Love Is A Four-Legged Word, DIY Dog Cabinet- #TreatThePups This Valentine's

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Momma Told Me: Love is a four-legged word.

The month of love is almost upon us. 

I can think of few relationships in my life as selfless and unconditionally loving as those between my pets and I. Even growing up, Momma taught me that love between a human and  pet should know no boundaries. Our family frequently took in pets from shelters which would have otherwise been put down due to serious medical needs. In several cases our family was there to provide a stray or mistreated animal with exclusive love and comfort in their final weeks. Compassion for animals, and respect for their gift of returned love was a very important lesson in my childhood.

It's no secret that, as an adult, I feel my pets today are akin to children; and enrich my life on an immeasurable scale daily. Truffles, the cat, has been in our family longest and was adopted as the runt of her litter from a local chicken farm. Nora, our Maltese-Yorkie mix has always been more of a daddy's girl, having instantly picked up on the bond between myself and the cat. But, at her core, she is a lover- just one of the happiest, most enthusiastic, people pleasing dogs I have ever met. Every time I run into Walmart to pick up a prescription or grocery item I am always sure to stop by the pet aisle and grab a treat for both of my fur kids. This month I decided to stock up on some of Nora's favorite Big Heart Brand Pet Treats, Pup-peroni, Milk-Bone, and Milo's Kitchen for an extra special Valentine's Day Treat.

We will soon be gaining some extra space in our home when a tenant moves out and have decided to stop renting and simply enjoy all the extra space. Knowing this, I wanted to ensure the dog had her own defined area where she could retreat to when the cat was prowling the perimeter or the adults were merely having a lazy day. Because a big part of loving animals means giving back, we not only dropped some extra packages of Big Heart Brand Pet Treats to the local shelter, for  donation, but I specifically shopped at a second hand store that also benefited the cause of homeless and needy local animals. It was there that I found the wooden entertainment cabinet that would prove perfect for Nora's Valentine's Day surprise, at just $25!

Like most dogs, Nora has a personality all her own. Forgive the saying, but she's a bit of a stereotypical blonde- very bubbly and not always quite the sharpest. She's the sort of dog, if she could speak, she'd interrupt a very intelligent conversation with "Squirrel" and immediately get distracted by something crinkly or sparkly. And she's very girly, with an almost 80's flare. All her accessories are neon or pink and her favorite toys are Star Wars, Sock Monkeys, or Lamb Chop- a retro dog all the way. Even her favorite dog treat is slightly vintage- Milk-Bones, which have been beloved by pooches worldwide wince 1908 especially get her tail wagging!

Turning a $25 Thrift Store Find into the perfect Dog Cabinet and lounge area for our small breed dog was quite simple. When we purchased the second hand furniture the hinged doors on the front were already missing. Knowing I wanted a safe place for Nora to be elevated off the ground, yet with a bed that was easily accessible, I made the design decision to move the center drawer down and remove the bar that had originally been supporting it. While I used spray paint to help give an aged and textured finish to the detailed and stained wood- applying 2 coats of interior paint by brush would have proved quicker. At the local hobby store we also found some vintage style knobs to hang her harness and leash, and on our recent trip stocking up on Valentine's Day dog treats at Walmart, some ribbon, jars, and additional accents to decorate with.

Nora took to her new bed with ownership, the sometimes hesitant and timid (territory wise) dog knew this was just for her. Perhaps it was the overwhelming aroma of a cabinet stocked with the best dog treats- her little nose was going quite wild! In the shelf directly above her bed I'd arranged a virtual 'candy shop' of treats in jars from Pup-peroni Bacon and Egg Mix-Stix to all natural Made-In-The-USA Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky treats. I'd even discovered new Milk-Bone Brushing Chews to help clean gums and support dental health on a daily basis! Though I can imagine the only thing that truly mattered to Nora was which one she'd get to enjoy first!

With the presence of potentially harmful to dogs chocolate everywhere in the month of February, it is important that you #TreatThePups with a well defined range of treats especially approved for them. Whether you have an adorable dog cabinet or not, creating a space that is clearly identifiable by your dog as their own can help minimize the roaming of noses where they don't belong. Keep all human hart day treats in cupboards and well out of the reach of pets, and an inviting supply of quality Big Heart Pet brand treats on hand to reward the four-legged lovers in your life.

February is a month of indulgence for humans. We present one-another with elaborate boxes filled with a variety of chocolates. Keep this in mind when shopping for your pet and craft a gift pack of treats as diverse as your favorite confections. Hard, dry, treats, such as several Milk-Bone varieties will naturally promote dental health with cleaner gums, while longer lasting chews like Pup-peroni will engage your dog a little longer and provide an aromatic eating experience. Last but not least, be sure to include a human grade treat, such as artificial free Milo's Kitchen brand pet treats, to help you connect with your pet through treats that resemble everyday human foods. You don't want to eat the same dessert every day, so why should your pet know only the flavors of one treat?

Wet kisses, tail wags, fetching the morning paper, patrolling the home for security, that embarrassing hot dog costume from Halloween there are plenty of reasons to #TreatThePups this Valentine's Day and plenty of inspiration on the Walmart Big Heart Pet brand micro-site. Starting January 15th you'll be able to view the best Doggy Valentines, gift baskets, pet treat recipes, and more on the Treat The Pups landing page. If you think our doggy cabinet is a home run just wait until you see all the creative treats and gift ideas my fellow bloggers and pet parents have whipped up for the Valentine's Day season! While you're there, don't forget to print out a special pet-themed Valentine to attach to your dog's favorite pet treats!

Tell me a little about the non-human lovers in your life!

What Daughter Says:  I may not know 'I love you' in 50 breeds of 'Woof' but I do know the fastest way to a dog's heart is through their stomach!

I'm working on a very special Valentine's Day project for Nora, a dog bed cabinet. All she seems to care about is where the jar of Milk Bone treats will go. Watch her reaction when I give her one and be sure to #TreatThePups this #Valentine's Day with Big Heart Pet Brand treats from Walmart! #ad #cbias #morkie #dogsofinstagram #furkids

A video posted by Jenna Marie's (@mommatoldme) on Jan 12, 2015 at 5:01pm PST