DIY Cheese and Garlic Dog Treat Recipe – Canine Cookery

Find out how to bake healthy cookies for your dog with this very simple no-fuss recipe. I experimented with a new design web-site to create this visual step-by-step guide!

This post serves two purposes. The first rather obvious one is that I want to share this easy dog treat recipe with you. My dogs love these and I feel happy knowing exactly what has gone in to their treats! My long-time followers may recognise this recipe from a previous post, Canine Cookery – Healthy Cheese and Garlic Dog Cookies. The reason that I am rehashing this content is part of the reason behind the second purpose of this post!

So recently, I have been thinking that Fluffy Tufts could do with a bit of a makeover. I don’t know about you, but I was getting a bit tired of seeing the old site banner (the one with the doggy mugs!). You may (or may not) have noticed the new banner featuring all the gang. Let me know what you think of it in the comments!

Then, the other day, I came across a great post from the blog ‘We Live in a Flat‘ about adding text to photos. I would suggest you check it out as there are some great ideas there. She kindly advised me to try out a design website called Canva, and below you can see one of my first designs!

I would really love to hear your thoughts on the info-graphic. What do you like/dislike about it? Would you like to see more visual posts in future or do you prefer to read text?

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Pin the Tail on the Poodle – All about Pinterest!

So, here at Fluffy Tufts we have taken the bold move of joining Pinterest. Let’s get pinning!

Pinterest is a social network tool that I have never given any consideration to before now. A friend suggested that I join as she thought I would really enjoy it. So last night, I sat down to have a look. I have to say that she is right and I also don’t know why I hadn’t joined before.

I spent an enjoyable hour or two looking through hundreds of pet-related pins. Then, as I started to get to grips with the site, I started to design a few boards of my own. I have lots of ideas for future boards, but didn’t want to go mad pinning everything straight away! These are the boards I am working on so far:

• – Get Fit with Fido: a series of pin showing you lots of ways to keep you and your dog in shape!
• – Tried & Tested: this will feature all the toys, treats and accessories that the Fluffy Tufts gang use!
• – Serious Cattitude!: Cool felines and feline accessories from around the web!
• – DIY Dog Treats: Homemade treat recipes for your canine pal!

What do you think of Pinterest? Have you any recommendations for a Pinterest newbie like me? What kind of boards would you be interested in seeing? Tell me in the comments.

Have a look at the Fluffy Tufts pinterest profile. Follow if you like and we will follow back!

My Day at Crufts

It was a very early start for me, with the alarm clock going off at 4.30am! The plane was packed with other dog lovers heading to Birmingham to spend the day at the the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts!

Having lived in Birmingham for several years, I knew exactly how to get to the NEC and in no time at all, I had collected my pass and was queuing to enter. I chatted to a lady who’d travelled with her Heelwork to Music Club, all the way from South Africa. They had a member competing in the International HTM Freestyle, so they’d come to cheer her on. Now that’s a supportive team!

The KCAI stand was in Hall 5, so I was sent in that entrance. I actually couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the size of the place. Stalls selling everything you could possibly ever need for your dogs. I spent an hour or two wandering around, picking up goodies for the lads. I will do a post over the next few days reviewing my purchases!

I watched a little bit of the breed judging in the rings in Hall 5 also. Then I headed off to explore the other four halls!

The International Agility was taking place in the Main Arena and one of the members of my training club, Declan Dolan, was representing Ireland with his collie, Bonnie.  I made my way to the Arena in plenty of time and caught the end of the Agility Teams Small Semi-finals. It was exhilarating to view such brilliant dog/handlers teams. The Beacon Smalls went on to win in the Finals. Click here to view their winning run!

Next in the Arena, the International Agility Jumping Round. The competitors had to do a jumping round in the morning and an agility round in the afternoon. Only the top sixteen would make it through to the Finals in the evening. I was really rooting for Declan and Bonnie.

I met Declan at my first ever agility competition. I had had a terrible round with Pogo. He was so excited about the show that he wasn’t focused on me at all. He even tried to climb the judge! As I left the ring feeling humiliated, Declan approached me and very kindly gave me some great training tips and advice. He made me feel a lot better about everything. It was some time later before I realised that this man was Declan Dolan, top agility handler and Crufts winner!

Declan and Bonnie went on to come 2nd in the Finals that evening and I was there in the arena cheering them on. Their round is at 12 minutes if you would like to watch it.

I could ramble on for hours about all the things that I did and saw at Crufts. I had a brilliant day and really hope to go again next year!

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it’s off to Crufts I go!

Just a very quick post as I am busy packing up to go to Crufts! I was very lucky to have been given a free pass from the Kennel Club as part of their new KCAI (Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors). My plane leaves at 6.30am, so want to get an early night so I can enjoy the day tomorrow.

This will be my first time attending Crufts and I am bursting with excitement. My plan is to go to the agility ring in the morning to support Irish competitor Declan Dolan and his dog Bonnie who will be competing in International Agility. Then I will go and pet dogs at the Discover Dogs exhibition. Finally, I plan to shop till I drop and hopefully get lots of goodies for The Lads!

My camera battery is charging and I will try to get lots of great pictures so that I can share the day with you all! Look out for a Crufts update over the next few days. If any of you have any Crufts advice or tips, please let me know in a comment. Thanks!

Munchy’s Lovin’ It! – (Wordless Wednesday – 26 September 2012)

Fluffy Tufts is taking part in the Blog Paws blog hop! Come and join the fun!

Some past Wordless Wednesday posts:

• Proud as Punch (Wordless Wednesday – 2 May 2012)
• St Patrick’s Day (Wordless Wednesday – 21 March 2012)
• Poodle Kisses (Wordless Wednesday – 14 March 2012)
• Need a Bigger Couch (Wordless Wednesday – 29 February 2012)
• One Man and his Dogs (Wordless Wednesday – 4 January 2012)

A Letter From America!

Hi Everyone! It’s Pogo here! I’m going to be doing the post today. 

The other day, I got a parcel from America! Unfortunately, Mammy wasn’t home when the postman called and I couldn’t reach the door handle to let him in.

We had to walk to the sorting office to collect it. I was a little worried because they said they needed to see ID, but I don’t have any! Luckily, they let us have it without any problems.

I couldn’t wait to get home and open it!

I had attended a #PawPawty on twitter recently and was lucky enough to win a prize. I knew the parcel contained my mystery prize, but I hadn’t got a clue what it could be.

Mammy helped me to open the parcel. Firstly, there was an envelope that said “To Pogo, From Frankie”

In the envelope, there was a lovely note from Frankie congratulating me for winning the prize at the #PawPawty.

There was also a really cool doggy postcard.  I think that it is made of rawhide and that you can eat it, but I haven’t been brave enough to try it out yet!

I rooted through all the layers of tissue until I reached the prize. I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was a Tough Turtle!

I have never seen a toy like this in any pet shop in Ireland. I love it so much!

The really cool thing about this turtle is that there are three baby turtles hiding in the shell!

Canine Cookery – Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter Balls

• Melt some peanut butter over a very low heat
• Gradually add low-fat milk until the mixture is the consistency of yoghurt
• Stir in a small amount oats or oat bran and mix until they are coated with the peanut butter mixture
• Keep mixing in small amounts of oats until the mixture is very thick like dough
• Roll this into marble-sized balls and place in the fridge to harden

These will keep for a week or more if stored in the fridge.  If you have a dog that is lactose-intolerant, please use water instead of milk. Use oat bran for dogs who have problems with their anal glands.

Canine Cookery – Healthy Cheese and Garlic Dog Cookies

This is my first attempt at making dog treats for The Lads.  I am no good at baking or cooking, but I thought I would give it a try!  The recipe is my own and is extremely basic so anyone could try it.

I read somewhere that bran was good at preventing any issues with the anal glands.  When I went to purchase it, there was a choice between oat and wheat bran.  I went for the oat bran as I know many dogs suffer from wheat allergies and intolerances.  Maltese Terriers are reknowned for suffering from intolerances and allergies and with Jimmy being half Maltese, I didn’t want to take any chances.

They don’t take long to make, maybe about 10 mins prep time and then 15 mins in the oven.  They will last a few days if stored in an airtight container.  The recipe makes around 12 cookies, but that would depend on the cookie cutter you use.

Verdict:  I shared one cookie between the three Lads.  Jimmy gobbled his up and was dying for more.  Casper was a little suspicious but soon realised it was tasty and was wagging happily.  Pogo turned up his nose at first and then tentatively nibbled at it!  I think he only ate it to stop the others getting extra.  Still two out of three isn’t bad!

Healthy Cheese and Garlic Dog Treats

Ingredients

150 grams of oat bran

125 grams grated cheese

1 clove garlic (crushed) OR 1/4 tsp garlic powder

100 grams margarine

Method

1. Leave the cheese to stand until it reaches room temperature. Put the oat bran in a mixing bowl. Cut the margarine into the oat bran.

2. Stir in the cheese and mix to form a doughy consistency. You may need to add a splash of milk to make the mixture sticky.

3. Knead the dough and roll into a ball.

4. Roll out dough on a floured surface till it is about 1cm thick. Cut shapes with cookie cutter until all the dough is used.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celcius for about 15 mins (or until the cookies are firm and slightly brown).