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Some things can take a lifetime to learn, but this doesn’t have to be one of them. Through extensive research, we’ve put together the best list of helpful canine hacks you will ever need. In this list, you will surely find something you didn’t know and now won’t have to spend several years trying to figure them out.
A Hack List Every Dog Owner Needs!
Helpful Canine Hacks Need to know
Table of Contents
1. Baking Soda for Pet Urine
We start our list of helpful canine hacks with this one for good reason. Everyone has experienced their dog having an accident on the carpet, and now something needs to be done about it.
Try This: Pour some baking soda directly over the urine, allow it to sit for 30 minutes, now vacuum it up.
2. A Stuffed Kong
Your dog can get bored easily, and trying to find something to distract them for a bit can be a challenge.
This Works: Stuff a Kong with something your dog will love. This will keep your bored friend entertained, and give you a few extra minutes you may need to finish something. If you don’t have a Kong, you can find more information about one {Here On Amazon.}
3. Frozen Dog Treats
If you’re looking for an option without overfeeding your dog, then this might be a great idea. This is very simple, and the great part is that it can be ready within a few hours. copyright of everythingbigdogs.com
Here’s What You Do: Take some low sodium beef or chicken broth and put it in ice cube trays, put them in the freezer, and take them out a few hours later.
4. Removing the Smell of Skunk
This is a problem we all hope that never happens, but sometimes it shows up when you least expect it. Skunks love traveling in uncharted territory, and your dog will waste no time letting him know that he’s trespassing. You could also be walking through a trail with your dog, and now he has found something to get in trouble with. Now what?
Something That Helps: This will make life better for both of you. Mix these ingredients with ½ of a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, ⅛ cup of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Double this amount for larger dogs.
Before applying, make sure to use caution and not get it in your dog’s eyes. Start dabbing it on with a sponge or cloth. Give it about 10 minutes, this will allow it time to absorb the odor. Now you can rinse off your trouble maker.
5. Homemade Tug Toy
Do you have a dog that enjoys playing games with you? If you are lacking a useful toy from the store, then this could be a great idea for the two of you.
Problem Solved: Braid an old shirt, or cut an old pair of pants and do the same. This is an inexpensive way to solve your toy problem, and your canine will probably prefer it anyway.
6. Magic Eraser
Looking for something to make life a little easier. Your drooling friend can make a mess of the place in no time, so anything that can help with this is great.
Solution: The Magic Eraser works on just about everything. This will seem like magic after you use it. No longer will you have to scrub until you are worn out. A simple wipe and it will be gone. Life just got easier.
7. Dry Food is Too Hard
Does your dog enjoy eating hard food, or does he find it difficult to chew it?
Here You Go: No need to leave your dog without waiting to travel back to the store. Add some water to his food to soften it up. You can also try adding some low sodium broth to it for additional flavor.
8. Stop Scratching Doors
How often does your dog scratch on the door, even when they’ve been told numerous times to stop doing that? This can be difficult, especially because they know it does an excellent job of catching your attention.
This is What You Do: Find some old plastic laying around. Cut it so it will fit on the lower half of the door, and add some type of adhesive to keep it in place. This will prevent any further damage to your door. If you have nothing lying around that you can use, then you can find something {HERE ON AMAZON.}
9. Removing Hair
Sometimes that furry friend of yours can be messy, and it would be nice to find something that would help make picking up hair easier.
Try This: Use a squeegee to remove that unwanted dog hair. This will work great on car seats and carpets. This is a great option when you don’t have a vacuum cleaner around.
Helpful Canine Hacks #10
Homemade Stuffed Toy
Maybe you don’t have anything around for your dog to play with, but you need something now. This will surely keep your pet busy.
Here’s What You Do: Cut a hole in a tennis ball you have laying around, and stuff it full with some of their favorite snacks. Watch how quickly your dog will grab onto this one.
11. Dog Eating Dry Food Too Fast?
Is your dog quick to finish everything you put on the floor, and you need to find a solution to slow your canine down. This may be the answer you were looking for.
This Works: Put one of their small balls in the food bowl. While trying to get to their food, they will be forced to keep moving their toy around.
12. Making a Pet Bed
Trying to find something for your pet to sleep on, but haven’t been able to buy something yet. Your pet needs something, so now it’s time to figure out what you can use.
Problem Solved: See if you have an old couch cushion, or possibly a crib mattress. Take one of these and put a fitted sheet around it. This is a great temporary solution, or if you are on a budget. If you are planning on buying a dog bed for your pet, we have some of the best dog beds available and you can Check Them Out Here.
13. How to Get Your Dog Back
Does your dog like to take off the moment he gets a chance to do so? Now you have to spend the next hour chasing after him, hopefully getting him back without any problems.
This is What You Do: You need to start training your dog to return to you. You need to give him a command that he will recognize and reward him each time he comes back. Now, if you even have this problem, make sure to use the command and treat you trained him with.
14. Cool Down Your Dog
Most dogs would appreciate a way to cool off during the warmer days, but may not have an option for them to do that.
Here’s an Idea: Go to Walmart and buy a plastic kiddie pool. These can be fairly inexpensive to buy. All you need to do is fill it up with some water, and let your dog know that this is for him. Let the fun time begin.
15. Swallow Your Pill
Getting a dog to take a pill can be a challenge. Your pet has no interest in this, and will likely try to avoid this if possible. You must find a clever way to get your uncooperative friend to take their prescription.
Bam…Problem Solved: Penne pasta is the perfect tool to make this happen. Once you have cooked some pasta, and the pill into one of the pieces. Make sure to push the pill into the center to prevent it from falling out. Try mixing the pasta with something your dog loves, this will increase the chances of this working every time.
16. Bad Breath
Dogs are known for having bad breath, and sometimes it can be a little much. Switching to dry food may resolve the issue, but there is another option that can help you with this.
Add This: Add some fresh parsley into your dog’s food. This should keep your dog’s breath fresh.
17. How To Save Your Dog
Things can happen at a moment’s notice, and change everything in a flash. Just like humans, dogs have the potential to choke on something too. This can only be a nightmare for most of us, but for some, it will be a reality. What can we do when something like this happens?
Here’s the Solution: Learn how to help your dog choking, and CPR for emergencies.
18. Dog Food is Too Heavy
Your dog can go through dry food very quickly, and that large bag may be too much for you to carry back and forth every time. There has to be another way.
Yes, there is: Fill up a coffee container with your dog’s favorite food. This will keep their food fresh, and be easier for you when you need to feed your hungry friend. You’ll also be able to keep it nice and fresh in the container.
19. Poisoned
Maybe your dog has decided to innocently help himself to some that he shouldn’t have touched. Now you are faced with a concerning problem, and you are not sure what to do.
Do This: Give your dog hydrogen peroxide, this should be done quickly. One teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for every 10 pounds is needed. I would suggest speaking with your vet before proceeding.
Helpful Canine Hacks #20
Canine Constipation
Sometimes a pet can have a problem with moving their bowels, and we often hope it corrects itself quickly. The last thing you want to see is your dog suffer, so anything that can help would be great. Is there something that can be done?
Yes, Here’s the Solution: Try giving your dog some canned pumpkin. This should help with constipation, but make sure that it doesn’t have any spices in it.
21. Dangerous Foods for Dogs
We often end up giving in to our dog, which results in them eating something that isn’t good for them. There’s also the risk of giving your dog something dangerous for them and can be potentially fatal. Are there some things that should be avoided? The answer is yes.
Don’t Let Your Dog Touch These Foods: Here’s a list of foods that can be harmful to your dog.
- Alcohol – Ethanol is toxic for canines
- Avocados – Toxicity in avocados is highly debated, but the seed can cause illness.
- Chocolate – Theobromine poisoning is very dangerous, dogs can’t eat chocolate.
- Caffeine & Coffee – Toxic for dogs
- Fruit with Pits & Seeds – Risk bowel and intestinal obstruction, and can further complicate their health with cyanide poisoning.
- Garlic & Onions – Can cause stomach upset & anemia.
- Macadamia Nuts – Can contribute to toxicity in dogs, and cause canine pancreatitis because of the high-fat content.
- Raisins & Grapes – Can cause irreversible kidney damage, and possibly kidney failure.
22. Food Drawer for Dog
Tired of carrying the big bag of dog food back and forth to the dish, or maybe going downstairs to get some is a pain in the… Does life have to get better than this?
It just Did: You can convert one of your drawers in the kitchen, or maybe a file cabinet in the office. This will depend on where your dog normally eats. Put some plastic containers in the bottom drawer for easy access. This will make it much easier for you, and save you countless trips every time the dog bowl needs to be filled.
23. Bath Time Cap
Getting soap in your eyes is never fun, and it isn’t fun for your dog either. You try your best not to get soap in their eyes or ears, but sometimes it can still happen. Let’s see if we can make life easier for your brave dog.
Here’s What to Do: Get your dog a shower cap, this will work fantastic. They’re inexpensive to buy, and your pet will be less stressed from this. Give it a try.
24. Long Nails
Is your dog starting to grow some claws, and you’re not sure what you can do? Here’s a clever tip that may help solve this problem.
Try This: If your dog loves to scratch things, then this might work. Take a piece of wood any size you have room for, and put some sandpaper on it. If your dog scratches it, then their nails will also get filed at the same time.
25. Rubber Glove for Dog Hair
Tired of trying to figure out a way to remove hair from your furniture?
Here’s What You Can Do: To remove the hair from your furniture, just take a damp rubber glove and rub it over the furniture to grab all the dog hair.
26. Dog Gets Loose
Your dog decided to take today as the opportunity to get loose. This is going to take hours to bring him back. If there was only an easier way.
Solution: Give your dog the impression you’re hurt. Your dog will be naturally concerned about your wellbeing, so this is what you do. Lie down on the ground and act like you are hurt. Your dog will want to know if you are okay, and will likely come back to check on you, which can ultimately save you a ton of time chasing your dog.
27. Fetch Uphill
You love playing fetch with your dog, but after a long day, it’s not so easy to give much attention to your energetic pet. How can I allow my dog to burn off some energy after a long day?
This is What You Do: Find a place where you can play fetch uphill. This will surely burn out that extra energy your dog has.
28. Muffin Pan
Trying to make sure you feed your dog the right amount can be tricky. If your dog has a habit of overdoing it, and now you’re noticing that your dog is gaining weight, then something needs to be done.
Do This: Use a muffin tin to measure out the portion size.
If your dog has a problem with eating too fast, then you can also use the muffin pan.
Slow Him Down: Fill up the required amount you feed him into the muffin pan, then you can place something as an obstacle on top of it. This won’t prevent your dog from eating everything, but it will slow your canine friend down.
29. Vaseline to Paws
Trying to think of a way to help your dogs paws during the cold winter days?
Here’s the Solution: Apply vaseline to your dog’s paws to protect them from the salt.
Helpful Canine Hacks #30
Never Use Your Dog’s Name Negatively
Your dog will learn to recognize things from you at an early age. They learn very quickly from your tone and behavior, so how you use those two things are very important. If your dog has done something wrong, and you decide to use its name with that negative tone, your canine will start associating that name as bad. This will only create future communication problems with your beloved pet.
What Can Be Done to Prevent This?
Try This Idea: Only use your dog’s name for positive things. When calling your dog, and once he comes to you, reward your dog for good behavior. If you praise your dog and give him treats, you will be teaching your loyal companion a positive association with that name.
If your dog does something wrong, try to only use specific words for bad behavior.
31. Collapsible Water Bowl
Often we don’t think of taking pet accessories on short trips, and things can change quickly while you are out trying to finish a list of things to do. Your dog is thirsty, so what should you do?
Have You Thought of This? Buy a collapsible water bowl to have while traveling with your pet. They’re very compact, so it can be tucked away in your car, or stuffed in a purse. Very convenient for those days you and your dog are gone a little bit longer than expected. If this is something you might be interested in, then you can find it {HERE ON AMAZON.}
32. Dog’s Teeth
Some dogs will not cooperate when it comes to brushing teeth. You want to take care of your furry friend, but how can you do this?
Try This: You can find their favorite rope toy and put some canine toothpaste on it. This will help them, and they won’t even realize it.
33. Lost Your Dog
Losing your dog can be a nightmare, and trying to figure out how to get him back can be challenging. It’s hard to know where he went, or if he will ever return. There’s something you can do to increase your chances of recovering your dog.
Great Idea: Leave a piece of clothing that you wore all day, some of his dog food, and wait. Your misguided dog will pick up on the scent, and this will help him return to you.
34. Keep Ants Away From Dog Food
We all look forward to the summer and enjoy taking our dogs on trips, or you start letting him eat outside. The only problem with the nice weather is that it attracts unwanted guests. You’ve taken out your pet’s food, which starts a problem that you weren’t expecting. Ants, lots and lots of them. This can ruin anyone’s meal, including your dog’s. What can you do about this? We have a helpful canine hack that will keep those critters away.
Problem Fixed: Get some cinnamon oil and dab it around your dog’s food bowl. This can temporarily repel ants but does not affect aunts. 🙂 Always confirm with your vet about anything new you want to introduce around your pet.
35. Dog’s Nose is Dry
Just when you think there’s nothing you can do about your dog’s dry nose, you discover something so simple that solves this problem effortlessly. This will fix that problem, and now your dog won’t need to continue having a dry and cracked nose.
This is What You Do: Grab some coconut oil and put it on their nose. Just take a small dab and apply it gently on your dog’s nose. The benefits from this simple idea will remoisten their dry nose and help soothe it too. Add this one to your arsenal of handy products.
Helpful Canine Hacks You Need to Try
36. Dryer Sheets Pick Up Hair
Looking for a quick and easy way to pick up dog hair? We all like to make life easier, and this idea certainly helps with that. This will surely bring a smile to your face, and take away a bit of frustration.
Easy Solution: Grab one of your laundry dryer sheets, now rub it over any area that has been collecting dog hair. The loose hair will cling to the sheet, and now you won’t have to figure out what else you can do about it.
37. Popcorn for Teaching Your Dog to Catch
Is your dog still young, or maybe never learned the skill of catching objects? Some dogs are great at this, while others couldn’t catch something if their life depended on it. Teaching your dog how to do this will be fun for both of you.
Try This: Use popcorn, but remember your dog still doesn’t know how to catch anything, so throwing it at their face might not work in the beginning. Try hang dropping the popcorn directly above him into his mouth. As your dog gets better at catching them, you can slowly drop them from higher points above him. Once your dog has mastered this, then you can start gently throwing it from a short distance.
38. Delicious Summer Treat for Your Doggy
Here’s a summer treat that your canine friend will surely love, and you will enjoy the fact that it’s healthy, low calorie, and easy to make.
Here it is: Cut up some apple slices, then put them in an ice cube tray, then finally top them off with a low sodium broth of your choice. This is a great idea for dogs that are on a restricted diet.
39. Plastic Pitcher For Dog Food
Looking for another tip to store dog food, so life can be a little easier. No problem, we’ve got this figured out. This one is something anyone can probably do now.
Solution: Use a plastic pitcher to store your dog food. This will keep your dog’s food fresh, and you will be able to easily dispense it each time. No more daily trips to the bag of dog food for you.
Helpful Canine Hacks #40
Homemade Portable Water Bottle for Dogs
Here’s a simple idea when trying to find a solution to bringing some water for your dog. This isn’t homemade, but it does come from your home.
Problem Solved: Use a pancake syrup bottle for a portable water bottle. Your dog will enjoy this one.
41. Finding Your Dog at Night
Maybe you’re out camping, or maybe you have a yard big enough to lose an elephant. You might also be someone that likes to go running through the city at night with your dog.
You want to make sure your dog is safe from other traffic, and it would be nice to know where they are while outside. This idea will surely make life a little easier.
Do This: Buy a light-up collar for your dog. This may sound like a simple idea, but it works great. If this is something you are interested in, then you can find one {HERE ON AMAZON.}
42. Packing Tape for Dog Fur?
Too much dog hair and don’t have a lint roller to try and take care of this problem?
Here’s an Idea: One of the easiest things you can do to remove pet hair from clothes is to use packing tape. This is a great solution for this problem and you most likely already have some in a drawer.
43. Recent Photo
Life can often become very busy, and we may not think of some of the things that should be done. Your dog is a big part of your life, and it would be awful if he went missing. Where would he be is a hard question? What could have been done to help locate your canine friend?
This Helps: Take a photo of your dog. The picture should be recent, so every few months you should take a photo of that adorable companion. This will give you another photo to add to your collection, and you will have a recently taken photo to circulate through social media and be able to show people locally as well.
44. Carabiner Clip
Have you ever taken your dog with you when visiting someone’s house, and now you are trying to figure out a way to tie the leash somewhere in the backyard? There must be something that can make this easier, and this would be it.
Check This Out: Buy a Carabiner clip and attach it to the end of your leash. You will always have it with you and will be able to effortlessly clip your dog’s leash around a fence, pole, or whatever is around next time you want to give your dog some air in a yard with limited access. These clips are fairly inexpensive and can be found in most hardware stores. If you wish to buy it online instead, you can find one {HERE ON AMAZON.}
45. Zipline for Dogs
Sometimes a leash doesn’t give your dog enough room to run around. They are natural explorers, so giving them enough space is something they will surely appreciate.
My grandparents had this beautiful black lab named Bear. Don’t let the name fool you, he was a wonderful dog, not even an ounce of aggression in him. I would spend hours playing in the backyard with him. Their yard was in the country, and it wasn’t fenced in, so Bear would waste no time getting into mischief if you let him. My grandparents found a solution to this problem.
This is What They Did: In the yard, there was this long close-line that ran across the property behind the back of the house. They would attach his chain to it, and this worked great for him. Bear loved this idea, and this allowed him to run up and down through the yard. After all these years I still think about Bear, and it brings a wonderful memory that I will always cherish.
46. Make Shampoo Last Longer
Shampoo can be expensive and may seem like it doesn’t last very long when washing your dog. Here’s a way to save you some money, and to get a little more out of that product.
Solution: Dilute your pet’s shampoo. Don’t overdo it, but you can safely add some water to it to get more use out of it.
47. Sock Toy
Need another idea for a toy to keep your dog occupied? Maybe your dog chewed up the last thing he played with, or you just need something else to distract him. This will be a quick and easy idea, and you should already have what you need at home.
This is What You Need: The first thing you need is a sock, and then all you need after that is a plastic water bottle. Push the empty plastic water bottle to the end of the sock, then tie a knot tightly against the bottle. Your dog will love the crunching noise from the water bottle, and this should do a good job of keeping him entertained.
48. Keys on Collar
You decided to take your dog for a walk, but there’s a problem. You don’t have any pockets for your house keys, so now they will have to be carried the whole time. It would be nice to free up that hand so you can use your mp3 player. I have a nice solution to that problem.
Here it is: Attach your keys to the back of the collar. This would be right where you connect the leash. You’ll be able to easily see them, and now you can scroll through your music, or take a picture with your camera. Just remember, you will now have a bigger problem if your dog decides to take off.
49. Vaccinations
We always want to keep our pets safe, so anything we can do will be great. If you are traveling to a new area, this might be something you may want to ask your veterinarian about.
Ask About This: Let the local vet know where you’re traveling with your pet, and if it’s recommended to get your dog vaccinated. Prevention may save you a lot of heartaches later on. I knew someone that lost their little dog to a virus, which may have been prevented if it would have had the recommended vaccination.
Helpful Canine Hacks #50
Microchip Your Dog
The last thing you would ever think about is losing your dog. Unfortunately, this can happen for several reasons. Your dog bolts out the door on you, digs a hole under the fence, dashes out of the car, or something much worse can happen.
51. Pumice Stone
Does your dog have a favorite spot that he likes to lay down? This will usually leave a bunch of hair that can be difficult to remove with a vacuum. This idea might make the task a little easier for you.
Do This: Grab your pumice stone, now scrap it over the affected area. This should help lift the hair from the carpet.
52. Rubber Kitchen Glove
Another great idea for collecting pet hair.
Here’s What You Do: Take a damp rubber glove and rub it over the furniture with the hair on it. This should attract the hair, and you should see it stick to it. If needed, rinse, and repeat.
53. Paw Socks
Is there a good reason you need your dog to stop licking or biting his paws? This might be the temporary solution you have been looking for.
Try This: Put some socks on your dog. He may not appreciate it, but this can help prevent the issue that he is causing. Hopefully, this won’t be an issue after he wears the socks for a short time. There’s a memorable photo you can add to the album.
54. Do Not Feed List for Your Dog
We know there are lots of things that dogs shouldn’t eat, and some foods can be very harmful to them. It can be hard to remember everything, and not everyone you know will be aware of these items too. There’s a simple way to help with this.
Here’s an idea: Create a list of all the food your dog can’t have and leave it on the fridge for everyone to see. This will help you remind you of potential dangers, and will make your guests aware of these harmful foods for your dog too.
55. Lemon Water on Your Cords
More than ever before we have everything plugged into something. We rely so heavily on our devices being connected. If something interferes with this, then it can cause you problems on many levels. Pets are notorious for biting things, so anything that can help discourage them from doing it would be helpful.
Try This: Mix a ½ a cup of lemon juice and ½ a cup of water into a spray bottle. This should be a great deterrent, but you can add the cayenne powder to the mix if this isn’t discouraging him. There are lots of great options found in your kitchen. Just make sure you always use caution and safety first.
56. Stomach Problems
If your dog is having stomach problems, then this might be able to help.
Here it is: Try giving your dog some chicken and rice to see if that resolves his issue. Contact your local veterinarian if the problem continues.
57. The Perfect Photo
Trying to get a photo of your dog looking at the camera can be tough, which reminds me of what photographers go through every school year. While children can be tough for pictures, dogs don’t have to be. There’s a simple solution to get the perfect picture every single time.
Here’s What You Do: Take a piece of pepperoni and place it just above your camera. Your dog will suddenly develop the level of attention only Spock would have with a Vulcan Mind Meld. Now you can have that perfect picture while making people wonder how you’ve been able to get these fantastic shots.
58. Peanut Butter Pill Pockets
Here’s another great idea if you are looking for a way to make your dog take its prescription from the vet. Dog’s are very clever when it comes to this, so coming up with other strategies is always good.
This is the Plan: Make some tiny peanut butter balls, and add the pill into one of them. Your dog won’t know the difference, and this will allow you to give the needed prescription to your dog.
59. Hot Dog Feet
We don’t often notice how hot the ground is unless we decide to walk on our bare feet. Your dog doesn’t wear shoes, so this can be a problem for him. What can be done to prevent your dog from burning his feet?
Here’s the Solution: Just change your times when you take your walks with him. Try going early in the morning, or later in the evening, otherwise you’re making your dog walk on the sidewalk or road during the hottest time of the day. Your canine friend will be happy to go with you any time of the day, but only you know when is best for him.
Helpful Canine Hacks #60
No More Water Spills
Your dog is an expert at making water go all over the place, sliding it back and forth while trying to get some into him. The result is a pool of water all over the kitchen floor.
Try This: Grab a large potted plant, now put the water bowl in the center of it. Make sure your dog can easily reach the water. This will keep the water from spilling, which will now keep both of you happy.
Final Thought
I would like to say thank you.
This list of helpful canine hacks was a fun project, and I always try to bring some value to the reader. I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and I hope you found something helpful.
We also have more articles that cover a large variety of subjects, so check out more at https://everythingbigdogs.com if you are interested in more fun topics.
