These 7 tips from NYC’s top Organization Guru Abbe Tanenbaum will help wrangle all your dog clutter into a well-ordered haven.
7 Simple Organizing Solutions for You and Your Urban Canine!
With the autumn just around the corner, everyone is trying to get organized for back to school and the end of the holidays. Dog owners are no exception, but figuring out what to do with all of your pup’s stuff in an apartment is definitely an added challenge. What should you do with all the toys, treats, grooming supplies, leashes, clothes, food, bowls… the list goes on and on!
Here are 7 easy to implement tricks for you and your furry friend to try!
1. W-A-L-K Station
{Photo Credit: HiSugarplum!}
Create a doggy walk station near the exit. Keep a tote bag on a hook that can hold baggies, leash, harness, treats, booties etc. If you want to add more storage hang baskets. They are great because they are convenient, stylish, AND hide clutter.
2. Grooming Supplies
{Photo Credit: iheartorganizing}
Create a little caddy or designate a plastic bin with a lid for grooming supplies (nail clipper, brushes, shampoo etc) and store it under the sink in your bathroom or on a shelf in your closet. The idea is to keep like items in one area so that when you need them they are easy to find.
3. Zzzzzzzzzz
{Photo Credit: Girl and Great Dane}
Space is at a premium when living in an apartment. Yes you love your pooch but that kennel takes up so much space! If you have a large dog crate, make it function as table top by putting a board covered in fabric on top.
{Photo Credit: Ma Doma Design}
If you have a smaller dog, repurpose an end table so it can hold your dog’s bed.
4. Treat Time
{Photo Credit:City Dog Expert}
Great idea from the one and only Kimberly at City Dog Expert [Editors note:awwwwwwww thank you Abbe]
Put dog treats into clear mason jars so you can see what they are and they take up less space!
5. Dinner? Yes, Please.
Use a plastic cereal container to hold dry dog food. It takes up less space, keeps food fresh, and is easy to pour.
6. What to Wear…
The Wonder Hanger is a great way to maximize closet space. This device allows you to hang up to 6 outfits vertically. Great for all your dog’s gear 🙂
7. Toy Storage
{Photo Credit: How to Decorate}
A basket is a great solution for toy storage BUT it doesn’t need to be an eye sore. Apartment Therapy has a great selection of Grown Up Toy Storage to give you some options.
BONUS: ClearOver-the-Door Shoe Caddies are my FAVORITE! They don’t need to just be used for shoes, in fact they are perfect for your tail-wagger’s toys, leash, treats, shampoo–you name it and because the pockets are clear you can easily see what’s in each one.
Organization isn’t about becoming the next Martha Stewart. It’s about finding ways to make your life easier and more efficient for you… and your pooch!
Abbe Tanenbaum The Urban Organizer
Abbe is an NYC based personal organizer, actor, dog enthusiast and Pinterest addict. When she isn’t working one on one with clients through her organizing company, Urban Organizer, she is finding new activities that push her comfort zone.
City Dog Expert is Europe’s number one resource for urban dogs.
As featured in Wall Street Journal, New York Press,
The Sun, Chicago Tribune & Financial Times
Even since moving to a small house, the dog clutter gets to me! These tips are so helpful. I know exactly what I’m going to do first: get that walk bag ready and organized. I also like Flylady’s Rubba Scrubba to do a pre-vacuum on the rug. You won’t believe how many hairs come up!
oh the joys of dog hair!!!!! or wet dog hair!!. I have a hairdryer by the front door and also dry shampoo so no smelly Fidos can sneak in.
This is the bomb dot com. My biggest concern about getting my own pup is making sure he is happy and has plenty of room play and run. I barely have room to stretch in my NYC apartment. I feel like these small tips will go a long way for and some of my Nyc dog loving friends. Valuable tips!
my first NYC apt was a tiny box studio in Chelsea. I was convinced that having a dog in the city was the worst thing in the world. But the amount of joy it brought me outweighed any small inconvenience.
My apartment was so much tidier after I got my dog and was much better organized
I LOVE the ideas regarding dual-purpose sleeping areas. They make the room look even more chic!
we think so too. And is a fun way to get creative with your space
Great post, especially as I was just struggling to untangle the pile of leashes at the door before I could take Henrietta out this morning. I am going to incorporate some of these!
They are easy enough to not overwhelm us yet will make such a big difference
Great tips! I’m already doing some of these–the “walk station” and the cereal container, for instance. I need a better way to organize grooming stuff, though.
We store all our grooming stuff (combs, shampoo, collars, bows, detangling spray, etc) in a roll up vanity storage which we hang from the back of the door when needed but rolls up very small when not.
Maybe you could try that?
Wealso use as many 2 in 1 products as we can to saver on space
Wow, these are some fantastic ideas! I’ve been working on getting the dog areas and gear more organized and have utilized some of these, although not with quite as much style! I love the table top on the crate idea. I recently organized all my extra collars, harnesses and leashes (by the number you’d think I have fifteen dogs when I really only have two) using a back-of-the-door shoe organizer (the kind with clear pockets) inside of my downstairs coat closet.
The shoe organizer is a great idea. We use a roll up vanity kit which unrolls to hang from the back of the door when in use or rolls up really tight when needing to be stored
This. Is. Genius. Amazing, amazing organizing tips! Can’t wait to try them out and share them.
Thank so much Kristen. We really found it helpfuil also
We had all da tips except for tips – and guess what we’re doing now? Putting our treats in to some glass canning jars! Brilliant!!!
That’s the most important tip for the puppies 😉
I love the idea of putting a table top on the top of a crate! That is a great use of space. I have seen that done with litter boxes for cats too. 🙂
Oh, smart idea with the cat litter box also
These are great tips for organising the clutter. We already put the cat treats in mason jars which is also useful for knowing when you’re about to run out and need to buy more.
That’s exactly why we do it also. Can always see when am running low on something
I love the idea of being able to use the top of the crate! Great post! 🙂
Thanks so much Spencer. We love to stay organized and love all the tips here
Great tips. I like the idea of using mason jars to keep treats fresh and the table that doubles as a dog bed.
Multifunctional furniture is so important for city apartments
These are some great organizational tips. I can see some of these working for me and my kitties, too. I like the idea of using the plastic shoe storage organizer for toys and such. That would help out a lot around here – right now, I have their toys in a bin, but over the door would save some space.
I’m happy to report that I have implented a FEW of these, but there are definitely some new ones here that I’m going to explore. Great post with fantastic visuals. Really appreciate the prod to get more organized! 🙂
So glad you liked it
I like the walk station. Currently we have a bin by the door that contains all of Mr. N’s leashes and walking paraphernalia.
We are trying to implement all of them also 🙂