Having lived with dogs all of my life, I wouldn’t want it any other way!  Living with dogs comes with some cleaning challenges: nose prints, slobber, muddy paws, doggy smell, and lots of pet hair.   However, having dogs isn’t incompatible with having a nice home, so I’m sharing some of my cleaning tips. 

There are hundreds of cleaners in the store, some potentially toxic, and many are bad for the environment.  Additionally,  many of the leading brands test on animals, which is cruel and unnecessary.  I am sharing a few of my favorite cleaning tips, and I would love to hear your tips in the comments!  I love using these DIY cleaners with Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths because they work and are better for the environment as well as our health.   

My mom taught me that if you are organized before you start a task, it saves a lot of time in the long run.   As soon as I saw this mint green caddy, I knew it would be perfect for my cleaning needs.  I prefer glass containers to plastic, but if you have toddlers or an overly helpful dog,  plastic containers might be a safer choice.  My Scotch Brite dishcloths are versatile workhorses, with two different textures, making them perfect for many jobs. One side has powerful non-scratch scrubbing dots, while the other has the standard wiping and drying functions.

Vinegar Spray:  

White vinegar diluted with water is an excellent cleaning solution.  I usually use two parts water to one part vinegar, but some people use equal parts.  You can add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance if you like.  This is often touted as an all-purpose cleaner, but the geologist in me says, don’t risk using it on your marble table! 

Always label your homemade cleaning supplies! 

Scouring Powder

Sometimes you need a little muscle, and this scouring powder is perfect for cleaning the sink or getting the scum off of a dog bowl.

To make my scouring powder, I combine one cup of salt with one cup of baking soda. Shake before using. 

This scouring powder is perfect for cleaning off the slimy stuff on dog bowls.  Simply add some powder and approximately the same amount of water to make a paste. We found this great bowl from Barkley & Wagz on EtsyBarkley & Wagz on Etsy.

For this job, the scrubbing dots give you the extra oomph you need for scrubbing but will not scratch.  (However, the salt in this formula might scratch delicate surfaces.)

Make sure to rinse thoroughly!

Air Freshener

Many DIY air fresheners call for alcohol in the formula because it will dry quickly in the air.  However, alcohol is toxic to dogs, so I mix 1 cup of water with 20-30 drops of essential oils.  You can experiment to see what scent combinations you like best.    I like to use a blend of orange and lemongrass in the living areas and use lavender in the bedrooms.  

My secret trick for getting ready for company is to spray my dishcloth with my homemade air freshener and wipe down the door jambs.  That way, the first impression is a clean-smelling house. I chose a blue bottle to help keep the essential oils away from light.  

Dishcloths are also great for removing dog hair from furniture.  Just get it damp and lightly wipe upholstered furniture. The hair rolls right up.  

After you get your house ready for spring, you should check out 11 Tips for Creating a Dog-Friendly Yard.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice is a lifestyle photographer dedicated to helping women succeed in their small business dreams, and she also specializes in dog photography.  Alice is taking her pet and commercial photography on the road this year, so be sure to sign up for her email list or send her an inquiry about your business and pet portrait needs.  

The post Living With Dogs: Cleaning Tips appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

This DIY project for dog lovers is easy to do and will help make sure the dogs are fed according to plan no matter whose turn it is to feed them.  This system is attractive, flexible, and relatively durable. I devised a simple pocket that I attached to my pet food containers.  (We have both large containers at home and smaller ones for when we travel.) I can simply insert a new card if I switch brands or need to change the amount of food based on weight.  Pictured below is Theo’s vacation dog food container.  Thanks to Alice G Patterson for helping me with this and for all the photography!

   Supplies:

•     pet food containers
•     acetate (I used both a patterned one and a clear sheet)
•    scissors
•     tape (washi tape as well as duct tape)
•     cardstock
•    circle punch (optional)

Directions:

Print feeding directions onto cardstock ~3 X 3.5 inches

Cut patterned acetate to size:  4 inches  by 5 1/2  inches

Cut clear acetate to size:   4 inches by 3 inches

Optional:  cut a semi-circle in clear acetate to make it easier to slide the card in and out.  It is hard to see in this photo, but I put it about halfway through the top edge.

On the table, place tape sticky side up.  We used white duck tape as the base because I knew that washi tape would not hold up long term.   (We had to cut our duct tape into narrow strips because we couldn’t find 1/2 inch width at the store.)

Place the clear acetate on the sticky side of tape

Next place the patterned acetate covering the clear acetate and forming a pocket.

Apply the pocket to the container.  

Add decorative tape.

Insert directions, fill with dog food, and you’re ready to go!  You can also add the UPC information from the label in this pocket for reference in the event of a food recall.

You can see more of Alice’s photography by following Alice G Patterson Photography on Facebook.  You’ll see photos of her awesome dogs, by following her on Instagram.

Be sure to check out our easiest DIY dog treat jars.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, NY, Alice specializes in senior portraits, dog portraits, and product photography and portraits for small business owners.

The post DIY Project: Have Dog, Will Travel, Part 1 appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

I’m so excited to share this simple and adorable DIY dog treat jar with you today.  It is perfect to give as a small gift or keep for yourself (and your dog.)  My sister, Alice G Patterson from Loving My Company, photographed this simple DIY project for me.  With just a few minutes (less than 15) you can personalize a jar for your favorite dog or person.  While we filled them with dog treats, I think they would also be really cute for buttons, spices, office supplies, etc.

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after following a link, I will earn a small fee.   I received samples of treats, but all opinions are my own.

Supplies    

•                       small jars with lids
•                       decorative or painter’s tape (not shown)
•                       stickers (we used thickers)
•                       treats

Directions

Make sure the jars are clean and dry.  To keep letters straight, apply tape to the bottom as a guide.

We wanted to be sure the seams wouldn’t show, so we started applying the letters with a middle letter.  With a short name like Theo, it probably didn’t matter, but if you’re making a jar for Elizabeth, you’ll want to keep that in mind.

Fill with your pet’s favorite treat.

In addition to a monthly subscription box, we occasionally receive treats for review.  My dogs are not very picky when it comes to treats, but they each seem to have a favorite.   Theo’s is Nature’s Variety Instinct Treats.  He’ll stop whatever he’s doing for one of these.

Sophie loves the grain free Spring Naturals chicken and lamb treats.  I think she enjoys the texture as well as the taste.

Nelly adores Riley’s Organic Dog Treats.  I have to admit I think they are the cutest treats.  We won a free bag from a giveaway on Rubicon Days.

Once the stickers are on, I don’t recommend washing the outside of the jar.  If the stickers get wet, I think they will come off.  You can wipe them gently with a wet cloth; I waited a few days to let the stickers set before trying it.

Follow Daily Dog Tag on Instagram.

About Loving My Company:  Based in Central New York, Alice is a Syracuse brand photographer. She has three dogs of her own.

The post Easiest DIY Dog Treat Jar appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

Recently I was asked I think about crates.  Since we crate our dogs, I feel comfortable recommending others to use crates at night or for short periods during the day.    Please note, I am not a dog trainer or an expert on dogs.  I am a woman who loves her dogs and always tries to do right by them. 

My first on-my-own-dog was a Brittany Spaniel mix puppy that I adopted from the county shelter while in college.   I didn’t know what a crate was, and neither did Daisy.  She spent her “alone time” redecorating my apartment and my parents’ laundry room and chewing up half of several pairs of shoes.  One heart-stopping afternoon, I came home to all four burners blazing on my old gas stove.  Luckily, Daisy was fine, and nothing was on fire. However, it was a terrifying experience.  I started taking the knobs off my stove before leaving the apartment, but I always worried a little about leaving her alone until she was around four years old.

Years later, when it was time to get another dog, we had heard about the benefits of using a crate.  Since I was home almost every day, I was unsure if we needed a crate. I flashed back to Daisy and realized we owed it to our dog to try crate training.   Besides the obvious reasons for keeping the home and possessions safe, it also keeps the dog safe.  Dog-proofing should be done regardless if you are home most of the time or not.  When you aren’t home, you don’t know what your dog is getting into.  Some things, like Daisy turning on a stove, aren’t foreseeable. Other things, like a puppy chewing on everything he can reach or a garbage-loving dog tipping the trash can, are a little more predictable. Unfortunately, something seemingly benign as a chip bag can have terrible consequences.

We got Nelly as a puppy and started her off in a crate to minimize accidents while we were away.   When we leave the house, our dogs stay in their crates.  

 Using crates sets my dogs up for success.  The dogs don’t cause damage or have the chance to counter-surf and get into the garbage.  The benefits of crate training are numerous, including: 

• Traveling keeps pets safe in the car and possibly prevents them from running loose in case of an accident or stopping to get gas. It is also helpful for making a new place feel familiar. 
• Injured pets may need to be on restricted activity; crates make it easier to confine/supervise.
•  A crate can prevent a dog from getting out when people are coming and going (movers, repair people, deliveries, etc.)
•  A place where the dog will be undisturbed.

We taught our kids to leave the dog alone if she is hanging out in the crate.  We often find our dogs sleeping in their crates at various times of the day.   Ironically, Nelly’s is the smallest and most popular.

Last summer, when we took Theo home with us from the shelter, we stopped at the store to get him his crate.  After a month in a shelter, Theo planted his feet and refused to get in the kennel.  Believing in positive reinforcement, I took a different tactic.  Knowing that Theo is food-motivated made it easy to change his opinion of the crate.

To start, we put a towel in the bottom of the crate and tossed a treat on it.  Leaving the door open, Theo gingerly put his head in the crate and gobbled the treat.  We continued doing this, placing the treat further into the crate, so eventually, he had to put his whole body in the crate.

We didn’t shut the door, so he could grab the treat and leave.  After a while, we closed the door for a short time as his anxiety decreased.   He received treats when in the crate and positive reinforcement for staying in it.  After a few days, he would go into the crate happily once a treat was in there.    We left him with a peanut butter-filled Kong at bedtime, which was enough to keep him calm.  These days, all the dogs get in their crates and are on command, even if we have someone at the door. 

On Thursday, we had an unwanted need for the crates.  I fell off a ladder and broke my left arm.  Before the emergency personnel arrived, my kids put all the dogs in their crates. While the police and EMTs were here, the dogs were quiet in their crates.   There was no worrying about the dogs being too protective of me, getting in the way, or escaping as people came and went.  The crates gave me peace of mind when I didn’t have the energy to deal with the dogs.

Alice’s dog, Darla, also loves her crate.  Alice keeps the crate door open unless Darla is on exercise restriction.  

When Alice and her girls go on vacation, Darla likes the familiarity of her crate.  Similarly, we take the crates for our dogs on overnights.  I think it helps them settle down, and I don’t worry what they might get into if we have to leave them for a short time.

Choose the right kennel for your dog at Petmate.com.

Follow Loving My Company on Instagram. 

About Loving My Company:  Based in Syracuse, NY, Alice specializes in dog photography, high school senior portraits, and business profile portraits.

The post The Benefits of Using a Dog Crate appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.