It’s true—I’m a gadget person. My father ingrained in me that the right tool for the job is worth the search. Because when you find the right tool, it often is game-changing in time, effort, and enjoyment of the task at hand.

It’s no surprise this also applies to my dog equipment. If it doesn’t make my life easier and my dogs’ lives better, it doesn’t make the cut. So, without further ado, here are my:

Top 5 Game-Changing Dog Gadgets

 

1. Fiberglass Magnetic Screen Door

This has to go at the top of the list for warm weather. It’s even better than a dog door, IMO (though we have one of those, too). It works even on our sliding door, and it comes in plenty of sizes, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one to fit your door.

If not for this, I would be opening/closing doors dozens of times a day. Not only is it a super low barrier for my dogs to let themselves in and out, but it’s also great for humans with full hands. And if you have kids, it’s even better. It took my dogs less than a minute to figure out how to go through. Really.

I’ve had these for a few years, and they last pretty well. My secret is that I use thumbtacks along the top with the Velcro to keep it from getting pulled off. My dogs run through it like they’re at a NASCAR race, so at $15, even if you had to replace them annually, they’re still a steal. I’ve tried several brands, and this one on Amazon is my favorite.

2. Multi-Dog Leash

Fortunately for my dogs, I love to go for walks. When we only had Kenzie and Riley, I started with separate leashes, which worked okay, but they’d always get tangled. Then, once Arrow joined the team, trying to walk the three of them on three leashes single-handedly was like trying to manage a Zoom call with toddlers.

Solution? 360 Swivel  No-Tangle Dual Bungee Dog Leash 

While I could have gotten a multi-dog leash, the size and weight difference (not to mention walking speed) of Arrow vs the other two would have been problematic. So, I divided and conquered, and pressed Andrew into service. Now, we have three happy dogs and two happy humans.

3. Knotted Heavy Duty Bungee Leash

No surprise, Arrow is a powerful dog. Even though he’s leash trained, I discovered he’s actually a fraidy cat, and it doesn’t take much to scare him sideways! You haven’t seen a leap until you’ve seen Arrow fly 8 feet effortlessly into the air, doing a standing broad jump. Only took once to realize a regular flat leash wasn’t going to be strong enough. That, and they’re also too easy to chew through (Arrow also likes to hold his own leash sometimes while we walk).

I got the 10′ heavy duty bungy leash length, which still gives Arrow plenty of zigzag room even after I tie a few knots in it to make it easier for me to gather it up quickly when cars are coming.

4. NO-Zip Pet Stroller with Dual Entry, Push Button Zipperless Entry, Gel-Filled Tires

If you love to walk and have a puppy or a small, sick, or old dog, you’ll want a dog stroller. The freedom it will give you to get back outside and enjoy some fresh air is not to be underestimated. Depending on your needs, probably one of the two strollers below will work well for you.

If you plan on having a stroller for the life of your dog, this No-Zip  Dual Entry Stroller is the dog stroller to get. It’s pricey but super easy to use and built to last.

• Good for on-road and off-road terrain. Good jogging stroller.
• Maximum weight recommendation: 40 lbs (Could also be used for toddlers who don’t like to be strapped in!)
• quickly lock and unlock doors.
• Dual-entry, pets can enter stroller from the front or back (no need to lift pet) 
• Multi-position handle lets you adjust the handle height. 
• Very roomy with great visibility for pet.

If you need something much more budget-friendly, this lightweight, folding travel pet stroller might be what you’re looking for. You can read the full post comparing these two strollers here.

5. Dog Training Finger Clicker

If you’re into positive dog training, I’m sure you’ve come across and probably even used a clicker to help train your dog. But this newest dog training finger clicker version velcros right around your finger, so you’re not always fumbling to grab it or dig it out of your pocket when you’re ready to use it. It gives a satisfyingly loud click when you press the button.

Simple but genius.

 

Honorable Mention

If this Dyson Cordless Vacuum Cleaner weren’t so expensive, it would probably be number 1 or 2 on the list. But after buying probably every kind of pet hair vacuum over the years, I’d have to say you get what you pay for.

This thing is unbelievable! It’s light, easy to use, easy to clean, and just works. I hated lugging around a clunky, hard-to-navigate, corded vacuum so much that I wouldn’t vacuum until the dust bunnies got so large they’d scare me at night. Only semi-joking. Now, I don’t think twice about vacuuming every day because it’s so easy.