Austin and Zoe are very happy to tell you that this shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, MARS Incorporated. All opinions are mine alone. #PedigreeMoments #CollectiveBias It meant they got to taste test some delicious PEDIGREE® goodies!
It has just been a dog kinda week around But First, Coffee! On Saturday I shared Dog Hacks with you, yesterday I told you the story of Austin and Zoe (my pups) and today we’re tackling a DIY that’s all for the dogs! But, what can I say, I just love my little dog babies!
With the weather (finally!) warming up I’m looking forward to so many more walks and hikes with my dogs. When the sun is shining and the weather is good, there is nothing better to do after a long day at work then take a stroll with my dogs. No matter what’s going on in life or how hard a day at work as been, I can always count on my dogs to be there to greet me at the end of the day. They are happy to see me and ready and eager to go out and enjoy the fresh air. Even when it has been a long day, I love how their excitement always motivates me to get moving and get outdoors. I always feel better after a good, long walk with these two!
When I was in college I used to be mega-overworked. I was going to school full time and working two jobs. One semester I had to hire someone else to come over and walk the dogs for me. The person I hired loved coming over to walk them and told me about the great hikes they went on and how enjoyable it was. That’s when I realized I was missing out on one of the best things about being a dog owner! The next semester I found a way to scale back so I could enjoy those outdoor walks with my dogs myself.
The only thing I struggle with is that dogs have a lot of stuff. From toys to treats to leashes, sometimes getting ready to take them out for a walk feels like I’m packing for a 4-day cruise. So, whenever I can find something that makes that process easier, I’m all about it.
Luckily, I recently came across these PEDIGREE® POUCH Meaty Ground Dinner at Walmart! Treating and eating on the go just got a whole lot more convenient with these PEDIGREE® POUCHES. Plus, I always feel bad that my pups have to eat the same exact food every day. With these pouches, you can mix these in as a treat topper on top of your dog’s dry food to mix things up for them! And, they come in a variety of flavors like with Beef, Hearty Chicken/Beef, Bacon & Cheese, so you can really switch it up! Check out more PEDIGREE® Moments.
So, the ease and convenience of these PEDIGREE® POUCH Meaty Ground Dinner inspired me to make a little DIY dog leash and treat holder to make other aspects of being a “dog mom” just as simple! Organization in my house is all about an “everything has a place” mentality. The key to keeping all our things tidy is making sure every item has a spot it belongs. That way cleaning up is always a breeze because I know where everything goes. I wanted to create a place like that to store all the things the dogs needed so that before and after walks would be a lot easier and it’d allow me to keep their things organized.
How to Make a DIY Leash Holder
I knew I wanted to create a pallet-style organizer but the closest store to me that sells wood is a little bit of trek (well, 30 minutes but hey, I don’t have all day.) I decided to stop by a local craft shop before making the drive and was pleased to find a wooden crate and a blank wooden sign (similar here and here) Craft stores always have the best gems. I decided I could pry apart the wooden crate and use the salvaged wood to create my holder and skip the trip to the hardware store. But, you can easily create this with wood pieces you buy as well. You’d need: Six 12″ x 2″ pieces of wood and six 7″ x 2″ pieces of wood
Use the 12″ x 2″ pieces to make the back of the holder. Then, use the 7″ x 2″ pieces to create the little “holder” piece up front. I used a mixture of wood glue and a few small nails to piece the entire thing together.
When it was all done I added a couple of hooks. The last step was adding a picture hanger to the back.
I decided using one of the hooks for the leashes and one for keys made the most sense since I never leave for a walk without my keys. I love how this project came out because not only does it keep everything organized but the rustic wood pallet design melds into the home decor well. That way I’m keeping everything organized and it doesn’t mess with the aesthetics of the house.
I’m so glad I decided to add the little treat holder section too! The added compartment is perfect for storing treating, toys, doggie bags, and other things I might need on a walk.
The only real problem is now my dogs spend their time pathetically laying under the new holder hoping I’ll take them for a walk or let them eat their PEDIGREE® Dry Complete Nutrition Chicken or one of the PEDIGREE® Pouches (Austin says he really likes the chicken one.) But, I guess this is a good thing because it’ll inspire us to take even more walks!
