Our pets bring us unconditional love and play an integral role in our home and family life.  The longer they live with us, the less animal and more like family they become.  Having a good system in place for all your pet’s needs makes home organization much more manageable.  

At our ‘many’ pet home, we have a large wire basket for toys, a cabinet dedicated to pet food, treats and meds, and another basket in the laundry room for back stock.  Take the time to sit and purge what you do and do not need and set up clear and well-defined zones in your home for supplies.  This will make everything easier for the entire family. 

PICK AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER AND DESIGNATE AN AREA FOR SUPPLIES.

For dry pet food, always opt for an airtight container – preferably one large enough to hold the entire bag.  This not only keeps out pests, but also keeps the food as fresh as possible.  Dry food is sprayed with oils that start to break down and go rancid when the kibble is exposed to air.  There is no harm in storing the original bag insight the airtight container; in fact, the bag may even provide an added barrier for improved freshness.  There are a plethora of options for airtight storage, so find something that goes with your aesthetic. 

We like to store treats in ceramic or stainless steel jars with fun labels.  Simply switching out the original packaging for some airtight containers can really streamline your storage look.  This also keeps treats fresh and makes them easy for grab and go.  Store both the treats and pet food somewhere convenient for feeding time.  If you do not have the space to store a large container, consider refilling a smaller container as needed.  This also comes in handy for travel. 

PET TOYS NEED A “CORRAL BIN” JUST LIKE CHILDREN’S TOYS.

Pets accumulate a lot of toys over the years.  If you have a young, playful pup, toys and bones can be strewn all over the house in a matter of minutes.  While this is fun for your pet, it’s less fun for your feet.  A designated bin for squeaky toys, bones, balls, et cetera makes clean up a breeze.  We chose a XXL white cotton rope blanket basket and put it in an unobtrusive corner.  The open-top design works well for us, and we like the built in handles. 

Resist the urge to give Fido all his toys at once.  Instead, rotate them to keep your pet from getting bored.   Proper toy rotation helps your dog stay occupied, interested and engaged.  It is important that puppies especially get used to different sizes, shapes, colors and squeaks.  When your pet has free access to all their toys, they end up bored with toys everywhere. 

KEEP GROOMING SUPPLIES IN A CADDY FOR EASY TRANSPORTING.

Create a grooming caddy (much like you would for your toiletries or shower supplies) for your pet’s grooming essentials.  Keep the caddy within reach near wherever you intend to bathe and groom your pet.   We bathe our motley crew outside, so we keep the caddy near the back door/hose for easy grabbing.  Our caddy contains our pet’s shampoo, conditioner, furminator, nail trimmers and any other grooming supplies we need at the time. 

GATHER AND STORE VET RECORDS IN ONE PLACE.

An organized folder or binder for your pet’s vet records is sure to spark joy – and also appreciated by the pet sitter.  Here, you do not need to keep absolutely everything, just the paperwork on major issues and vaccinations.  For a multi pet home, we like binders with subcategories:  vaccination history, vet visits (a brief description of why you were there), pet sitter, medicine log and miscellaneous.  If you have a puppy, a vaccine chart ensures your puppy gets what he/she needs when.  There are dog vaccination record printable PDFs online.    

CREATE A DOG WALKING STATION NEAR THE DOOR.

Items stay functional when they are where you need them.  Instead of storing leashes rolled away in a tight drawer where you have to hunt all over for them, store them on hooks near the door.  Utilize a tote or basket to hold doggy #2 bags, treats and anything else you may need on a walk.  From time to time, we put extra towels in our bag to clean off muddy paws before we come inside. 

Tidier Spaces knows firsthand how pet loot and toys can go from neatly organized to disastrous in no time at all.  We hope you enjoyed these tips to keep you pet items organized and centralized.  If you find your supplies are so bountiful that they’re taking up your entire house, it may be time to donate.  Tidier Spaces is active in the rescue community and will happily pick up any new or gently used items and donate to the appropriate entities.