Four years ago we found this beautiful girl, it was a day I will never forget. She was left abandoned, scared, and in full blown heat. I had never had a female dog in heat before because we had always had our animals spayed. So I had no idea that she would be leaving spots all around the house. This Instructable would have been a life saver that week mother nature played an awful trick on us. So I figured I would make this house saving doggie diaper Instructable to help those that may have pets that experience heats or urinary problems.

This waterproof, reusable, and washable cloth doggie diaper will help keep your home clean and save you money in the long run. It is simple if you have sewing experience. In fact this was only my second time I had used a serger sewing machine in my entire life. It is constructed with a waterproof layer, and an absorbable terry fabric on the inside.

Step 1: What You Need

1/2 yard (approximately) of PUL (waterproof) fabric which can be purchased at diapersewingsupplies.com

1/2 yard (approximately) of an absorbable fabric- I used an old bath towel

12 inches (approximately) of 3/8 inch elastic - also purchased at diapersewingsupplies.com

Your Dogs Measurements- Waist, Width, Length, Waist to Tail Length, Tail width or tail circumference

KAM Snap Pliers

4 KAM Snaps or 2 Set of KAM Snaps

Poster Board, paper, pen

Measuring Tape

Sewing Machine or Serger (Not Pictured)

Scissors (Not Pictured)

Sewing Pins or Bobby Pins (Not Pictured)

NOTE: You can skip the tail opening if your dog has a short tail, it isn't needed, but I wanted to make mine with one for an example for those of you with dogs with long tails.

Step 2: Measurements and Pattern

Measure the waist of your dog. This is the area that is the smallest.

Measure the width- the distance on the backside under the tail

Measure the length starting on the dogs back and going between the legs and to the waist on the belly.

Measure the distance from the back to the top of the tail.

Measure the tail width so you can make a circle big enough for the tail hole.

Then create a pattern in the shape of the example I made by using all the measurements you have for your dog. When you make the pattern be sure to add a little extra for seam allowance. Your snaps will be exactly 1/2 the waist measurement apart on both the top/back tabs and the belly tabs.

Step 3: Cut Out Fabric

Cut out your cardboard pattern you made.

Place the pattern on top of the PUL fabric. You want the stretch of the fabric going in the direction of the width of the pattern (as pictured). Trace your pattern onto the fabric and cut it out.

Then you measure down approximately 4 inches from your tabs and make a mark. That is where your elastic will start. Next do the same thing but from the bottom tab.

Cut out your absorbent layer you will be using in the same way.

Step 4: Sew Together

Once you have your PUL and absorbent material all cut out you will pin them together right sides in and facing together. So you should have the shiny side of the PUL fabric facing out and the smooth side of your absorbent material facing out. I like to use bobby pins because you will poke less holes in your waterproof material.

Sewing around all the edges and leave the circle tail opening unsewn because this is how you will turn the diaper right side out.

Step 5: Elastics

Measure the distance between your two 4 inch points you have marked. Take that distance and divide it in half. That will be the length of your elastic.

I laid out my elastic on the PUL where I had marked it. I took that full length, and folded it in half. Then cut the full length and then cut that full length in half. So you have two elastic pieces now.

Take one elastic and tack it down with your sewing machine at your upper mark. Then stretch out your elastic until it hits the lower mark and tack it down with your sewing machine at that mark.

Do this on both sides.

Step 6: Turn Out

Once you have your elastics in place you will turn the diaper right side out through the tail hole. Make sure to push out your tabs.

Then take your sewing machine and sew around the edge of the circle. (Remember this is only my second time serging so its not the best sewing job).

The sewing is now complete.

Step 7: Add Snaps

Take your waist measurement and divide in to two. This is the distance that you will have between your snaps. Try to center this measurement the best you can on the tabs and mark it with a pen.

Using your KAM snap tools poke a hole in the fabric at that mark. Follow the directions that came with your KAM Snap press, so you can correctly use the press and snaps.

You will have the snaps pointing in opposite directions (as pictured) when its all done so that they will snap together correctly.

Step 8: All Done!!

Your pooch now has an awesome cloth diaper to walk around in. My dog's diaper really didn't need the tail opening because she has such a short tail, but I wanted to have an example for those that might need one. One happy doggie, and one clean house!