We all love our furry friends and want to do our best by them. They are truly a part of our family in every way. So these DOG Hacks will help you make your pup happier each day very simply as you wll see! We have a recipe for pill poppers (we all know how hard it can be to get that medicine in and these will make is much easier and budget friendly. Our pups get bored and we have some fun things to keep them entertained! We even have a trick that will help you finish bath tub time with no problem! From fun games to first aid, here are some pup hacks to keep you and your dog happy. If you are looking for more hacks and tips… check out our first edition of Dog Tips Here. Sending tons of hugs and love to all your Furry Friends!!! Enjoy these Dog Hacks!
Pup Hacks for Play Time
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Semi-Destructible Stuffed Treat Toy:
We must accept that some of our best friends can be destructive with their toys. This awesome idea uses a tough and open lattice-work ball. Find some scrap fabric and cut it into strips. Roll up a small treat in the strip and stuff it into the ball. Your pup will love pulling out all the strips and getting at the treats. When they’re done, just put it away or refill it for next time!
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DIY Food-Stuffed Tennis Ball Toy:
Have a bunch of broken tennis balls around? Whether you already have some well-used ones or a new one, this is an easy treat toy to keep your pup occupied. Cut a 1-1.5” slit into a tennis ball. Stuff it with cheese, peanut butter, or any of your pup’s favorite treats. As they chew the ball, solid treats can fall out and be retrieved. Sticky treats like peanut butter will have to be licked out as they chew. It will keep them busy for hours!
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Alternate Their Toys Out to Keep Their Interest:
Keep a tub with maybe two third of their toys put away. When it seems like they’re getting bored with their existing toys, they are! Put away the “boring” toys and give them one-third of the “new” toys! Switch them out as needed. Replace broken toys with new ones for even more fun!
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Make Your Own Flirt Pole:
A flirt pole is like a bigger version of a cat toy. Use a length of PVC pipe, run a length of rope through it, and tie a knot at the base so it won’t slip out of the pipe. Tie a toy to the end. Feel free to decorate it if you want! Drag the far end of the pole with the toy around in a circle and have your dog chase it! This is great exercise and fun for a dog with a natural prey instinct. You can also train your dog with to follow commands regarding the toy.
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Get a Bubble Machine:
Teach your dog to chase bubbles and you’ll both have a ton of fun! Pick up a cheap bubble gun or bubble machine and you don’t even have to waste your breath.
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Let them Play and Stay Cool:
Have a water-loving dog? Get a cheap plastic kiddie pool! This is great for hot summer days. Fill with water from the hose and dump in some ice and a ball. Your dog will love catching the ice and ball! Plus, it keeps them cool outside. Keep a doggie towel by the door for when they want back inside.
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Make Your Dog Their Own Digging Box:
If your pup likes to help out with the gardening, much to your chagrin, make an area just for them. Put together a raised garden type digging box, or designate an area they are allowed to dig in. Use a clicker and treats to train them and you’ll never have to worry about your flowers again.
Pup Hacks for Bath Time
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Turn Toys into a Toothbrush:
Many, many dogs resist the good teeth-brushing that they need regularly. So, to make it easier for both of you, add some toothpaste to a favorite chew toy. It’s not perfect, but it will definitely improve your pup’s dental hygiene.
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Keep Your Pup in the Tub:
Does your dog like to ditch the bath halfway through scrubbing? Keep them in place with a smear of peanut butter on the wall. They’ll stay busy licking it all off while you finish up their bath! (Please make sure you don’t feed your dog peanut butter with artificial sweeteners. Xylitol is toxic to dogs!)
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Get Rid of Skunk Smell Once and For All:
Uh oh! Someone met a skunk! Now what? Simple chemistry. Take one bottle of hydrogen peroxide, one-quarter cup of baking soda, and two teaspoons of liquid soap and mix it all together well. Sponge it over your dog, avoiding the eyes. Let it sit and absorb the smell for at least 5 minutes before rinsing off.
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Stop Dog Hair From Clogging the Drain:
When bath time is done, do you dread all that fur going down the drain? When you pull the plug, place a baby wipe over the drain. It will still let the water drain, but catch all that dog hair!
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Stop Your Dogs Nail From Bleeding:
We all do our best, but sometimes we cut to the quick. It can be difficult to tell with thicker dogs’ nails. If you trimmed their nails too short and they start to bleed, apply a mixture of flour, baking soda, and cornstarch and apply a little pressure if needed.
First Aid Pup Hacks
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Calm Them During Storms:
If your dog gets upset during thunderstorms, try rubbing a dryer sheet over their fur. A wrap may calm them if they don’t like the rumbling sound thunder, but many dogs freak out because static electricity is building up in their fur. Rubbing a dryer sheet over their fur will discharge the build-up and help keep their fur static free.
Photo credit: LittleThings.com
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Yummy Pill Pockets:
Does your dog need to take pills? Then you know how tough it can be to get it down their throats. These pill pockets will help! Simply mix 1 Tbsp of milk, 1 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter, and 2 Tbsp of flour. Mix into a dough-like mixture and you can form about 12 pockets with it. Pop a pill in and they’ll eat the whole thing down. Store them in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh.
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Use a Straight Edge to Remove Stingers:
If your poor pup caught the wrong end of a stinging beast the best way to remove the stinger is by scraping a straight edge across it. Use something like a credit card and make sure the whole stinger is removed so it does not become infected.
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Protect Your Dog’s Paws:
Whether it’s Summer or Winter, you need to take care of your dog’s feet. Dog boots are popular now, but not all dogs will wear them. In summer, if you don’t want to come in contact with pavement in your bare feet, then don’t let your dog do it. In Winter, you can apply Vaseline to your pup’s paws so help keeps them protected. Some say the Vaseline will help in the summer too, to protect against heat, but it’s best to just wait until the cooler hours to take your dog out.
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Make a Doggie First Aid Kit:
You keep one for the humans in your family, so why not the dog too? Include a Pet first-aid book, phone numbers to your vet, emergency clinic, and poison control center. Make sure you have your pet’s paperwork (Medical records, etc.). A leash and a muzzle might be handy because they might try to get away or fight if in pain. Ear-cleaning solutions, bandages and gauze, antiseptic wipes, cotton swabs, nail clippers, expired card for stingers, and just about anything else you’d have in your kit can be handy. Talk to your vet about pet-safe medicines to keep on hand.
Pup Hacks for the Kitchen
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Make Some Simple Frozen Dog Treats:
Chop up some apples and add a tablespoon or so into each section of an ice cube tray. Pour chicken or beef broth over them and freeze! Perfectly cold delicious treats for your pup!
Photo credit: dogfooddude
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Make Some Simple Dog Treats:
Making your own dog treats can save you money and you know exactly what is in them! A simple recipe is to take 2 cups organic flour and 2 4oz. jars of baby food and mix them up. This will form a thick dough. Add extra flour or water as necessary to make it manageable. Roll it out and use cookie cutters or cut out the shapes you want. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Once cooled, store them in a paper bag to keep them crunchy. We also have some really delicious Treat Recipes your dogs will FLIP for right HERE! Don’t MISS them they are DOGGIE approved!
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Use chalk around bowls to keep ants out:
Keep a bowl outside for your dog, but tired of ants stealing their picnic? Drawn a circle around the bowl in chalk. Chalk cuts off the scent trails ants leave for each other so they won’t cross them.
Pup Hacks for Cleaning Up
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Pick up Dog Hair Like a Pro:
Run a dryer sheet over your couch, chairs, clothes, and curtains and the dog hair will vanish. Okay, not really, but dryer sheets attract dog hair like no other. It’s quick and easy and might even leave a bit of a fresh scent behind!
Photo credit: me and the sysop
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Clean up Pet Urine:
If your pet has an accident, and you find it right away, cover the area in baking soda. It’ll help dry it up and get rid of the smell. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes, then vacuum it up.
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Cover Up Scratch Marks on wood:
Our beloved dogs don’t mean any harm but sometimes they leave a lasting impression on wood doors and furniture. Take a walnut and rub it over the scratch mark to help cover it up!
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Get Rid of Drool Marks:
We love our drooling dogs, but their drool doesn’t love fabric. Erase those drool marks with a magic eraser! Wet it and rub it over the mark to make it disappear.
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Dog Crate Nightstand:
Remove the drawers on the bottom of your end table or nightstand and you can fit a smaller dog crate inside. Put a curtain on a tension rod to cover the front when it’s not in use. Clears up the floor and looks nice. Plus your pup can be right there with you every night.
Don’t forget to visit our PET Gallery for all kinds of things from Dog Treat Recipes to What to do on Valentine’s Day with your Doggie and much much more!
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Debra says
Thanks for all the simple and great ideas. Since I always seem to be fighting ants, I will use the chalk idea inside as well.
Debra says
Thanks for all the simple and great ideas for dogs. Since I always seem to be fighting ants, I will use the chalk inside as well.
Carol Grove says
We have two fur kids, Lola and Lucy. Lola doesn’t mind the thunder and lighting but poor Lucy Hates storms. I will try a fabric softener sheet next time. Thanks for the great tip. We always put a doggie dress on Lucy and that helps some. Maybe the combination of the two things will make her more secure during thunderstorms.
I am 70 so who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!
Thanks again!❤️????????❤️Carol Grove
Andrea says
Hi there Carol. How are you : ) So great to hear from you. I really hope that the little tip helps little Lucy and I think the combination of the two will work great. It is no wonder that the dress helps… it is kind of like putting a Thunder Shirt on the dog. Have you seen them? The are a shirt that snuggly fits the pup and it gives them security. You can look them up on Google… just type in Thunder Shirt. PLEASE let me know if it works. I sure hope that it does. You can let me know in a comment or email me at TheCottageMaret@gmail.com Here’s wishing you a wonderful day filled with all things good! Sending Hugs to you… Lola and Lucy!!!