If you own a dog (or any other pet for that matter), you need accessories. Even though some aren’t essential, they still come in handy more often than you might think.
In this post, we take a look at some of the pet accessories that you absolutely need in your life. Read on to learn more.
Sustainable, Absorbent Cat Litter
If you get a cat, you’ll need to invest in cat litter. However, you’ll discover that it is not as straightforward as you might think. There are all sorts of different types of cat litter on the market, each of which offers pros and cons. The landscape is way more complicated than you might think.
When you go shopping, look for sustainable, absorbent cat litter. This way, you can protect the environment (by choosing something that will actually break down naturally), while also keeping your home smell-free. Highly absorbent litters are much better at holding onto the compounds that cause unpleasant odors to circulate in your home.
Earth-Rated Poop Bags
Dogs like to poop. And they’re not fussy about where. For this reason, you’ll also want to pick yourself up a supply of Earth-friendly poop bags.
Don’t worry: these bags are nothing like those ultra-thin bags that you put food waste into that break down in the ground. Fortunately, they provide a robust barrier between your skin and the poop (eeek), keeping you hygienic when you’re doing your bit for the community.
What’s more, like cat litter, these bags break down in the ground once you throw them away. They’re not going to spend hundreds of years in landfill.
A Lockable Treats Box
Pets love treats. In fact, they’re so obsessed that they will often attempt to help themselves, particularly if they know where they’re being kept.
Don’t fall for clever pet antics. Get a lockable treat box and keep it in your pantry. It doesn’t have to be an expensive metal lockbox. You can now buy polycarbonate boxes with combination locks that are easy for you to remember (but impossible for your dog or cat).
Chewy Ball Toys
Finding a good chewable ball toy is actually much harder than you might imagine. Dogs’ mouths are incredibly powerful, so practically any product you get them is always fighting a losing battle.
That’s changing, though. Manufacturers are getting much better and making tear and split-proof silicone chew balls. These look great and also last for much longer than the old plastic or rubber versions. Plus, they don’t contain any potentially harmful chemicals that could hurt your pooch.
Shampoo And Conditioner
Dog shampoos are a real thing and essential for any pup with long fur. They’re great for getting out all of the grime after a muddy afternoon at the park at the end of fall.
Dogs can, let’s be honest, also get quite stinky. It’s not their fault. But, as owners, we’d love for there to be options that can help eliminate the stench and keep our homes smelling beautiful and fragrant. Again, that’s where these products help. Just take a dollop of doggy shampoo in your hand and then massage it into your pooch’s coat. Then rinse it out in the shower or using a hose in the garden.
You can also get conditioner too. This is purely for vanity reasons, and is a great way of keeping your pet’s coat looking glossy, no matter how active they might be.
Urns
Sadly, at some point, your pet will pass on to the next world. Pet urns can be a great way to remember them, even after the transition to spirit. You can put them on your mantelpiece or use them as the centerpiece for a commemorative shrine. Do something that feels right for your family.
Nail Clippers
Many owners worry about clipping their pets’ nails. They fear cutting into the flesh itself and causing pain.
Unfortunately, it’s a job that has to be done. If you leave dogs’ claws to grow too long, they eventually become uncomfortable and make it difficult to walk.
Modern nail clippers come with a helpful safety plate which limits the amount of nail you can cut off at any given time. This way, you can avoid cutting into any sensitive tissue while ensuring that you trim your dog’s nails to the correct length.
Dog Brush
Getting a good dog brush can save you hours of vacuuming. The idea is pretty simple: you simply drag it over your dog’s coat and pull out all of the loose fur outside. Then, when they go in the house, there will be less shedding.
Dog brushes look a bit like wide paddles with a fine comb. Start at the front of the body and work backwards, allowing loose fur to fall onto the ground in the process.
The brush is effective for many different types of dogs – those with both short and long hair. Some also feature helpful silicone grips which makes them easier to use.
Ear-Drops
Dogs’ ears are quite prone to infection. Dirt and grime gets into them, allowing bacteria to grow and multiply. Eventually, they become red and sore, and you may notice your dog itching them on the floor.
Many pet stores and vet clinics sell doggy ear-drops. These are similar to the ones that you can buy for your own ears, but suited to your pup’s body. After a couple of applications, you should notice inflammation going down and discomfort subsiding.
Training Manual
Training your pooch is actually more complicated than you might think. It’s not just a matter of repeating the same commands over and over again and hoping for the best. Instead, it requires adopting tried-and-tested approaches proven to work across virtually all breeds.
There are many training manuals out there to guide you. These make it easy to teach all the basic skills and show you how you can move onto more advanced commands. Once you get the hang of it, you feel more confident bringing puppies home.
Long-lasting Tick Collar
Most owners give their dogs flea and tick treatments every month. They must spray them with products that kill any unwanted insects that might have taken up residence in their coats.
Tick collars, though, do away with all this hassle. Rather than applying ointment every few weeks, you just place the collar around your pet’s neck and let it work its magic. It then emits insecticides in a slow-release fashion for up to eight months. What’s more, it’s odorless, so you won’t even know it’s there.
Water Lapping Bottle
Dogs can’t pick up water bottles and hold them to their lips like humans can. But these days, that doesn’t matter. Vendors have come up with an ingenious solution: water lapping bottles.
These portable bottles look like regular water bottles except, at the top, there is a bowl for a lid and a valve. When you squeeze water out of the bottle, it pops up into the bowl with the valve preventing it from slipping back down.
Food Mat
You can just put your pet’s food bowls on the floor and leave them to it. But, invariably, there will be spillages. Dogs aren’t great at eating in a civilized manner.
If you have a problem of constant spillages and are getting a bit fed up with mopping the floor, try getting them a mat. These extend around food and water bowls, allowing you to easily clear up spillages if they occur.
Baby Gates
Sometimes, you want to keep your dog out of certain parts of the house. For instance, if you’ve just reupholstered all your sofas (and spent thousands of dollars in the process), you don’t want fido’s muddy paws all over them.
Baby gates are a great solution. You’re able to move around how you like, but your pooch can’t. Put them up around the dining room or at the bottom of the stairs. Just make sure that it is high enough to prevent your dog from jumping over.
Storage Containers
If you don’t store dog food in airtight containers, it’ll quickly go bad. What’s more, if you keep it in storage, it attracts all sorts of critters you don’t want in your home, like mice and bugs.
When choosing airtight conditions, ensure that they are airtight. Also, get large containers that can hold about 50 pounds of kibble each. The bigger they are, the more food you can buy in bulk, saving you money.
A Raised Bed
Regular dog beds are a bit like mats with walls and some extra padding to keep your pup comfy. But they’re not always the most hygienic.
That’s why more owners are choosing elevated beds. These are essentially frames with fabric stretched over them, a bit like a trampoline. When your pup lies on top, the fabric deforms slightly, providing a comfortable platform.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there are all sorts of pet accessories that can really come in handy. Practically everything we’ve covered makes your life (and that of your pet) better.
