Who isn’t obsessed with Harry Styles right now? Whether you considered yourself a huge “Directioner” back in the day or are just a fan of the British boys solo music, there’s nobody better to name your pup after. With the release of his new album …
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Amazon is a one stop shop for everything you could ever need. For dogs in particular, they have everything from food and treats to toys to accessories. When it comes to spring time and the …
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Spring has officially sprung and one of my personal favorite parts of this time of year is cleaning, organizing, and refreshing my space. Spring cleaning is the perfect way to clean out the clutter that built up over the winter and leave your home feeling fresh and brand new. This year, while spring cleaning your home, don’t forget to clean and organize all of your dogs belongings as well. Today, I’m sharing 5 spring cleaning hacks for dog owners.
One of the most important parts of dog ownership that often goes overlooked is disinfecting our dogs toys, dishes, and other belongings. Dogs are not the cleanest animals. The bacteria in their mouths and dirt and grime on their paws transfers over to everything they touch. We should be washing our dogs bowls daily and disinfecting their toys, leashes, and bedding monthly, but as busy pet parents that doesn’t always happen.
While spring cleaning this year, be sure to disinfect and wash all of your dogs belongings. Clean bowls with a new sponge or throw them in the dishwasher. Hard toys such as bones can be cleaned in the dishwasher or soaked in the sink with some hot water and soap. Put your dogs bedding, leashes, collars, and other accessories through a load in the washing machine. Not only will this keep your pup healthier, but it will likely get rid of some odors in your home that you didn’t even realize were there.
I’m the first to admit that spoiling my dog is my weakness. It’s rare that a week goes by and I don’t buy her at least one new toy. If you’re anything like me, there’s a good chance that your dogs toy bin is filled with old, broken, and chewed up toys.
Go through their toys and throw out anything that is no longer played with or completely destroyed. Toys that are still in good shape but no longer used can be donated to your local animal shelter. Not only will you and your pup discover toys that they haven’t seen in months, you’ll also free up space for all the new toys that they definitely need 😉
Having all of your dogs medical records organized and on hand is so important. Keeping track of every medication they’ve been prescribed and vaccine they’ve been given will help narrow down any possible allergic reactions in the future. It’s also helpful to know when vaccines are due and have easy access to things such as microchip information.
Purchase a binder or folder to store all of your dogs medical and other records inside. Organize everything by date and category so that all information is easily accessible if/when you need it. This will be super helpful should you ever board your dog, leave them with a sitter, or have to switch vets.
If you feel as though your house has been taken over by your dogs belongings, reorganizing everything will help get rid of the clutter.
Invest in new toy bins if yours are old or no longer big enough. Buy hooks for leash and collar storage. Storage totes are great for out of season items such as Christmas accessories for winter coats.
Making sure that everything has a designated place will keep toys off the ground and leashes from going missing.
As soon as the weather starts to warm up, long haired and double coated dogs immediately begin to shed. If you own a shedding pup, you’re probably noticing tufts of hair around every corner.
Spend a couple hours one day brushing your dog and freeing them of all of that undercoat. This should hopefully cut down on the amount of vacuuming and lint rolling you’re doing every day.
Pro Tip: Brush your pup outside and leave the fur for birds, bunnies, and other animals to use as nesting material. Less clean up for you, and lots of soft bedding for the baby animals being born this spring!
What are your favorite spring cleaning hacks when it comes to your dog?
The phrase “bigger is better” isn’t always true, but for a lot of people, it is true when it comes to dog breeds. While some people prefer a small or toy breed, others want a giant canine companion. If you’re hoping to bring home a …
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Easter is in just a few days and if you’ve just realized that you left Fido out when putting together Easter baskets for your kids, don’t panic! Dogs deserve to be in on the Easter …
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Jump to RecipeIt’s no secret that dogs can have really bad breath. Let’s face it, our dogs are not the cleanest animals. Many of them lick their butts or eat dead rodents and they most definitely aren’t brushing their teeth at the end of every day. Dog dental treats can be expensive, and they aren’t always the most effective. Next time you notice your pups breath is starting to smell, try out these two ingredient dog treats for fresh smelling breath.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs don’t get bad breath from their food, licking their butts, or eating dead animals. Bad dog breath simply comes from bad dental hygiene. Think about it, if you never brushed or flossed your teeth they would start to build up plaque, tarter, and bacteria which would cause your breath to stink- the same goes for dogs.
Dog dental disease affects over 80% of dogs that are over the age of three. Just like we take care of our own teeth, we should be taking care of our dogs as well. Brushing your dogs teeth regularly is important to reduce tarter and plaque build up, tooth decay, and halitosis (bad breath).
You can also help prevent dental disease by feeding a high quality diet and allowing them to chew on items such as marrow bones that will remove plaque build up.
The pet market is full of various dog dental treats such as Greenies or Whimzees and dental chew toys such as Benebones or Hartz Chew n’ Clean. These products all work in the same way by scrubbing plaque build up off of your dogs teeth as they chew.
These are all great options for routine dental care combined with regular brushing of your pets teeth using a dog toothbrush and toothpaste.
These two ingredient dog treats for fresh breath aren’t going to remove build up from your pets teeth, so regular maintenance is still required. However, these treats are easy to make and will quickly freshen your pets breath.
To make the fresh breath dog treats you will only need two ingredients: coconut oil and mint. You can also add parsley for added benefits.
Coconut oil is high in saturated fats and has many benefits for dogs such as:
And of course it also helps kick bad breath. Coconut oil is a canine superfood and can be added into your dogs regular meals daily. About one teaspoon a day can greatly benefit your dogs health. It’s important, however, to slowly introduce this food to your pet as some dogs are not able to handle high amounts of fat. If your dog has history with pancreatitis or other issues digesting fat, talk to your vet before introducing coconut oil to their diet.
Mint is another superfood for dogs with a multitude of benefits such as:
And obviously, mint freshens breath. When feeding mint to your dog, be sure not to feed human mint products such as gum or toothpaste as these often contain xylitol, a chemical which is toxic to dogs. Always feed in moderation and talk with your vet if you have any concerns.
To make the two ingredient fresh breath dog treats, simply melt your coconut oil and chop up your mint leaves. Then, pour the coconut oil into a silicone mold and add your chopped mint. Place the mold into the freezer for several hours or overnight. Once frozen, these can easily popped out and given to your dog.
Note: don’t feed more than one a day to your pup, as the coconut oil is high and fat and could cause vomiting or diarrhea if over served.
Let’s be honest, we love it when our dogs are obsessed with us. Following us around is one way that dogs show loyalty to their humans. However, as fun as it is to have your own little shadow, it’s important that your dog learns how …
As of March 30, 2022 there are 197 dog breeds recognized by the AKC. That’s a lot of breeds! With so many choices, choosing the perfect dog breed to fit your lifestyle can be tricky. There is a lot to consider from size, to temperament, …