1. Personalized Collars
Every pet parent has their own preference when it comes to collars and harnesses. There are so many different designs and models that there are plenty from which to choose. Whatever you choose, I recommend a personalized collar, such as the Orvis Personalized Side Release Buckle Collar, as your standard identification when you leave the house. A personalized collar is great to wear on top of whatever harness or walking device you may be using. I love that you have your dog’s name and number stitched onto the collar so that they are always identified if they run away or get lost. They also aren’t jingling tags, getting rusty tags or loosing tags. The Orvis collar is one of my favorite purchases because it’s not too expensive for the personalization, it comes in bright and visible colors, and it’s washable!
2. Toothbrush and toothpaste
Brushing your dog’s teeth is generally one of those dog owner duties that gets pushed aside or ignored because it’s not always the easiest or most enjoyable task. But spending just 2–3x a week practicing dental care for your pet can save you SO much money and possible dental procedures for the future.
You don’t need anything fancy either. Just be sure you never use human toothpaste. If you are just starting out and don’t have dog toothpaste, you can try gauze on your finger, peanut butter or something appetizing to your dog to familiarize and desensitize them to the idea of brushing their teeth! If your dog truly dislikes you coming near his or her mouth, I recommend getting dental bones such as Greenies, Whimsies, or other dental sticks that are pliable enough for you to break them with your own hand. (any harder and you risk causing damage to your dog’s teeth)
3. Washable Faux Fur Dog Rugs
One luxury item all my dogs LOVE are their faux fur dog rugs. We all know dogs love soft and comfy spaces, even those dogs that are picky! I like faux fur dog rugs because they are easy to move to turn any space in the house into a comfy cuddle spot and they also are aesthetically pleasing. You can drape them over their existing bed, place in front of a sunny window or place in your living room and watch the animals come flocking to comfort! I also like to find washable ones so that if my dog has a mess or just decides to wipe his muddy paws on it, I can throw it in the wash.
4. The DooLoop
This might be my favorite item I carry with me on walks. It is a simple accessory that you can clip onto your leash or fanny pack that will hold your poop bags for you so you can have your hands free. As a multi-dog mom who usually walks more than one pup at a time, I have been so grateful to have this neat contraption. It frees up my hands, prevents me from smashing a bag against another leash, and enables me to add as many bags to it as I want. I highly recommend checking out this product.
5. Hypoallergenic Baby Wipes
My final most used dog product are baby wipes. There are so many occasions that my dogs get dirty and giving them baths every day or week is just not practical or healthy for them. So, baby wipes are awesome to have on hand. I like to use hypoallergenic non-scented ones because that way I minimize any skin reactions my dogs might have to them and they don’t leave a fragrance that will drive my dogs wild.
I hope this list gives you ideas or inspiration for your pet family!
