As a pet owner, its always good to find ways to make life easier. Here are some life hacks for you and your dog!
Crate train your dog
Crates are brilliant additions to doggy households, but only when used correctly. A crate isn’t a cage, but a den for your dog where they can go to when they need time to themselves. Put a comfy bed in, a couple of toys and cover the sides with a large blanket or (crate cover) and you will have the perfect little retreat for your pet. Crates shouldn’t be used as a punishment and positive association should be used so your dog knows it is a good place to be. Crates are useful for your dog if they need a break from the kids (make sure you teach your children to leave your dog alone if he is in the crate), they can help during house training and are a good way to travel your dog in the car. Crate training is well worth it!
Chicken and rice
If your dog gets an upset stomach, and your vet has checked them over for any health problems, chicken and rice can be a nice, bland meal that appeals to your pup and helps to settle that stomach.
Freeze toys
Kongs are excellent toys that encourage your dog to work at getting their food. They are basically a rubber toy with a hole in, and you are meant to fill it with paste for your dog to chew. The problem many dog owners have is they don’t last long, which is why stuffing the Kong with dog food and then freezing it will help it last longer. If you are trying to vary what you stuff the kong with, try peanut butter, sweet potato, or honey. The good thing about peanut butter and honey is you don’t have to stuff lots in, but just coat the inside and then stuff something else, such as tinned dog food. After the dog food has been eaten, your dog will still engage with the toy as they try to reach the honey.
Put a ball in their bowl
Does your dog wolf his food down at light speed? This can be bad for dogs, so it’s important for them to eat at a slower pace. A good tip is to put a tennis ball in the bowl with their food to slow them down a bit. Another idea is to get a muffin tin and put some of their biscuits in each cup – you can even add half a tennis ball over some of the cups to make it more challenging. There is also a huge range of slow feeding bowls if you don’t want to make your own.
Vinegar and baking soda to clean urine
If your dog has an accident indoors, wiping up the urine isn’t enough because if your dog can still smell the pee, they will toilet there again in the future. There is a huge range of pet products on the market you can buy to eliminate urine odours, but there is a way you can make your own! Using paper towels, soak up the puddle and then spray the area with a mix of half vinegar and half baking soda, allowing it to soak for 15 minutes. After this, put more paper towels down to absorb the moisture left, sprinkle with baking soda and let it dry. Once dry, vacuum it up. It’s really important to keep pets away whilst you do this.
Remove pet hair easily
Pet hair can be removed by using a wet rubber glove and rubbing over the furniture to collect the hair. Car squeegees can also be used to scrape the pet fluff up!
Lost pet?
It can be scary if your pet goes missing. Read this so if you ever do lose your pet, you will know what to do.
Get pet insurance/pet bank account
Big vet bills can appear suddenly, and thinking about how you are going to cover a huge bill is the last thing you need to worry about when your pet is unwell. Pet insurance offers peace of mind should something happen. There are lots of different companies out there, so read the small print and get advice from other pet owners to see who they use. Some people prefer to put the money they would have spent on pet insurance in a separate account so they don’t lose the money they pay into the insurance, whilst others have a credit card to use should they need to cover a bill. Keep in mind that most vets require payment upfront, which is why it’s important to have a plan in place.
Keep their teeth clean
Dental hygiene is as important for your dog. You can buy doggy toothbrushes and toothpaste, but you can also get a variety of dental toys that encourage your dog to chew, which will help remove plaque. You can even add doggy toothpaste to the toys to help clean their teeth. A sprinkling of parsley on their food can help freshen their breath too.
Store food in an airtight canister
Storing their food in a canister will keep it fresher for longer, and makes it easier to store than large bags of dog food. It also means you can keep them in the kitchen to make feeding times easier.
Moving home? Read these tips on how to keep your pet stress free during the move!
Got your own life hack? Tell me about them in the comments below!