We all love our dogs. They give us companionship and are fun to watch. We take care of them and treat them like family.
Even though you may love your dog, you can also admit that sometimes being a pet parent can be difficult. Dogs don’t always mind your instructions, and they can be messy. Sometimes, you wish there were some things to make parenting your dog a little easier.
There are plenty of hacks out there that can change the way you walk your dog, feed your dog, and play with your dog. They can make life easier and allow you to be a better pet parent in the process. Pet owners love to share these hacks with others.
Here are 35 pet hacks that every dog owner can benefit from using. Your pet will enjoy them, and so will you. You can take the difficulty out of pet parenting and enjoy it again.
If your dog has an upset stomach, chicken broth can help. Just add a small amount to their food. It makes humans feel better when they are sick, and it can make your dog feel better, too. Choose the low-sodium type if possible.
Your dog probably has a Kong toy lying around the house. If your dog seems to be bored with it, have some fun and add some peanut butter or treats inside it. Your dog will toss it all around trying to get the treat out, and the toy will seem fun again.
A lot of people like to feed their pets human food. Even those who don’t do it often might think it’s OK to give them a treat now and then. Some human foods can hurt dogs, so before you feed your pet something you eat, check out this chart to see if it’s safe.
When you bathe your dog, you probably lose most of your pet shampoo down the drain. Instead of trying to apply it all on the dog, just dilute it. It will be easier to apply, and it will last longer, so you don’t have to worry if you lose some of it.
Dogs need to cool off in the summer, too, and your dog will enjoy an ice pop treat. Just use a mold to freeze some water, chicken broth, or even some treats in water. Your dog will lick their way to the treats and get cooled off in the process. These are great for summer.
Trying to get your dog to take a pill can be a real fight. You want your dog to stay healthy, but you also don’t want to get bitten in the process. Just make some pill pockets, and your pet will scarf them down with the pill and be none the wiser.
Nobody likes to see a bag of dog food sitting around the house. You can store yours in a drawer. Just pour it into a plastic container that fits down inside the drawer. Pull it out to let your dog eat from it or to scoop some food into the bowl.
If you have pets, you probably have a pet hair problem. If you can’t get the hair off the furniture, use a squeegee. It will peel up the hair and get it all in one swipe. Just rinse or pull the hair off and move on to the next piece of furniture.
If you have dogs that are messy eaters, you probably get tired of picking dog food up off the floor all the time. If you put the bowls down inside a drawer or build a wood stand, the dogs are less likely to flip their bowls or spill food from the sides of them.
Have a dog that has more energy than you? If you really want to tire them out in half the time, play fetch on a hill. Stand at the bottom and throw the stick to the top. They will run up to get it and then back down, and they will tire out much faster than if you were playing on level ground.
Sometimes, your dog runs off and wants to be chased. Of course, you do it. Instead of running, simply lie down and wait for your dog to come back and check on you. When they get back, put the leash on, so they don’t run off again.
Some dogs are hard to control. You can handle them with both hands if you add a second collar to your leash. You will be able to use more strength and control the dog better. Eventually, you will be able to get rid of the extra collar.
Not everyone loves the smell of dog breath. You can’t give your dogs a mint, but you can add some parsley to their food. The parsley will freshen their breath, and they won’t mind eating it. Now, you can have all the dog kisses you want.
14. Toothbrush Alternative
If your dog won’t let you brush their teeth, you can add some toothpaste to a bone or favorite toy. They will chew on it and get the toothpaste in their mouth. It can help kill germs and freshen their breath.
All pets have accidents, and nobody wants to see pet stains on their carpets. You can pay for expensive cleaning solutions or make your own. Your pet won’t have to be so ashamed of the mess, and neither will you.
Just because your dog can’t talk doesn’t mean they can’t communicate with you. Dogs use a lot of body language to express themselves. Understanding what your dog is trying to tell you by the way they stand or act can help make you a better pet owner.
If your dog goes through dog toys a lot, you probably spend a lot of money on them. Instead, just make your own. Use old jeans to make breaded bones. You can tie them into knots, and they are tough enough to withstand some rough play.
Pets can get chocked like people and they have their own CPR. You should know how to do CPR on your pet in case you ever need to save its life. This chart can show you how and a vet can help teach you the right process.
You can keep your pet’s food fresh in a pitcher and also pour it into the bowl more easily. You can find plastic pitchers with lids at most department stores. Your pet will like the way their food tastes when it’s fresher.
If you want your dog to be the life of the party, buy a tag with a bottle opener attached. You can order them online or even make your own. Every time your dog comes around, you can pop open a fresh drink.
Dogs love jerky, but it can be expensive in the store. You can make your own out of meat scraps, and it’s healthier and cheaper. Just put the meat in a dehydrator and wait until it is hard but chewy. Store it in a plastic bag, and then give it to your dog whenever they deserve a treat.
If you need to tie your dog out but didn’t bring your tie-out chain, just use a carabiner and the leash. Just wrap the leash around a pole and thread it through the carabiner. Attach the carabiner to the other side of the leash, and hook up your dog.
Have a dog that wants to play but don’t have the time or energy to pull on the rope? Just tie it to your foot and shake it around. Your dog will pull on it and think you are playing with them just the same. You don’t even have to leave the chair.
Some dogs eat too fast and get sick or have stomachaches. You can help your dog slow down by putting a ball in the food bowl. They will have to slow down to eat around the bowl, and this will help pace the meal. A cup or another object will work, too.
Dogs don’t like to get soap in their eyes any more than humans, but it can sometimes be hard to avoid when you are bathing them. Shower caps work great. Just pull them over the dog’s eyes, and it will protect them when you rinse them with water.
Shower caddies are great for organizing things in the shower, but they also work for all your dog’s items. Hang one in the laundry room and put food packages, treats, leashes, and more on it. It makes everything easy to find and doesn’t take up much room.
27. Escape Prevention Harness
If you have a small dog that can fit between the boards of your fence, an escape prevention harness can help. The harness will keep your dog from getting out of the fence and isn’t uncomfortable or bulky. It could save your pet’s life.
Dogs like to cool off in water, too. If you don’t have a lake or pond nearby, fill a baby pool for your pup. You can add ice to cool it down even more and toss in some balls and toys, so your dog can have a lot more fun.
Tired of always looking for the leash when you need it? Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a place to put it where you could always find it? Make a dog walking station near your door, and you will always be able to find your dog’s leash and collar.
Nobody likes fleas, and your dog doesn’t like them, either. You can make your own flea treatment at home with Dawn dish soap, vinegar, and water. Mix them in a spray bottle, and spray it on your dog. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then wash it off. It kills the fleas.
If your dog has long nails, attach a piece of sandpaper to a piece of wood and encourage your dog to scratch at it. You can put it beside a door, outside, or even on the ground. As the dog scratches, it will file their nails.
32. Portable Water Bottle
Your dog gets hot and thirsty on walks, too. Attach a carabiner to a clean pancake syrup squirt bottle and fill it with water. Attach it to your belt or your backpack when you take a walk. When your dog gets thirsty, give them a squirt of water.
If the ground is hot for your feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s, too. Don’t walk your dog during the hottest part of the day or on hot surfaces, like the road or sidewalk. Take your walks in the early mornings or late evenings when these surfaces are cooler.
If you have a dog that loves to sit on your lap, but you don’t have time to hold them all day, make a lap pillow. Take an old pair of pants and stuff them, so they are firm. Put them on the couch and pose them in a lap position, and your dog will have a cozy spot to rest.
If you have a dog with bad teeth or a tiny puppy who can’t chew hard food, try microwaving it for a few seconds. Just add some water and heat it up, and your dog will have soft food to enjoy. It will make eating much easier for them, too.
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We all love our dogs. They give us companionship and are fun to watch. We take care of them and treat them like family.
Even though you may love your dog, you can also admit that sometimes being a pet parent can be difficult. Dogs don’t always mind your instructions, and they can be messy. Sometimes, you wish there were some things to make parenting your dog a little easier.
There are plenty of hacks out there that can change the way you walk your dog, feed your dog, and play with your dog. They can make life easier and allow you to be a better pet parent in the process. Pet owners love to share these hacks with others.
Here are 35 pet hacks that every dog owner can benefit from using. Your pet will enjoy them, and so will you. You can take the difficulty out of pet parenting and enjoy it again.