Puppies Need Treats!!!

This is Thatcher, Corgi Puppy Extraordinaire!

And yes, since he's still a baby, he constantly alternates between this...

...and this,

and...

well, we'll leave the other part up to your imagination. Let's just say he's learning quickly to do it outside rather than inside the house :)








And then there's meeting the rest of the family:

Maggie-Cat is less than thrilled with the new fuzzy baby, but Wynter took to him like...well, like she had been wanting another dog to join the pack!

Maggie-Cat prefers to bathe on the comfy couch, preserving the dignity of the feline race with her delicate ablutions, upholding the great traditions of....oh, never mind. She fell asleep in the bathtub again.

We'll leave the cat be, and go on.

So, in honor of all the dog lovers around here, I thought I'd share a few recipes for homemade dog treats.

Now don't think these are hard - I work hard for my family, but dogs are, well, dogs. They're fun, and I love having them around, but I'm not going to spend hours in the kitchen when I can spoil them just as easily in a few minutes!

So here they are - Easy-Peasy Puppy Treats!

Disclaimer: Give your dog treats sparingly. Even healthy ones like these will cause problems if they take the place of their regular food. Once or twice a day is often enough.

First off, Beefy Chewie Cookies

Ingredients:

2 - 6 ounce jars beef and vegetable baby food

1 cup of wheat germ

2 cups of nonfat dry milk

Preheat your oven to 350°.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. It will seem like you just have a dry mess, but keep stirring until it's completely mixed.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and flatten slightly. I made small ones for Thatcher and large ones for Wynter.

Bake for 12 minutes for large ones (8 minutes for small ones), or until slightly brown at the edges. Let cool.

Store in the fridge for up to one week, or in the freezer.

They passed the taste test!

Next up, for the vegetarians among us, Delicious Oatmeal Puppy Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups uncooked oatmeal flakes

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, or a blend (I used a blend of spelt, millet, rye, buckwheat and wheat)

1 1/2 cups cold water (or broth, for non-vegetarians)

1 Tablespoon parsley (a natural breath freshener - all pooches need that!)

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix all the ingredients together and drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350°. Let cool. Store in the refrigerator or freeze.

These must be delicious, because the entire time they were baking, Thatcher wandered around the kitchen with his nose in the air!

And finally, for those hot dog days of summer, Meaty Poochsicles

Ingredients:

2  32 ounce containers plain yogurt

2-3 cups minced meat (chicken, beef, etc. This is a great way to use scraps, leftovers, chicken livers, etc. A couple cans of tuna also work)

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

about 24  3 ounce plastic cups (not paper)

Mix all the ingredients together. Spoon it into the plastic cups, place on a tray and freeze overnight. Store in a freezer container or bag.

You can let your dog lick the frozen treat out of the cup, or remove it from the cup and let your pooch go at it (you'll want to keep her outdoors until she's done!).

 By the way, did you know garlic is a natural flea deterrent? That makes this summer treat even better!

That's it! I'll leave you with one more gratuitous puppy picture:

Thatcher loves his monkey!

Of course, the day wouldn't be complete without remembering our fallen soldiers. Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their all in the service of their county. The holiday was first observed during the Civil War and continues to this day as a time of remembrance.

In Flanders Fields

by Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row, 

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.