Love doesn’t come in just one form… Love can come in a friendship, love can come with our animals, and love can come in our acceptance and kindness for one another and our families. Love is all around us if you stop and take it all in. Love is universal and knows no boundaries. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense, but it doesn’t have to make sense to make it true and powerful.

One of my favorite forms of love comes with four legs.  The love we get and receive from our pets is invaluable. My puppies, Juno and Ceres, bring me constant love and happiness, and are always there to greet me when I come home with happy smiles and wagging tails.

So while we are thinking about love this holiday season, I want you think beyond the boundaries of romantic love. Instead, focus on the love you feel around your pets that you just couldn’t do without.

Valentine Doggie Treats Recipe

You Will Need:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 cups gluten-free oats

How To:

• In a bowl, combine pumpkin puree, peanut butter and coconut milk until well combined.
• Gradually add 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats at low speed, beating just until incorporated.
• Roll the mixture out on a cutting board and flatten with a rolling pin. The mixture should be pretty thick, about ¼”. (Because they will not rise.)  You can use flour to make it less sticky.
• Using a dog-bone shaped cookie cutter, cut out little bones and set them on a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper. TIP: If you have small dogs, use a small bone cookie cutter.  If you have big dogs like mine, use a large bone cookie cutter.
• Place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.

 Doggie Tags

You Will Need: 

• Card stock (in brown and in cream)
• Scissors
• Printer
• Glitter paper (red)
• Glue
• Hole punch (small)
• Ribbon or twine
• OPTIONAL: Heart punch and tag punch
• OPTIONAL: Clear cellophane bags (if using them as a gift)

How-To:

1. Print out your favorite kind of dog on brown card stock. I searched “dog silhouettes” on google and picked my favorite.
2. Once printed out, cut each little doggie out. You will be using the back side of the paper so that the pups remain brown.
3. Print out “dog treats” on cream card stock.
4. You can cut out tags from here, or use a tag punch.
5. Glue the three layers together: Tag, dog, heart.
6. With a small hole punch, cut a hole in the top of the tag.
7. Run the twine or ribbon through the hole in the top of the tag.
8. Voila! Give to your pups or a friend’s pup and watch them enjoy!

We want to see you and your pooch together this Valentine’s Day. Make sure you follow us on Instagram and Twitter @paigehemmis & #DIYplay #DIYeat to share with us!