Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Homemade Treats: Kitty Edition!


Most often, you'll find that your kitten likes to eat soft, small treats. They have smaller mouths and teeth than their best friend, the puppy. Here are some adorably kitten friendly treats that will also help you use up that brown rice flour! 
ID4Pet Mustache Must have Kitten Tag

Chewy Cat Treats for Cats
makes about 50 small treats
1 large egg
1 4-oz jar chicken and brown rice baby food (or something meaty which may include canned wet cat food)
1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup cooked white (or brown) rice
other things you might add other treats like : 1 tablespoon of catnip or a hearty tablespoon of extra wet cat food.
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, baby food (or wet cat food), parsley, olive oil,  and water.  Add brown rice flour and cooked rice.  Stir to incorporate.  The mixture will be thick but spreadable.
Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet creating a rectangle that is about 1/3 of an inch thick.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven.  Let rest until cool enough to handle, then slice soft dough into bite-sized pieces.  Return pieces to the oven to bake for another 8 minutes.  Remove from the oven.  Allow to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.  I store my treats in the fridge just to be safe.

& for the sophisticated palate...
Cheese Treats!

3/4 cup shredded or grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt (plain)
1/4 cup cornmeal
5 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese


While your oven is preheating to 350 degrees F, combine all the ingredients into dough (add a touch of water if needed). Knead the dough into a ball and then roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into one-inch pieces and bake for 25 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. Cool on a rack and serve. Makes about two dozen.  

Courtesy of JoytheBaker & PetAdviser


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Ninja Dog


As much as I love making all sorts of fun tags for dogs and cats, Service Dog tags always seem to have the most inspiring stories about the remarkable abilities these dogs possess to help their owner. Whilst watching a popular Ninja competition show last night, I heard the store of Kyle Cochran and Leeloo. If you weren't able to watch their story on TV, here it is below !






Warrior Dog: American Ninja Warrior Uses Service Dog To Help Train


Kyle Cochran is a 26 year-old insulin pump sales specialist in San Diego, California. At least, that’s his day job. When he is not working, he is working out in preparation for the chance to be the first American Ninja Warrior Champion.
Kyle Cochran is no usual contestant, however. He has Type 1 Diabetes, but he is conquering it with a little help from his service dog, Leeloo.




From Hunted…
A woman found Leeloo, a Lab-Whippet mix, running from a pack of coyotes in the foothills behind her house in Northern California. The good Samaritan took her in and fostered her through a rescue until a home could be found.
“I was looking for a dog to train to be a service dog. My dad found her picture online,” Cochran says. “I fell in love when I met her.”




To Hero
“She has made me fall in love with dogs again,” Cochran says. “After I lost my first dog, it was hard for me to consider getting another because it was a painful loss. She brings so much warmth and love into my life every day.


Leelo helps Cochran with his training, though that cute face must be hard to ignore when he's trying to concentrate.



Leelo is now trained to be Cochran’s diabetes service dog, alerting him when his blood sugar level changes. She gives him the freedom to train without having to stop and test frequently.
“She helps me train for ninja warrior by staying by my side during the training to make sure that my blood sugar stays in the range that it needs to be in,” he explains. “It’s really easy to spike or drop in blood sugar when training as hard as I do and it’s so comforting to know that she’s right there to protect me.”
And when she is “off duty,” Cochran takes her to dog beach where he says she just “goes wild.”




An Inspiration
Both Leeloo and Cochran are an inspiration for others who suffer from diabetes – to not let it beat them.
“My advice to kids with diabetes would be this: never see diabetes as an obstacle to slow you down or hold you back. Diabetes is a gift and beautiful opportunity to live a life that inspires everyone around you,” Cochran says. “Let your diabetes make you stronger. Let it grow your love for other people who are challenged by their own obstacles and difficulties. And most of all, let Christ be your friend and your guide in this wild life; you will never be lost.”
You can cheer Cochran on as he attempts the semi-finals July 7 on NBC. He assured us that Leeloo will be there to help him and if he makes it to the finals, she will go too.

Read more at http://theilovedogssite.com/warrior-dog-american-ninja-warrior-uses-service-dog-to-help-train/#TwKwhxYsHY1UehVf.99





Courtesy of Kristina Lotz at TheILoveDogsSite