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Australian Dog Lover
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If your dogs have been spending most of the winter season indoors, then it’s definitely time to roll up those sleeves for a thorough spring clean: both you and your pooch will be healthier and happier for it!
If you follow some of these quick and easy tips and equip yourself with the right tools and products, spring cleaning does not have to be a massive chore…
Keeping your lawns trimmed reduces the chances of ticks and other nasties. Also make sure you clear debris and piles of wood carefully as snakes start waking up at this time of year.
If you're busy planting new garden beds, make sure you select plants not toxic to dogs and keep poisonous garden items out of reach from your pets such as: bait traps for rodents, snails and slugs, insecticides, fertilisers such as blood meal.
By placing these 100% natural rocks into your dog’s water bowl you are giving your pet a cleaner source of water.
This will ensure there are no more nasty burn patches on the grass caused by dog urine.
RRP: from $12.50 (200g) at Bunnings, pet retailers and vets.
For details, visit www.dogrocks.com.au
Would you leave your rubbish on someone's nature strip or on the ground in the park?
Then don't leave your dog poos behind as this gives all dog owners a bad name....
If you are too busy or dislike picking up pet waste, then a proper pooper scooper will help out with the icky job of pet waste removal, especially if you have multiple dogs!
The Spotty Spring Action Scooper is the newest product in easy pet waste clean-up!
The one handed design allows you to pick up your dog's waste without even bending over.
When snapped together, this Scooper stands over 60cm tall and the easy squeeze handle makes it easy to open to pick up and throw away the poo so you won't have to go anywhere near it!
When snapped together, this Scooper stands over 60cm tall and the easy squeeze handle makes it easy to open to pick up and throw away the poo so you won't have to go anywhere near it!
Available in Hot Pink (featured), Navy Blue, Purple and Lime Green.
The waste bags are bio-degradable, thick and tough as well as leak proof!
The dispenser has an adjustable strap you can easily attach to any size leash. The screw-on top keeps bags secure and the unique hook on the back holds your used bag for hands-free transport until it can be properly disposed of.
RRP: $7.95 (Leash Dispenser); $14.95 (120 Scented Bags)
Available from pet retailers or online at woofnwag.com.au
You can save yourself a lot of time by investing into a quality cargo boot liner or protection mat (a bumper flap will avoid scratches on the way in and out) or a back seat / hammock cover if your dogs travel at the back.
The rain in spring means muddy paws, but a little prevention can keep your dog from tracking dirt inside the house. First, trim the hair around your dog's paws regularly — mud won’t clump to his feet when the hair is kept short.
When you can’t avoid a little mud, keep a bucket of warm water and a towel near the door. Before you come inside, remove dirt by dipping each paw in the water and gently wiping it with the towel. However if you're time poor, here is another option...
It will come in handy to protect your floors (you can place it under food and water bowls or at the front/back door) or your car seats from unwanted pet hair, dirt and slobber!
Available in red (featured), grey and brown.
It comes in Small, Medium, Large & Runner size.
It comes in Small, Medium, Large & Runner size.
Many owners complain of their dogs suffering from skin allergies but do you know that bathing your dog too often or with the wrong shampoo will cause dry skin, which results in itching and flaking?
You can avoid these issues and still keep your pooch smelling fresh by giving him a quick dry bath. First brush out his fur to loosen dead hair, dirt and debris. Then wipe him off with a towel sprayed with a solution of half apple cider vinegar and half water. You could follow up by sprinkling baking soda on your dog and rubbing it in - this neutralises the smell of the vinegar. Let it sit for a minute or two, then brush it off.
Tip: Try to give your dog his dry bath outdoors or another place where a little mess won’t matter! If the weather outside is cold and wet, you could use one of the many brands of dog spritzers for a quick refresh!
We clean our house regularly only to see new tumbleweeds of dog hair rolling across the floor, courtesy of our three hounds! Save yourself some work inside by brushing your dog regularly outside: try to stick to a daily or a weekly routine to remove all these loose/flyaway hair.
The FURminator deShedding Waterless Spray can help reduce excess shedding without bathing.
It contains no parabens, artificial colours or chemical dyes.
It is enriched with Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids and Safflower Seed Oil.
This blend of natural ingredients moisturises the coat and strengthens the hair shaft to help reduce shedding. Most regular users also report a shinier dog coat.
It is best used in conjunction with the FURminator deShedding Tool as it also helps reduce the static.
RRP: $12.50 from vetnpetdirect.com.au
RRP: $12.50 from vetnpetdirect.com.au
Coming back from the beach or the dog park with a wet or sandy dog?
It will absorb 20 times more water and mud than other shammy towels and dry your dog much quicker.
It features dual hand pockets so you basically wear it like a glove and it also massages your dog in the process.
Available in Grey (featured) or Brown.
RRP: $34.95 from bowhouse.com.au
To remove pet hair from furniture, curtains or other fabric-covered items like couches, use rubber gloves or a damp cloth. Slightly dampen the glove on your hand and sweep the fabric with it. The hair balls up and is much easier to pick up. Wash and dry gloves between uses.
The tape uses unique technology to deliver two stickiness levels: a strong adhesive which picks up dust and dirt deep inside carpets and a weak adhesive so it won't stick to surfaces.
The adjustable handle saves you bending over to pick up dog hair.
It comes in a cute house-shaped case in white or red. Matching colourful refills are also available separately.
RRP: $59.99 from clawsnpaws.com.au
Your dog’s bedding tends to attract a build-up of dust and allergens.
Follow these tips to ensure a clean, comfortable and healthy sleep for your pooch, all the more important if they share your bedroom:
- Choose a bed with a removable fabric cover and wash both the cover and the bed base (if machine washable) in cold water. You can use a mild laundry detergent (without fragrances to avoid possible allergies) and a cup of baking soda will help neutralise any leftover doggie odours!
- Air dry flat outside to avoid shrinkage.
- Shake your dog bed outside or vacuum regularly to remove hair, dirt, and other debris. Follow up with a lint roller to pull away any hair the vacuum may have left behind.
Hard toys can be cleaned in the sink with a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar and a brush or sponge. Check the label first but some can be safely placed in the dishwasher along with the dog bowls.
If any dog toy is damaged and pieces start breaking off, immediately discard and replace with a new one. You don't want an emergency trip to the vet caused by an intestinal obstruction!
A stinky collar can ruin the pleasures of a freshly groomed dog and a dirty leash is just plain embarrassing… Consider investing in a fresh new set of accessories for those long spring walks or at least give them all a thorough clean..
But how do you clean a dog collar without damaging the webbing material or hardware?
Put a couple of squirts of dog shampoo (this will help prevent skin irritation) in a bowl and fill it with warm water. Let your dog’s collar soak for about 15 minutes. Rub the collar against itself to extract any ground-in dirt. If necessary, apply extra shampoo directly to the collar. Avoid using a brush, which could damage the material. Rinse the collar under running water and hang to dry. If you need to speed up the drying, use a towel to remove excess water before hanging.
If hand washing is not your "bag", you could put your dog's items (fabric leashes, coats, harnesses, soft toys etc.) in a Woofy Wash Bag and place it in the washing machine on a delicate cycle.
It will act as a barrier, trapping the pet hair and also keeping your washing machine clean.
Available in Small, Medium and Large.
RRP: $4-$12 from pawempire.com.au
Replacing the filters in your air conditioning system and also your vacuum cleaner helps tackle the spring allergy season. Not only do they trap airborne dust and dander but a filter can reduce lingering pet odours in your home.
Look for filters made especially for pet owners: they come with built-in ionizers that minimise allergens and help deliver a boost of air freshening.
Even if you can’t smell traces of past urine accidents, your dog can. It’s essential to clean and neutralise these odours, because as long as he can smell them, he’ll continue to use that area as his personal potty.
For new stains, soak up as much as you can by layering newspaper on top of paper towels. Repeat this step until the area is no longer damp and then follow rinsing the soiled area with clear water. There are also many pet stain and odour removers on the market.
Our favourite cleaning product is the X-OUT Pet Stain Eliminator as we found this spray will work where other detergent-based cleaning products did not previously.
100% environmentally safe, it removes both old/new urine or bile stains and odours effectively. This product works by loosening and lifting the soil from the stained area, and it will not change the colour fastness (but always test first).
RRP: $26.50 (500ml spray) from cleanergreener.com.au
However, if you have not caught the stains quickly enough, you may have to work a little harder to remove them and simply vacuuming won't do the trick...
Light and easy to use, it comes with two stain tool heads for those difficult to access areas. It operates on mains power using a mix of warm water with the Bissell formulas.
A Pet & Stain Odour formula - which specifically breaks down organic material in pet accidents - can be purchased separately.
RRP: $229 from major electrical retailers. For details, visit www.bissell.com.au
A Pet & Stain Odour formula - which specifically breaks down organic material in pet accidents - can be purchased separately.
RRP: $229 from major electrical retailers. For details, visit www.bissell.com.au
It may take a whole week-end to tick off your spring cleaning to-do list despite tackling several of these tasks several times a year.
Make the most of spring before summer heatwaves limit your time outdoors. I know our dogs will prefer the air conditioning to the heat outside for most of the summer!
Disclaimer: Australian Dog Lover does not endorse any the products mentioned and did not receive any compensation for featuring them in this story.
Disclaimer: Australian Dog Lover does not endorse any the products mentioned and did not receive any compensation for featuring them in this story.
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