Dog life hacks

[tinselvestsparklepants]

I've had ddog for 8 months now and am learning through trial and error. I have a spare lead/poo bags in the car. I keep wet wipes in the poo-bag bag. Today I learned that gardening gloves are great for a walk because they keep my hands warm but are better at dealing with muddy sticks etc than wool gloves. What other dog hacks am I missing?

I love the small poo holders you put on the lead and add rolls of poo bags to. Game changer for me.
Towel in the car is also a must as is spare ball.
Portable water bottle that doubles as a bowl too for after hot weather walks

Warm waterproof gloves are very useful - I have a pair of Sealskinz.
Tick remover on my keyring.

Bowl of clean water and a towel left by the front door for washing paws when we get back from the muddy park.

Get the used to wearing an equafleece if they're inclined to roll in mud/fox shit. Makes cleaning it much easier

Treats treats treats everywhere! High value ones so I'm forever pulling cubes of cheese and sausage out of various items of clothing 😂😂😂
A total game changer for me was a frisbee ( high energy rescue who just wouldn't focus) like a different dog now!

Treats everywhere! We have little jars with a variety of treats in most rooms.

Blankets if you have a female dog who's not yet been spayed - I really like the Dunelm extra large fleece blankets. Huge enough to cover sofa, wash and dry really well (and quickly) and aren't expensive.

Spare lead in the car, poo bag holder on all leads.

Gardening shoes/slip ons near the back door. Particularly if still housetraining.

We're working through separation anxiety and so do short departures where we need to get to her very quickly if she does show signs of distress - so thermal base layers are an absolute must!

Small packet of wet wipes in bag which holds the long line.

Sniffy walks can be just as tiring as long ones.

Ooh there are some good ones on here!

Good hiking boots! Easy to clean and comfortable in ALL weather!
I also have a "Dog Coat" for all the muddy walks ... treats, poo bags and gloves are already in the pockets!

towelling dog dressing gown (Ruff & Tumble are good) - throw on muddy dog before going in car, throw on soggy dog after shower/wet walk, throw on shivery dog after hydrotherapy... Dog usually emerges dry and less muddy.

Throws everywhere.

Lickimats/Kongs, smeared with cheap cream cheese/banana/low fat pate make boring time better.

Beware suspiciously cheap poo bags.

Watching with interest!

A game changer for our recall training has been a tube of chicken paste in every coat pocket as a reward for every 'come' and nothing else to keep it as a super high value treat.

Keep your head phones in the ddog lead bag...

My best buys/hacks
Dog walking coat, only to be used for walking the dogs. Pockets refilled with treats and poo bags after walks.

Wellies- good quality MuckBoots that are brilliant for all weathers and so quick to put on.

Old duvet made into a snuggle sack

Equafleeces

The 'dog towels' are all bright pink ones from Tesco/Dunelm, so they don't get confused with the human towels and shoved back on the shelf. I am looooong past the point where I'm bothered about drying myself on a clean towel that has previously been used on a damp hound, but apparently DH other family members are fussy about such things.

Paw cleaner!

These are great for cleaning mud off dogs when our and about, or keep by your door firbwhen you get back

bootbuddy.com/products/paw-buddy

These are great - more please!

Mine is go to charity shop and buy every towel they have. In winter it’s vital to have a massive stock. I got heaps for 50p each, including a brand new with tags bale of Christy ones!

Also big ol’ thick curtains to cover crate, especially important when clocks go forward as you don’t want your dog getting the idea it’s morning at 4.30am !

The wearable towels are amazing but we got ours from B&M and it does the job for a fraction of the price.
I always leave a damp towel and a dry one by the front door for paws after a walk.
Cheap poo bags are never a good idea.
Car seat covers.

My dog thinks that the suggestion of treats everywhere is the best suggestion yet...

Get a poo bag holder for full poo bags. Clips onto lead or bag. Hands free walks without having to carry it.

Making your own treats is way cheaper than buying them.

Suction lick mats will make baths or grooming time easy-peasy.

Don't buy dog peanut butter, Aldi 100% is the same but a fraction of the price.

A 5m lead can be converted into one you wear cross body really quickly for more hands free walks. I use mine a lot round national trust places where I often walk with a brew and need the dog on lead but he can still potter off and sniff a bit

I have a designated dog walking bag that's wipe clean (it's a fat face one, vinted bargain). It's got a zip compartment at the front that I put bags of poo in until I can find a bin (hate carrying them in my hand). The usual poo bags, treats, hand sanitiser but my top tip is a small microfiber cloth, really handy to wipe mud off clothes, the lead, quickly wipe dogs paws before they get in the car etc. Doesn't take up much space and can even use it to sit on if the grounds a bit damp.

Only a small thing, but I always open a few poo bags before a walk so that I don't need to take my gloves off outside (I can't open the bags with gloves on).
What a useful thread this is!

I lay old towels on the floor in a line from the doormat to catch slightly muddy paws when he’s been out for a wee when the ground is wet. He’s very old and gets really upset if you touch his legs or feet (always has but these days prone to topple over in a tizz) and this gets it off without stress.

When my dog is having breakfast, I prepare his Kong and licky mats to put in the freezer for later. The specific timing doesn't really matter, it doesn't have to be during breakfast. But I find that if I always do this at the same time each day I don't ever forget to do it. And there is always something in the freezer for him in case I need it.

Buy the best quality waterproofs and walking boots you can afford. You’ll be spending a lot of time in both! I really winced at the cost of my Aigle wellies and decent dog walking coat but nearly 11 years later they are both still going. Nothing worse than being cold with wet feet.

Canine enrichment is a good Facebook group with lots of ideas for entertaining dogs