Alright, so let me tell you about this dog watering can situation. My old plastic one, you know, the cheap kind, finally gave up the ghost. Cracked right down the side. And honestly, Buster, my mutt, never really liked it anyway. He’d always shy away when I tried to rinse his muddy paws with it. So, I needed something new, something a bit gentler, maybe even something he wouldn’t see as a threat.
Getting the Idea and What I Cobbled Together
I looked online, sure. Saw some fancy, dog-shaped watering cans. Cute, yeah, but the prices? No thank you. Plus, they all looked a bit… overdone. I just wanted something simple that worked. Then it hit me – why not just make one? I mean, how hard could it be? I like tinkering, and it felt like a good little weekend project.
So, I started looking around the garage and kitchen for bits and pieces. Didn’t want to buy anything special for this. I found an old, empty gallon milk jug. Perfect! It already had a decent handle, and the plastic was sturdy enough. I figured I could poke some holes in the cap, and boom, instant watering can. For tools, nothing fancy. Just a good pair of scissors to neaten the top edge if needed, and an old awl I use for random stuff. You could probably use a nail and a hammer too, carefully, of course.
The Actual Making Of It – And The Mess-Ups
First thing, I gave that milk jug a real good wash. Didn’t want any old milk smell lingering, especially if Buster was going to be near it. Then came the main event: the cap. This is where things got a bit tricky.
My first attempt at making the sprinkler holes? Not so great. I grabbed the awl and poked, maybe, five or six holes in the cap. Thought that would do it. Filled the jug with a bit of water to test. Tipped it over. And… glug, glug, splosh! The water just sort of fell out in big, clumsy streams. Not the gentle shower I was hoping for. Buster would have hated that even more than the old can.
Okay, so back to the drawing board. Luckily, I had another spare cap from a similar jug. This time, I decided to make more holes, but much smaller. I must have poked about twenty tiny holes. I was super careful, trying to spread them out evenly. It took a bit of patience, let me tell you. My hand was cramping up a bit by the end.
Then, to make it a bit more “dog-friendly,” or at least less like a plain old jug, I let my kiddo draw a goofy dog face on it with some permanent markers. Nothing spectacular, just some big eyes and a smiley mouth. It actually looked kinda cheerful.
The Big Test and How It All Turned Out
Moment of truth. I filled it up, called Buster over to the porch where his paws were usually a mess after a garden run. He eyed the decorated jug, gave it a sniff. I gently tipped it. And what do you know? A lovely, soft shower of water came out. Perfect! I rinsed his paws, and he just stood there. No fuss, no shying away. Success!
So yeah, that’s the story of my dog watering can. Cost me pretty much nothing but a bit of time and an old plastic jug. It’s not going to win any design awards, that’s for sure. But it works, Buster approves, and it’s great for a quick paw rinse or even watering the potted plants gently. Sometimes, just making something yourself, even something simple, is pretty satisfying. You get exactly what you need, and you keep a bit of rubbish out of the landfill too. Can’t complain about that.
