Pool noodles are fun for kids enjoying a summer swim, but they’re also incredibly useful for DIY projects and creative solutions to problems around the home. They can even be used to make fun or helpful items for our dogs.
If you have some pool noodles lying around, give some of these projects a try. They may make life easier or more fun for you and your pup.
Here are eight life hacks for dogs using pool noodles.
1. Bumpers For Doors
If you have a door in your house that tends to swing closed, your dog may end up locking themselves inside often, which means you either have to get up and let them out or make sure those doors stay closed at all times. And that can be inconvenient!
Instead, take a small section of a pool noodle, cut halfway through it lengthwise, and slide it over the edge of the door. This will prevent the door from closing all the way, and your pup won’t get stuck inside.
2. Dog Bed
This easy dog bed requires an old, long-sleeved shirt, a pillow, one or two pool noodles, and some duct tape.
Place the pillow inside the body of the shirt and stick a pool noodle — or two noodles taped together if you’re making a larger bed — through the sleeves. Loop the noodle around and connect one end to the other.
Follow along with the video above if it seems unclear.
3. Cone Of Shame
The usual “cone of shame” or Elizabethan collar you get after your dog has a veterinary procedure can cause discomfort. But you can use a pool noodle and some twine to make a more padded solution.
Follow along with the video above. Make sure the cone wraps close enough to your dog’s neck so they can’t chew it, but loose enough so they can breath and move easily.
4. Hydrotherapy Or Learn To Swim
Pool noodles are supposed to be used by humans to swim, but you can also use them as tools for dogs who need some help in the water. You can place a pool noodle under your dog’s front legs or torso to give them a bit of stability while you hold them.
This is helpful for nervous dogs who aren’t used to the water, as they’ll feel a bit more confident with more support, and dogs who suffer from conditions like arthritis will have some freedom to move their bodies and get some exercise without putting to much strain on them.
5. Ball Stopper
Most of us have lost a ball or toy to the abyss under the couch or some other piece of furniture. That’s an easy problem to solve with a pool noodle.
You can cut them to fit small gaps or tape a couple together for larger gaps. The great thing about them is that you can easily remove them when you finish playing or if you don’t want to have pool noodles lying around when you have guests over.
6. Wall Protector
Sometimes crates or kennels can have edges that stick out and rub against the wall. This can become a problem when dogs get in and out of them or eat and play in them, which might shake the kennel and cause it to hit the wall and damage the paint.
Try cutting halfway through some pieces of a pool noodle lengthwise and slide them over the sides or protrusions of the crate. Now when it rubs against the wall, the soft noodle will keep it from causing damage.
7. A Soft Training Tool
Do you want to impress all your friends by having your dog jump through your arms? Start your pup’s training off simple with a soft pool noodle.
As you can see in the video above, you can use the pool noodle to create a larger loop for your dog to practice without getting hurt. Eventually, you can remove the noodle and have your dog doing all kinds of neat tricks!
8. Obstacle Course
Obstacle courses are fun for getting dogs to work out physically and mentally, and pool noodles can be shaped into archways, hurdles, hoops, or posts for dogs to weave around while they get some exercise.
You don’t need to invest a lot of money in agility course equipment when you have some pool noodles, some duct tape, and creativity. Instant obstacle course. Follow along with the video above.
Do you have any other clever uses of pool noodles for your dog? Do you ever save pool noodles to use for DIY projects? Let us know in the comments below!
