Life is hard, owning a dog shouldn’t be. Have you ever thought “why didn’t I think of that”? These are some great ideas and dog hacks for every dog owner looking for ways to save time, money and make life better for their pooch.
Stop Dog’s Nails from Bleeding
It happens to the best of us, you cut the dog’s nail and exposed the quick. This will cause blood to escape quite profusely at times. If you cut your dog’s nails yourself, you should keep a small jar of styptic powder around the house. This little miracle powder will normally stop the bleeding immediately. You may need to reapply if the pooch decides to lick off the powder. If you don’t have the styptic powder, mixing baking soda and cornstarch with a little water will help do the trick.
Get Rid of the Skunk Smell
You may have heard of the tomato juice tale to get rid of the skunk smell. Does it work? The answer is yes and no. It does mask the skunk odor to a degree, but it may be just temporary and take on the tomato smell. A better solution is a quart of hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda and a tablespoon of liquid soap (Dawn works well). Lather them up and try to leave on for at least 5 minutes. I know, easier said than done for some pooches. A good rinse and the smell should be gone.
Clean Their Teeth the Easy Way
The Vet always tells you to brush your dog’s teeth. Good luck with that one! If your dog is the rambunctious type and won’t let that tooth brush near them, you could use dental wipes. It will not work as well as a good brush but if you run the wipes along the teeth and gums it will remove soft plaque and tarter. Some wipes with enzymes in the solution will also help break down the harder plaque.
Stop the Digging in the Yard
If you have a digger, chances are you have holes in the yard. One way to stop the digging is to fill the hole with their own stool and cover it up. When they try to dig again, they’ll have a nice surprise and think twice about digging. You may need to do it a few times to help break the habit. You can also give them an area where they’re allowed to dig. Some ideas include a raised bed type area that you can hide treats and train them to only dig in that area.
Tennis Ball Treat
Put treats in a tennis ball by cutting a 1”-2” slit into the ball and stuffing it with their treat. Small treats and peanut butter work well.
Slow Down that Hungry Pooch
If you have a dog that eats way too fast, try putting a ball in their food dish with their dinner. This will help slow them down and not inhale their food by making them move the ball around to get to the food.
Make a Frozen Treat to Keep Them Busy
Try freezing treats and toys with water or broth in a container. The size of your buddy will determine size of the container you should use. Once frozen, let them lick away for hours and they’ll be rewarded for their effort.
Keep Insects out of Their Food
More hacks for every dog owner…If you keep a food bowl outside, try drawing a boundary around the bowl with chalk. Chalk will help throw off the scent left by other ants.
Protect Your Furniture
If your dog likes to lounge on the couch it may be a good idea to put down a blanket or invest in a furniture cover. As we know, dogs will sneak up on the couch when they are dirty. But what we don’t always realize is sometimes the oil from the dog’s coat will discolor the fabric, including leather. If they have their own spot on the couch this idea could keep it looking new.
Clean Up that Hair with Ease
If you get pet hair on your carpet, furniture or the car’s upholstery, try using a small window squeegee to scrape it up. This even helps with hair lodged deep in the fabric.
Bubbles are not just for Kids
Try blowing some bubbles around your dog and encourage them to chase the bubbles. If there is little interest, try catching them yourself. This will give your dog the idea to chase the bubbles. Good clean (and cheap) fun for your bud.
Go For a Swim
Dogs feel the heat as much, if not more, than we do. One way to cool them down is to get a kiddie pool. These are so handy and if your dog likes the water, it is a perfect match.
Make Pill Taking Easier
You can have premade pill treats that make life a lot easier. If your dog hates taking pills you can make pill treats ahead of time. Just mix some peanut butter and flour and roll out some little balls. Put an indentation for the pill in the ball and throw in the fridge or freezer. They’ll swallow it whole and not notice the pill!
Easy Way to Secure Your Dog for a Few
If you need to step away from your dog for a few minutes, use a carabiner on the handle of the leash to wrap around a pole or other object. Very easy and a quick fix to clip and unclip.
These are just some hacks for every dog owner and simple steps you can take to make life a little better for you and your best buddy. Check out this post about cool gadgets for your dog. Be sure to enter your email at the bottom of the page to learn about new posts to our blog. We would love to see your comments or other suggestions!
