Make-Your-Own Soda Pop Sprinkler

Is it hot where you are today? If the heat is getting to you and your dog, and you have a backyard to play in, no matter how small, this would be a fun way to cool off!

Cool your dog off with a homemade sprinkler. Take a 2 liter soda bottle, poke holes in it. Attach to a garden hose via a male to male adapter, available from Amazon for just over $2.00!

Toss over a tree branch and let hang. You can adjust how the water sprinkles by adjusting the water flow. When the bottle stops working well, just switch it out with another bottle, no additional cost!

This one might not just be for the dogs! The kids will love it too ... or even an adult or two! You could even use it to water your garden(s)!

Photo credit: Pinterest
All rights reserved

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On our Facebook fan page:

Tracie Pennington Hall posted: Oh gosh my Mama did this for us all the time when we were little. (Except we never hung it over a tree.) She firmly believed in 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' way before it became a trend.

Jennifer Yates posted: Very cool idea. Some of my cousins made this for their lil kids to enjoy over the weekend.

Jenifer Jacobs Webster posted: Would be great idea for outdoor shower before getting in the pool

Patty Newman Jance posted: Way cool!!! That is better than the cheap sprinkler thingys out there these days!!

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Shopping Suggestions:
• Groceries To Your Door - Pepsi Soda, 2-Liter Bottle
• Gilmour Male to Male Connector
• Mintcraft Light Duty 3 Ply PVC 25 ft Garden Hose
• Mintcraft Light Duty 3 Ply PVC Garden Hose

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Make-Your-Own Carpet Powder

We have two dogs and a cat - but I don't like using chemical carpet cleaners and even the unscented ones smell too strong to me - so this is a great idea!

Homemade Carpet Powder
-- Mix baking soda and several drops orange essential oil (or any other essential oil you like) together in a bowl using a whisk.

Spoon the mixture into your shaker - an empty Parmesan container works well.

Sprinkle this on your carpets - let sit for about 15 minutes, then vacuum.

One reader wrote: If you add a cup of borax to this mixture it will kill any bugs that may be in your carpet! (fleas, etc!)

Another said: We had luck getting rid of fleas using salt. Allow to sit in carpet overnight and for best results, treat a couple times. Seems much safer than borax!

Another said: I use nutmeg or clove ground with baking soda, and everyone can't find why my house smells so inviting and homey.

Another said: I have a Dyson vacuum and rather than using baking soda, I use cornmeal and borax and ground up dehydrated citrus zest and some essential oils.

Will you try this one? Let us know how it works for you!

Idea and photo from: mrshappyhomemaker.com

From our Facebook fan page:

Sandra Lee posted: Fabulous! Thanks for sharing

Kim Dillon posted: OMG thank you for sharing this!!! I was looking for a friendly way to get fleas out of my carpet

Donna R. Pietroboni-Magdich posted: That is an awesome tip!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Didi Cannon posted: Sounds good.. I'll give it a go..

Tammy Butler posted: I also add diatomaceous earth to mine :)

Donna R. Pietroboni-Magdich posted: I use the lavender essential oil daily for aromatherapy ....bath oils ....and air fresheners as well as mixing it with a bit of vodka as a stabilizer and sprinkling it on my linens ...I have my pharmacist order me a pint....(it usually lasts about 8 months to a year....

Rhonda Hanson Steele posted: This makes a good soft scrub for counters and tubs

Nicole Cavalier posted: I use baking soda mixed w/lavender essential oil on my area rugs. It smells SO much better than the crap from the store!

Going Greener posted: I do this as well, just the other day I was talking about this!! Such a great idea and a great way to keep toxins out of our homes for our families and pets health! ♥

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Shopping Suggestions:
• Arm + Hammer Baking Soda
• Orange Essential Oil
• 20 Mule Team Borax
• Diatomaceous Earth

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Free Dog Breed Colouring Pages

I found tons of free dog breed coloring pages on the internet, so you can find so many coloring sheets of your favorite dog breed.

Free Dog Breed colouring pages:
 • Dog Breed Coloring Pages
 • FreeKidsColoring.com Dog Breed Coloring Pages
 • Caninest.com Dog Breed Coloring Pages
 • OnColoring.com Dog Breed Coloring Pages
 • Color and Learn: 20 Dog Breeds
 • EnchantedLearning Dog Breed Printouts
 • Dogs coloring pages
 • Coloring pages of your favorite dog breeds
 • Dog coloring pages to print and color
 • Dogs Online Coloring Pages
 • Dogs coloring pages
 • Free Printable Dogs Coloring Pages
 • Animal Coloring Pages of Pet Dogs
 • Coloring Pages of Animals
 • Dog coloring pages you can print
 • Dog Breed Coloring Pages
 • Dog Breeds Coloring Pages
 • Realistic Dog Coloring Pages
 • Free Printable Dog Coloring Pages
 • Coloring Pages of realistic dog breeds

Happy colouring!!

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Hot Car Posters

The "Don't Leave Me in Here — It's Hot!" flier has saved countless animals' lives over the years. With its tips on prevention and treatment, the flier has proven to be a painless reminder that alerts someone of the dangers of leaving animals in the car while he or she is shopping.

Whenever you see a parked car with animals inside, place the "Don't Leave Me in Here — It's Hot!"flier under the windshield wiper. (If you see an animal in imminent danger or a child left unattended inside a car, see the store manager or contact the police.) 

The My Dog is Cool Campaign is designed to:

• Get the word out to individuals and communities about the dangers of hot cars through our life-saving Don't Leave Me in Here — It's Hot! Fliers, posters, and other educational materials.
• Educate the media and the general public, as well as police, emergency workers, and city officials, about steps to take to prevent dogs from dying in hot cars.
• Remind others not to leave their dogs in parked cars with materials like our
  "A hot oven or a hot car" poster and our "Hot Temperature" warning sign.

Click for printable fliers
(Worldwide)


Teach by example and show the world what we want to see for all dogs....

You make great choices about leaving your dogs at home when it's too warm outside ... now teach others by displaying your safer choice.

Group dynamics is strong -- let's use this power for positive change!

One day we will see these posters on tons of cars in hot parking lots and not a single dog locked in a car. Are you with us?

Download your free posters
(Worldwide)

Thank you for sharing this post, all you awesome dog-lovers... dogs everywhere will thank you too!

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No-Sew Pet Bed

My dog guests have several beds around the house, Denny uses both beds in the living room and the one in the bedroom.

Dexter would prefer to lay on a person - if he isn't laying on his bed on my computer desk (He is a little dog, a bichon).

You can make this no-sew pet bed!

This pet bed looks pretty simple to make and needs no sewing at all! Probably much cheaper than buying one, and you can wash it!

Making a fleece pet bed yourself allows you to fully customize the pet bed, and choose the cover, filling and style that suits you, and your dog or cat, best!


Plus, it makes a comfortable, water-repellent bed for your dog or cat, of any size.

Photo credit: Selbe B, on Flickr
Some rights reserved

You could buy the McCalls pattern, but it looks like all they did was:

1. Cut out a couple of ovals from anti-pill polyester fleece, about 4-6 inches larger than the size you need. (Anti-Pill is a treatment applied to garments primarily to resist the formation of little balls on the fabric's surface due to abrasion during wear.)

2. Cut 4 or 6-inch long strips into the fleece all around the oval, about 1-inch wide.
3. Tie together one strip of fleece on one oval to a strip of fleece on the second oval - using an over-hand knot. Some prefer to double-knot.
4. Repeat all around the oval, leaving a space open to stuff.
5. Stuff with Polyester Fiberfill, wool, cotton or even cedar shavings.
6. Tie remaining fleece strips.

Photo credit: WVUMC, on Flickr
Some rights reserved


Yardage needed for each pet bed size:
Small: 26-inch diameter - 1 1/2 yards (1.40m) 60" wide (150 cm)
Medium: 36-inch diameter - 2 1/4 yards (2.10m) 60" wide (150 cm)
Large: 46-inch diameter - 2 /3/4 yards (2.55m) 60" wide (150 cm)

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Shopping Suggestions:
• Fairfield Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber
• Solid Dogs Anti-pill Fleece
• Cats Allover Anti-Pill Fleece by Wild Wings
• Petmate Polar Fleece Pet Blanket
• McCall's Patterns - Pet Beds

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No-Sew Rope Toy

Some of my dog guests have brought their owner's t-shirts so they won't miss their owners so much while they are away.

So I thought this frugal tip might be a great combination of a dog owner's scent and a dog's favourite toy!

This is really easy and quick to make—I am sure you already have everything you need to get started.

I wanted a few different colours in my toys, so I used four t-shirts, but then I ended up with six toys. So you probably could make this with just one old t-shirt. Perfect for chewing and tug-of-war!

Here’s what you’ll need:

 • One or more old t-shirts, in different colors (if you want).
 • Scissors
 • Just a few minutes

NOTE: Your dog will like this toy better if you DO NOT wash your t-shirts first!
Soft t-shirts work best, as they are easier to tie.
But with bigger dogs and stronger teeth, you may want to use a tougher fabric, even something like denim.



Step 1: Cut 15-30 pieces, 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) wide in 16"-30" (40-76cm) long. (Or even longer if you want!)
(Small dog - 15-20 pieces, 1" wide, Large dog - 20-30 pieces, 1"-2" wide).



Step 2: Divide your 15-30 pieces into 3 piles of 5-10 pieces each.

For mine, since I have little dogs, with little teeth, I cut my pieces 1" wide (2.5cm), and only used 20 pieces for some, only 15 pieces for the shorter toys. I got shorter pieces measuring from the hem to under the arm of the t-shirt (about 16"or 40cm), and longer pieces from the hem to the neckline (20" or 50cm).



Step 3: Tie a knot in one end, making sure to pull tightly on the tassels so there’s at least an inch dangling after the knot. Separate your pieces into three sections, and make a few braids, as snugly as you can, leaving at least 5 inches for your second knot.

I found even at just 15 pieces, the knot took up more of the fabric than I expected, and was a bit fiddly to get the tassels thru. So the longer you leave the tassel portion, the easier it will be for you to tie the knot. I also found I got better at making tight braids as I made each toy.

If the braids are too loose, your dog will be able to tear it apart easily, but since these toys didn't cost me anything, I can easily replace them. But watch your dog, and make sure to take the toy away if it is getting destroyed - for your dog's safety.

Step 4: Make a knot on the other end. You are done!

As I said, the four XL t-shirts I had, made six small toys, of varying lengths, using 15-20 pieces per toy.



So I tossed the new toys on the floor to see if the dogs would have any interest?

Denny, Dexter and dog guest, Percy, immediately came over to check out the new toys.



Denny and Dexter grabbed a toy each, but Percy didn't seem too interested. But then these toys didn't have his owner scent on them!

Hope you found this tutorial helpful. I’ll be making more frugal dog stuff in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back often!

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