Think your kids are ready for a dog? Why not borrow one first?

My friend Sara and her husband think it might be time to get a dog. Both have owned dogs in the past, but that was before kids. Choosing to adopt is a family affair and everyone in the household needs to be involved and on the same page. Too many families rush into the decision, and I've wondered: Why not take dog ownership on for a test drive, first?

Fostering has its fringe benefits, and I was happy to host dog 101. Sara and the kids came over a few times to hang out with our pups. Having them meet Smokey, the lovely lady puppies Nutella and Cookie, Relay of course, even inviting Julia and Dante over as well, all that gave them a chance to toe the waters. Both the kids were intrigued.

Next up was a home visit my little ambassador. Sara took Relay home for a few days while Jeff had Navy responsibilities and I was up visiting family in New Jersey. Here are some very cute shots of the youngest enjoying the new addition. Unfortunately, one day he had to stay home from school because of a fever. Nurse Relay kept him company until he felt better.

Overall it was a success. Relay is a great dog to practice with and made the visit pretty easy. At 43 pounds, however, the oldest thinks he's just too big and it was clear he'd be more comfortable with a smaller dog. The household as a whole is also pretty laid back, so a low energy easy going dog is ideal. The boys helped feed, walk, and take care of Relay and Sara feels more confident that their family is ready.

I think from now on anyone thinking of adding a pet to the family should do a test run first. Too many dogs are surrendered because of unknown allergies, people unprepared for the responsibility and lifestyle adjustments, etc. Just borrow a poochie and take it for a test drive. What do you think? Would you loan out your pup?

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Quick Tip: Yours and Mine Chicken Salad

We had some fun with the 'Kitchen Sink' dog food, but I wanted to make a meal that would please everyone in the house. So, I tried my hand at a chicken salad. As neither Jeff nor Relay jumps at the chance to eat veggies, I wanted to hide as many as I could in their meal. 

Once again I used what vegitables I had in my fridge at the time: carrots, kale, and green beans. We had a roast chicken that I deboned and shredded and the dressing was a mix of mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a bit of parsley (sorry to say I was out of yogurt). I did some research online first to ensure everything was pet safe, and surprisingly, this combo is actually very healthy for everyone.

Now Jeff will tell you that I can sometimes be a nut about presentation. For the people, I made a sandwich, piling the chicken salad on some spinach, sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper, and some red pepper aoli with a side of avocado and marinated mozzarella. For the poochies, it became a kibble topper with some extra shredded cheese.

Now what about that taste test? Jeff did not appreciate being tricked into eating 'grass' but he was cynically satisfied. And the pups? I actually didn't get to my camera fast enough to catch a good picture of them eating. So, I will call it a win.


We are participating in Kol's Notes' Tasty Tuseday Blog Hop. Be sure to stop on by to check out more dog friendly bites and visit some terrific blogs.

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Quick Tip: 'Kitchen Sink' Homemade Dog Food

This is a DIY that is entirely customizable, just the way I like it. 

It is a personal pet peeve of mine to throw out food. I also like to cook, enjoy attempting more homemade projects, and am trying to feed my pup better. Putting that all together, here is the outcome.

Yummy? Well not to me, but the cool thing is that if I wanted to eat this, I could. Every so often I spend one morning making Relay a big batch of "Kitchen Sink" wet food that I split into smaller containers, freeze, and feed to him in addition to his normal diet. It really is a big pile of whatever I have extra or lying around that can be safely fed to dogs. (Here is a great list of safe foods, and foods to avoid). Today's version happened to be the following:

The remains of our latest batch of Homemade Stock Cubes, some extra cooked chicken breast, the remainder of a bag of broccoli slaw, assorted frozen veggies that suffered freezer burn (peas, carrots, kale, green beans), some specialty cheese that we didn't enjoy, parsley, a scoop of dried cranberries, a big spoonful of pumpkin, some cooked brown rice, and two scoops of all natural Nupro Dog Supplement (if in case I'm missing any nutrients.)

This is a great little trick that I use to clear out the fridge and freezer without feeling wasteful. I get the peace of mind knowing that the pups get a little food I know won't get recalled, it is insanely cheaper than store bought canned food, and I would hope a little healthier to boot. **Please note, I am NOT a dog nutritionalist, you should consult your vet before making any changes to your pets' diets.** This is just one of the many ways I feed my dog. I enjoy making Relay food and treats, and each time I make him this wet food it always comes out differently. Last version of this was really cheesy, included fish and some scrambled eggs.

How did the boys like it? I let them have a taste test before I packed it up. Relay prefers his frozen (he really likes to crunch his food), but Elmer, our current foster was gulping it down with gusto. I will add this to my win column.

This is participating in the Tasty Tuesday blog hop.

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Quick Tip: Homemade Liver Treats

Liver treats have long been a favorite of dog owners because of their health benefits and because dogs just love them. I tried my hand at making them myself, and I am proud to say that they were a success!

I started by boiling the liver a few minutes in water with stock (from Relay's stash). I then proceeded to slice them up thinly, placing them on a non-stick cookie sheet. I set the oven to 200, while keeping the door cracked open to allow the moisture out, and cooked for hours to the appropriate 'doneness' for my dog.

That's it! I chose to dry them out completely so that they could be an easy grab on the counter, but if your prefer to have them a little softer, just store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Enjoy, and check out our other treat recipes here.

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Quick Tip: Make your own jerky

I know I said I had other things to do, but I procrastinate

It is absolutely crazy how much I spend on dog treats, and for something as simple as jerky, I could never understand why the ingredients list would have more than one item listed. The internet is filled with various directions on how to make these, but I found my favorite on Green Earth Goodies. 

Harris Teeter was running a sale on boneless, skinless chicken breast for buy one get two free and seeing as we have a guest, I figured it would be a great reason to try this out. Directions on this couldn't be simpler: Lay skewers across an oven rack and drape thinly sliced meat over in a 200 degree oven. I placed a cookie sheet to under to catch the drippings and leave the door slightly ajar to allow the release of moister.  Bake for hours to find the right "doneness" for your dog.

To say these were a hit is an under statement. The boys loved them. And considering the recent recall in treats from China I am much more apt to find ways to feed my poochies better, and save some money in the process.

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Quick Tip: Save some time with Adopt-a-Pet Search Saver

One big complaint about rescues and shelters is that people often have a specific dog in mind, and trolling the various organizations can be time consuming. So here's my simple solution: use the internet to do all the leg work for you. Adoptapet.com has a great tool called Search Saver.

* This is what you're looking for

Here's the description:

What is Search Saver?

Our Search Saver feature is all about helping  you fetch your purrr-fect new friend! New pets are added daily and we'll e-mail you when a new pet matching your search is added. Here's how it works:

1. You select the type of pet you're looking for. You can search for pets by color, breed, sex, size, hair or age.
2. Type in your e-mail address.
3. When a pet matching your search is added to the site, we send you an e-mail with a photo and all the info you need to go get your new friend.

It's that easy! You can save up to 15 searches, and you can cancel or change them at any time!

The great thing about this is you can customize it to look for whatever your perfect pet is. You can set how far you'd be willing to travel, qualities you're looking for, and the breed selector not only has all the breeds you could possibly think of, it has a whole lot of extra subcategories like: "Ain't nothin but a hound dog", "Mini Mutts", "Almost a Horse", "Little Fluffy Powedpuffs of Love". Pick as many search criteria as you like. 

I had been on a small, white, fluffy, and puppy kick, so here is an example of one of the emails 

Always remember, adoption is the best option, and for you purists out there, it is estimated that 1 in 4 dogs at your local pound are purebred. But from a Mutt Mama, let me tell you there's nothing better. 

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Quick tip: "Adopt Me" Bandanna (over the collar)

I have to say that Holly was looking pretty good in her bandanna. More importantly, the amount of attention this little thing brought to her was incredible. This is one simple thing that can make a world of difference.

How I did it and how it should be done are two different things.One I'm lazy. Two I'm cheap. Here is a link to actual instructions on eHow and even better, here's a link to a whole slew of design ideas and often step by step pictures for visual learners on one of my favorite blogs: Doggie Stylish.

Now back to me being cheap and lazy.

Fabric stores in the area are few and far between, so I made a quick stop at TJMaxx and checked the clearance section. I found a 4 pack of napkins for $5. What you're looking for is a stiff cotton that can hold it's shape, feel free to use what you have in the house.

You should take measurements of the dog's neck, length, and collar to come up with the size you need. I just winged a baseball home plate shape. The top part needs to be big enough to fold over and allow a collar to slip through. What should happen next is that all the seems should be folded over, ironed down, and sewn in place. Doing this will make your bandanna last longer. Yeah, I skipped that too. All I did was hand stitch the flap. You can then embroider or stencil your design. Me, sharpie. To do it right will take 15 minutes, do it fast in 5.

One tip though is have a spare collar for this; trying to keep the thing in line when your going to for a walk can be a nightmare if you don't. Otherwise you can get really crafty and make a hole where the ring sticks up to attach the collar. But if you're that good, you already know all this and probably laughed at my first project.

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Quick tip: My favorite homemade treat...Stock Cubes

My puppy loves ice cubes. Hands down the cheapest treat to give a dog. To bring that concept up a notch, this is my favorite homemade dog treat: Stock Cubes.

Here are the precise instructions, so make sure you pay close attention.

First, start off a scrap pile. After any roast chicken meal (here's my favorite) I put all the bones in a plastic bag. I like to cook with a lot of fresh vegetables which have odds and ends that would normally go in the trash. Put them in the bag. Keep this bag in the freezer until it is full. Once it's full, throw it all in a big pot, fill it with water. Boil.

Congrats!! You just made chicken stock. Let cool, strain, and pour into ice cube trays. Once frozen, throw them back in a ziploc bag and feel free to give them to your pet. (Check Relay's tail moving a mile a minute.)

Aren't you surprised you never thought about this yourself? Bones have the protein and calcium, the veggies have the vitamins, and it's all made from things you would have thrown out, so pat yourselves on the back for reusing. Compared to commercial stocks you buy at the store, this does not have all the extra sodium, preservatives, and ingredients you can't pronounce. They are mostly water, so low in calories and fat, you can give them to your pet without worrying about their weight.

Feel free to modify this in any way shape or form. Use what you have in the house. I even like to split the batch in half, and use one for my own cooking (where I can add some salt and spices) for just a touch more flavor than just using water.

**There are some foods you should avoid feeding your pups. Always check with your vet before changing your dog's diet. A good reference for foods harmful for pets is found on VetInfo.com. **

We are participating in Kol's Notes' Tasty Tuseday Blog Hop. Be sure to stop on by to check out more dog friendly bites and visit some terrific blogs.

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