7 Home Organization Tips for Dog Parents

My dogs have a lot of stuff. Plush toys, tennis balls, puzzles, various matching harness and leash sets, clothes, grooming supplies, and the list goes on. Can you relate? To help keep a clutter-free space, here are a few home organization ideas!


Toys

A place for everything and everything in its place! If your floor is covered with dog toys then it’s time to give your pup’s squeaky buddies a home of their own (AKA a toy bin)! I have an adorable metal one I found at HomeGoods and keep it in its own little doggy corner in my primary bedroom. While I can’t find a link to my exact one, this wicker bone-shaped basket is super cute (it comes in small, medium, and large):  


Bowls & Lick Mats

You know those dogs who scarf down food way too quickly? Well, I have one of those! My toy Poodle, Gigi, will gobble down her dinner in the blink of an eye. Since speed eating isn’t healthy for our pups, to help slow her down, I feed her out of a slow feeder bowl. The thing is: After we bought one slow feeder, we purchased another. And then another. And another after that. If you’re like me and have a collection of dog bowls and lick mats, consider adding a designated doggy bowl bin to your pantry. Check out this cute storage bin that features paw prints!


Food

Are you a kibble feeder? If so, you may have thought about storing your dog’s food in a plastic or tin container. While that’s totally fine, there are some things to consider: 

  1. Make sure the container is an airtight food-grade container.
  2. Don’t just pour kibble directly into the container. Rather, keep the kibble in its original bag and then place the entire bag into the container. Why? Well, the fats from the kibble can seep into the plastic container’s walls and contaminate the kibble as it’s turning rancid.
  3. When you change to a new kibble bag, thoroughly wash and dry the storage container, just in case there is any fat residue left on the walls. You don’t want to risk contaminating a new bag of food.

Find out more about proper kibble storage HERE.


Leashes

If you have an official drop zone area in your house, reserve one hook for your pup! If not, there are plenty of cute leash hook boards on Amazon. Here are just a few:

Prefer to keep leashes tucked away? Since I don’t have an ideal leash hanging spot in my house, I keep mine in a basket on my living room bookshelf. 


Grooming Supplies

Whether you’re full-out grooming your pooch (like hair cutting and buzzing) or you’re just doing a few basics (like bathing and trimming nails), chances are you have some dog grooming tools lying around your home. So, what do you do with them? Pick up a plastic drawer organizer and tuck it into a closet! Designate one drawer for combs/brushes, another for scissors and clippers, a section for nail clippers/dremels/styptic powder, etc. That way, everything is easy to find when you need it!


Clothes

Do you dress your dog? If so, you’ll need a place to keep all their clothes. If you’re tucking your dog’s t-shirts into a dresser, consider a drawer organizer. That way, you can create a little order inside the drawer, pairing items by either color or type. Or, if you have some extra room, this pet armoire is beyond adorable: 


Vet Records

Question: When was the last time your pooch got his booster shots? Do you know what month he’s due back to the vet for his annual checkup? What about his heartworm prevention – did you already give it to him this month? Wait – your vet wants to give your dog a certain medication, but is that the one he’s allergic to? With so many life demands, it can be hard to remember what the heck we ate for breakfast, let alone all of our pets’ vet visits and medical history! That’s why I highly recommend having a basic vet and medical records keeper nearby to jot down some notes. But, if those papers aren’t organized, you’ll just write them down and forget about them. So, grab a mini-binder and keep them in an easy-to-reach spot.