With their bright, wide-eyed innocence and willingness to deliver their special brand of slobbery affection for no particular reason, it's easy to understand why wet nosed, winged and scaled companions of all species, sizes and breeds tend to effortlessly wrap their little paws and claws around our hearts. For many of us, our first real exposure to one of life's greatest lessons – unconditional love – can be experienced simply by sharing our lives with these silent yet eternally doting and ever-comforting creatures.

Caring for a canine companion is kind of like strapping on parental training wheels and learning all about your capacity for love, tenderness and understanding… not to mention your ability to tolerate randomly flung saliva, projectile vomiting and inappropriate elimination throughout a household that – for many of us -- was once the sole domain of comparably ‘clean’ garden-variety dust. For all of the grimy goobers that they’re responsible for tracking into our homes however, somehow our argh! reaction can be instantly softened to an awww! the moment we notice their glistening rubbery noses enjoying a particularly alluring scent or we catch them spooning an especially treasured plush toy.

While I love my dog, Daisy, a 12-year-old mix—I even hired a mobile groomer who gives her a Reiki massage and a blueberry facial, though Daisy mostly licks it off, don’t ask—I never owned a dog house for her. After all, why should she sleep in a dog house when she’s got the couch? But then I stumbled on a modern dog house online and I rethought my dog house vs. couch stance. Sleek lines. Sustainable. Funky design. Eco-friendly. Browsing from one site to the next, I found myself addicted to dog houses and soon enough I hunted down all sorts of well-designed homes for chickens and cats. Because c'mon, you can't ignore the chicken coops, right?

Check out these six environmentally-friendly—and may I add, fantastic—dog houses, cat abodes and chicken coops. Enjoy!

Some people swear by feeding their dog a raw food diet. For others, the concept just makes them swear. Proponents will sing you the gospel of raw food, claiming it will do everything from making your dog’s coat shinier to clearing up medical issues to working as a sort of “fountain of youth” that will extend your dog’s life. Opponents say that a raw diet can lead to severe health problems for your dog and point to the fact that there is little scientific evidence to support the benefits of it. The truth, of course, is somewhere in-between, but both sides agree that owners should do their homework before jumping into a new diet for their four-legged friend.

Many dog treats are even more processed than a lot of human store-bought food. With dogs’ tummies more sensitive than ours, who wants that for their pup? That’s one of many reasons why making dog treats yourself is the jam. You totally control what goes into their treats, and can customize organic ingredients for better health – or even avoid those foods your dog is allergic to!

The warm months are upon us, which means fleas will be coming back soon as well – if they’re not already here. Modern science has come up with a host of chemical methods to combat fleas, but oftentimes those “cures” can pose as many health risks to you and your pets as the fleas themselves. That’s why we thought we’d offer some natural suggestions for flea prevention and removal.

How now, puppy chow? That 40 pound bag of deluxe gourmet beefy nuggets you just dragged into your house may seem like it has a lot going for it – and the $15.00 price tag was a steal! – but pet food manufacturers are actually banking on the collective ignorance of typical pet owners in order to continue selling inferior, nutritionally questionable products while still raking in profits. They daze and confuse us with seemingly wholesome imagery and strategic promises of ‘real meat,’ but in record-breaking numbers our pets continue to suffer the dietary consequences by succumbing to chronic ailments such as digestive issues, kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, heart disease and cancer.

Whatever type of wet-nosed, whiskered, webbed or winged critter lives under your roof, the following key label reading strategies will help you to make far more informed nutritional decisions that will help your pets to live longer, healthier lives.

Although you talk to your dog like he’s a person and understands, there’s no way he’s talking back to you. And talking back to yourself in your dog’s made up voice doesn’t count, sorry! Like a baby who can’t communicate yet, owners learn to read their dog’s attitude and body language to judge what they're thinking. Here’s your guide to reading your dog’s body language..

With summer right around the corner, you have to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds. Your dog will be frolicking outside a lot more and that means splinters, stings, bites, and more. Although you can’t shield your dog from all the summer dangers, you can be prepared when they happen. Make this DIY Doggie First Aid Kit so you can fix your pup in a flash.

 Dogs love to chew. And chew. And chew. If we don’t give our dogs a snack to chew on before we leave the house, there’s a good chance we’ll return home to find clothes, furniture or bedding ruined. Unfortunately, many chewable dog treats come with dangers. Bones can splinter while your dog is chewing and cause lacerations to their mouth, throat or intestinal lining. Rawhide chews can sometimes break off into large pieces and become lodged inside of fido, causing “dog bloat” and requiring surgery. But there is one natural treat that your dog can safely enjoy: Bully sticks.