8 Essentials For Dog Owners

I have been getting a bunch of questions about what Judy + Bill’s favorites are for toys, what we swear by for beach trips, recommendations for shampoo, cleaning supplies and more. I figured since we are knee deep in Labrador ownership (and let’s be honest – they run this place), I should share some of the products that makes our lives a little easier and Bill + Judy’s lives a little happier. More tail wags and less whining 😉

8 Essentials For Dog Owners

Stain + Carpet Cleaner – We have had our fair share of accidents in the house, particularly after training two puppies, so we needed to find a solution for stains and odors that actually worked, not just a quick fix. We have tried SO MANY PRODUCTS – good grief – but this one is a winner! I was introduced to Rocco + Roxie during a BlogPaws conference and I was hesitant, because I thought “we’ve tried everything”, but I can happily report that it works for both stains AND odors. No need for multiple products! We’ve used it on pee, vomit, blood, wine (not a dog spill – totally human error!) and more. 10/10 from the Hanson house!

Food Cube – When I was young, my parents had this food cube for our Labrador Maddie (anyone who has been reading for years may remember her) and it was hands-down one of her favorites for the food pieces it distributes and a family favorite for the amount of time it kept her busy. When Dane and I got dogs of our own, I knew having a food cube was a must for Labradors who have a ton of energy and need to keep their minds busy. All these years later, we love it and use it weekly!

Floating Beach Toy – I often get questions about what toys Bill + Judy like best at the beach and I always come back to this simple floating toy that was super cheap on Amazon. No bells or whistles, just a simple buoy that is easy to throw, easy to spot in the water and the dogs go nuts for it. We’re at the point now that we can’t even get it out or else they think they’re going to the beach!

Epi-Otic Ear Cleaner – Dog owners with floppy eared pooches will agree with me when I say that making sure our dogs ears are clean can be one of the more annoying aspects of dog ownership. Cleaning Bill + Judy’s ears ranks right up there with picking up their poop in the backyard, but simply because my dogs lose their minds at the mere sight of the ear cleaning bottle. Because we take frequent trips to the beach and take them on adventures fairly regularly, it creates a haven for their ears to get…gross. This cleaner was recommended to us by our vet and it works very well. Admittedly, we do purchase our fair share of ear ointments and medication from our vet, but this cleaner works and is a quick at-home remedy for dirty dog ears.

Stuffed Toy – This toy is also known as the only stuffed toy that lasts at our house. Judy has never been a chewer, she just carries her “babies” around with her and keeps them in her mouth, but Bill, on the other hand, is a monster when it comes to stuffies. He won’t stop until the stuffing is ripped out, all limbs are removed and the dang thing is decapitated. He doesn’t mess around! That said, these stuffed toys (we have every single variety!) are the only ones that have lasted in our house. For whatever reason, they don’t get ripped to shreds and are durable. The pink elephant is a house fave!

Brush – Hi, my name is Kait and I have two built in shedding machines in my house. Folks, the dog hair problem is real. Labs might have short hair, but it gets INTO EVERYTHING. I mean, seriously – I think I have clouds of it several times per year when Bill + Judy blow their coats. In any case, I try to combat this as best I can with regular brushing sessions outside and this tool has really come in handy. It’s the only brush we use after it came recommended to us by both our vet and fellow pet owners. I love it because it works to remove undercoats as well as loose hair and decreases shedding issues 4-6 weeks at a time. Though I’ll be honest – I use this about once per week and gently brush both dogs. It has worked wonders for their shedding and my sanity!

Slow Eater – Labs are chowhounds and after Bill had a scare with bloat, I am now a champion even more than before for slow eaters (this one is less than $20). Both of our dogs use them and it doesn’t take us any extra time or measures to serve it to them in these feeders as opposed to regular bowls.

Rope Leash – Sometimes it’s embarrassing to admit when your dogs aren’t the best at something and for us that something is walking on a leash. They are perpetual pullers and all the gentle leaders, harnesses and special collars in the world haven’t helped this. They walk amazingly well by themselves, but don’t even get me started on what happens when they see a mongoose or stray cat and want to chase it. One of the items that saves our sanity here are the rope leashes we picked up off Amazon. They are great, because they’re strong, not retractable (no offense if those work for your family!) and include a lifetime warranty – even if your dog chews it! Plus, they give back to pets in need, which gets all the claps from me.

Are you a dog owner? What are products that you and your dogs love?

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