Life Hacks For Dogs: Ten Useful Tips For New And Experienced Dog Owners!

The Guide To A Happier Dog Ownership

Welcoming a canine companion into our homes can mean a few adjustments in our lifestyles. Whether we have prior knowledge or experience to care for Doggos, it is never too late to pick up a few handy tips— time to make Dog-ownership much more enjoyable for you and your pooch! ☺

Source

1. Get A Kong

Chew toys have multi-purposes. Not only are they meant for play time and, chew toys are handy tools to keep your Doggos properly entertained when you are busy with something in the house. One such toy is a Kong— a simple rubberized toy with a hollowed out compartment for delicious treats, even a slab of peanut butter. It's not all fun and games, brain stimulation goes on while your Doggo(s) try to figure out how to get to their treats by gnawing and licking.

Source

Fun Tip #1      Scorching weather? Stuff some healthy frozen treats in! Use peanut butter to hold small treats together. Your Doggo is bound to go bananas ☺

Try a few homemade frozen treat recipes here.

2. Brushing Teeth With Toys

Certain Dogs may give their owners a tougher time when it comes to brushing teeth. Nonetheless, dental and oral hygiene is essential to keep their teeth in good shape till a ripe old age. Struggling in getting your pooch to cooperate? Rub some Vet-approved toothpaste on their toys (i.e. rubber or rope).

Source

Fun Tip #2      Pick toys preferably with grooves or tiny knobby surfaces. These help scrape some dirt off their tongues and teeth, keeping their breaths fresh too! On top of all that, don’t forget to pop by a trusted Vet for a routined dental check!

3. Greens For Good Breath

While we're on the topic of oral hygiene, add this nifty hack for fresher breath. It's no news that breath freshening treats contain herbs like parsley and/or mint— pop in some finely-chopped fresh parsley or mint into your pooch's food, and freshen up their breaths while they chomp away during meal times!

Source

4. Recycle An Old T-Shirt

Clearing up some wardrobe space? Don't throw your old clothes away, donate them to the needy. At the same time, save a few old t-shirts (preferably those with stretchy material)— make these into a braided rope toy. 

Steps:

• Give your tees a good wash and dry before cutting them up into strips 
• Braid 3 strips with two knotted ends for a tug-o-war toy!

Source

Fun Tip # 3      Don’t throw the remainder away, make more braided toys and replace old tattered ones anytime!

5. Reuse Squeeze Bottles

As responsible and considerate Dog owners, we should pickup and dispose of any excrement from our Dogs while outdoors. A bottle of water comes in handy to wash away urine or poo stains, but a squeeze bottle gives added pressure for a quicker and more efficient cleanse! 

Steps:

• Recycle squeeze bottles (for chilli sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, or maple syrup etc.)
• Wash them with soap and water thoroughly. 
• Fill it up with water, and strap them along for your next Dog walk or outdoor activity with your Doggo.

Source

Fun Tip #4      Pick squeezy bottles with a secure cap to avoid water-spilage. Better yet if it has a handle, for ease of carrying about!

6. Vaseline On Paws

Damage to a Dog's delicate and sensitive paw pads is something that might go unnoticed. That is also why Dog shoes are invented (not just a fashion statement)— not all Doggos are used to wearing shoes. We use Vaseline for prevention of blisters and abrasions, and it works wonders for our Canine companions too.  

• Apply a small amount of Vaseline underneath each paw pad just before heading out

Source

Fun Tip #5      Rinse off as per norm when you are home, checking to make sure no dirt is stuck in between or on them☺

7. Buy Carabiners

Yet another multi-purpose tool, Carabiners are perfect for attaching items to a Dog leash, and/or combining two leashes together. Another great usage example is how we could keep one on our Doggo’s leash at all times— free up your hands by fastenening the leash to ourselves or a stationary object anytime with a simple loop technique like such:

Source

To avoid theft or harm, never leave your Dog(s) alone and unattended to for long periods of time, it’s not safe!

8. Slow Down Food Intake

Got a furry fast eater at home? Improve your furchild's disgestion by getting a slow-feeder bowl, or save a few bucks just by popping a tennis ball into their bowls. Although, this would work best with a big bowl— big enough to fit a tennis ball and also leave some space around for the Doggos to reach in. This results in a longer time to reach for pieces of kibble, and also smaller intakes with each bite☺

Source

9. Baking Soda And White Vinegar

Baking Soda is an effective cleaning ageant to have in anyone's home, with other uses like facial aid and cooking. Cleaning up your Pet's accidental mess like urine or poo calls for a thorough cleaning with baking soda and vinegar.

• Rub in baking soda on the stained area
• Pour white vinegar and allow to dry
• Vacuum the remaining baking soda right up

Source

Fun Tip #6      Dogs tend to urinate and/or deficate in the same spots by tracking the scents. Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar is known to even safely rid scent and odor!

View Related:

How To Efficiently Clean And Disinfect Your Pet’s Bed

Flea Treatment And Prevention: Useful Home Remedies For Pet Owners!

10. Cleaning With Rubber Gloves

In case you missed this little viral trick, it is about time you tried it! Using rubber gloves or a rubber squeegee works wonders in cleaning up stray hair on furniture and surfaces!

Source

• Put on the rubber gloves 
• Dampen gloves a little 
• Swipe against the surfaces and notice how all the Pet hair gets collected in a cluster

Products have also evolved to further equip Pet owners improve their lifestyles— We own a special vacuum head meant to remove Pet hair on furniture. Some brands with Pet hair brushes that are totally effective are Miele, Bosch and Dyson.

Miele Turbo Mini Brush 

Bosch Athlet Animal Pro

Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Pro

Check out this other vacuum tool we found:

Aren't these products interesting and extremely convenient? 

Head down to test the product's suction strength for yourselves, to be assured your Doggo's hair wouldn't be tugged at. This tool is only meant to remove loose hair for medium to long coat Dogs by the way!

You might also be interested in:

Dog Behaviour And Body Language: What Is My Dog Trying To Tell Me?

Can Dogs Get Depressed?: Nine Tell Tale Signs Your Dog Is Depressed or Unwell

Life Hacks For Cats: Ten Useful Tips For Every Feline Lover

Your Stories Can Be Heard Too

Got a Life Hack to add on? Your voices are important to us and the Pets community! Our readers are encouraged to share their  Pet-related reviews of a place and its services, experiences, even lifestyle tips and tricks to better our Pets lives, on our platform, one paw at a time. Be a part of an educational and informative Pets community because at ThePetsDialogue, your voices could make a huge difference on a global scale.

Write to us at [email protected] today!

Our website is a work in progress, however, if you did find our articles interesting please do feel free to share! For more Pet care tips and other Pet-related articles, head to www.thepetsdialogue.com ☺

Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals.

ThePetsDialogue claims no credit for images posted on this article unless otherwise displayed/stated. All rights go to respective owners as mentioned. If you do not wish for your image(s) to appear here do drop us an e-mail and it will be removed promptly. If you do wish to use any of our original published information, you are welcome to contact us! 

Benefits Of Pet Ownership: Top Five Ways Your Pet Affects Your Life

A furry or feathered companion in your life have ways of becoming more than just a Pet. Countless of research and studies have proven just that, and the benefits that follow through— From emotional health, physical health, and overall sense of dependence, you may very well have a friend for life ☺

Top: Dog, Cat, Hamster. Bottom: Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Bird.

How Do Pets Benefit Our Lives? 

1. Emotional Benefits —  Do you recall the last time your Pet made you smile? We'd bet it isn't that long ago, or more accurately— it must have just happened, from merely thinking about them. Research also tells us that a high percentage of Pet owners have a lower blood pressure and lesser risks of a heart attack due to lower stress levels. A relationship with our Pets returns ever-lasting love and affection with no strings attached.

Source

2. Curbing Social Anxiety — Are you naturally shy? Because a Pet actually helps tackle loneliness and social shyness. We can barely count the number of times a conversation struck between a stranger and ourselves because of our Pets. A simple "Aww, how cute! How old is he/she" is pretty much an ice-breaker.

Source

And how about those friends or relatives whom seem to visit your place just for your pets? Be proud and encouraged to carry on a conversation with others, because your Pet pal is right beside you. Don't they give you so much more courage?☺

3. Physical Health Benefits — The daily duties of Pet ownership may seem nothing more than just responsibilities in a long-run— but did you know, a task as simple as taking your Dog out for a walk is a form of keeping healthy too, more than you'd ever imagine. Don't have a Dog? Bring your other Pets out for a stroll, and if they do not fancy being on a leash, simply carry them around! Getting a little fresh air with your beloved companion is beneficial for your heart and mind after all.

Source

The good people of Singapore Heart Foundation agrees:
Woof-A-Thon 2017 At Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park

4. Helping The Elderly — Studies have shown that elderly/senior folks that own Pets are generally more active and interactive— activities involved with Pet ownership reduces depression, increase their willingness to move about and stay active. On top of that, Pets also provide the elderly with a greater sense of responsibility and purpose, much like having to care for a close family member.

Source

5. Fighting Allergies — Allergies have been never-ending battles for many animal-lovers. We've have encountered a number of friends whom are willing to consume prescribed medication, just to be together with their furry companions. Though there isn't a perfect solution to avoid this, it has been proven that a child exposed to Pets at an early age is less likely to develop an allergy in future. Having a Pet around could also help a child's morale and social behaviour.

Note

Research, Preparation, Responsibility, Love and Effort goes hand in hand before all. NEVER get a pet on impulse unless you are undoubtedly sure you can provide a loving and suitable home. No life-form deserves to be abandoned, strayed or abused. If you do have all the pointers covered, We hope for the best and await for your stories and journey to be shared amongst many other Pet-lovers.

You might also be interested in these:

Flea Treatment And Prevention: Useful Home Remedies For Pet Owners!

Dog Life Hacks: Ten Useful Tips For Every Dog Owner

Life Hacks For Cats: Ten Useful Tips For Every Feline Lover

Rabbit Life Hacks: Ten Useful And Easy Life Hacks For Bunny Owners

Your Stories Can Be Heard Too

Have YOU got a tip to share? Your voices are important to us and the Pets community! Our readers are encouraged to share their Pet-related reviews of a place and its services, experiences, even lifestyle tips and tricks to better our Pets lives, on our platform, one paw at a time. Be a part of an educational and informative Pets community because at ThePetsDialogue, your voices could make a huge difference on a global scale.

Write to us at [email protected] today!

Our website is a work in progress, however, if you did find our articles interesting please do feel free to share! For more Pet care tips and other Pet-related articles, head to www.thepetsdialogue.com ☺

Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals.

ThePetsDialogue claims no credit for images posted on this article unless otherwise displayed/stated. All rights go to respective owners as mentioned. If you do not wish for your image(s) to appear here do drop us an e-mail and it will be removed promptly. If you do wish to use any of our original published information, you are welcome to contact us!

Rabbit Life Hacks: Ten Useful And Easy Life Hacks For Bunny Owners

While Rabbits are amongst the Small animal category in Pets, Rabbit owners are often amazed at how much fun and joy their pet Bunnies could bring them, and the never-ending life lessons they provide through a rewarding Pet ownership. These experiences are valuable sources of tips to share around, so fellow Rabbit owners can take heed too ☺

Did you know that Rabbits are one of the top most abandoned Pets in Singapore?

Source

These tiny fluffy butts and twitchy noses are also victims of impulse buys, and often wind up getting abandoned, only after humans realise that these Buns actually require much more responsibilities than they’d imagine! So before you judge them by their sizes and fall swooning over their furry cuteness, please do your research and be absolutely prepared for all the commitments to come. With that said, Rabbit ownership is enjoyed by many around the world, and here are 10 useful tips and tricks to make life for you and your Bun just a tad more breezy!

Life Hacks For Rabbit Owners

1. Keeping A Rabbit Cool — It’s important to keep our Pets cool and hydrated in a scorching weather, and even more so for our Bun friends, as they are actually much more susceptible to heat. Freeze bottles of water and tuck them in the cage beside your Rabbits. Catch them laze in absolute serenity ☺ Swap out the bottles once the ice has melted!

Source

2. Frozen Treats — Yes, our Bun pals can enjoy a frozen treat too when the heat is just too unbearable. Pop some fruit or veggie bits into an ice tray or silicon moulds, fill it with water, and freeze! When done, break out the treat cubes and feed it to them. A cooling dose of water and fun time getting to a tasty snack, talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Source

3. Stop Pissing There! — One of the most effective cleaning solution as recommended by Rabbit owners happens to be White vinegar. White vinegar blocks out the urine stench and prevents your Bun from going back to piss in the same spot! Combining it with a little Baking Soda can also help remove stains. Just be sure not to leave behind any baking soda residue.

Source

We can’t express how impressed by how this combination works all the time, even with simple household cleaning, and now even Rabbit litter training? Take all our money!

4. Recycling Old Toilet Rolls — When you are a Rabbit owner, toilet rolls should be your next best friend. Recycle all of them if you can, and turn them into fun toys for your Buns! Toilet rolls work great as treat or hay stuffers, and doubles up as a scratch/chew toy when they try to get to their hay treats! When they are shredded up, simply change them out with new ones ☺ 
Tip: You can get longer rolls from kitchen paper towels.

Source

5. Resting Those Feet — Many Rabbit owners are taking to using a fence structure as an enclosure instead of cages now. While that eases a Bun's hocks and provides a large space, things may get messy even with these fastidious creatures. You could make cleaning up easier by laying a flat rubber mat as a base, to catch spillage of hay or waste. Waterproof— for easy washing, and anti-slip so the space doesn’t budge from all the hopping!

Source

6. Line The Tray — Bun owners keep their Rabbit’s litter boxes lined with special liners, which can be quite costly in the long run but extremely useful. When you run out of liners, a quick alternative you could grab for are newspapers! Liners serve as a protective layer in litter trays so you don’t get nasty urine stains and better odour control. Plus, it makes cleaning a whole lot faster too!

Source

7. Maximize Litter — As part of eliminating odour and keeping the litter tray clean and dry, most Rabbit owners also include litter on top of liners. However most Rabbit litter packs are too small for what it’s worth. Get Cat litter instead, they come in much larger packaging, but be sure to pick a scent free, paper-based litter. Also, avoid clumping litter at all costs, as these clumps can be potential choking hazards for your Buns!

Source

8. Protect Your Cables — Keep your cords, cables and wires out of reach! Though at some times, that cannot be helped. Well for the safety of your Buns and your cables, get protective casings that will deter your Rabbits from having a chomping festival with dangerous “toys”. Don’t forget, chewing is something your Buns can’t help doing!

Source

9. Grow A Patch — We may not be able to grow vegetable from our apartments here in Singapore, but we could most definitely get our hands on some grass seeds. Grow a small patch for your Buns to lounge in, knowing that it is absolutely safe and toxic free. Rabbit owners have reported occasional munching too! Use this grass patch for playtime, and supervise their intake closely. Try growing wheat grass, timothy grass or oat grass.

Source

10. Getting Rid Of Fur — Ah, good ol’ hair of our Furkids. If you are a Pet owner and you have not invested in a Pet hair vacuum, you sure are patient! Some other ways of ridding hair and fur includes hand sweeping with rubber gloves on fabrics, lint rollers, or using a curry brush.

Source

But the fastest and most efficient cleaning has got to be a vacuum! Again, Rabbits are smaller than Dogs and Cats, but that does not mean their fur shedding is any lesser (you’d be surprised). Here are some vacuum recommendations from us and fellow Pet owners!

Miele Turbo Mini Brush

Bosch Athlet Animal Pro

Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Pro

You might also be interested in:

Is My Rabbit Is Sick?: 10 Tell Tale Signs And Quick Solutions

What Is My Rabbit Thinking?: Understanding Your Rabbit's Behaviour

Rabbits Of Instagram: Dangerously Cute Bunnies On Social Media

Why Rabbits Do Not Make Great Starter Pets: Are You Suitable For A Rabbit?

Your Stories Can Be Heard Too

Your voices are important to us and the Pets community! Our readers are encouraged to share their  Pet-related reviews of a place and its services, experiences, even lifestyle tips and tricks to better our Pets lives, on our platform, one paw at a time. Be a part of an educational and informative Pets community because at ThePetsDialogue, your voices could make a huge difference.

Source

Write to us at [email protected] today!

Our website is a work in progress, however, if you did find our articles interesting please do feel free to share! For more Pet care tips and other Pet-related articles, head to www.thepetsdialogue.com ☺

Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals.

ThePetsDialogue claims no credit for images posted on this article unless otherwise displayed/stated. All rights go to respective owners as mentioned. If you do not wish for your image(s) to appear here do drop us an e-mail and it will be removed promptly. If you do wish to use any of our original published information, you are welcome to contact us! 

Life Hacks For Cats: Ten Useful Tips For Every Feline Lover

Our feline friends can be adorable and funny in their own little ways, and some are neat and tidy by nature, but it doesn’t mean they do not make occasional messes. These are part and parcel of Pet ownership, and it’s always great to have a few useful tricks up your sleeves to make your kitty and you live together happily, don’t you think? ☺

Source

Just how do we make Pet ownership a whole lot easier?

Life Hacks For Cat Owners

1. Put It On A Plate — Some of our feline companions are really fast eaters. And a quick way to fix that problem is to swap out their bowls for a flat dish or plate instead. With the food spread out, your Kitties will take a longer time to chow down on the food, as opposed to a whole deep chunk at one go. Word has it that some Cats actually very much prefer eating off a larger area too!

Source

2. Smells Good, Doesn’t It? — The opposite of fast eaters are picky eaters, and that is when Cats show no interest in their food. Veterinarians and Experts suggest heating the food up a little, enough to emit an enticing scent for the feline senses. We can already imagine how much more delectable the food smells after a little warming up. Check the temperature to ensure the food isn’t too hot before you feed your Kitties of course!

Source

3. Shorten Those Distractions — People may be torn between the love for beautiful home upholstery and Cats, because its no news that Cats absolutely love having a go at long drapey curtains, trying to climb it or playing peek-a-boo with themselves. While we can't really change the fact that they simply love curtains, we could knot up the ends, or opt for much shorter ones, and tuck them away whenever you want to have some bonding time with them. Just a little trick for the time being to prevent them from reaching the drapes easily ☺

Source

4. Tape It Up — Cats are naturally inquisitive, it is part of what makes them so adorable to us! If you have items are areas that you do not wish for your Cat to come close to especially for safety reasons (i.e. potted plants that may contain harmful pesticides or unsafe to consume). Try using double-sided tape on them (not the Cats), but stick it around objects like the flower pot or desk. Most Cats do not like sticky surfaces and they would avert from it. Better yet, just keep those plants out of reach ☺

Source

5. Cat Grass — Save your moolah and provide even more fun and safe greens for your feline pals by growing your own Cat grass! Purchase seeds that come with instructions (Cat-safe grass include Wheatgrass, Oat and Barley) and grow them out in batches. Our Cats require certain enzymes to help them digest, which explains why they are caught chomping on some other leafy plant or grass from time to time. Most Cats love lounging on their very own mini lawn too!

Source

6. Recycle That Old Shirt — You can make your own Cat a toy tent out of recycled materials, all you need is an old tee-shirt, a sturdy cardboard, some tape and two wire hangers! Thanks to this demo-graphic here, you can now embark on a little project for your kitties to have a cosy little tent to laze or play in!

Source

7. Keeping Litter At Bay — You may have an “anti-spill” litter tray, so where are these litter bits around the house coming from? Well, our Cats can’t help it if some litter bits get stuck in between their paws or fur, and thereafter deposited around the house.

Source

To easily minimise that issue, use a large rubber mat with grid surfaces on it (see image example) and lay it underneath the front portion of the tray (You can also place tray above the mat if the mat is large enough). This way, the mat will catch any litter deposits from Kitty’s first few steps out of the potty! Rubber mats are also easy to clean.

8. Tie That Up — Tying or sticking sisal rope to the sides or your furniture acts as a perfect scratching post for your kitties, not only that, it also protects your furniture substantially (we’re speaking of durability ☺).

Source

So grab a few metres of these ropes and tie away! When done properly, sisal rope can also bring a little nautical or rustic charm to your home.

9. Cover Those Holes Up — If you prefer leaving the toilet doors open in your home, then make it a habit to cover the lids on the toilet bowls when you are done, to prevent your Cats from falling in, or playing with the water in the loo. Some owners find their Cats lazing in their bathroom sinks when they are trying to get ready for work (they are notorious for being in odd places at the “wrong” time).

Source

To avoid that "hassle" in the morning of coaxing your Cat to get out of the sink, cover it the night before with a silicon mat, or…the easiest way really, is closing the bathroom door before bedtime folks!

10. Fur On You — We would imagine that every Pet owner owns a myriad of cleaning arsenals at home, (baking soda and white vinegar for urine stain and odour) and some specifically for getting rid of Pet fur or hair on your clothes or home. Some vacuum brands with Pet hair brushes that are totally effective are Miele, Bosch and Dyson.

Miele Turbo Mini Brush

Bosch Athlet Animal Pro

Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Pro

Rubber gloves work on sweeping the fur off your furniture and lint rollers work on your clothes with ease. On top of that, you can also pop in a dryer sheet with your laundry during washing, to grab off any excess hair or fur you may have missed out!

Source

You might also be interested in:


Understanding Cats Behaviour

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Sick or Sad

Ten Useful Hacks For Every Dog Owner

Your Stories Can Be Heard Too

Have YOU got a tip to share? Your voices are important to us and the Pets community! Our readers are encouraged to share their Pet-related reviews of a place and its services, experiences, even lifestyle tips and tricks to better our Pets lives, on our platform, one paw at a time. Be a part of an educational and informative Pets community because at ThePetsDialogue, your voices could make a huge difference on a global scale.

Write to us at [email protected] today!

Our website is a work in progress, however, if you did find our articles interesting please do feel free to share! For more Pet care tips and other Pet-related articles, head to www.thepetsdialogue.com ☺

Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals.

ThePetsDialogue claims no credit for images posted on this article unless otherwise displayed/stated. All rights go to respective owners as mentioned. If you do not wish for your image(s) to appear here do drop us an e-mail and it will be removed promptly. If you do wish to use any of our original published information, you are welcome to contact us!