Companion Animals: Goats and Dogs
April 16, 2010|Comments (12)
Our dogs and our goats are the best of friends. I followed them around for the inside scoop. Call it investigative journalism or just plain old stalking. Hey, why not? Read more
Dog Tags
October 25, 2008|Comments (21)
These questions come from YD’s A Little Bit of Everything Place.
1.) What breed are you?
Logan: British Cream Golden Retriever, and a good looking one at that.
Dustin: American Golden Retriever. I have a curly coat though. I’m better looking than Logan.
Remington: I’m a love child and a total babe.
2.) How old are you?
Logan: I have no idea. Ask mom.
Dustin: Ditto.
Remington: I’m ageless. I’m perfection.
3.) What is your full name?
Logan: Logan Bear, Logie Baby, Wogan Puppy Dawg, Logan Berry, Lo, J-Lo
Dustin: Sir Caledon. Don’t ask. It was Mommy and Daddy’s idea. I liked Dustin. Just Dustin. Who calls themselves Sir Caledon?
Remington: I am Remington, Master Cat of the Universe.
4.) Do you have any nicknames?
Logan: See above. All of those are acceptable. “The most beautiful dog in the world” is preferred.
Dustin: Dustin-puppy. Son. Sunshine. Bubba.
Remington: The humans insist on calling me Remi. I’m planning a revolt. Kitty coup.
5.) Where do you usually sleep?
Logan: Mommy and Daddy gave me a Swedish foam dog bed. It’s more comfortable that their bed. I know. I tested it.
Dustin: You tested Mommy and Daddy’s bed? Not fair. I have the same model as J-Lo over there.
Remington: The humans have not provided adequate bedding for me so I am forced to sleep on the couch cushions. See how I suffer?
6.) What is your favorite thing to do?
Logan: I love to fetch and chew my toys. All of them. But more than anything… I love Bear. Bear is wonderful.
Dustin: Sticks! I love to chew the bark off of sticks. All sticks. I’m not picky.
Remington: I enjoy stalking the lizards who live in the front yard. They only exist to amuse me.
7.) What is something unusual/intersting about you?
Logan: I am the most beautiful Golden Retriever in the world.
Dustin: I am the most beautiful Golden Retriever in the world.
Remington: I am the most beautiful cat in the world.
8.) Who is your best friend?
Logan: Daddy and Bear
Dustin: Mommy
Remington: Mommy
9.) Did you go to obedience school? If so were you “TOP DOG” or did you flunk out?
Logan: Nope.
Dustin: I was king of the class. Not to brag or anything, but I am extraordinarily bright.
Remington: I don’t believe this question involves me. I demand to see the director.
10.) Can you do any tricks?
Logan: I can sit, fetch, stay, show you my belly, smile, and sleep on command.
Dustin: I can sit, shake, roll over, stay, give high fives with alternating paws, give hugs, and am a trained therapy dog.
Remington: I come when I am called and tolerate the humans. Most of the time.
Make Homemade Dog Treats
August 13, 2008|Comments (15)
We LOVE our dogs and have a great deal of fun spoiling them. Treats are part of that equation but buying them in the store is costly and sometimes dangerous. First of all: when were those commercially produced treats manufactured? What is even in them (most recently, rat poison!)? Why don’t they ever seem to expire? They appear to have the shelf-life of Styrofoam! Regardless of the vitamins and yummy stuff companies may claim to put into those treats, I can promise you that none of them are as good for your dog as food you have in your kitchen right now. I’m including (at Aunt Julie’s and Uncle Raul’s suggestion) one of the recipes I use for our dog treats. Just a quick note about using garlic in treats: I like to put a little bit of garlic in the treats to discourage fleas. It’s probably a good idea to consult a vet before giving garlic treats to puppies. You can always leave the garlic out. WARNING: these treats will eventually grow fuzz so just throw them in the compost bin and make fresh!
1 cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup organic wheat germ (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1/2 cup Bob’s Red Mill Mighty Tasty Cereal or steel-cut oats
1/2 cup organic, no sugar added applesauce (I use homemade)
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup warm water
1.) Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl and add the applesauce.
2.) Grind the cooked chicken breast and add to the mixture. Oh, you knew I was going to pull out that old grinder!
3.) Crush, mince, and use your knife to make a paste of the fresh garlic cloves. Add to mix.
4.) Add water and mix until you have a nice pliable dough. Knead on a floured surface them roll to 1/4 thickness. Cut into shapes and place on floured or lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn off oven and do not remove until morning (or until cooled and hardened).
Be sure you take some breaks or get the kids involved with all those little cookie cutters. Gosh, I can’t wait to have kids to take over this step.
Quick story: My neighbor and a guy that my husband works with came over a few months ago and saw these babies out cooling on the island and being schooled in the ways of our home… they both grabbed up some cookies and began hoovering them. My neighbor made a funny face and said (still chewing), “These cookies taste funny.” When Josh and I told them what they were eating, we expected them to spit them out — instead they both finished their cookies and grinned. Classic.
