Sleepy Sunday 3-30-14: Pupcake Brunch

After all the crazy back and forth weather this month the forecast is looking like Spring might actually be settling in. This morning was still chilly and I was actually glad because Ares and Chaos were able to test drive their brand new coats. It rained all day long yesterday and we were not able to take our usual 3 mile walk so I took them out this morning. Although the air was still cold, it was sunny with very little wind so we had a really nice walk and the boys got to show off their new duds. 

While shopping with my mom yesterday I just couldn't resist popping into the dog boutique Moochie & Co. There was a clearance sale going on for 50% off all the winter coats. I found a purple one in Chaos's size and a turquoise one in Ares's size. 

I was a little concerned because it tends to be difficult finding coats that are the correct length but also fit in the chest. Luckily these Worthy Dog coats come with an extender piece to add to the neck if necessary. I guessed on the sizes after verifying that I could return them if they didn't fit, but I apparently I know my dogs pretty well. The size 16 fit Ares and the size 20 fit Chaos perfectly, both using the extender pieces on the chest piece.

These coats are fleece lined and waterproof and I think it's so funny and cute that it looks like they have popped collars. The velcro closures at the neck and around the belly  make it quick and easy to put them on and take them off. And the store also had Easter dog cookies that look like Peeps. Of course I got some.

After our walk it was time for brunch. I made a bacon, egg and cheese bake and cherry cream cheese coffee cake for Chris and I. Those are both no nos for the dogs but they got their very own special treats: Pupcakes. 

There are several recipes out there for dog cupcakes and dog pancakes, both known as pupcakes. In this case they were dog pancakes that I made with just 4 ingredients and 2  toppings. Chaos gobbled his up in seconds while Ares took his time licking both sides of each pupcake before slowly eating them. 

We spent the evening watching college basketball. The NCAA tournament is always exciting. There are upsets and games that come down to the wire and wins that no one ever saw coming. Chris is a huge Michigan fan. I'm a Kentucky fan. Our teams would never normally play each other so we also usually root for each other's teams. But today they met in the Elite 8 round of the tournament. 

Our house was divided with Ares and I in Kentucky gear and Chris and Chaos in Michigan gear. The game stayed close, especially throughout the second half, but Kentucky put the nail in the coffin with a  3 point shot at the very end of the game and came out with the win. Chris and Chaos were a little down, but as secondary Kentucky fans, they are now ready to cheer the cats on in the Final Four. 

As always, the boys spent the rest of their sleepy Sunday lounging around the house. 

Sleepy Sunday Pupcakes

Ingredients:

Pupcakes

1 cup of flour

2 cups of water

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 can of pumpkin

Toppings

Honey

Nonfat plain yogurt

Directions:

Combine pupcake ingredients in a bowl. The mixture will be fairly thick. Spoon mixture into skillet to make desired size pupcake and cook until slightly browned then flip over. Serve with drizzled honey and yogurt. 

How was your Sunday?

Nobody's Pawfect: On Making Mistakes

Stay off the furniture unless you are invited, I lead you follow, no whining, wait until you’re told to eat, stay out of the kitchen. These are some of the rules we have in my house to keep the dogs in line. But those who have been around since the beginning know that this hasn’t always been the case.

I’m not perfect and my dogs aren’t perfect. We’ve made plenty of mistakes so far, and I’m sure we’ll make some more, but it’s all part of the learning process. I didn’t grow up with dogs and having a dog is a big responsibility, period. When you add in another dog or maybe even more, and factors like keeping them indoors, having young, high energy pups, and training, it’s an even bigger responsibility.

Ares is my first dog and I did not get him until I was 25. I had just bought my condo and I was ready to take on a dog. I knew that he would be dependent on me for everything and that having him would change a lot of things about my life. But I was not prepared for all the mistakes I would make.

Chaos came into my life just 4 months later and that’s when things really started to get crazy. There were 2 little puppies running around and I was responsible for everything about their lives. It was a little overwhelming but I was thrilled at the prospect of raising them and watching them grow.

When you have a dog, especially a puppy, you don’t have time for life to be all about you. You can’t come and go as you please. You can’t take a road trip on a whim. And you can’t just meet a friend for happy hour right after work. Your mindset has to change to accommodate the furry little lives you are now in charge of fostering. And it’s kind of a big deal.

I was adjusting to my new situation just fine, mostly because I was so in love with my furry boys. I wanted to be the very best mommy I could be and give them everything they ever wanted. And that’s how I started making mistakes.

Ares was a very tiny puppy. And adorable, of course. He learned very early on how to manipulate me. If I was eating I would put him in his little playpen on the floor. But he did not like that so he would stand with his little paws up on the side and look at me through the holes with his sad bug eyes and make noises that sometimes could be mistaken for a crying baby. I couldn’t stand it so I’d let him out. And that wasn’t good enough for him so he’d attempt jump on the couch. He was too little at first so he would come up and lay his head against my leg or put his paw on me and cry. I gave into this too and would pick him up and put him on the couch. Not only did he then just assume the couch, or any other furniture, were his territory and could jump up anytime he pleased when he was big enough, this also taught him that his manipulation techniques worked. So he continued to use them.

I had read about introducing the leash to a puppy by attaching it to the collar and then giving them treats and letting them run around the house with it on. This would help them to get used to the feeling of having it on. I did this with Chaos but he instantly hated it. He didn’t like it flopping around and trailing behind him when he walked or touching his legs or back. He would just lay down and refuse to move when it was on him. I didn’t want him to be so uncomfortable so I’d take it off. Well that led to problems trying to teach him to walk on leash outside. He was so focused with having it on him he would pull ahead and weave back and forth like he was trying to get away from it. An adult Pit Bull can pull 30x it’s body weight if it wants to. So even as a puppy Chaos was very strong and you can imagine how ridiculous I looked trying to keep up behind him with Ares prancing along as well.

The boys also use to be fed in the kitchen. It seemed like the most logical place for feeding time so I’d fill up their bowls and before the bottom of the bowls would even hit the floor they’d have their heads buried in them. If you feed the dog in the kitchen, obviously this means he is allowed to be in the kitchen, and he’ll want to be in the kitchen because he associates that spot with food. Especially if you have a small kitchen or a kitchen that is difficult to maneuver around, it’s all that more difficult to accomplish anything with 2 dogs underfoot. Not to mention dangerous if the stove is on or you open the hot oven, or maybe even if you’re just chopping onions. I’ve burnt myself, cut myself and had both dogs burn themselves because all of us were in the kitchen.

Maybe you don’t care if your dogs are on the furniture at will. Or cry and make sad faces every time they want something. Or walk you. Or hang out in the kitchen. It’s not wrong if it’s what you’re comfortable with. But for me, these are just a few of the many mistakes I’ve made as a dog owner. Chris has been a big help in teaching me better ways to handle the dogs when they do something I don’t want them to do. I’ve do a lot more research, talked to trainers and just did some trial and error to figure out how to correct the mistakes I’ve already made and try to prevent new ones. But this is impossible because I’m human and I’m going to make mistakes. We all make mistakes. And that’s okay.

I can assure you if you get discouraged, stressed out or just overwhelmed and feel like all you are doing is making mistakes, you are not alone. We’ve all been there. Our lives are always a work in progress and we just have to do our best. Your best one day may not be as good as your best the next. There are good days and bad days and you could have a week full of mistakes followed by a week full of successes. The best thing about dogs is that they forgive your mistakes every time.

 What mistakes have you made?

Get in My Belly: On Table Food

Have you ever been eating at someone’s house and the dog comes up to you and starts staring you down, watching as each piece of food goes into your mouth? Or maybe your own dog just looks at you with those big sad eyes begging for just a little scrap. A lot of people will fall with these tricks and then doggie gets exactly what he wants: table food. And table food is bad.

 

Most people who feed their dog from the table, or even from their plate, have good intentions. They do it out of love because of course this makes the dog very happy. But feeding your dog from the table can have side effects that will make her very unhappy later on.

Recent statistics show that out of the estimated 77.5 million dogs in the US, 35 million are overweight and 6.7 million are considered clinically obese. That means 45% of our dogs are overweight and 8% are obese! A pudgy pup is funny to look at but there is nothing funny about the health issues that extra weight can lead to. Just like humans, a dog’s body suffers when he is overweight. One of the most common health problems to develop in overweight and obese dogs in diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that has to be closely monitored and managed and becomes a much bigger responsibility for the owner as the dog cannot treat himself. Extra pounds and obesity also put stress on the dog’s bones, joints and ligaments which is a problem in and of itself, but can also lead to more serious conditions like arthritis. Additionally, an overweight dog is prone to digestive issues, decreased liver function, heart disease, increased blood pressure, lowered immune system function and skin problems.

Do you want to be the one causing these problems for your beloved pet? The first step is to talk with  your veterinarian to determine that best type of dog food for your furball and the proper amount to feed her each day. And stop feeding her mashed potatoes with gravy and cheeseburgers. There are actually several types of human foods that are not only safe for dogs to eat, but are also healthy. If  you google “pupcakes” “pupsicles” or “homemade dog treats” you will find several ways to concoct something yummy for her furbaby that won’t pack on the pounds. I made Ares is a doggie carrot cake for his first birthday last year with yogurt icing and Chaos loved it. Do you like to make pancake breakfasts and think it would fun to include your pup? Stay tuned for a special post on Sunday!

Health problems that can develop in overweight dogs who are table fed is of course a big concern. But an even bigger one is that has more immediate and devastating effects and that is table foods that are toxic to dogs. I mentioned in yesterday’s post how deadly raisins are to dogs but there are many other food humans eat on a daily basis that can lead to severe complications in a dog. If you feed your dog from the table there is the chance that you may give him one of these poisonous foods without realizing it is harmful. Or maybe it accidently got mixed it with something and you didn’t know until it was too late. A dog that is table fed regularly is also more inclined to believe she always have whatever you or anyone else is having. It would be horrifying if you were sitting there with a bowl of M&Ms and your furry princess decided to help herself because she’s used to you sharing whatever is in front of you. While there are many human food that are healthy for dogs or at least aren’t deadly, there are many that dog owners should be educated on. Raisins and chocolate are on the list as well as avocados and bread dough. Click here for a quick look or here for more in depth information.

 

Behavioral issues are also a less frightening side effect of table feeding the dog. Consistently feeding her from your plate or tossing food under the table will teach her to ask for it. When she begs, she gets food. It’s that simple. Maybe you don’t personally mind, but maybe guests you over do. Or maybe you are among the few that don’t mind the begging nor is it an annoyance to your house guests, but it’s not the only behavioral issue. Feeding your pup from the table does not set boundaries or limitations. As humans, and I am also quite guilty of this, we tend to treat our dogs also like humans. We assume they have the same needs as we and what’s best for us is what is best for them. Although our dogs may be very much family members, they are dogs and they do need to be treated as such. A dog will be very happy and healthy physically and mentally when she is given a proper diet and taught to respect you as the pack leader and take your direction.

Our dogs want to make us happy just as much as we want to make them happy. Just because you don’t share the pot roast on your dinner plate with her doesn’t mean you can’t give her treats. Practicing commands and learning new tricks is mentally stimulating for a dog. It also helps keep your relationship strong while also having the added bonus of being able to reward him for demonstrating his skills. Making your dog work to earn treats is healthy. If you are teaching  new command and are using more treats, don’t forget to cut back on her regular feeding amount. There are tons of dog treats options out there and you have to find what your dog likes. Make sure you are aware of any food allergies he might have or anything that may upset his stomach if your has s sensitive tummy like Chaos. We read labels and don’t buy anything with high amounts of wheat. Blue Buffalo has several types of treats both boys love as well as Milo’s Kitchen. A few extra small treats here or there without decreasing their regular food is fine. Just don’t overdo it. Unless it’s his birthday. Then let her eat the cake if she wants to. Hey, it’s once a year.

The quickest way to a dog’s heart may be through his belly but if want to keep that heart healthy, remember what you’re really doing when you feed him from the table. You want to keep your best friend around as long as possible, don't you?