Whether you’re already a dog owner or planning to be, this workshop offers a wealth of information on how to live happily with your canine companion. Loving your dog isn’t enough! Well-informed owners are much more likely to have happy, healthy and well-behaved dogs.
The ‘essentials’ covered include preparing for dog ownership, keeping your dog healthy, communicating effectively with your dog, and how to combine dogs and kids. You’ll leave with plenty of practical advice and a list of additional resources.
Fee is $30. The workshop will be held at the Strawberry Hill Center. Please contact the B.I. Parks Department to register.
Healthy and Delicious Dog Treats
Recipes excerpted from Cooking the Three Dog Bakery Way.
Peanut Butter Training Bites
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp molasses
2 T unsalted peanut butter
2 T canola oil
Preheat oven to 350
Stir together the flours in a bowl and set aside. Cream together the molasses, peanut butter, and oil in a large bowl. Add ½ cup water to the molasses mixture and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
Divide the dough into golf ball-sized pieces and roll each into a log the diameter of training bites, typically ½ inch. Slice the logs into 1/8-inch-thick disks. Arrange on two ungreased baking sheets, and bake approximately 30 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.
Cool completely before serving. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Makes approximately 2 cups of training treats.
Click here for a printable version of this recipe.
Greyhound Gobbler Cobbler
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ cup chopped unsalted peanuts
¾ cup honey
Preheat oven to 350. Grease a baking sheet with nonstick vegetable spray.
Stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and peanuts in a bowl and set aside. Whisk the honey with ¼ cup water in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the honey mixture and stir to form a smooth dough.
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and, with a rolling pin, roll it out to approximately 1/8 – inch thickness. Cut into 1-inch squares and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until light golden in color.
Cool to room temperature before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Makes 48 greyhound-thin dessert squares.
Click here for a printable version of this recipe.
Salivatin’ Cinnamon Apple Nips
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ cup canola oil
1/3 cup honey
2 eggs
1 cup diced apples
Preheat oven to 350. Grease two baking sheets with nonstick vegetable spray.
Stir together the flour, oats, baking powder, and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, stir together the oil and honey until well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring to combine. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir to form a smooth dough. Fold in the apples.
Drop the dough by rounded teaspoonfuls, 1 ½ inches apart, on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until light golden.
Cool before serving and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Makes 30 cookies.
Click here for a printable version of this recipe.
Peanut Mutt-er Nibbles
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 T canola oil
1 cup honey
¼ cup unsalted peanut butter
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350.
Stir together the flour and baking powder in a bowl and set aside. Cream together the oil, honey, peanut butter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring to incorporate. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to form a smooth dough.
Drop the dough by rounded teaspoonfuls, 1 ½ inches apart, on two ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden.
Cool before serving and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Makes 3 dozen treats.
Click here for a printable version of this recipe.
Savor the Summertime – And Keep Your Dog Safe
Summertime on Bainbridge means a whole lot of good things: Wednesday concerts in the park, fresh flowers at the farmer's market, a decadent double dip from Mora's. The long sunny days even give us a chance to let our chalk-white Northwestern flesh turn a little bit brown.
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But the season also has its downside, especially for our dogs. The dangers of high heat can hit them particularly hard.
The main trouble is, dogs don't sweat the way we do. They have a very tough time staying cool when the weather gets warm. And although their foot pads have a few sweat glands and panting also helps a little, neither of these are any match for really high heat.
When it's warm outside, the inside of a car can be stifling. And when it's hot outside, that car can become an oven within minutes. A recent StanfordUniversity study showed that when it's just 72 degrees outside, the inside of a car can reach 116 degrees within an hour - even with the windows cracked. When it's 85 outside, the temperature can hit 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and 120 degrees in 30 minutes.
That kind of heat can cook a dog. Within a few minutes its body temperature can go from normal, about 100-102 degrees, to 107. The resulting heat stroke damages the dog's liver, brain, heart and nervous system and can be fatal in a very short time.
Cars aren't the only cause for concern. Dogs can overheat from being outside with no shade on a hot day or from taking long walks in high temperatures. High humidity makes matters even worse.
So when summertime's at its peak, it's best to keep your dog in the house during the hottest hours of the day. Even indoors, make sure there's a cool place that your dog can retreat to. If you crate your dog, be sure the crate is well away from any windows that might let in the afternoon sun.
Summertime on Bainbridge is something to be savored. Having color on the legs and warmth in the bones are never to be taken lightly by a Pacific Northwesterner. But even as we glory in the short-lived sight of our own bare toes, we need to keep the health of our fur-covered companions in mind.
So keep your dog out of hot cars, out of hot sun, and well supplied with lots of fresh water. Seeing them savoring the summertime safely makes the season just that much more fun.
By Cindy Jones of Happy Dogs Pet Services in partnership with Judith Bell of Beaujes Dog Training and Boarding
Calming Your Dog's Fear of Fireworks
Does your dog go ballistic on the Fourth of July? Like many animals, dogs tend to react as if sudden earsplitting explosions are scary. Go figure! But since you can't explain to them that it only sounds as if the dog gods are very very angry, you may need to find other ways to help your dog stay calm while the fireworks are blasting. Here are a few ideas:
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Avoid Ground Zero.
Don't take your dog out and stand directly under the fireworks if she's likely to panic (and she is). Stay at home in the quietest room possible and close the windows. Basements and laundry rooms often make for good, well-insulated spots.
Distract your dog.
When the explosions start, pull out your dog's favorite toy and get him started on a game. If he's ball-crazy, have several on hand. If he loves to play tug, be sure his tug toy is stashed close by. If your dog's a treat hound, stock up on the good stuff and reward him lavishly for playing the games or obeying commands.
Give Off Good Vibes.
Your dog will be closely attuned to how you're reacting, so be sure to stay calm, cool and unconcerned by the noise. You might even try yawning a bit to let her know that everything is oh-so normal and just a tad boring.
No Punishing!
Above all, don't get mad at your dog for being afraid. The mayhem outside is frightening enough; the last thing he needs is to be scared of you too.
Finally, if your dog is still phobic by the end of the evening, consider taking more formal steps before next year rolls around. Professional trainers and behaviorists have lots of helpful ways to reduce your dog's fear. The investment's well worth it, for both your dog's peace of mind and your own.
By Cindy Jones of Happy Dogs Pet Services in partnership with Judith Bell of Beaujes Dog Training and Boarding
