Make recovery from surgery a little easier for Fido with this dog cone alternative. This DIY Pool Noodle Cone for Dogs is easy to make and much more comfortable for your dog!
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DIY Pool Noodle Cone of Shame
Pool Noodles are fun!
Pool noodles are fun for the kids. They use their pool noodles to enjoy a summer swim, make an obstacle course, or a marble track.
These awesome little pool noodles can be used in more practical ways as well.
Pool Noodles are Practical!
They’re incredibly useful for DIY projects and creative solutions to problems around the home.
You can use them to hold your boots up or sprinkle your garden.
Here’s one use you may NOT have discovered.
Pool Noodles Make Comfortable Dog Cones
You know that when your doggie has been to the vet and comes home with stitches?
Or he itches and just HAS to bite and lick that spot until it becomes raw and sore?
And he is given the dreaded “Cone of Shame” to wear until he heals?
Well, MY dog is pretty little. He had a wart removed and was instructed to wear “The Cone”.
The problem was, though, that his legs are very short, which puts his little head pretty close to the ground.
Every time he tried to walk with this kind of cone, he got stuck and he could only move by backing up!
How frustrating was that? Very!
The Solution
So I came up with the best dog cone alternative and you probably already guessed that it involves a pool noodle…
It’s a DIY pool noodle dog collar – a dog collar made from a pool noodle.
Here’s how to make your own pool noodle dog cone.
The DIY Pool Noodle Dog Cone
Making a dog cone from pool noodles is really easy.
I’ll tell you how, then show you in a video so you can see how I did it.
(The video is below, but reading the instructions first might be a good idea…)
First, find a pool noodle that coordinates with your dog’s outfit or collar. Or one that matches his eyes…
Just kidding, any pool noodle will do, as long as the size fits your dog and it has a decent sized hole in the middle.
For my dog I used a small noodle since his is a pretty small dog. (He weighs 12 lbs.)
And I also used a pool noodle that matched his John Deere dog collar. 😉
I cut the noodle using a cross-cut, a miter box and a serrated bread knife.
For more information on cutting, see the post about Cutting Pool Noodles.
Next, cut the noodle into 1-inch pieces for a small dog, and 1.5 -2-inch pieces for a larger dog. It takes about 8 pieces for small and 10-12 pieces for a larger collar/dog.
If you see you need more after trying it on, just add a few more.
Then, adjust the collar so it’s larger than normal – you don’t want to strangle the poor pup.
(He already has enough problems if you’re making him wear a collar!)
It needs to be larger to allow room for the noodles AND the neck.
Next, string the noodle pieces onto the the collar.
Add noodle pieces until it fits YOUR dog just right.
Finally, put your pool noodle dog cone on your dog.
Tips
Make sure the pool noodle cone of shame collar fits your dog well.
Watch carefully for any signs of it bothering him – it’s not too tight, it’s not itching, he’s not chewing on it, etc.
Keep a close eye on your dog. You’re probably doing this anyway, since there is a need for this collar in the first place.
As with anything like this, make sure it’s comfortable, safe and fits well.
Advantages of Pool Noodle Dog Cone of Shame
Using this kind of barrier or “deterrent” for your dog has several advantages.
It is more comfortable for your dog.
It allows them to reach their water and food bowl without removal.
They can walk upright. My poor dog scooted backward because the traditional kind kept catching on the floor, remember?
Instructional Video:
Would this work for cats?
Cats are finicky beasts. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE cats. I probably love cats more than dogs. (Don’t tell my dog that!!)
I had cats for many years and never, ever was I able to get one to wear a collar.
But sometimes it’s necessary.
If you can get your cat to wear a collar, then yes, I think this DIY Pool Noodle Cone could be a Pool Noodle Cone for Cats, too.
Try it out and let me know.
And I’d LOVE to see a photo… 😉
Are you ready?
Are you ready to make cone-wearing a little easier on your pup?
I’d love to know how your DIY pool noodle dog cone turned out.
Did your dog love it?
Please note: I refer to dogs as “he” because I have a male dog. This collar works great for “she” dogs, too!
Let us know in the comments below.
And if you’d like to share, you can post a photo to our Facebook page. We’d love to see you & your pet!
I am about to get the noodles and make these. He just had the snip. What an awful cone.
THANK you so much for this information.
Well done. Waiting for your next project.
Made the collar for Kipper, my westy who is chewing on a hot spot on his tail. After placing the noodle collar cone on Kipper and…he is still chewing on the hot spot on his tail. It didn’t work.😕
Didn’t work one bit. Put the noodle collar on my dog and she laid down and started licking the spots like she wasn’t even wearing it.