NEW DOG FOOD RECIPE

I like to make my own dog food. I think it is healthier (for them) and more economical (for me).

PROTEIN-40%

Chicken thighs

Lean roast beef-little bit of leftovers

P-Nut Butter

VEGETABLES-30%

Carrots

Green beans

Fresh Spinach

Parsley-(helps Little-Bits tummy)

Mint-”

STARCH-30%

Yams-(no sugar or salt)

White rice-(had to add because it was so gooey)

TO MAKE-

Cook chicken in olive oil.

Cut into small pieces.

Cook vegetables in chicken stock. Drain.

Mix chicken and vegetables with yams and p-nut butter.

Cook rice with stock and saved vegetable water from fridge.

Mix everything together and cool in the fridge.

Put in snack sized Zip-Locks and freeze.

Made about a week’s worth. And the boneless, skinless chicken thighs were only $1.00 a pound. Yea!

GOALS-

My goal for next batch is to try the brown or wild rice again and see if it still affects Little-Bits tummy.

I also want to try tomato to see if we have any allergies. Since I cook with tomatoes so much, it would be easier and I think they are very healthy. There is a bit of debate about this for dogs, though, so I am not so sure.

I also want to see if I can find a better freezer process, although the snack sized bag is perfect for one dog for one day with a little fresh food mixed in. Also, and this is no small matter, the bags stack perfectly in the freezer drawer of my fridge.

YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING IN THIS STORE!

Little-Bit

CHAIR SALE

Hmmmmm…

This was the pair I went to see.

Don’t laugh! This was the most comfortable. Swiveled and rocked!

Better in the photo than in person. Did not look antique but good colors.

Guy chair. And a little Goth. ‘Nuff said.

This hide was very subtle and the piping gave it a crisp look. I think a pair of these would look great in a modern setting though I might paint the legs a glossy black.

The velvet pillow with Milagros was $190.00! Yikes!

Liked the look but uncomfortable and shop worn. (The dogs would have fun with the fringe.)

Himself was having none of it. He looked around in abject horror (That took about 30 seconds.), told me what he thought about their half-price sale and parked himself on a comfy couch. He was done. Frankly, I didn’t think he’d last that long!

Bebe and Little-Bit’s favorite chair and mine too! (Note the protective quilt covering.) I just had to get the puppies into this post. They have chair opinions, too! Little-Bit is actually a renown expert in this area.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

THEY BROKE OUT OF THEIR AREA AND INTO MINE!

LITTLE-BIT MADE HERSELF AT HOME

on my velvet bedspread!

AND THEN I HAD TO CATCH HER

My Cotons live in a large, tiled area that is the size of my first apartment. They are allowed to come with us to the rest of the house -except for my bedroom. I just wanted one area that was an island of serenity and cleanliness. Fur-free, so to speak.

The problem started when I decided to take a nap. God forbid.

They whined and cried at the doggy gate and then decided to body slam the double doors into the dining room. Since they had done that before, there were rubber bands wrapped around the handles. “No hill for a stepper.” as Himself says. BAM! The doors slammed into the walls. Patter, patter, patter of happy little feet headed my way.

I sat up drowsily to see to fuzzy, white, bouncing balls trying to leap up onto my high bed. I jumped up yelling, “Sit! Stay!” but not before grabbing my cell to take pictures because they are just so darn cute. B.B., for the first time in her life, sat and stayed. She tilted her head and looked at me as if to say, “This is gonna be good.”

Little-Bit scratched my bedspread, circled and made a little nest for herself. It seemed as if she was laughing at me as I chased her around the room and she kept going back to her nest like it was home base.

Finally, I was able to catch her with her head stuck under the bed and her butt stuck up in the air. Her tail was wagging away like a plume of white feathers. She thought that if she couldn’t see me then I couldn’t see her.

The funny thing is that she used to be able to wiggle under that bed. Not any more…

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

My dog food recipes are rather like a Chinese menu-one from column A, two from column B and so on. I focus on what is in season, what is on sale and the percentages for each category that I have decided on.

PROTEIN 40%

Boneless, skinless chicken breast or

Turkey or

Lamb

This is usually poached in salt-free chicken stock, removed and shredded.

I reserve the liquid for the:

VEGETABLES, FRUITS, BERRIES-30% any or all of the below:

Carrots

Celery

Green beans (B.B. used to pick these out but now I saute them in olive oil to make them a little mushier and she doesn’t even notice.)

Green peas

Zucchini

Squash

Apple

Cranberries-few

Blueberries-few

Broccoli tops

Parsley-fresh

STARCH-30%-any or all of the below

White rice

Sweet potatoes

Yams

Potatoes

Pumpkin

TO MAKE:

Don’t cook anything longer than you need to.

I use the reserve stock to cook everything. If I have any left over, I freeze it for next time.

Mush it all together.

I might add olive oil and/or molasses before I freeze the food.

TO FEED:

After I defrost the frozen food to, I may add some Belgian yogurt, cottage cheese or Eggland eggs to the mix before I feed them.

ADDENDUM- They do get supplements. Everyday they get salmon oil, vitamins, and Kraft cheese with Angel Eyes hidden inside. (The Angel Eyes goes in cheese rather than their food so that I know each gets the correct dosage.

For training (the never ending story) I use the Kraft, home made meatballs, or chicken chews.

For chewing (I think their teeth must grow like rabbits.) I use bully sticks ( Don’t ask. It is SO gross!) and dental chews from the vet. I will leave a p-nut butter Kong but they are messy to clean. We do not use Greenies because of articles like this.

HEALTHY HABITS WE CAN LEARN FROM DOGS

Bebe

1.  Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

2.  Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3.  When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4.  Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.

5.  When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.

6.  Take naps and stretch before rising.

7.  Run, romp, and play daily.

8.  Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

9.  Be loyal.

10.  Never pretend to be something you’re not.

11.  If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

12.  When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

13.  Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

14.  Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

15.  On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

16.  When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

17.  No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout…run right back and make friends.

18.  Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Little-Bit

is taking a mental health day.

SPRING IS FOR SWEETIES

Bebe and Little-Bit

wish you a very flowerful, flavorful and fragrant Spring!

BIG DAY FOR A SMALL DOG

One of my dogs always gets carsick-usually between the console and the passenger seat. Last week she leaned way over and hit the coin holder. Big time. I only felt slightly guilty as I threw away about a dollar in change. Totally worth it.

My car is stocked with a big towel, paper towels, plastic bags and wash-ups. Why bother? Well, a dog has to be portable. And she is fine once we get to our destination, much better than the other one (who is an excellent traveler but not so great with people).

Ironically, I have a fancy double car seat (for dogs!) that takes up most of my back seat. So they can look out the window. Which is a really, really bad idea for a carsick dog. Trust me on this.

So this morning, as Little-Bit and I were leaving for a Starbucks run, my eye happened upon a cardboard box. Hmm, I thought, instead of holding cans this box could hold…whatever happens in the car.

I put the box in the passenger seat, the towel in the box and the dog on the towel and buckled her in. I drove slowly and went out of my way to avoid speed bumps and potholes. She settled down and propped her head on the edge of the box.

Starbucks. Bank. Dry cleaners. No excitement although she looked a little queasy.

For the first time EVER we made it all the way home without any “unpleasantness”.

A big red letter day for a little white dog!

All worn out…

SPOILED FOR CHOICE

Bebe

YOU CAN HAVE A LIFE-

or you can have a white dog.

If your white dog gets skunked, you can have a pink dog.

If you grow winter grass, you can have a white dog with green booties.

You can clean their eyes.

You can wipe their faces. (Some people wipe the other end.) 

Groomers will name their yachts after you.

Yes, you are always busy if you have a white dog.

My personal definition of insanity?

Have two.Little-Bit, Bebe

ADDENDUM-

If it rains, you can have

Bebe

a black and white dog!

ADDENDUM AGAIN!- And when they get wet, you can have Rasta dogs!

UPDATE- 5/9/09

Or you can have a red dog. This is something I hope you never have to see.

Little-Bit hurt her front paws today. There was blood everywhere- walls, floor, doors, around her mouth (from licking her paws) and on Bebe who had tried to comfort her. I really thought I was going to be sick.

We cleaned her up and called the vet. D.D. cleaned and disinfected the house. Little-Bit should be fine. It was a lot worse than it looked.

But we will be making some changes.