10 Easy Springtime Hacks for Busy Dog Parents

Spring has sprung and that means both dogs and humans eagerly spend longer days together outdoors! So, when it comes to cleaning up, cooking, or being prepared for an emergency, no one wants to waste precious time inside!

Here are 10 easy-peasy springtime tips to free up some precious minutes so pooch and parent can spend more quality time outside together in the nice weather!

1. Pre-Prepare Meal Portions.

Over the weekend, divvy up your dog’s individual dry food and toppings meal portions for the week into sandwich bags to have ready. Then simply pour into the dog’s dish and add canned or homemade food to it at meal times.

2. Save the Date!

When using only a partial container of food or add-ins (i.e. yogurt, bone broth, etc.), be sure to use a permanent marker to put the date it was opened on the container. This way, there will be no second-guessing if it is still fresh and good to use, and not past the expiration date.

3. Divvy Up Meds & Supplements for the Week.

Purchase a weekly vitamin and pill organizer (reasonably priced at a pharmacy or dollar store) and split up meds and vitamins according to daily AM/PM doses to have all ready to go when needed. An extra little hack is to set an alarm reminder on your cell phone to alert you to scheduled medications so you never miss a dose time.

4. Recycle Medication Bottles.

Keep a small basket or used gift bag to hold the empty containers of your dog’s prescriptions. When the container is full, return them to your vet’s office for recycling! (Always check with your vet ahead of time if they accept them).

5. Deep Clean Those Dog Dishes.

In the morning, after the dogs are fed, and before rushing off to drop human kiddos off at school and get yourself to work, you can deep clean the dog dishes! How? Simply by filling them with hot, pet-friendly soapy water and letting them soak until you are back home to rinse them off. Tip: Always use stainless steel bowls! Plastic and ceramic bowls can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

6. Where are the Leashes?!

Have you ever taken your furry companion out for a walk, came back home, and somehow the house gremlin stole it, hid it, never to be found again (or at least just long enough to have you tear your house apart looking for it)? A great solution is to save a peg on the family coat rack or install a hook by the door to hang the leashes on so they can be easily found!

7. Wipe Your Muddy Paws!

With the April showers arriving to bring May flowers, mud is also a dirty companion. And, oh, how our furry best friends sure do love to play and dig in the dirt! To help keep your house from looking like a mud puddle, toss a durable throw rug by the door and help your dog wipe his paws off! Also helpful is to keep a box of bath wipes nearby and give your dog’s four paws a quick swipe before coming in.

Worried about a muddy car? An easy fix is to get a seat cover or cargo liner! 4Knines durable seat covers and cargo liners install in less than a minute and are easy to hose off or wipe down when your adventure gets a little messy.

8. Update Tags!

Spring is a great time to be sure all ID, licenses, and microchip tags are current, and fees have been paid. Also, verify that the information on file at all places (microchip company, municipal dog license office, and vet’s office) is up-to-date with your current address and contact information.

9. ICE is Nice!

And I’m not talking about the chilly kind from the fridge! ICE – or “In Case of Emergency” is the acronym to put before your emergency contact’s name in your cell phone so if you should find yourself in an emergency situation, and you can’t get home or make a call yourself, your contacts can be scrolled through to easily locate your emergency person. How to list it? Simple:  ICE Mom or ICE Jane Doe is how the listing should read.

10. Download the ASPCA Mobile App!

The ASPCA mobile app gives you important information for your pet at your fingertips. It also gives you immediate access to list your pet if lost, including a digital flyer template, as well loss prevention tips, disaster and severe weather information to help plan for a crisis situation with your pet, and a section to keep your pet’s medical records. They also have an Animal Poison by ASPCA mobile app that lists toxic foods and plants for dogs, cats, birds, and horses. And in case of emergency, a one-touch direct line to their Animal Poison Control Center. (Both apps are FREE to download. A Fee may apply for a Poison Control Consultation).

With a little pre-planning, we can all get outside and enjoy the lovely weather together with our furry bestfriends! Happy Spring!