I love making my Shiba Inu dogs good healthy snacks to eat. With all the recalls from dog foods and snacks coming out of China & Japan I don't trust them anymore. I feel my dogs deserves the very best there is so I only buy the best top quality organic dog food there is. Do your research and know which products are truly the best for your dog. Your dog's life may depend on it. If your not sure what dog food is the best, ask your breeder or better yet go to:

 

How to Safely Clean Dog Toys and puppy areas.

 

Cleaning dog toys and puppy areas safely is very easy with some trusty vinegar. If you have lots of toys to clean just fill up your sink instead of using a bowl.

 

1. Pour 1/3 cup vinegar into a large bowl

2. Fill the rest of the bowl with hot water

3. Let soak 15-30 minutes depending on how dirty the toys are

4. Scrub any remaining dirt off with a soft brush

5. Rinse in hot water and you’re done!

 

 

 

  www.dogfoodadvisor.com

 

 

Below, I am giving you some real easy, quick dog snacks that I make for my dogs, and puppies, and they love them. You can never go wrong with pumpkin or peanut butter. My Emma sits in front of the oven door waiting for them to come out of the oven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slideshow of our Family and dogs!

Just click on slideshow to bring up.

 

 

 

Why feed your Dog Grain-Free Food?

 

 

A grain-free diet more closely resembles what a dog’s natural diet should be. In the wild, canines prefer meat and very rarely eat grains because they are difficult to digest. This is due to canines lacking the proper enzymes in their digestive system to break down the grains. In addition to causing digestive issues, grains are the root cause of many common pet allergies.

 

When you feed your dog a grain-free diet, the long-term benefits that come with this type  of feed can easily justify the cost. Most notably, you won’t have to feed your pet as much  food. Each cup of grain free food has a higher nutritional content than a corresponding cup of food containing grains. This means that your dog can eat less yet still get the necessary levels of protein, vitamins and other nutrients to maintain a balanced diet. By eating less, your dog will also produce fewer stools. The higher nutritional value of grain-free food will also give your dog a shinier coat, more energy and better overall health. If you make the wise decision to switch to a grain-free food please remember that any change in a dog’s diet should be done gradually.

 

Sudden changes in diet can cause digestive complications. Vets recommend mixing 1/3 of the new food with 2/3 of the old food for a couple of days, then a mix of ½ and ½, then 1/3 of the old food and 2/3 of the new, before finally making the switch. This process should take about a week and you should closely monitor your pet for any changes in appetite, attitude, or stools.

 

Recommendations for Avoiding Toxic Pet Treats

 

Tip 1: Don't Overfeed Treats to Your Pet

 

Dog treats even very healthy ones should not constitute more than 15 percent of your pet's daily food intake, and preferably less than 10 percent. And it's best to limit them to training and behavior rewards, as a bedtime ritual, or as a "time to get in your crate" enticement. Also keep in mind that dog treats are not a complete form of nutrition for your pet, and should never be substituted for balanced, species-appropriate meals. Overfeeding treats on top of daily food intake will result in an obese pet. Overfeeding treats while underfeeding balanced meals will result in a dog with nutritional deficiencies.

 

Tip 2: Treats Should Be Sourced in the U.S. and Made in the U.S.

 

The chicken jerky dog treats and other treats suspected of causing illness and death in pets have ingredients imported from China. Despite the efforts of the FDA and independent laboratories to isolate the contaminant, nothing has been identified, and five years after the first reports of sick and dying pets, the treats are still being produced by major pet food companies and sold by major retailers. So I would strongly recommend avoiding any product containing ingredients sourced from China. That said, I have found several excellent quality treat. If you are going to buy treats from a company, the important point is to know and trust your treat company's commitment to purity and quality control.

 

Tip 3: Treats Should Be High-Quality

 

A high-quality pet treat will not contain grains or unnecessary fillers, rendered animal by products, added sugar (sometimes hidden in ingredients like molasses and honey), chemicals, artificial preservatives, or ingredients known to be highly allergenic to pets.

Most excellent quality, human-grade pet food producers typically smaller companies also make a few types of treats. So if you're already feeding your dog a high-quality commercial pet food you trust, see if the manufacturer also makes treats. Another option is to shop online, especially if you've done your research and know exactly what you're looking for.

 

Tip 4: Offer Fresh Human Foods as Treats

 

I recommend avoiding all grain-based treats. Your dog has no biological requirements for the carbs in these treats, and in addition, they are pro-inflammatory. Consider instead living "human" foods. Berries are a great treat because they're small and loaded with antioxidants. You can also offer small amounts no more than 1/8 inch square for a small dog and a 1/4 inch square for bigger dogs, and other fruits (melons and apples are good fruits to start with) as well as cheese. Many dogs enjoy bits of zucchini or cantaloupe. Excellent training treats for dogs include frozen peas and raw almonds, cashews and Brazil nuts (but NEVER macadamia nuts).

 

Tip 5: Prepare Homemade Treats for your Pet

 

If your dog happens to be wild for dehydrated chicken strips (chicken jerky), you can make your own quite easily. Just buy some boneless chicken breasts, clean them, and slice into long, thin strips the thinner the better. Place the strips on a greased or non-stick cookie sheet and bake them for at least three hours at 180 degrees. The low temp dries the chicken out slowly and the strips wind up nice and chewy. Let the strips cool, and then store them in plastic bags or another airtight container. You can also freeze them.If you buy commercial canned food for your dog you can "repurposed" a can for use as a supply of healthy treats. Open a can of your pet's favorite brand; preferably something with a strong aroma, and spoon out little treat sized amounts onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Put the baking sheet into the freezer until the bite-sized bits of food are frozen. Then move them to an airtight container and back into the freezer they go until you're ready to give your pet a treat! Most dogs will enjoy the treats frozen.For recipes to make pet treats at home using beef, liver and turkey, see below.

 

Dogs love treats! And we love being able to offer them to our four-legged family members. Unfortunately, the majority of commercial pet treats, while yummy tasting to dogs, are neither species-appropriate nor do they contain high quality ingredients. In fact, most species-appropriate pet treats won't remotely resemble the cute and colorful dog biscuits and cookies you may be used to seeing on store shelves.  Forming treats into tiny dog bone or fish shapes requires the use of undesirable ingredients like grains and other starches, not to mention fillers, preservatives, sugar, and other additives.Wouldn't it be great to be able to offer delicious, delectable treats to your pet that also provides your dog with species-appropriate nutrition? I certainly think it would be, so I am offering you some excellent alternatives to the usual pet treat fare.I hope these recipes, tips and ideas will inspire you to make those treat calories count by offering nutritious, biologically appropriate snacks to your furry loved ones.

 

Easy Nutritious Pet Treat Recipes

 

 

Crunchy Beef Cubes

 

• 1 pound lean beef

• Baking sheet covered with baking parchment

•  

Directions:

 

• Dice beef into half-inch cubes

• Place cubes close together on baking sheet

• Put baking sheet into cold oven and heat oven to 300oF

• Cook for 1 hour

• Reduce oven temperature to 200oF and prop open oven door (to allow moisture to escape)

• Continue cooking for 2 additional hours

• Remove beef cubes from oven and allow to dry overnight at room temperature

• Place beef cubes in airtight container and keep refrigerated or frozen until ready to serve

•  

Chewy Liver Strips

 

• Beef livers (butcher shops sometimes throw these away or you can buy them at the supermarket)

• Food dehydrator*

•  

Directions:

 

• Cut liver into 1-inch slices

• Apply a non-stick spray on the dehydrator drying racks

• Place the liver slices into the dehydrator for 24 hours

• Seal in airtight container and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve

•  

Note: An alternative to using a food dehydrator is to put the liver strips on a greased or non-stick baking sheet and bake them in a 325o oven for 45 minutes to an hour.

 

Liver potato snacks

 

• 1 pound liver                           1 egg

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder      1 ¼ cups potato flakes

• Beef or chicken broth              Food processor

• Greased 13 x 9 pan

•  

Directions:

 

• Preheat oven to 400oF

• Cut liver into approximately 1-inch pieces (to help with the blending and cooking process)

• Place the liver pieces, egg, garlic powder and potato flakes in food processor

• Pulse ingredients to combine

• Add as much broth as needed to make the mixture spreadable (the consistency will be very thick)

• Spread mixture into pan

• Bake for 25 minutes; cool on wire rack for 5 minutes

• Loosen sides with a knife, turn pan over and empty mixture onto wire rack

• Cool completely before slicing

• Place slices in airtight container and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve

•  

Turkey Balls

 

• 1 pound ground turkey                     1 egg

• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley            ¼ cup shredded cheese (optional)

• ½ cup chopped veggies (optional)

•  

Directions:

 

• Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in bowl, and shape mixture into bite-size balls

• Bake for 10 minutes or until brown

• Cool and serve or seal in airtight container and store in fridge or freezer until ready to serve

 

Turkey Mash

 

• 1 egg                                         1 to 2 tablespoons mashed potatoes

• ½ c. diced cooked turkey          ½ c. chopped cooked veggies

• ¼ c. grated cheese

•  

Directions:

 

• Warm a small amount of olive oil in a medium-sized skillet

• Blend the egg and potatoes in a bowl and then spread in the skillet

• Lay the turkey and veggies on top in even layers

• Cover and simmer until the egg is cooked and the mixture is warm

• Sprinkle cheese on top of mixture and cook a few more minutes until cheese is melted and egg is golden brown

• Cool thoroughly, cut into wedges, seal in airtight container and put in fridge or freezer until ready to serve

 

How to Turn a Can of Pet Food into Nutritious Snacks

 

If you buy commercial (hopefully human grade) canned food for your dog, you can 'repurposed' a can for use as a supply of healthy treats. Open a can of your dog's favorite brand, preferably something with a strong aroma, and spoon out small treat sized amounts onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.Put the baking sheet into the freezer until the bite-sized bits of food are frozen. Then move them to an airtight container and back into the freezer they go until you're ready to give your pet a treat! (Most dogs will enjoy the treats frozen.

 

Additional Ideas for Quick-and-Easy Pet Treats

 

Don't count out people food when it comes to offering healthy treats to your pet. Fed in moderation (meaning fed only occasionally, and in very small amounts no more than a 1/8 inch square for a small dog and no more than a ¼ inch square for a bigger dog), any of the following items from your kitchen can provide a nutritious snack for your dog or cat:

 

• Fruit                          Cheese

• Raw almonds           Cashews

• Brazil nuts                Blueberries

• Frozen peas

•  

No matter what treats you feed your dog, they should be counted as part of your dog's daily caloric intake. It's easy to imagine, as you're handing a tiny morsel of this or that to your pet, that those extra calories are inconsequential in such small amounts. Most pet owners would be surprised at just how many extra calories a treat here and there can add to a dog's daily energy intake.

 

Only Special Occassion Treats

 

 

Homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats

 

    1 banana, peeled                       1 cup oat flour
    2/3 cup rolled oats                      1/2 cup dried parsley
    3 tablespoons peanut butter       1 egg, beaten

 

Preheat oven to 300°F. Put banana in a large bowl and use a spoon or potato masher to mash it thoroughly. Add oat flour, oats, parsley, peanut butter and egg and stir well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.Roll mixture into 24 balls, using about 1 tablespoon dough for each; transfer to a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet as done. Use the back of a spoon or the heel of your hand to press each ball into a (1 1/2- to 2-inch) coin. Bake until firm and deep golden brown on the bottom, 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely.

Storage note: It's best to store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or, freeze them to give to your pal later; just be sure to thaw the treats befor handing them out.
 

Carob Crunchers         A little Carob love for our doggys.

 

Ingredients
1 cup Rice Flour                        1/2 cup Carob Powder
1 teaspoon Cinnamon               1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3/4 cup Water

 

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and knead until dough is formed and smooth, you may need to add a little more water as the dough tends to be on the dry side. Roll roll onto a heavly floured surface 1/4 inch thick and cut with  small cookie cutter of your choice. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or the cookies start to crackle.

 

Cool and refrigerate.    Made 35 to 40 hearts.

 

Our homemade gluten-free / grain-free dog treats are made with nutritious buckwheat, a rich source of protein, antioxidants, minerals and fiber. Flaxmeal is an excellent source of plant-based essential omega-3 fatty acids, pumpkin puree, eggs and chicken stock. Good for people and good for pets!

 

 

Emma's Choice Dog Treats

 

    2 cups buckwheat flour                      1/2 cup ground flax seeds (flaxmeal)
    2 large eggs                                       1 cup canned pumpkin puree
    1/4 cup chicken OR beef stock

    NOTE: All of the above ingredients are available in organic form at most large stores
    and health food markets.

 

Preheat oven to 350°

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Place buckwheat flour and ground flaxmeal in a large mixing bowl. Add pumpkin puree, eggs
and chicken or beef stock. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer and beat on high until the
mixture is smooth and very thick.

 

For easy prep, use a 1 tablespoon equivalent spring-loaded scoop (like an ice cream scoop)
to drop rounded mounds of mixture on prepared baking sheets. Use a fork to press down on
mounds, just like making classic peanut butter cookies. Dip fork in water frequently to

prevent sticking and press mounds until they are about 1/4-inch thick.

 

For small pets: Use a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon to drop mounds of dough on baking
trays.

 

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove trays and turn the dog treats upside down.
Return to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes. When done cookies should feel hard
to the touch. Cool completely on a cooling rack. When completely cool place dog cookies in
an air tight container. If cookies aren't completely cool when stored, they may become
soggy. If this happens, crisp in preheated oven for about 8 minutes OR store in a small

 

paper lunch bag instead of in plastic.

 

Depending on how often you give your dog treats, tightly wrap and freeze part of the batch
and thaw and use as needed.

 

 

Control Fleas Naturally with Homemade Treats

 

3 cubes beef bouillon                         1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 cups Quinoa flour                            1 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup brewers' yeast                        2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 egg yolks

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Dissolve beef bouillon cubes in boiling water, and set aside. Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, corn meal, brewers yeast, and garlic powder. Add the yolks, and then gradually pour in the bouillon water while stirring. Mix thoroughly to form firm dough. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies one inch apart onto cookie sheets.
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn the oven off, and leave the cookies inside for at least 3 hours or overnight to harden. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

 

 

Dog Treats for the Pet Lover

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice flour

• 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter, creamy

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin {not pumpkin pie mix}

• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Paw Prints

• 2 tablespoons Peanut Butter Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and set out 2 large cookie sheets

2. Combine all the dough ingredients until a soft ball forms

3. Divide dough in half, sprinkle work surface with a bit of rice flour

4. Roll out dough to 1/8 - 1/4 inch thick, cut with 1 or 1 1/2 inch round cookie cutter

5. Place on cookie sheet, repeat

    

   • 1/2 cup carob chips {we found these at the Health Food Store}

   until dough is gone

6. Using the tip of a small spoon, make indentations for the paw prints

7. Bake at 300 degrees for about 20-30 minutes or until dried and golden brown

8. Remove from oven and cool completely

Paw Prints

1. In a small microwave safe bowl, add carob chips and peanut butter

2. Heat 30-45 seconds, stir until as smooth as possible

3. Spoon mixture into a a resealable bag or decorator bag

4. Pipe on paw prints, let set until carob mixture is set, about 30-60 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More recipes to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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