Make Your Very Nice Dog a Tool Bag
Dogs often crave purposefulness when they spend time with us while we wander around the yard or in the garage. If you have a helpful dog who prefers to stay a few steps away from you at all times, you can give your best friend a useful (and adorable) job by making him his very own tool bag.
Tools and materials
To make your dog a tool bag, you will need two aprons (available at most hardware stores), a sewing machine (or a needle and thread), pins, and scissors. I used a fancy needle, but you can also use a canvas needle or any needle designed for harder, thicker material. Make sure your threads are heavy duty to support the weight of the tools.
Measure and Mark
To measure the seam, bring one apron close to the dog with the side pockets and the drawstring at the waist towards the dog’s tail and muzzle. Make a mark or crease in the center of your dog’s back to determine where your seam will go.
Sew aprons
Place the two aprons with the pocket side inward facing each other and pin them to the mark. Then sew them together and turn them right side out. Two ties at the waist of the apron will form the front of the apron, and the other two can be trimmed with scissors. The neck loops of the apron will point downward and can be used as harness loops to comfortably hold the bags around your dog’s front paws. The ties for the front of the bags can be tied to the dog’s chest below the collar.
Suitable for your dog
Obviously, dogs are all different sizes, so you may need to modify this method for your particular puppy. For a smaller dog, it may be necessary to cut the neck loops and shorten them by tying or sewing the loops to a smaller size. If you have a much smaller dog, try using a child’s apron instead of an adult one.
Time for warnings!
This project may not be suitable for all dogs. Dogs that jump or react to a harness will be uncomfortable in a tool bag. You should always keep an eye on your dog when he is carrying a tool bag, and make good decisions about which tools are more comfortable for you if you take responsibility for your helper. (A flying knife or an active puppy’s saw is obviously dangerous to both you and your dog, so be careful when choosing items to store in your bags.)
Keep in mind that some dogs will be comfortable with a little more weight than others; If you are unsure if your dog will be comfortable and relaxed in the bags, first take a test drive without any tools to see how he reacts and behaves. Having an extra pair of paws when you work on a project can be great for you and your dog, but some dogs are simply better at providing moral support than running equipment. Anyway: all service dogs are good service dogs.