Homemade Treats

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Stuck in the house on a rainy or snowy day? Here’s a fun activity to keep the kids busy. My friend Alina makes super healthy treats for dogs. She was kind enough to share one of her favorite recipes. These also make a great hostess or thank you gift for friends with dogs. Who doesn’t appreciate a homemade treat?

From Alina:

Here is the recipe for my Peanut-butter Carrot Yum Biscuits. It is a healthy recipe that my pooches absolutely love and I hope your pet child will enjoy it as much!
Sometimes I add a mashed banana to the mixture for an extra kick. Yum!

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup oats
1 1/2 cup carrots
1 cup peanut butter
(3) 1 egg
(3) 1 cup water
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 tsp. baking soda * optional
1 tablespoon salt – optional *I prefer not to use salt on my recipes

Directions
Stir together the egg, peanut butter, carrots and honey in a medium bowl; blend thoroughly. Stir in the flour and wheat germ; mix well. Turn dough out onto a floured board and roll to 1/4 inch thick.
Cut into bone shape with a cookie cutter, place on prepared baking sheet, and brush tops with egg white. Sprinkle flax seed on top. *optional
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Bake biscuits in preheated oven until dried and golden brown, about 25 minutes, depending on size. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
Cool completely, then store in a container on the counter for 3 days. You can refrigerate up to a week and a half. They can be frozen for 3 months.

Yummy homemade treat!

If you don’t feel like making these yourself, check out Alina’s website for these and other freshly made treats. poochyum.com. For now, they offer delivery in the Los Angeles area but hope to be shipping soon. While you’re at it, check out her gorgeous handmade collars (for your pooch) and necklaces. They are leather and crystal and are so much fun! poochglam.com

No More Resolutions!

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How many times have you made a New Year’s resolution that only lasted a few weeks? A couple of years ago I resolved to not make the same old resolutions of going to the gym and losing weight. Instead, I “promised” myself and my dog that we would go on longer walks… at least once a day we have to have a “long” walk. What ended up happening is that I really love the walks and they started getting longer and longer. About a year ago I started wearing a fitbit and I compete with myself to take more and more steps each day. Now the walk that used to be the “long” walk is the “short” walk. It’s more time with my dog, it’s great exercise for both of us and I love to get out in the neighborhood and explore new streets.

This year, why not find a creative way of achieving whatever your goal is.
Make it something you look forward to doing and you’ll be amazed how easily it can become a part of your regular routine.

Information to leave with your house/pet sitter

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1. Is anyone scheduled to work at your house while you’re away? (Maid, Gardener, etc)

2. Be clear about whether you allow your sitter to have guests in your home.

3. Leave plenty of plastic bags for scooping poop.

4. What your pets regular routine is for eating and walking and where you keep food and
treats.

5. Be courteous to your sitter and let them know if you’ll be coming home earlier/later than
planned.

6. Emergency information (How to reach you, vet’s name and number, closest neighbor,
person responsible for medical decisions for your pets, plumber, how to shut off
the gas, where you keep flashlights, etc.)

7. How to work the remote(s) for your TV, coffee maker, washer dryer, etc.

8. Where will they be parking? Are there restrictions on your street?

9. How to control the thermostat

Tips For Finding And Using A Pet Sitter

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In a perfect world our pets would be able to travel with us all the time, but unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. More and more people are opting to have a pet sitter stay in their home instead of boarding them at a kennel as there are many advantages to this:

1. Pets can stay on their regular routine
2. No risk of exposure to disease in a crowded kennel
3. No trauma of being in a new place away from home and family.
4. No drop off and pick up before and after your trip.
5. Pet sitter can double as a house sitter

Finding A Pet Sitter

The best way to find someone who you can trust is through referrals. Not only are friends a great resource, but also check with your vet’s office. They usually have clients who pet/house sit. Also, pet insurance companies have lists of insured sitters who you can look up by city or zip code. If it’s during a major holiday you’ll want to book early! Sitters are often booked months in advance for Thanksgiving and Christmas so you should lock someone in as soon as you know your travel dates.

Once you have a referral, you should schedule a meet and greet. There should not be an extra charge for this. That first meeting should give the sitter and your pets a chance to get to know each other. This is especially important if the sitter will be arriving for the stay after you have left for your trip. I consulted with my pet/house sitter for some really great tips to make the whole process stress free for both you and your furry, feathered and finned family members.

1. Ask for references
2. Make sure the sitter has liability insurance. Policies and coverage vary from company to company. Make sure you know what their policy covers.
3. Ask if they’re certified in pet first aid.
4. Do they have reliable transportation?
5. Do they have a pet of their own that they need to bring with them to your home?
6. Make sure you agree on payment amount in advance (how much, how, and when payments are made) so there are no surprises.

Prepping for your trip

Even though you will probably go over any instructions it’s a good idea to leave a list with all the information. It makes it easier than relying on memory to make sure everything gets done. My sitter likes me to email her and leave a hard copy at the house so she can have access to the list everywhere.

Emergency Contacts:

1. Name, number and address of your vet and an after hours emergency hospital if your vet is affiliated with one.
2. Name and number of your closest neighbor and be sure to let that neighbor know who’s staying in your home.
3. If not your neighbor, the closest friend who has a key to your house… just in case.

Special Instructions:

1. Any diet restrictions
2. Medication
3. Which furniture your pet is or isn’t allowed on
4. In case of medical emergency, do you have someone designated to make crucial decisions if you can’t be reached?
5. Where you keep towels, mats, etc. in case of rain.
6. If your pet has specific toys be sure they are all accessible

**Be sure to leave extra food and medication in case your plans change and you are away longer than expected.

For more information on finding a pet sitter, insurance or being a responsible client please visit the following sites:

Pet Sitters Association. LLC (PSA)
Pet Sitters International (PSI)
National Association of American Pet Sitters (NAPPS)

Thanks to Alexandra Baron for contributing to this blog.

Happy Holidays For All

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The holidays are a time when we go out of our way to show our loved ones we care and many of us count our pets among those we love the most. Here are two common holiday items that may be harmful to your pet and what you can do to minimize the danger.

Christmas Tree

1. Make sure the tree is anchored so it can’t be knocked over. Try using wire to secure to ceiling and/or walls.

2. Wait a few days before decorating. Give your pets a chance to get used to it. Let them investigate and get the curiosity out of their system… We all know what it did to the cat!

3. Don’t hang ornaments or tinsel on the lower part of the tree. Cats are especially drawn to tinsel and shiny ornaments. Better not to temp them by having them at their level.

4. Keep up with stray needles. Not only are they sharp, but can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other uncomfortable symptoms if ingested.

5. Make sure the water container stays covered. Tree preservatives can be toxic and may seep into the water.

For more information go to:

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/toxicology/f/christmastrees.htm

Gift Wrap

1. My parents have a dog who I think is really a goat disguised as a dog. He eats any type of paper in sight. If your dog does this, you may want to keep gift wrap and wrapped gifts out of reach. You may try putting some type of gate around the base of the tree if you really want the presents under it.

2. Don’t forget about ribbon. Your pet could end up a tangled mess… possibly cutting off circulation. If swallowed, not only could it cause choking, the ribbon could end up twisting around the intestines causing major problems that, worst case, could lead to death.

Car Safety Tip For Your Dog

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If your dog likes to hang his head out the window (and really, what dog doesn’t?) you need to make sure he is safe from debris blowing in his eyes. Doggles (one of the best named products ever, in my opinion) are exactly what they sound like… goggles for dogs. They protect the eyes without blocking the wind. They may take some getting used to but your dog will be the coolest cat around.

http://doggles.com/