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Homemade dog treats easy to make |
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Written by Holly Bea
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Thursday, 01 March 2007 |
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 I’d like to say I’m the proud owner of two dogs. But those of you who share their homes with dogs know better.
Somewhere along the line, your dog quits being a pet and starts being a member of the family. And before you know it, the dog is running the show.
The ones in charge at my house are a high-strung 10-year-old Sheltie named Lizzie and a goofy 5-year-old bull mastiff named Buddy (a.k.a. Beauty and the Beast.)
 In the beginning, Buddy and Lizzie’s diets were pretty basic: premium dog food, multiple daily treats, usually what happened to be on sale that week, and the occasional steak bone. But I have joined the ranks of millions who are “humanizing” our pets, and everyday dog food just isn’t good enough for my babies any more.
Large and small, businesses are jumping on the canine cuisine bandwagon.
There are dog foods created specifically for small and large breeds, overweight dogs, dogs with health issues and, in Japan, they’re introducing dog foods for specific breeds including miniature dachshunds, toy poodles and Chihuahuas.
There are natural dog foods, organic dog foods, premium deli snacks for pets and those advertised as 100 percent human grade!
Fort Collins: The Dog Treat Mecca
Laura Beer and Cyndy Pecic have been creating all natural, low-fat treats for dogs for 10 years. They are the co-owners of Arfy’s Mercantile for Dogs and Cats, 2601 S. Lemay, No. 4, in Fort Collins.
“We once owned a pet boarding business and had some extra time on our hands.
We started experimenting making dog treats, and they really took off quickly. We sort of caught the wave of gourmet dog treats before it got started,” Beer said.
While they provide gourmet pet treats and foods to other pet boutiques throughout the country, their store is a favorite stop for animal lovers across the Front Range.
“One of the major things we do is educate pet owners about what to feed their dogs and cats,” Beer said. “Research has shown that cancer and diabetes can be caused by poor quality dog food. It’s important to provide a healthy diet for your dog, and it’s much easier and more affordable to find great pet foods than it used to be.”
Arfy’s carries a wide variety of food and treats, and all have been taste tested on hundreds of dogs. Their most popular treat is Mutt Mix, which sells for $4 per half pound or $8 per pound. They also carry canine birthday cakes, specialty treats and liver yum yums, which is quite popular for use in dog training.
Understandably, the folks at Arfy’s weren’t willing to divulge their “trade secrets” or recipes, but I was able to coerce some great dog treat recipes from other locals.
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HEALTHY MAKE-AT-HOME DOGGIE TREATS
Recipes:
Bacon & Cheddar Treats for Doggies
From Judy Cox, owner of 4Pampered Paws, a Greeley pet sitting service 506.1665,
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup water
1 egg (or 1/4 cup egg substitute)
1/2 cup crispy cooked and crumbled bacon pieces
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine flour, oat bran and cheese. Stir in applesauce, water, egg and bacon. Dough will be stiff and sticky. If too sticky, you can add up to 1/4 cup more flour. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch in thickness and cut with cookie cutter. Place treats on a parchment lined baking sheet, and sprinkle with additional cheese for extra flavor. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Store in an airtight container.
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Simple Simon’s Birthday Bones
From Elaine Hicks, Director of the Humane Society of Weld County
Ingredients:
2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup skim milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk. Add wet mixture to dry and mix well. Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes. Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
Cool on a rack then store in an airtight container.
Makes 30 large bones.
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DOG FOOD FACTS
• With a lot of treats and pet foods you find in supermarkets, you don’t know how fresh they are, or what’s in them. Your pets deserve food that’s fresh, low fat, and made with quality ingredients.
• While dogs thoroughly enjoy chewing on bones, if your dog has a good diet, a bone doesn’t provide any nutritional needs for your pet. If you are going to give your dog a bone, make sure it’s a beef bone. Chicken and pork bones can easily splinter.
• Don’t feed your dog “human” food from the table. A dog’s diet should be fairly consistent, or the result can be tummy upset!
• Find a wealth of dog treat recipes at www.gourmetsleuth.com,
www.geocities.com/heartland/ranch/1011/dog.htm and www.treatworld.com
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TREATS FOR DOGS IN NEED
Your pet isn’t the only one who needs healthy treats.
If you’re an animal lover, consider making a donation to the Humane Society of Weld County or the Larimer Humane Society.
Items needed include soft, moist treats for dogs (unopened and unexpired), peanut butter, canned and dry food for puppies, dogs, kittens and cats and Kong brand dog chew toys in all sizes, preferably black. Also, cash donations — no matter how small — can be used to purchase what is most needed at that time.
Humane Society of Weld County
1620 42nd St., Evans, CO
506.9550
www.weldcountyhumane.org
Larimer Humane Society
6317 Kyle Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80527
226.3647
www.larimerhumane.org
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How Can I Help
Written by jbryce on 2007-07-12 08:01:38
Hi Holly,
I live in Sydney Australia so it is hard for me to send anything directly, however I do run a dog treat recipe website that has some free dog treat recipes http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au/sampledogtreatrecipes.html
as well as ebooks - http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au
If you can think of somehow I can help please let me know.
Best of luck
Justin Bryce |
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