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Use T-Shirts as Car Seat CoversWith several dogs in and out of my car several times a week, I needed something to protect the front seats from their rubbing fur and other stuff onto the upholstery. Seat covers were absurdly expensive so I now use the cheapest t-shirts I can find or use old ones.

 

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Fix for Frozen Dog LeashesI keep hand sanitizer 80% alcohol by my door spray the clasp and my dog is good to go, it's a quick fix cause they gotta go!

 

A yoga mat piece lining the inside of a dog crate.

Prevent Blanket Slippage in Dog CratesIf you line your pet's crate with blankets, throws, or towels and find they constantly slide around on the slippery plastic tray that comes with the crate, I have an inexpensive solution. I found an old exercise/yoga mat that I was no longer using, which I cut with scissors to fit the crate's plastic tray. Since my dog is small, I still have enough of the mat left to cut two more pieces, which I can trade out when one needs to be cleaned.

 

Dog Potty Clean Up Station - old wooden box used for poop bag dispenser outside

Dog Potty Clean Up StationI found this wood box at the thrift store and then it set in my garage for 2 years. I knew one day it would come to mind what to use it fo. I am not sure what it was, maybe a box to hold a candle, it has a door that swings open and a hole in one end.

 

Raw Ginger with Peanut Butter for Dogs - brown dog

Raw Ginger with Peanut Butter for DogsA little slice of ginger, with peanut butter on it, can help dogs tolerate car rides.

 

Dog Potty Spot Made from Sod Squares - sod in a pool

Dog Potty Spot Made from Sod SquaresWe live in Florida and half of the year we are prepping for hurricanes and my dog may have to stay in for hours or even days during bad weather. I went to my local garden center purchased a couple of pieces of fresh sod(yes you can buy pcs! About $2.50 each) I put the sod in a cheap plastic kiddie pool on my back porch and voila! Outside potty inside!

 

A hesitant dog concerned with the small gap between a boat and the dock.

DIY Doggie "Bridge"Our family got our first dog last summer. Sierra is a 2 year old mixed breed and has been a wonderful addition to our family. We live on Lake Norman and enjoy going out on our pontoon boat whenever possible. We were so excited to take Sierra on her first boat ride.

 

A frozen water bottle in a pet's water bowl.

Keep Pet's Water Bowl CoolHere is a way to keep your pet's water bowls nice and cool for hours in the shade, especially during the summer months. Freeze clean plastic bottles and place inside the water bowl.

 

Use Tarp to Keep Snowy Grass Clear

Use Tarp to Keep Snowy Grass ClearHere is a solution for dogs that won't pee outside in snow? Grab a tarp from your local hardware store. Place it on ground before it snows, close to the door you let your dog outside.

 

dog howling

How To Answer "What Breed Is Your Dog?"With so many people asking "What breed is my dog?" on here I thought I'd share a cute, quick answer that anyone can use, any time someone asks what breeds are in your mutt, or "what kind of dog is that?"

 

sketch of finished water bucket

Pet Drinking BucketsSome pets live outdoors so they need a water supply. The idea I came up with is a reasonable idea and takes less labour to keep water good.

 

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Use Cloves for Skunk Smell on DogBoil a handful of whole cloves in large pot of water. Let water cool. Pour on dog and let dry by itself. This is the "only" thing that has ever worked for me and I have tried everything over the years.

 

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Protect Floors with Dog DiapersAs we all know, dogs will keep going back to the places they smell their scent. Even if we can not smell it, they can. My little Yorkie ruined our carpet, which we are pulling up and replacing with hardwood.

 

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Dog Diapers That Stay OnI have been a big fan of belly bands for our Chihuahuas (they are the worst markers!). I buy them from pawstoadmire.com.

 

Dogs on porch.

Storms and Fearful DogsI have a very fearful adult Catahoula mix named Bruno. He is such an unusual dog. He is severely afraid of thunderstorms.

 

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dog poop bags

Cheap Doggie Poop BagsAt the Dollar Tree store I buy the diaper disposal bags. They are $1.00 for 75 pink bags in the infant section. Their pet dept. has the same bags in gray at $1.00 for 50 bags.

 

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Giving Medication to PetsI take hot dogs or sausage and cut them into bite sizes for my Wirehair Terrier. When she was a puppy, I gave her those as treats when she was learning new tricks.

 

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Couch Cushions for Dog BedsI have 6 dogs and 2 require replacing their beds as they have an air conditioned part of my carport and go outside on their own. I simply find old couches that are put out for the trash and if they are clean and don't have wool covers I pick them up and voila! new beds.

 

Pill in Canned Food

Canned Food "Pill Pocket"Our dog is pretty tricky to give pills to. The last time that she needed to be given pills she also happened to be on a prescription canned food. The canned food that she was given was very solid in texture so it could be sliced into chucks with a butter knife.

 

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Plastic Bags for Pet WasteI save the plastic bags that you put your fruits and vegetables into, at the grocery store veggie department, and just any small plastic bags that I can in contact with to use as poop scooper bags when I am out walking my dogs.

 

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Using a Suitcase for a Pet BedOnce while packing for a trip, my dog got into the soft-sided suitcase and fell asleep. After I got back from the trip, I noticed that the zipper had broken so I went ahead and cut the top off and added a cotton-covered foam mattress.

 

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Use Your Dog Crate as a ShelfA large dog, a large dog crate, and a small house can be a challenging combination. That was the dilemma I faced a few years ago. The solution I came up with turned out to be quite beneficial.

 

Use a Crib Mattress As Dog Bed

Crib Mattress As Dog BedIf you're tired of having to replace your large dog's bed and spending a lot of money, I suggest you buy a baby crib mattress and a plastic zippered mattress cover. Put a crib sheet over it and you're set, clean up is a breeze and you'll never need another dog bed.

 

pink leash

Hanging Dog LeashesIn a home with multiple dogs, there are several ways to keep dog leashes organized and readily available when you need them.

 

A small aging dog in a basket.

Caring for Your Aging DogAging dogs need some special considerations to keep them happy and comfortable. These are just a few tips that I have found helped improve the quality of life for my aging pets.

 

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Don't Forget the Poop BagWe use a retractable leash for our dog Belle. We always keep 3-4 plastic bags tied to the handle, that way we never (well almost never) get caught without a potty bag.

 

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Buying the Right Size Dog CollarAlong with other things that I keep in my cell phone, like hubby's shoe size, friend's birthdates, gym lock combination (don't use that often enough to remember!) I note (in inches) my dog's collar size.

 

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Kennel Dogs When Guests ArriveI have 2 Labs that are inside children. Marley never meets a stranger. Macey, on the other hand, is a shy little girl. They have the big wire crates in our game room. So before someone comes in, I tell them to kennel up.

 

A rottweiler and his family.

Buy Store Brand Dog FoodWhile I wish I could have afforded the top of the line for my dog, but I could not. We fed our Rottweiler a store brand dog food comparable to the major name brands. Now, Rotts eat a lot of food and we fed him no table scraps.

 

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Saving Money on Dog Potty PadsWhen my daughter moved into a apartment recently, they wouldn't let her have a pet. So, I am now the owner of a little Yorkie. She is so sweet and little. As she is so little, so is her bladder.

 

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Jack Russell and Yorkie in their warm coats.

Cheap Winter Coats for PetsI had 3 doggies at one time, and getting them winter coats was a bit costly. So at an after-Halloween costume sale, I scored big and saved lots. I purchased several pet/dog costumes for $1.00 to $3.00 each.

 

Dog leash in hand

Leads for Dogs Need to Be Easily SeenWhen shopping for a lead, buy one that is easily seen, even at night. This is not for traffic only, it is for the dog's welfare also. To their mind, it is a scary thing to begin leash training and not know what it is you are hooked up to.

 

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Walking Your DogI am responsible for the daily walking of my son's four year-old Beagle, Canti. What a gratifying time for both myself and Canti. We walk with a leash, a cloth bag, newspaper sleeves for clean-up, a water bowl and three 20 ounce fresh water bottles.

 

A happy dog on a couch.

Vegetables and Fruit for Dog TreatsA healthy alternative to expensive dog treats are vegetable and fruit. Dogs love chewing on fresh carrots. Canned green beans or canned carrots are also healthy and good for them with no fillers.

 

Group of Seven Various Orange Flameless Candles

Solar and Battery Lights Inside and OutsideOur dog Buddy was blinded in one eye, so we try to keep the floor lighted enough for him to find his way around easier. They also help us to see him, if we have to get up during the night. We bought small LED lights at the $.99 store.

 

A golden dog is camping by a lake.

Camping Tie Out for DogsThe doggy chain clamps wear out fast when big dogs are yanking the chains, so my husband bought some plastic coated wire and clamped heavy duty clasps onto each end - the kind with swivels on them.

 

photo of Dog Dishes on a slat shoe shelf

Shoe Shelf For Dog DishesWe just got a Great Dane pup. He is growing quite quickly, and we need to keep his food and water elevated to help with digestion. Those dog bowl holders are quite expensive.

 

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Dealing With A Protective Dog At HomeOur dog, Honey, is very protective when strangers come to the door, especially repair or delivery people. We usually put her in the back yard or a bedroom and then listen to her bark her head off until the person leaves.

 

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Use Diaper Disposal Bags For Dog CleanupI purchase small bags at the dollar store for picking up doggie duty. Now I buy the small bags marked diaper disposal, because you get 75 for the same price as 50 doggie bags. The only difference is the color.

 

Photo of a dachshund.

Craigslist for Lost PetsWe found a cute little Dachshund in the backyard yesterday morning. It had a sweater on, so we knew it belonged to someone in the neighborhood. I made some signs to put up, but also checked Craigslist.org and posted a notice.

 

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Cleaning Dog's PawsI have a Goldendoodle and when he comes in from the yard, his paws are filthy. In order to get them clean, I actually squeeze his paws, like a sponge, and it cleans them so much better than just wiping them off.

 

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Make Your Own Pet BedRecycle your old bed pillows to make your pet a bed. Put the old bed pillows through the washer and dryer to clean and fluff them up. Then use the pillow fill to make a custom bed for your pet.

 

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Dealing With a Hyper DogMy dog Daisy is part Jack Russel and part Feist. She is hyper, wets the floor when she gets excited, jumps on everybody that comes in the door, has to lick everyone and would sit in everybody's lap if they would let her.

 

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Twin Mattress for Large DogsWe have two large dogs - 90 and 120 lbs. that sleep in our bedroom. After going though several dog beds (starting at $40 each times two), because of their size (they literally flattened the beds), I finally convinced my husband to buy a twin mattress.

 

Dog sitting on plastic over car seat.

Cover Seat with Plastic Table Cloth for PetUse an old plastic table cloth to cover the seat in your vehicle when you have pets riding with you.

 

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How to Tell if Your Dog is PurebredThis is an unusual, but interesting dog tip. The palate of a pure bred dog's mouth is one solid color from the very front of it's mouth to all the way to the back of it's throat, where a mixed breed isn't.

 

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Use Small Grocery Bags For Dog WasteSave those tiny plastic grocery bags that are too small to use for anything else. I keep my other plastic bags to use for trash containers. You can use the really little bags to pick up doggie messes in the park when walking your dog and no waste bags are available.

 

Dog on ottoman.

Keeping Your Dogs Happy in the Summer HeatHot weather can really stress your pet's health. I have three inside dogs and have found that even with air conditioning a pet can be uncomfortable.

 

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Keeping Puppies Out of TrashPuppies are naturally curious and scent-driven, which makes your kitchen trash can irresistible to them. Keep them out by pouring a scant cap full of ammonia into the can. I only had to do this a few times for my pup.

 

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Give Ice Cubes as Dog TreatsInstead of buying pricey, high-calorie dog treats, we give our dogs ice cubes as treats. They love them! The ice cubes are free, zero calories, and help keep the dogs hydrated. They come running every time they hear ice falling into a glass.

 

Shower

Keep Dogs' Water in Walk-In ShowerOur two dogs were always splashing and dripping water from their water bowl that I kept in the kitchen. Not anymore! My husband, Patricio, has a walk-in shower and the dogs now know where their water bowl is.

 

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Set Up Pup Pool for Summer HeatLiving in Florida, the heat is horrible for my outdoor pets. I bought a cheap kiddy, outdoor pool, and put in the back yard in the sun. When my pup gets hot, he dives in, and plays with his toys in the pool. He stays cool at the same time.

 

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Put a House Key on Your Dog LeashKeep an extra key to your house and/or car on the end of your dog leash. When you take your pet for a walk in the neighborhood, or in the park, you will not have to worry about locking yourself out accidentally.

 

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Have A Bag Packed For Trips With Your DogI travel quite a bit with my little Doxie and like to have her "stuff" handy. She needs several things through the day so we now have a "Penny bag" for Penny's stuff. This bag is just a cloth tote that can be washed in the washer.

 

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Storing Large Bags of Dog FoodI use a "dog food only" garbage bin with the locking handles to store 50 lb bags of dog food. The whole bag goes into the bin which is stored in the garage. It keeps the food fresh and keeps the dog out of it.

 

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Break Up Dogs With NoiseTo break up dog fights, especially at a dog park where you may not have water available to squirt, vigorously shake a can filled with rocks so you can make a lot of noise.

 

Palypen with dog bed inside.

Using a Play Pen for Momma Dog and Her...Used playpens make a great place for your small pet to have their litter. My sister's Chihuahua had puppies a few months ago and she wanted her momma dog to have a safe place to have them and to keep the pups away from the daddy dog and cats in the house.

 

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Breaking Up a Dog FightThe best way to break up a dog fight is to throw water on the dogs. This will usually startle the dogs enough to stop the fighting. Breaking up a dog fight with your hands can be very dangerous as you are liable to get bit or scratched.

 

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Inexpensive Alternative To The Pooper ScooperInexpensive Alternative To The Pooper-Scooper. As pooper-scoopers are quite expensive, I found using a dust pan with a handle and a child's leaf rake (both items found in dollar stores) works really well.

 

dog with a carrot in its mouth

Healthy Treats For Your DogI would expect my vet to be pretty strict when it comes to treats and scraps for the dogs. But to my surprise, he said that you "should" share from the table once in a while!

 

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Bedding for 11 PuppiesOur Border Collie just had puppies. In fact, she had 14 total, but only 11 survived. 11 puppies! Oh my gosh. Thoughts were going through my mind about how we were going to help our "girl" look after them.

 

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Tips for a Choosing a PuppyDo your homework!

 

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Visit Dog ParksStart taking your new puppy to a Doggy Park now. You have plenty of happy days ahead of reading in the park as your dog runs free, gets plenty of exercise, and socializes with other dogs.

 

Kodi (German Shepherd Mix)

Rake Your CarpetWith a hairy companion like Kodi, hair can be a real problem for the carpet and vacuum, so before I vacuum I rake the carpet. It's wild how much hair is in the teeth of the rake.

 

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