Easy DIY Carpet Cleaner for Pet Stains

I would be lying if I said I wasn't completely head over heels in love with my little pooch, Teddy. But ever since adoption in April '12 he has had serious anxiety issues. The first few months I let him get away with everything, and I mean everything, partly because I was a new pet parent and didn't really know what to do, but mostly because I thought he was so stinken cute. Well, after a few months of bad behavior, including many potty accidents I got sick of it!

seriously, how can you resist this!

After moving into my current, fully carpeted, apartment in August '12 Teddy started having many accidents. Like I said the whole apartment is carpeted, minus the bathroom and kitchen, so messes are usually made on carpet. Not to mention the carpet is a weird, grayish blue color (so gross, I hate it) so stains easily show up, and it gets stinky.

At his worst point, Teddy would have one poop accident a day and at least 2 pee accidents per day. One day after "psycho cleaning" I call it, that I randomly went and rented a rug doctor because I was so disgusted seeing pet stains all over my carpet. We purchased the pet carpet cleaning solution for the rug doctor, and it took all the stains right out! Fabulously!

Since I don't have regular access to a carpet shampooer I decided to make my own cleaner! Since the pet carpet cleaning solution worked so great I mixed about 2 capfulls of that with hot water in a squirt bottle and whallah! Worked better than any other carpet cleaner I had used, and costs a lot less. I spray the solution on the stain, let stand for a few minutes and then blot it out with a paper towel. It works miracles on both pee and poopstains, you can't even tell there was a stain there. And it takes out the smell completely too!

**One negative thing is that the initial purchase of the carpet solution is kinda spendy (about $20) but it will last you forever! It smells wonderful and it totally worth it.

What You Need:

1 empty spray bottle (I got mine @ The Dollar Store)

Bissell full-size machine pet formula Solution

Hot Water

How to:

Step 1: Measure two cupfuls of pet formula solution into empty spray bottle.

Step 2: Fill spray bottle with Hot water until full. 

Step 3: Mix spray bottle

Step 4: Generously spray solution onto stain and let stand for 3-5 minutes

Step 5: Blot with paper towel, if stain still visible, repeat.

Homemade Dog Treats

Its safe to say I am completely obsessed with my little cocker spaniel, Teddy. I rescued him back in April and my life has revolved around him ever since. He is nothing but sweet, smiley and such a lover! However, since he is so attached, to me specifically, he has some major separation issues. My carpet is full of pee stains (YUCK) and I come home occasionally to poop also. I am trying to train but I'm finding out he needs more than just a dog bone and a thunder-shirt  I think I may need to get him on anxiety pills, which is exactly what I didn't want to do. But, what's a girl to do? I would rather he be on no medications and go the natural way but I also want to help fulfill his anxiety. Have any of you been through this before? My vet suggests the pills and says they aren't terrible for him but that he will probably be on them forever.

Well theres my .02 what I'm really here to talk about is the home-ade dog treats I make for my little pooch. Like I said, I would rather he eat natural foods and only treats that I make. If you actually read the labels it's quite disgusting what is in dog treats. I discovered this recipe and have only given him these ever since.

Teddy is probably the pickiest dog I have ever met but he chows these down in an instant. And I love it because I know what is in them, they are easy to make and they are "good" for him.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 finely chopped apple
1 beaten egg
1/3 cup veggie oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup cold water
a dash of cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets

First, blend flour, oatmeal in a large mixing bowl. Stir in apple, beaten egg, oil, sugar and water until well blended (sometimes I add a little more water if the mixture is too dry). Flour your workspace and spread dough out. Take a cookie cutter (I have a dog bone, heart, gingerbread man and snowflake) or you could roll dough into balls (just like cookies) put them on a cookie sheet and flatten them with the bottom of a cup.

Bake for 30-35 min or until crisp. Let cool and treat your pup!