-modern dog bed.
Source: ikeahackers.net
You need the Kallax shelf, a crib mattress, and a bed base. Learn more about it here.
Also, here's a super creative way to make a custom pet bed using a cheap IKEA toy doll bed.
12. To save on floor space, put your dog's bowls in a bottom drawer.
Source: Plain & Fancy by Dandamudi’s
Attach a few strips of adhesive-backed Velcro to the bottom of each bowl and to the bottom of the drawer to make sure they don't slide around. Or get custom stainless steel inserts here.
13. Use peanut butter to distract your dog during nail trimming.
Source: instagram.com
Have a family member who isn't clipping put peanut butter on their fingers. Or do what this super creative dad did… he created the craziest contraption for his pup out of a purse!
14. And if you accidentally cut your dog's nail too short, stop any bleeding with a mixture of cornstarch and water.
Source: Taste Of Southern / Via viralnova.com
Apply it to the bleeding nail with a cotton swab — the paste will coagulate the blood and stop it from flowing. If you're out of cornstarch, try flour or baking soda instead.
15. If you’re traveling with a pet, get a spillproof bowl.
Get one here.
16. And if your pet loses a toy while you're on the road, make a crinkle toy from a sock and an empty water bottle.
Source: romprescue.com
If your socks are too precious, use a scrap of fabric from an old towel.
17. Use a squeegee to remove dog hair from your car seats.
Source: careabearasara.tumblr.com
If you don't have a squeegee, put on rubber dishwashing gloves and brush the seat, going in one direction to sweep up the hair. Learn more about it here.
18. For the dog that’s constantly trying to climb into the front seat: Use this zip line harness.
Source: Kurgo
Or make it yourself with nylon rope and two spring clasps. Get it here.
19. You can also hook the harness up outside while you're camping or barbecuing.
Source: gopetfriendlyblog.com
This way they can wander a little without getting lost. Learn more about it here.
20. Use chalk around outdoor pet bowls to keep ants out.
Source: guff.com
Ants won't cross a chalk line because it interferes with their ability to follow scent trails left by other ants, according to SF Gate.
21. If it's really hot or really cold out, rub Vaseline onto your dog's paws before stepping outside.
Source: John Moore / Getty Images
This will protect the dog's feet from salt and keep the paws from getting burned on hot pavement. After your walk, you can just rinse the paws in warm water to get rid of any salt or chemicals they might have picked up. Get more info here.
22. If your dog scratches the door to go out, use a door protector to minimize damages.
Get it here. You can also make your own door protector by applying clear contact paper to the part of the door where your dog is likely to scratch.
23. Make your own pill pockets in flavors you know your dog will love.
Source: kirbythedorkie.com
Roll the mixture into small balls, poke a hole in each ball with a pencil eraser (for the pill), and stick in the refrigerator overnight. Get the recipe here.
24. If your dog is an escape artist, get an escape prevention dog collar.
Source: amazon.com
This will keep your pet from slipping through gate and fence cracks. Collar sizes range depending on your dogs neck size. Get it here.
25. And lastly, check out this chart to know the basics of what your dog can and can't eat.
Source: Chewie Says
Peanut butter is a go, but actual nuts are a definite no-go. Check out the 35 Healthiest Human Foods You Can Feed Your Dog (And The 12 That Could Kill Your Dog).
