What dog services can you do at home?
Owning a dog comes with lots of fun and exciting moments, but it can also throw some surprises to you.
Knowing what services you can do at home will come in handy in case of any surprises.
Whether you are looking to save some coins or making an effort to spend more time with your dog, there are many dog services that you can comfortably do yourself.
From simple grooming tasks to more complex jobs like training, you all need some knowledge and advice to get it right.
In this article, we tell you five dog services you can do at home and make some savings and enjoy some company with your dog while at it.
Read through for this and more.
5 Dog Services You Can Do at Home
The following are some dog services you can do at home.
Grooming services
Dogs require regular grooming to keep healthy and clean. This includes bathing, hair brushing, teeth brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. Since cleanliness is crucial for a dog’s health, it’s important to regularly plan and undertake these grooming tasks.
However, regular professional grooming is expensive. That’s why learning to perform the basic grooming tasks can help you save money. These tasks can be intimidating at first, especially for first-time owners, but with some knowledge and advice, you can easily master this.
Different grooming services require different tools, techniques, and skills. It’s thus important to familiarize yourself with each process and get the right tools to get the work done. You’ll need scissors, clippers, brushes, a grooming table, shampoos, and treats. You’ll also need to exercise patience as your dog may not like the sessions.
Learning to groom your pet yourself means you’ll be able to do the basic tasks and only outsource the complicated ones. This will save you money by avoiding the costly groomers and provide an opportunity for you to bond with your dog.
Training services
Dogs have various training needs, including obedience, socialization, and etiquette. A good dog training program is crucial for good behavior in dogs. Dogs need boundaries and consistent routines to thrive. Without proper training, they don’t know how to behave. Properly trained dogs, as well as their owners, are happier and healthier.
There are many ways of training dogs. You can enroll with the help of professional trainers or do it yourself. Training your dog on your own can save lots of money in training costs. However, this may not be a walk in the park, especially for a novice owner. But, with the right advice and guidance, you can easily teach your canine many new skills while building a better relationship with them.
To effectively train your dog, you’ll need to have a plan. Start by learning basic training techniques, get the right equipment, and create a schedule. You must also be fully committed and ready to commit daily.
Begin with the basic commands like sit, stand, come, and stop before going to more advanced commands. You can also seek professional help in training your dog.
DIY Dog Treats
Dogs love treats. Treats come in handy as rewards for good behavior while training dogs. Treats also provide an excellent way of supplementing a dog’s diet. Buying these from pet stores often can prove quite costly. However, you can save immensely by learning how to make homemade treats for your dog. It’s important to identify dog-friendly ingredients before preparing treats to avoid harming your dog.
There is so much information available on how to make different and safe treats for dogs. You can learn from credible sources on Youtube and other sites. Most importantly, you’ll need to learn about basic canine nutrition.
However, each dog is unique and has different dietary needs. You should get to know your dog’s specific needs. This will help you know what to include in the treat and what to avoid. Additionally, it’s important to consult a vet before introducing new foods to your dog. While homemade treats may be healthy, remember that treats should only make up to 10% of a dog’s diet.
DIY Toys
Without activities, dogs can easily get bored. That’s why you need lots of toys to keep them engaged. While there are many dog toys on the market, they come at a whopping price tag. This can be very costly if your dog loves destroying toys within a few days. You may be unable to cope with the cost of keeping your dog entertained.
Besides providing the much-needed mental stimulation for your dog, toys can be used to train for specific behavior changes and discourage inappropriate behavior such as chewing or barking.
Dogs will still get easily bored even if they have a toy chest stuffed. You should rotate toys with different textures and sounds to keep your dog entertained and engaged. Luckily, you don’t need to break a bank to achieve this. You can make up your own toys easily and quickly using readily available materials in your home.
You can watch videos on Youtube and learn how to make different toys at home. Some toys you can easily make at home include a sock n’ ball, snack socks, a ball on a rope, and a braided dog toy, among others. This way, you will keep your dog happy and engaged without spending too much money.
Simple first aid
Accidents are unavoidable during your dog’s life. Falls, cuts, burns, and other minor accidents, your dog will get injured at some point in its life. While some of these injuries are serious and require medical attention, others are minor and can be easily handled at home.
Learning how to do simple first aid for various conditions can be handy in case your dog is hurt.
Health and Fitness
All dogs need regular and adequate exercise to stay healthy and fit. While for young and energetic puppies, exercise may seem to take care of itself, it’s essential to develop a regular exercise routine for them.
Exercising allows dogs to burn off excess calories and stay in shape and keeps their minds stimulated. This keeps them from being bored and engaging in weird behaviors such as unnecessary barking, chewing, digging through garbage, and other undesirable acts. It’s thus important to ensure that your dog gets age-and-breed appropriate exercise.
The good thing is that you don’t have to hire any professional to exercise your dog. Exercising your dog is simple and enjoyable for both of you. Tagging your dog for walks, jogs, or runs, or going for hikes, playing fetch, or swimming are good ways to exercise together.
When the weather is bad, there are lots of methods to provide the exercise it requires. Running up and down the stairs, running on a treadmill, or playing hide-and-seek with healthful treats can keep your canine well exercised and physically and mentally stimulated.
Over to You
Owning and maintaining a dog does not have to be a costly affair. With some knowledge and advice, you can learn and do some services for your dog on your own without needing expensive professionals to do them.
By grooming your dog, making toys from locally available materials, preparing your own treats, and exercising the dog yourself, you can make massive savings on maintenance while bonding with your canine.
Well, there you have it. Some of the DIY services that you can do for your dog and make some savings.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go ahead and try them.
Happy parenting!