Tasty Christmas Goodie Recipies for Your Dogs

December 24, 2009

If you're at all like me, you love baking Christmas cookies. And, if your dogs are like mine, they sit patiently in kitchen, puppy-dog eyes HUGE with excitement, drooling in hopes and anticipation of their mommy (me) accidentally dropping a tasty scrap of some food on the floor.

Well, imagine your dog's excite when she discovers that the cookies you've been making in the kitchen this whole time are actually treats for her! That's right! Why should people get to eat all the wonderful, edible treats this time of year? Here are two special recipes for doggie Christmas treats that your pooch is sure to love:

Doggie Christmas Cake Ingredients:
2 cups of whole wheat flour
¼ cup of wheat germ
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1 cup of molasses
½ cup of canola oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 apple, cored and chopped

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil a 12-cup bundt pan with vegetable oil and flour. In a bowl mix the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and cinnamon together and set it on the side. Then in another large bowl mix together the molasses, and oil, then add in the eggs one by one, and beat them until they blend in. then add in the vanilla along with ½ cup of water. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix it well until it becomes smooth. Then fold in the chopped apple pieces.

Put the batter into the pan and place in the oven. Bake for around 30 to 40 minutes or until when inserting a toothpick in the center of a cake it comes out clean. Once done allow the cakes to cool completely before serving.

Peanut Butter Slice and Bake Biscuits
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup smooth peanut butter
½ cup water
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tsp plain wheat germ
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ cup shredded dried beef, saved for top of cookies

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 375°.
In a pot on top of the stove, place your peanut butter, molasses, water, wheat germ and salt. Warm at medium heat.
Melt the ingredients together, whisking quickly.
Once melted and smooth, take the peanut butter mixture, which should now be nearly liquid, and put in a small bowl.
Measure your flour into a large mixing bowl, and fold in your liquid mixture slowly until your dough is soft. Be sure to have a well-floured board ready to go!
Once you have your dough mixed to the consistency you desire, turn it onto your floured board, roll it into a log shape. Place it in the refrigerator for two hours, until your dough is hard enough to slice into ¼-inch sections. If you are in a real rush, you can place it in the freezer for ½ hour until firm.

Have a cookie sheet ready to go, and spray it lightly with a non-stick spray.
Place your slice and bake cookies on the cookie sheet.
Put the dried beef in a blender or food processor to chop it.
Sprinkle the top of each cookie with your shredded, dried beef.
Bake for 25 minutes. Turn off the oven and let your cookies dry out as the oven cools down. This will make them hard and help keep them fresh. It will also bring out the flavor and make it more intense.

Once your cookies have completely cooled, it is time to place them in an air-tight container. You can either gift wrap them if you are giving them as a gift, or store them in your freezer up to three months until you are ready to serve them. You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
To save time in a pinch, you can also make the dough and freeze it for up to three months until you are ready to use it. I love these slice and bake treats because they are fun, fast and, most of all, easy!

Be sure to include these tasty recipes when you are doing your Christmas baking this year. Your family dog will thank you!

Dogster's Top Ten "Weird" Holiday Presents for your Pooch

December 22, 2009

According to a recent survey, more than 80 percent of dog people will be giving their pooches presents this holiday season. Most will be presenting their dogs with treats and chew toys and other standard doggy fare. But what about dogs who like to think outside the box, or the dog who has everything? You’re in luck! We’ve sniffed long and hard for the most unique and/or oddball gifts for dogs. Get your favorite pooches any of these, and we can pretty much guarantee no other dogs on the block will have one. (And depending on the gift, the other dogs on the block may be very happy about this…)

Chicken-scented bubble dispenser – There’s nothing like chicken-scented bubbles floating around your house during the holidays to add to the festive mood — and sticky, smelly walls and floors. Dogs love chasing around the colorful bubbles (even if dogs are colorblind), and you get lots of exercise washing walls and mopping floors. (This one is probably best used outside, as it turns out.)
GPS collar – Humiliating beyond belief for dogs who are known for getting lost. Wearing a GPS collar is akin to your dog carrying a sign saying, “I have absolutely no sense of direction. I am a complete moron!” Besides, most dogs don’t know the first thing about using a GPS.

DNA test kit – The perfect gift for the mutt who’s sick of being called a “lab mix” or worse yet, “Heinz 57.” The test comes in two versions: A do-it-yourself cheek swab, which is less expensive and fairly accurate. Or a more accurate and pricey version, which involves a blood test. And isn’t a visit to the vet to get a blood test just what every dog wants for Christmas?
Dog painting kit — No, you do not paint your dog with this. Your dog paints masterpieces! As you could see from a high-strung canine artist who appeared on The Tonight Show the other night, every dog has an inner artist, and if his inner artist has a marketing genius for an owner, the inner artist will make the owner a lot of money.
Beer opener collar – Because nothing says “My owner is an idiot” better than being forced to wear a collar with its very own beer bottle opener. They come in two varieties. One is a little more classy, if you can say such a think about a beer bottle opener collar.
The other is, well, just watch this video for Bark 4 Beer collars.
Goggles – What dog wouldn’t want to look fashion forward and protect her vision from those nasty UV rays at the same time? Sunglasses fall off, but goggles don’t. (Sorry dogs…) There are likely about six dogs on earth who would consent to wear these things, including the poor dear above, but you have to give the company credit for trying.

Chewy shoe toy – Because nothing sends mixed messages about eating footwear like giving your dog a rubber sole to gnaw.
Chewy bra toy – Ditto, only in the underwear department. And this comes with two squeakers.
Dog armoire – The perfect gift for the wee dog who’s getting tired of picking out her fashion choices from a heap on the floor.

Talking treat ball – The idea behind the Talk to Me Treat Ball is that you record your voice in the ball, and when your dog noses the ball around to seek out the hidden treats, your voice is activated, bringing comfort and joy. Some dogs may indeed like this, but it might freak out other dogs who wonder how to get their suddenly shrunken person out of the rolling ball before the treats crush them.

** A special thanks to Maria Goodavage of Dogster.com for this story**

"Welcome" Card for Guests

December 19, 2009

Christmas is the season when our homes are typically full of guests, many of whom may be overnight guests. Unfortunately, individuals who are not used to staying in your home may not understand the doggy care"dos and don'ts" that are second-nature for your immediate family. A good way to help holiday guests learn a few guidelines for taking care of the family dog, is by printing out this adorable card to leave in guests’ rooms. It will remind them of things they can do to keep your family pet safe.

To print out a copy of the card, click here: http://www.dogchannel.com/images/media/pdfs/xmasDFDC.pdf

ASPCA Air Travel Tips

December 17, 2009

As Christmas approaches, many of us will be traveling to visit family and friends. No doubt, many will be taking our furry famliy members with us. If choosing to fly, the ASPCA has provided ten tips to ensure safe air travel for your pet.

The ASPCA urges pet owners to think twice about flying their pets on commercial airlines, especially if they plan on checking them in as cargo. Unless your animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring him or her in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends pet owners to not fly their animal. If pet owners have already committed to transporting their pets on commercial airlines, the ASPCA is offering the following top ten tips for safe air travel with your pet:

Make an appointment with your pet's veterinarian for a checkup, and make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date. Obtain a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of departure. For travel outside of the continental United States, additional planning and health care requirements may be necessary. Contact the foreign office of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Make sure your pet has a microchip for identification and is wearing a collar and ID tag. Breakaway collars are best for cats. The collar should also include destination information in case your pet escapes.

Book a direct flight whenever possible. This will decrease the chances that your pet is left on the tarmac during extreme weather conditions or mishandled by baggage personnel.

Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate that is large enough for your pet to stand, sit and turn around in comfortably. Shipping crates can be purchased from many pet supply stores and airlines.

Write the words "Live Animal" in letters at least one inch tall on top of and at least one side of the crate. Use arrows to prominently indicate the upright position of the crate. On the top of the crate, write the name, address and telephone number of your pet's destination point, and whether you will be accompanying him or if someone else is picking him up. Make sure that the door is securely closed, but not locked, so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency. Line the crate bottom with some type of bedding—shredded paper or towels— to absorb accidents.

Affix a current photograph of your pet to the top of the crate for identification purposes. Should your pet escape from the carrier, this could be a lifesaver. You should also carry a photograph of your pet.

The night before you leave, make sure you’ve frozen a small dish or tray of water for your pet. This way, it can’t spill during loading, and will melt by the time he’s thirsty. Tape a small pouch, preferably cloth, of dried food outside the crate. Airline personnel will be able to feed your pet in case he gets hungry on long-distance flights or a layover.

Tranquilizing your pet is generally not recommended, as it could hamper his breathing. Check with your veterinarian first.

Tell every airline employee you encounter, on the ground and in the air, that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold. This way, they’ll be ready if any additional considerations or attention is needed.

If the plane is delayed, or if you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check the animal whenever feasible. In certain situations, removing the animal from the cargo hold and deplaneing may be warranted.

Traveling can be highly stressful, both for you and the four-legged members of your family. But with thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone.

Can Dogs get the Swine Flu? (***UPDATE***)

December 1, 2009

In October, I posted about dogs and the Swine Flu. Since that time, the virus has morphed and can now be transmitted to household pets, including those of the canine and feline variety. Today, I discovered an article about a few dogs testing positive in China. The article further states that dogs from various countries, including the U.S., have also tested positive for the virus.

Here are the details from Red Orbit.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture has called for intensified monitoring and investigation of A/H1N1 flu in animals after two samples from sick dogs tested positive for the virus, according to a recent AFP report. The veterinary clinic of College of Veterinary Medicine at the China Agricultural University reported Wednesday that two out of 52 samples from sick dogs tested positive for A/H1N1 flu virus, the ministry said late Friday. Countries including the U.S., Canada and Chile have already reported cases of animals testing positive for the virus. An Iowa state cat was diagnosed with H1N1 at the beginning of the month, being the first known case in the world of the strain spreading to the feline population.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is a great resource for breaking developments in the matter of swine flu in pets. It’s a good idea to bookmark it and check it regularly if you are interested in the subject.

The best way to ensure your dogs don't get sick, is to do all you can to keep the members of our household from getting sick. Here are some tips to help you with this:

• Wash your hands often
• Cover you nose and mouth if you sneeze or if someone around you does
• Be sure to eat a balanced diet ~Exercise (which you should already be doing with your dog)
• Stay hydrated, drink your fluids especially water, try drinking lemon water its good for your immune system, and you might like it.
• Get a full night sleep
• Take your vitamins, like vitamin C
• There is also a variety of food that you can eat to help you boost your immune system.

As always, if you feel your dog is sick, contact your veterinarian.