3. Ease Your Dog's Anxiety When You're Away

Dogs have tremendous sense of smell, so it doesn't come as a shock that they form a bond with you through your natural scent. If your dog gets anxious with you being gone for longer periods of time, help ease his discomfort by creating a DIY dog pillow out of an old sweatshirt. Wear an old sweatshirt around the home for a few days so that it is filled with your scent before leaving your dog at home. Then, place a pillow inside of the sweatshirt, tuck the arms under the pillow and sew all of the openings. You may want to add Velcro to the waistline of the shirt so that you can take out the pillow and wash it. Just because your pup loves your smell, doesn't mean his natural smell won't get stale after a while. Having something around that reminds him of you can help ease his anxieties while you're gone.

4. Make Walks Easier

Want to know how to make walks more peaceful? Find a way to get your dog to actually stay by your side and not pull you along. Training your dog on walking skills is so important, but if you have a stubborn puppy that still fights against the leash, there is another option. Attach the leash to the front of the harness. That way, when he pulls, he gets turned around. After a few times of your dog noticing he's suddenly walking in the wrong direction he'll get the hint that his "leadership" skills aren't appreciated on your walk.

5. Reuse Old Stuffed Toys or Make Your Own

It is no surprise that dogs can chew up their favorite stuffed toys in a matter of minutes, which can end up being costly if you decide to keep going out and buying new ones. The good news is that there is a simpler and cheaper option out there — children's old stuffed animals. Yard sales are a great place to pick up old stuffed animals for super cheap that your dog can chew up at his leisure without you getting frustrated with the costs. Just make sure to look for ones that don't have any small detachable pieces that could present a choking hazard like buttons or plastic eyes. Another great option is to just use what you have at home. Old socks stuffed with fuzz or an old plastic water bottle make great chewing toys. Your dog doesn't care how cute it looks; he just wants something you and he can play tug-of-war with.

6. Keep Your Dog Contained

There are often times you want to keep your dog out of a room that doesn't have a door, but you don't want to spend money on expensive baby or dog gates. That's okay, a couple of tension curtain rods fed through some fabric can do the trick. Simply put the tension rods in the door frame and hang some fabric over it. Make sure you put the top rod high enough that your dog can't jump over, and low enough he can't crawl under. Most dogs won't test the fact that it is a fairly flimsy barrier, keeping them out of the room they shouldn't be in. This is a great way to keep your pup out of the kitchen when you're cooking. Make sure to test it when you're around because there are still those sneaky pooches that figure out that the cloth isn't in fact a wall.

7. Repair Dogging Scratches on Wood Furniture

This one may not be new to you, but it's definitely a helpful one. Did you know that walnuts, pecans, and Brazil nuts have natural oils in them that can help restore wood furniture from scratches? Simply remove a portion of the nut from its shell and rub over the scratch diagonally to let the natural oils soak in. Then, rub your finger over where the scratch was to warm it up and help activate the oils. Wait a few minutes then use a soft cloth over the treated area to wipe away excess oils.

This isn't a comprehensive list of all the tips for dog owners on how to make both of your lives a little bit easier. There are so many other options out there to mix up your routine a little. Be open and keep an eye out for new ideas all the time. When you're at the dog park and awkwardly standing near the other pet parents, start a conversation. Ask them what they do to streamline their days or keep their pets entertained.