1. The rosemary flea dip

Rosemary contains very powerful active ingredients that can aid in the healing of flea bites while also creating an unpleasant environment for fleas to live. That’s why this mixture will cause them to leave your pet for good.

How to make it:

• Take two cups of Rosemary leaves and put them in a pan with 1 liter of water.
• Boil the mixture for 30 minutes.
• Strain the liquid and get rid of the leaves.
• Mix the liquid with 4.5 liters of warm water.
• Pour this over your pet and let it air dry, do not rinse!

2. Use flea combs.

A flea comb is one of the most effective ways to get rid of fleas. Unlike any other combs, the teeth of a flea comb are finely spaced allowing it to physically trap and remove fleas, flea eggs and flea dirt from your pet’s fur. After your pet’s fur is completely dry, comb through multiple times and cover the whole skin area to make sure you’ve gotten rid of the entire infestation.

How to use it:

• Prepare a bucket with hot water and dish soap mixed together. This is to rinse the flea comb as you work through your pet’s fur.
• Get a deep bucket and fill it halfway to prevent any of the fleas from jumping out.
  Place newspapers underneath your pet and the bucket to catch any escaping fleas.
• Start from the head, neck, and shoulders and work toward the back of your pet and the tail.
• Stroke the comb in the direction of the fur’s growth in order to remove fleas, flea eggs, dirt, and dead hair.
• Rinse the comb in soapy water when you see it getting full.
• Continue down to the back, sides, and belly of your pet.
• Finish combing on the pet’s legs, tail, and paws.
• Repeat 2-3 times and double-check the belly, chin, and tail areas where fleas tend to hide.
• If you used the flea comb indoors make sure to vacuum the area.

3. Make your own flea collar.

Take your pet’s favorite collar that is also flexible and adjustable, and add a few drops of tea tree oil to the inside of it. According to the Mayo Clinic, tea tree oil is used topically to treat different kinds of infections and infestations such as fleas and dermatitis on your pet. However, be sure to use the oil ONLY topically, do NOT put it in the pet’s water or food to avoid a toxic reaction.

Use with caution:

• Do NOT put tea tree oil on cats. Cats have the ability to metabolize essential oils. Whether they inhale, ingest or absorb it through the skin, tea tree oil can be poisonous to them.
• Use only 1 drop of the product on your pet’s collar.
• Repeat weekly.

4. Keep pennyroyal in the house.

Pennyroyal is also known as the mosquito plant in Europe. This is because it is a natural and very powerful insect repellent that smells like peppermint. Pennyroyal is applied to the skin to kill germs, keep insects away, and treat skin diseases. In addition to being used topically for gout, venomous bites, and mouth sores, it is also a great flea-killing remedy. While the pennyroyal can repel and get rid of fleas on your pet, excess amounts of it are toxic, especially in an oil form.

How to make it:

• Take 1 cup of leaves and crush them together until you create a paste-like texture.
• Add 1 liter of water to a pan and bring to a boil.
• Add the crushed leaves and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Pour it all over your dog and let it air dry.
• After 1 hour, wash your dog and make sure they don’t eat or taste the mixture as it could be toxic when ingested.
• Do NOT use this mixture on cats since they can absorb the pennyroyal and be poisoned.

5. Citrus spray

Citrus is considered to be one of the most effective natural ways to get rid of fleas. A lot of natural flea killing sprays contain a citrus extract called D-limonene which is responsible for getting rid of fleas. Making your own homemade flea spray with lemon is very easy and with it, you can keep those insects away from your home, family, and pets.

How to make it:

• Get 3 lemons and slice them into thin disks.
• Get 1 liter of water, add it to a pan and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
• Add the sliced lemons to the pan and cover it.
• Have the lemons simmer in the water for 30 min before removing them from the fire.
• Leave them to soak in the same pan overnight for approximately 8 hours.
• Remove the lemons from the water.
• Set a strainer over a bowl and pour the lemon water through it.
• Spray it onto areas where you suspect fleas are present.
• Rub it over your pet’s fur and leave on – don’t wash it out!
• Repeat 2 times a month to keep fleas away.

6. Vinegar spray

Vinegar has been used for centuries to sanitize, clean and deodorize. Pet owners can use vinegar to deodorize their dogs and cats. However, this miraculous natural treatment is best used for getting rid of fleas. The best way to do this is to create a solution with water and spray it gently on the animal’s fur, bedding, the house and floors to kill fleas once and for all.

How to create the solution:

• In a spray bottle, add 1/4 distilled white vinegar.
• In the same bottle add 3/4 water.
• Shake well and spray gently on the fur of your pet.
• Leave on for 1-3 hours until your pet’s fur is dry.
• Rinse off.
• Repeat 2-3 times a week.

7. Sprinkle some salt.

Salt acts as a dehydration agent and dries out the fleas, altering the pH balance of the fluid that carries nutrition and oxygen in their bodies. In addition, it can kill the fleas’ eggs which makes this an ideal permanent and natural repellent. Salt is a relatively easy and affordable way to get rid of fleas and is also safe for all your house pets to be around.

How to use it:

• Identify the areas of infestation.
• Apply a generous amount of table salt to the infested areas.
• Do NOT remove! Let it stay on the infested area for 2-3 hours before vacuuming it up.
• Treat your pet to a nice salty bath.
• Vacuum up the salt and sweep it away.
• Repeat daily until the infestation is gone.

8. Keep a bowl of soapy water around.

When it comes to dealing with fleas and persistent infestations, it is important to consider multiple methods in order to exterminate them. Earlier we mentioned physical products and repellents you can use. However, it is important to set traps as well. Using water, soap, and light, you can create an incredibly effective flea trap.

The soap contains surfactants that lower the surface tension of water which will result in sinking and drowning – even when just a couple drops of soap are added to the water. Fleas are attracted to light and find its shining splendor irresistible, so using an aluminum pie pan to set the trap will work wonders.

How to do it:

• Fill an aluminum pie pan with water.
• Add 3-4 drops of dish soap.
• Place it on an area on the floor where the infestation is the most visible.
• Leave it there for 24 hours.
• Do this to multiple rooms in your house.
• Repeat every day until you see no more fleas in your house.

9. Use a lamp to attract fleas to your traps.

Fleas aren’t the smartest insects around so they’re very easy to trap. Using the water and dish soap trap we mentioned above, place a source of light above it to attract more fleas. This will actually help you monitor your progress. The more fleas you can see, the more you need to clean.

How to trap fleas:

Place a directional lamp beside or on top of the trap.
At night, before you go to bed, turn on the lamp and position it above the trap. The fleas will be attracted to the light and warmth, so when they jump toward the light they will fall into your trap.
Use a heat-producing bulb to attract most of the fleas.
Use it in rooms where you can shut the door and keep your family and pets away from it.

10. Continue your regular cleaning regimen.

It is important to repeat your cleaning regimen as often as possible when an infestation occurs in order to prevent the fleas from multiplying faster. With the female flea producing 50 eggs a day, the infestation can spread everywhere in just 1 week.

Remember that for each flea that catches your eye there are 80 more in hiding places that you can’t really see. That’s why the more regularly you clean, the faster you’ll get rid of the infestation.

Your cleaning regimen should include:

• Vacuuming thoroughly every day! Due to the fact that fleas can develop resistance to insecticides, vacuuming regularly will keep them under control.
• Try to mow your lawn every week.
• Wash your and your pet’s beddings twice a week until the infestation is eliminated.

Have you ever had to deal with fleas before? What did you do in order to get rid of them? What methods did you use and what would you recommend? Please let us know in the comments below so we can all help each other!

Handling a Pet Produces a Measurable Drop in Cortisol

All of these feel-good interactions are more than just happy talk. A 2019 study found that there’s hard science behind warm-and-fuzzy interventions like the AVPs: in a randomized trial involving 250 students, researchers measured significant drops in students’ salivary cortisol levels after 10-minute hands-on petting of cats and dogs in an AVP. Study group at the local cat café, anyone?

Interacting With Animals Can Make Us Better People

What do other species mean to us (and vice versa)? To get at the heart of the matter, we turned to Kathy Stevens, co-founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary — a 150-acre refuge in New York’s Hudson Valley where, for the past two decades, thousands of animals have found love and peace after lives full of cruelty and neglect. “Spending time with animals reminds us of our responsibility to right the wrongs our species has created, but also of what’s important — love and connection, regardless of outward differences like class or race or species,” she says. “Animals are teachers and friends, sources of solace and inspiration, and perhaps most importantly, reminders of our moral obligation as caretakers of the planet. That’s how they’ve changed our lives — they keep us grounded in what matters.” Read on to meet some of the Sanctuary’s residents — and to learn just how lucky we are to share the planet with them.

Animals Could Be Therapeutic Aids for Children With Autism

In a pioneering Australian study, researchers measured physiological arousal, an indicator of social anxiety, in trios of 5- to 12-year-old children interacting in classroom-like activities such as reading aloud, reading silently, and engaging in play. In peer interactions where guinea pigs were present (as opposed to peer interactions where toys were present), children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) displayed reduced arousal and increased positive emotion — which leads researchers to believe that animals could function as “social buffers” in therapeutic settings for them.

Seeing Birds Can Make Us as Happy as Getting a Raise

If you’ve experienced the pandemic-era thrill of discovery at the end of a pair of binoculars, you’re in good company. To learn more about that thrill, scientists from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research crunched the numbers from a survey of 26,000 people in 26 European countries. They found that a 10 percent increase in species diversity — that is, seeing 14 additional bird species in their vicinity — increased respondents’ life satisfaction at least as much as 10 percent more money in their household accounts each month. If rare birds don’t flock to your neighborhood, don’t despair: English researchers have found that bird abundance (as opposed to variety) is associated with lower levels of negative mental health indicators.

Spending Time on a Farm Can Protect Against Childhood Asthma

Colonizing bacteria known as microbiota “educate” our immune systems in how to respond to the outside world. German scientists analyzed bacteria samples from more than 700 infants who spent part of their earliest months on traditional farms and found that those youngsters had especially mature and effective gut bacteria — gut bacteria that could actually help protect their lungs (and help explain why children who grow up on a farm have a lower risk of developing allergies and asthma).

Visiting Animals Where They Live Is Good for Your Gut

German researchers were especially surprised to discover the positive environmental effects of “farm-related exposures” like time spent in barns and sheds where animals feed and sleep; could a day trip to a local farm sanctuary be in the cards for you and your new arrival this fall? Put another way (in a discussion of a study that found diverse microbes in Amish babies’ systems), “Too clean is not necessarily a good thing.”

Having Pets Early in Life Can Reduce Kids’ Risk of Allergies

The so-called “mini-farm effect,” observed when exposure to a wide variety of microbes and other “immunoregulatory factors” like dog and cat allergens leads to a child’s eventual tolerance of other common allergens (i.e. food and airborne irritants like dust and pollen), has also been reported among children in Sweden. Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,000 young subjects and found that there was a dose-dependent association between having dogs and cats in a household and tolerance to allergic disease — so cohabiting with more cats and dogs reduces risk and increases their beneficial effect.

A Goat’s Gaze Could Cause a Happiness-Hormone Spike

Scientists have known for some time that the “puppy-dog eyes” our canine pals give us can increase our levels of the feel-good cuddle hormone oxytocin, and that the loving looks we give them in return cause their oxytocin levels to increase. (Known as a “positive loop,” it’s heralded as one of the reasons the human-canine bond is so close.) Recent research is demonstrating that goats are also capable of responding to human expressions and our emotional cues, as well as looking to us for help in problem-solving — and study authors speculate that their loving looks might be just as loaded. When it comes to being humankind’s best friend, could goats have had the potential to be the G.O.A.T. all along?

Horses Offer Support for Psychotherapy Patients

As providers of both physical and psychological support for humans, horses have an astounding history: they have been aids in therapeutic treatment since the second century, and there are now 26 different ways interacting with horses can be medically beneficial to people. A systematic review published last year in Environmental Research and Public Health highlighted the emerging and promising science of equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) for patients with trauma and personality problems. Research shows that interventions with horses’ assistance could positively influence patient-caregiver trust, offer strong motivation to continue therapy and help patients develop resilience — all crucial aids for groups that tend to drop out of care and have low expectations of treatment.

Interacting With Animals Reduces Stress in Students

As of 2015, more than 1,000 American colleges had animal visitation programs (or AVPs) available to calm the minds of students and administrators alike. AVPs generally last between five and 45 minutes and can range from interactions with therapy dogs or staffers’ pets to extended sessions with adoptable animals from local shelters. Those meet and greets have been associated with everything from higher positive emotions, reduction in negative emotions, lower perceived stress and mood improvements.

Rescuers saved both Scout and Zeke’s lives. Scout (left) has become the benevolent leader of the herd, and is often the first to approach visitors.

Why Do Cats Poop On Carpet?

Compared to other places in the house, carpet is perhaps the most loveable spot for a feline to defecate, possibly due to its absorbency and soft texture. An untidy or uncomfortable litter box, psychological trauma, and health issues like urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes mellitus, and age-related disorders are also possible reasons for inappropriate elimination.

1. Vinegar

No home remedy is better than vinegar when you’re talking about stopping cats from pooping on the carpet. Vinegar works because of its potent distinctive smell that felines dislike the most. Make a deterrent spray by adding equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Shake it well and spritz it liberally all over the carpet.

2. Try Onion Juice

Onion juice is another ideal method to stop your cat from defecating on the carpet. This remedy is effective because of the onion’s sharp, unpleasant smell. For this, cut 2-3 peeled onions equally and toss them in the juicer to get the extract. Then, pour the juice into a spray bottle, filled it with 1/4 cup of water, and spray it on the carpet.

3. DIY Homemade Cat Repellent Spray

Combine a tsp of each powdered cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and black pepper along with 1/8 tsp of garlic powder, 5-6 drops of fresh lemon juice, and a cup of water in a bowl. Then, empty the mixture in a spray bottle with a funnel and spritz it all over the carpet liberally. Redo this hack daily until your kitty stops excreting on the carpet.

4. Use Orange

As cats hate the pungent odor of orange, you can use this weakness as an advantage by making a deterring spray. For this, pour 2 cups of water into a pot and heat it until it boils. Then, add a cup of orange rinds and simmer the mix for 30 minutes. When the mix cools down, empty it into a spray bottle and spray it on the carpet.

5. Plain Old Water

Water is all that you need to discourage felines from pooping on the carpet. It works because cats hate to get wet because damp fur is extremely uncomfortable for them. This remedy keeps them far away from the carpet and eventually trains them to avoid such habits. Whenever you catch your kitty roaming around the carpet, spray water on it.

6. Lemon Juice

If you’re looking for a fuss-free way to prevent your cat from excreting on your lovely carpet, lemon juice is for you because kitties dislike its strong smell. To prepare a repelling spray, combine equal proportions of fresh lemon juice and water into a spray bottle and douche the carpet with this solution.

7. Citrus Fabric Fresheners

If you don’t have lemon and orange handy, use citrus fabric fresheners to make the carpet a poop-free space. Just spray it generously all over the carpet area, and you’re done. You can also use this remedy to deter cats from the bed and other soft surfaces.

Note: Before coating your carpet with the above solutions, it’s best to test these deterrents on an inconspicuous carpet spot to avoid mishaps.

Squash Marking

Do you have a pet that likes to mark her territory indoors? Try this. First, you’ll want to blot the soiled area and treat it with an enzyme-based cleaner to get to the root of the smell. Then, lightly mist with an all-natural spritz to deter repeat performances. We love this homemade eucalyptus mix. Simply combine one cup of warm water with 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and shake before using

Wash Those Toys

Let’s face it — dog breath is gross. Now imagine all the germs those slobbery chew toys are carrying. OK, now that you’re properly skeeved out — relax. Just toss soft toys into the washer with one tablespoon of baking soda, and toss the plastic or rubber toys into the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning. Just be sure to check for loose parts before returning them to the toy box. (If you have a sanitize setting on your washer and dishwasher, use it!)

Squeegee for Shedding

A fluffy coat is adorable on your pet, but when it starts showing up all over your rugs and carpets? Well, not so much. Simply pull a rubber squeegee across hairy carpets and rugs for a fast fix.

Holy Hairballs!

Cleaning a few too many hairballs these days? Keep some cat grass or catmint on hand. The fiber will do kitty’s digestive system good and, of course, she’ll love the extra burst of energy catnip gives.

Natural Supplements

Adding a teaspoon of coconut oil to kitty’s food can also reduce shedding and hairballs by helping her maintain a digestive tract, skin and coat. But it’s always smart to check with your vet before supplementing your pet’s diet.

DIY All-Natural Room Deodorizer

Create your own natural deodorizing spritz for use on rugs and soft furnishings. Use it where pets love to laze around (hello, sofa!) or have accidents frequently. To make a 16-ounce bottle, mix 1/2 cup of warm water, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar into a bowl (it will get fizzy). Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, then add 12 drops of peppermint essential oil. Once the vinegar dissipates, you will only smell the fresh peppermint. Lightly spray the offending areas, then let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming.

Paws Off!

If you have a pet that lives to shred toilet paper, this tip is for you. For cats, add a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil inside the cardboard tube. For dogs, cinnamon or citrus-based essential oils (lemon, orange or lemongrass) will help ward off playful paws.

Nooks + Crannies

Whether it’s in the car or in the house, stubborn pet hair in tight spaces doesn’t have a chance against a damp, textured rubber glove. Create a small pile, then vacuum up the hair in a snap.

Clutter Control

Not unlike kids’ toys, if left unchecked your pet’s toys can quickly take over the entire house. Avoid the chaos with lidded storage. It’s easier to wrangle all those plush hedgehogs and squeaky bones when YOU are in control. Leave two toys out at a time, and rotate through the stash to keep your furry friend from getting bored with too many choices.

Get Outdoors

Another easy way to keep pet hair off your furniture and rugs is to brush your pets weekly and do it outdoors. They’ll love the bonding time and you’ll love less shedding indoors. Go with a grooming mitt or a fine-toothed comb for heavy shedders.

Easy-to-Wash Pet Beds

When you’re picking out that perfect bed for your fur baby, keep in mind that you really want one that can be tossed in the washing machine. For larger beds, make sure you can remove the cover for a quick and easy refresh. Your house will smell better, and the bed will likely last longer, too.

No Loose Litter

An easy way to keep kitty from trailing litter throughout the house is to create a landing pad outside the box. Make it cute by spray-painting a baking pan and cooling grid a fun color, then lining the pan with a pretty contact paper that’s easy to wipe clean.

1. Getting A Pet Impulsively

The decision to add a furry friend to your household is a big one, and it shouldn’t be made lightly. While it can be tempting to bring home that cute kitten or puppy ASAP, it’s more important to take your time so you can make the right decision for you, your family, and your new pet!

Take time to consider all the factors, including costs, time commitment, exercise and activity requirements, temperament, and more. And make sure to involve the whole family or household in the decision to ensure everyone is on the same page!

2. Failing To Socialize Puppies

You may be nervous about allowing your new puppy to interact with other pups, but socialization is an important part of a puppy’s development! It can also prevent your dog from exhibiting fear or aggression towards unfamiliar animals or people.

There are a lot of ways to give your puppy the opportunity to socialize with other dogs, from a trip to the dog park to daycare at the local kennel. If you have an adult dog who could use some help with its social skills, search for local dog trainers in your area with experience in socialization issues.

3. Introducing Dogs Face-To-Face

While people generally prefer to meet face-to-face, that isn’t always the case with dogs. If the dogs don’t like each other, it only takes a split-second for one to bite or attack the other, even if you’re standing right there.

If you want to introduce your dog to another dog, start by asking its owner if it’s okay. If you get the go-ahead, allow the dogs to approach each other’s tail ends (the preferred method of introduction for dogs) instead of meeting face-to-face.

4. Neglecting Dental Health

Humans aren’t the only ones who benefit from regular teeth brushing and dental care! Dogs and cats should both have their teeth brushed regularly, or even daily in an ideal situation.

That’s often easier said than done though, especially if your pet isn’t a fan of the process. So brush their teeth at home as often as you can manage, and make sure to take them to the vet for regular dental cleanings.

5. Not Spaying Or Neutering

Having your pet spayed or neutered is one of the most effective things you can do to help control pet populations and reduce the number of homeless pets in your community. It can also help prevent your pet from developing health issues that commonly affect pets who aren’t spayed or neutered, such as testicular cancer and breast cancer.

6. Skimping On Litter Boxes

If you have cats at home, you may be unknowingly skimping on litter boxes! It may be surprising to hear that many cat experts recommend providing one litter box per cat plus one more.

Providing plenty of clean litter for your cat will help ensure they don’t go looking for other places to urinate or defecate (like the floor or your personal belongings.) Once a cat develops bad bathroom habits, it can be really hard to change them, so it’s best to avoid it becoming a problem in the first place!

7. Not Offering Enough Exercise

Every pet needs exercise, regardless of species or size! Lack of exercise is one of the biggest causes of both health and behavioral problems in pets, so it’s important to provide plenty of opportunities for exercise in the form of walks, playtime, and toys.

8. Assuming Small Pets Are Easier

A lot of people seem to think that a smaller animal, such as a lizard, guinea pig, or fish, might be easier to care for than a dog or cat. But in reality, the size of an animal isn’t a great indicator of how much time and effort they require to care for!

For example, many fish require specific water temperatures and precisely timed feedings, and lizards need very particular conditions in their environments too. Make sure to do your research before bringing home any type of pet, regardless of their size or species!

9. Not Providing Enough Water

In the wild, cats get the majority of the water they need from the food they eat. Domesticated cats, on the other hand, are often fed dry food, which can lead to chronic dehydration and a variety of health problems later in life.

To keep your cat healthy and hydrated, it’s important to provide them with plenty of freshwaters that can access freely throughout the day. If your cat seems to prefer moving water, they may prefer a water fountain to a standard bowl. And of course, choosing wet food or wet treats for your cat will help keep your cat hydrated as well.

1. Murphy Dog Bed

This pull-out style is perfect for small spaces or owners who like to keep things nice and tidy.

Get the tutorial at Room for Tuesday.

2. No-Sew Dog Bed

Match the fabric in this super-soft lounger with the rest of your home decor.

Get the tutorial at Miss Frugal Mommy.

3. DIY Dog Bed From A Recycled Tire

This DIY idea is the darling of Pinterest dog beds for good reason. How cute is this? If you have a large dog, tires make a super choice for a bed. Recycled tires can be painted any color of the rainbow. Make one for fun home decor that doubles as a super comfortable DIY dog bed.

Get the tutorial at Practically Functional.

4. Rustic Crate Bed

This blogger writes that she created her farmhouse-inspired pet bed for under $30.

Get the tutorial at Prodigal Pieces.

5. Dressed Up Dog Bed

Customize this wooden DIY to perfectly fit your pooch.

Get the tutorial at My Frugal Adventures.

6. Repurposed Bed

Take a page out of Rachelle Blondel’s new book, DIY For Your Dog, and turn an old drawer, suitcase, wine crate, or picnic basket into a cozy repurposed bed.Powerlifting versus bodybuilding-armtrainingen: wat is het verschil orale steroiden bodybuilding motivatie 2018 – monstermassa – motivatie voor gymtraining.

7. Dog Crate Nightstand

By day, this might look like an ordinary nightstand, but by night, pop opens the latch and let your pooch climb right in. If that’s not the definition of double-duty, we don’t know what is.

Get the tutorial at Chasing a Dream.

8. Little Red Wagon Dog Bed

Remove wheels and axles from a wagon. Next, cover a pillow insert (sizes will vary according to wagon dimensions) with a pet-friendly fabric and place it in the bed of the wagon. Apply adhesive furniture pads to the bottom to prevent scratching.

9. Woven Platform Dog Bed

This heavy-duty dog bed holds up to the challenge of a 160-pound American Mastiff. Woven nylon strapping is stapled to a square wooden frame and finished with upholstery tacks for a finished look. Colorful turned furniture legs give the bed a fun vibe.

Get the tutorial at Wouldn’t It Be Lovely.

10. Repurposed Suitcase

Repurpose a vintage suitcase into a cozy spot for your pup to hang out by padding the bottom with a foam cushion covered in a fun fabric as seen in this simple DIY project. Decorate it with a burlap pennant banner and tuck his favorite toys in the luggage pockets.

Get the tutorial at Ruche.

11. Converted TV Console

Remember when TVs were nice furniture pieces? If you’ve got a retro unit collecting dust in the basement or are lucky enough to find one in a thrift store, you can turn it into a dog bed fit for a king. Rip out the old console’s electronic guts—being careful not to break the picture tube—and paint it the color of your choice.

Get the tutorial at Endorsed by Igor.

12. Upcycled Milk Crate Dog Bed

Convert an antique milk crate into a special space for a small dog by cutting out the interior milk-bottle fittings—be sure to use a saw blade for metal—like in this project. Then, just add in a removable cushion with a pillow cover in sweet red-and-white ticking.

Get the tutorial at Crafted Niche.

13. Broken End Table Turned Pet Bed

Can’t you just imagine your four-legged princess curled up in this classic four-poster bed? Southern Revivals turned a broken end table upside-down and added finials to what used to be the legs to give it extra drama. Some round feet, a coat of white paint, and a chevron-patterned pillow complete the look.

Get the tutorial at Southern Revivals.

14. Mid-Century Style Dog Bed

If Betty Draper DIYed, she’d dig this mid-century mod dog bed. Use plywood to build a box sized to fit around a store-bought dog pad, screw on some pre-made legs into angled brackets, and paint in a bright retro color.

15. Upcycled Side Table Nook

For a dog who likes his privacy but also wants to be near the family, create a special nook for him inside a family room side table. Shellac the wood to prevent stain bleed-through, and then paint in a calming neutral. A two-toned piped pillow makes the inside attractive whether it’s naptime or not.

Get the tutorial at 86 Lemons.

16. Double-Duty End Table

Brighten up a hexagon-shaped dark wood end table with a fresh coat of paint and spruce up the inside to suggest a cute country doggie cottage, complete with a “Home Sweet Home” sign. Fabric panels in a feminine print are Mod-Podged to the inside “walls” and a comfy cushion and bolsters in a coordinating pattern make it perfect for a pet who likes a cozy sleeping corner.

17. Scrap Wood Crate Dog Bed

Take some leftover two-by-fours from a previous project and build a faux vintage crate bed on casters. Don’t worry about squaring up corners—imperfections just add to the time-worn look.