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AKC

National Dog Biscuit Day

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Whether you call them a snack, a treat, a cookie, or a biscuit, we know our dogs love them. February 23rd is National Dog Biscuit Day!

There are lots of ways to treat your dog on the 23rd. Perhaps you have some biscuits on hand or a pup bakery nearby that is celebrating with some treats you can pick up. If you are not inclined to cook (I raise my hand on that one), grabbing something already prepared is a great option.

But, let’s say you are the kind of person who wants to spend some time in the kitchen to show your pooch some biscuit love. Where to start? 

There are some recipes available from a number of places. First up, because I use their products and can attest to the quality, King Arthur Baking has a vet approved recipe you can try: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/best-of-breed-dog-biscuits-recipe

Another vet approved option for different recipes comes from the AKC: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/homemade-vet-approved-dog-treat-recipes/

My final online treat list is one that gives you lots of short ingredient list, no bake options: https://www.doughremia.com/post/5-healthy-easy-no-bake-dog-treat-recipes

If you want to dig deeper and/or spend more time cooking for your pet, consider the following two books: 

The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook: Over 100 “Tail Wagging” Recipes 

The Honest Kitchen Dog Obsessed, A Guide to a Happier, Healthier Life for the Pup You Love

However you choose to produce your pet’s biscuit, be sure to take a moment to enjoy their enthusiasm and love. Food is often a sign of care and concern and your pet will know how much you love them whether they scarf down the treat in one giant gulp or several slow nibbles. Bon appetit! 

Those Final Days of Making Summer Frozen Treats

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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.

National Service Dog Month

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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

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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?

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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/