Time is short for those finals moments of summer treats. Why not take advantage of the last of the hot, steamy summer days and make your pet a scoop of ice cream?
Your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite human batch of frozen goodness. So, we will give you some ideas and methods to make your own.
We’ve assembled these ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. And making it yourself will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.
First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at HGTV have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and baby food. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt you can use an alternate. Click this link to get the recipe.
Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. The AKC has options that extend beyond traditional peanut butter ice cream. Check out the various options they have available at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/diy-frozen-dog-treats/.
Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. Be especially cautious with peanut butter as the additive xylitol can be fatal to your pet if ingested. If you have questions about your pet’s health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian.
We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the decreasing number of hot summer days ahead of us.
AKC
National Service Dog Month
Some dogs get up and get dressed to go to work like the human population. These dogs, often recognized by their vests or ID tags, are service dogs. September is Service Dog Awareness Month. How much do you know about service dogs?
Definition
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is defined as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” You may be familiar with seeing different types of service dogs: guide dogs; medical alert dogs; or psychiatric service dogs.
And other types of dogs have support roles for people, but do not meet the definition of a working dog to qualify for the accommodations under the ADA. For example, emotional support animals and therapy dogs play a significant role to the individuals they serve. But, these animals are not considered ADA defined service dogs.
Training
The AKC reports that both for-profit and non-profit organizations train services dogs. The cost to train a single dog can exceed $25,000. Standards are high for these dogs. Dropout rates range between 50 and 70 percent.
A fact that surprised me was that service dogs do not have to be professionally trained per the ADA. So, an individual could train their own dog. The AKC suggests the ideal candidate have the following characteristics:
- Be calm, especially in unfamiliar settings
- Be alert, but not reactive
- Have a willingness to please
- Able to learn and retain information
- Be capable of being socialized to many different situations and environments
- Be reliable in performing repetitive tasks
Interaction
It’s important to note that not all service dogs wear vests. And like all dog etiquette, requesting permission to approach or pet a dog. Service dogs are not considered pets, but rather working animals.
If you want to find out what it is like to have a service dog, check out a first-hand account on the AKC’s website: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/what-its-really-like-to-have-a-service-dog-national-service-dog-month/
Making Ice Cream As A Summer Treat
What sounds better on a hot, steamy summer day than a big ole scoop of your favorite ice cream? Not much!
But, your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite batch of frozen goodness. So, why not make some ice cream for them?
We’ve assembled some ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. And making it yourself will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.
First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at HGTV have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and baby food. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt you can use an alternate. Click this link to get the recipe.
Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. The AKC has options that extend beyond traditional peanut butter ice cream. Check out the various options they have available at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/diy-frozen-dog-treats/.
Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. Be especially cautious with peanut butter as the additive xylitol can be fatal to your pet if ingested. If you have questions about your pets health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian.
We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the hot summer days ahead of us.
Pumpkin Season is in Full Swing. Got Treats?
There is nothing better than the first crisp day of fall. Your dog probably gets more peppy and you might be celebrating the return of seasonal treats. Pumpkin is everywhere.
So, whether you are doing socially-distanced trick-or-treating or just creating a little Halloween bubble for your own crew, we want you to have some treat options for your pets.
The American Kennel Club has three easy recipes for making pumpkin-based treats. What do you need to make them? Gather up the following ingredients and you can create three different treats:
- Canned Pumpkin
- Banana
- Eggs
- Flour
- Peanut Butter
- Plain Yogurt
That’s all you need to make three treats: 6 ingredients!
All you after to do after that is pick which one you want to start to make. Choose between Frozen Pumpkin Treats, Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats, or Banana Pumpkin Treats. Or make all three if you are in a super, treat making mood.
Just head on over to the AKC’s site and follow the directions for making these super simple treats: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/3-pumpkin-recipes-for-dogs/
The National Dog Show
As the weather gets a tad bit colder, you might wonder what you can do indoors with your floofin. Why not watch The National Dog Show together? The event takes place on November Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17 in Philadelphia and will be broadcast over Thanksgiving Day.
Presented by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, NBC will air the event. For over 125 years, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia has presented “benched” dog shows, according to their website. Benched, they explain, is a term that means when the dogs are not in competition they must be on an assigned bench. The idea being that folks can interact and learn more about the dogs and breeds at the show. [Read more…] about The National Dog Show