If you’re looking for a few life hacks to make living with a dog easier or if you’re in search of some easy ways to help your dog have fun and live the best life possible, we’ve got you covered!
Newfie owners are smart people and if there’s a hack for cleaning up dog hair & dog drool or finding a way to get your 150-pound dog in the car, they will find it!
From tips on keeping your house clean with dogs to making your own DIY dog toys, here are 33 practical life hacks for dog owners of any breed.
Cleaning Life Hacks For Dog Owners
If you’re looking for easy hacks to remove pet hair from your furniture, there are quite a few ways that dog owners can battle furry furniture:
1. Use a Couch Cover To Keep Pet Hair Off Your Furniture
To keep your dog on the couch but their hair off, use a couch cover.
Not only will a couch cover protect your furniture free from dog hair but it will also keep pet stains away.
If you don’t want to invest in a couch cover, you can just as easily use a large sheet and toss it in the wash as needed.
Rubber gloves, a wet sponge or a small squeegee are also an easy way to remove dog hair on upholstery. Check out: The Easiest Ways To Remove Dog Hair From Your Couch
2. Keep Your Clothes Dog Hair Free With Sticky Tape
If you have dogs that shed, dog hair is probably your top fashion accessory.
Some of the easiest ways to remove dog hair from clothes are to use a good, sticky lint roller, fabric sheets designed for pet hair, sticky tape or fabric brushes.
3. Use Baking Soda To Get Stubborn Dog Hair Out Of The Carpet
Need a good hack to get dog hair out of your carpet?
Sprinkle baking soda and let it sit for a few minutes.
You can also use a carpet rake or a stiff dog brush to easily lift away stubborn pet hair that your vacuum leaves behind.
4. Use Water + White Vinegar To Get Dog Hair Out Of Your Car Carpet
If your dog loves to go for rides in the car, a popular hack amongst fellow dog owners is to use a good car seat cover.
Water + vinegar in a spray bottle works magic to remove that stubborn dog hair stuck in car carets or you can you use a handy dog hair gadget.
Cleaning Dog Drool
Dog drool happens and when you’re owned by one of the top drooling dog breeds, you find ways to handle it.
5. Use a Magic Eraser To Remove Dog Drool From Walls
Dog drool is kind of like glue, it sticks to everything and when it drys, it can be really hard to get that off your walls.
A Magic Eraser is our go-to for removing dog drool off of walls, ceilings and baseboards.
For removing dog drool off of couches and other upholstery, visit How To Remove Dog Drool From Every Surface.
6. Use a Car Door Protector To Keep Drool Off Your Car Door
If your dog is a big drooler in the car and leaves strings of slobber on your car doors, a really great hack for removing dog drool off your car door is to get a car door protector.
I bought one this year and it’s a game-changer!
7. Use Baby Wipes To Remove Dog Drool From Car Seats
Another great hack for removing dog drool from car seats is to simply use baby wipes.
I don’t know why this works but it does and I’ll never use anything else!
Grooming Hacks For Dog Owners
8. Use Cornstarch To Remove Small Dog Mats
Newfies and other breeds that have a double coat tend to get mats a lot in areas like behind the ears, in the groin and in the armpits.
Instead of cutting the mats with sharp scissors or pulling on the mat with a dog brush, simply sprinkle some cornstarch on the mat, let it sit and then use a comb.
This only works on small mats!
9. Use a Dog Dryer To Remove Loose Pet Hair
When dogs blow their coat in the spring and fall, a high-velocity dog dryer is an easy and effective way to remove a lot of loose dog hair and dander.
10. Trim Your Dog’s Black Nails Yourself
If you’re looking to save some money, learn how to trim your dog’s nails from home.
Trimming black nails can be intimidating because you can’t find the quick but as soon as you learn how to find it, it’s easy!
11. Stop Your Dog’s Bleeding Nail With Cornstarch
When a dog’s nail bleeds, it can be scary but it’s only a small blood vessel that is causing it.
If you don’t have Qwik Stop on hand, you can use flour, cornstarch or even a bar of soap to stop the bleeding.
12. Use Vinegar + Water To Keep Your Dog’s Coat Shiny and Soft
I always get asked how I keep my dog’s coat so soft and shiny.
I attribute it to a healthy diet, regular brushing and after every bath, I spritz his coat with a white vinegar and water solution.
After that, I dry his coat completely!
13. Build Your Own Grooming Table
One of the best things that I have done is build a DIY grooming/bathing table for our dogs.
It’s pretty easy and all the materials that we used to make the table cost under $100.
Life Hacks For Dog Owners: Dog Care
14. Make a DIY Lift Harness With a Canvas Tote
With big dogs, it’s always a good idea to have a way to move them in case they get injured or become really sick.
A temporary way you can lift a dog is to use a canvas tote as a DIY lift harness.
This works best for dogs that are experiencing rear weakness.
15. Make Your Own Paw Balm
Taking care of your dog’s paws is important and a good way to do that is to use paw balm.
Paw balm not only helps to keep snowballs from forming on dog paws but also helps to protect their paws from a dangerous chemical used in deicers.
Store-bought paw balms can be expensive but you can make your own with only 5 natural ingredients.
16. Use a Whisk To Remove Snowballs
When snowballs get stuck on your dog’s paws, chest and belly it can be tough to get them off.
A wire whisk works great for this and it removes the little snow and ice pellets fast!
17. Use a Lint Roller To Check Your Dog For Ticks
During tick season it’s always a good idea to check your dog daily for ticks, especially after you go for a walk.
An easy way to check for loose ticks on yourself and your dog is to use a sticky lint roller.
18. Make Your Dog Eat Slower With a DIY Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
When a dog eats their food fast it can lead to vomiting, choking and even dog bloat.
A good way to slow them down is to use a slow-feeder dog bowl but if you don’t want to buy one, you can easily make one with things you already have at home.
If you have a weighted dog bowl, flip it over and use the bottom part.
You can also use a ball or a big rock to put in their bowl so they have to eat around the object.
19. Add Flavor To Your Dog’s Water To Get Them To Drink More
A dog’s body is made up of 80% water and it’s important that they drink an adequate amount of water during the day so they don’t become dehydrated.
That can be tough for sick or older dogs so one way to entice them to drink more water is to add flavor to it.
You can use dog-safe bone broth or even low-sodium chicken broth that you can get at the local grocery store.
20. Reduce Static In Your Dog’s Coat
In the winter months, a dog’s coat tends to get dry and brittle due to the furnace running.
To reduce static in your dog’s coat you need to add moisture back to it.
You can do this by using a good grooming spray, a wooden pin brush, adding fish oil to your dog’s diet, or by running a dehumidifier.
21. Use a Soup Ladle To Catch a Dog’s Urine Sample
If you need to bring a fresh urine sample to your dog’s next vet appointment, forget following your dog around with a plastic container and use a ladle.
This is so much easier!
22. Use a Pill Vial To Take Your Dog’s Poop Sample To The Vet
The next time you have to take your dog’s poop sample in to be checked, use a clean pill vial for transport.
You only a small amount of dog poop and this vial makes it a lot easier and less messy.
21. Use Dog Socks To Keep Your Dog From Slipping On The Floor
If your dog is slipping and sliding on your laminate floor, buy them a pair of socks made especially for dogs.
23. Make Your Own Simple Homemade Dog Treats
Dog treats don’t have to be hard to make.
To make frozen dog treats all you need are ice cube molds and a few dog-safe ingredients.
24. Use a Pool Noodle In Place Of a Dog Cone
When you have a big dog, dog cones can be a big pain.
Instead of using the big plastic cone of shame, try using a pool noodle.
It will be much more comfortable for your dog and it will save your walls from being scratched.
25. Make Your Own Frozen Dog Toy
A frozen lick cube is super easy to make and you can make them with your dog’s favorite treat or with their favorite hidden inside!
All you need is a freezer-safe container, your dog’s toy and some water.
Life Hacks For Dog Owners: Messy Dog
26. Use a Dog Pool To Stop Your Dog From Digging In The Yard
If your dog likes to dig but you would prefer that they don’t dig in your flower bed, get a plastic kiddie pool, fill it up with some sand or dirt and teach them to dig in there.
27. Use Straw To Cover Up Dog Mud In Your Yard
Mud season is twice a year, spring and fall.
Save yourself some pain and get a bale of straw to cover up the dog mud.
You’ll have to rake the staw up eventually but this really helps to keep muddy paws a little less muddy.
28. Make Your Own Dog-Friendly Carpet Deodorizer
If you have some stinky dog odors that are lingering on your carpet, stop wasting your money on store-bought deodorizers and make your own.
This simple DIY carpet deodorizer is safe for dogs and really easy to make!
29. Make Your Own Dog-Safe Dog Bubbles
Dogs love bubbles but they contain ingredients that can make a dog sick.
Thankfully it’s really easy to make your own dog-safe bubbles at home with only a few ingredients.
30. Make Your Own Muddy Paw Wash Tub
Instead of breaking your back when cleaning your dog’s muddy paws, an easier way to do is to get a plastic storage bin and train them to walk through it.
I’ve been doing this for years and it really works!
31. Make Your Own DIY Dog Wipes With Paper Towels
Instead of buying dog wipes from the store, make your own at DIY dog wipes home!
All you need is water, white vinegar and paper towels!
32. Use a Foam Sprayer For Dog Baths
To make giving your dog a bath a little easier, use a car wash soap hose attachment.
This dilutes the dog shampoo and you don’t have to get your dog before applying the shampoo.
33. Fix Urine Spots On Your Grass With Toilet Paper
Dog urine spots on the grass can be an eyesore but you can fix them with some grass seed, water and toilet paper.
Bonus Life Hacks For Dog Owners
What dog care tips and life hacks do you use for your dog? Share them with us so we can add them to our list!