Happy "Howl"oween & Other Holidays

Here in this country we seem to have a holiday almost every month.

If your dog likes to join in the fun here are some easy to make and inexpensive ideas for costumes and dog treats.

You can make costumes for each holiday out of odds and ends that are lying around your house.

Most of these ideas are taken from 101 Ways to Spoil Your Dog.

Santa Hat: Red cloth wrapped around an old knit cap with some cotton pasted around the brim and on top works just fine.

Angel: Cardboard, a wire coat hanger, string, plastic food wrap and a silver colored pipe cleaner make great wings.

Ballerina: A couple of feet of tulle will make a cute skirt. (if you don't have any on hand you can find some at a craft or sewing store).

Dracula: Use some black cloth to fashion a cape.

Baseball Player: Strap a baseball cap to your dog's head and dress him in an old T shirt.

Beach Bum: Use an old sun hat and a pair of sunglasses

Rooster: A red glove with the fingers up will make a cute rooster

By using your imagination and supplies on hand you can make costumes for almost every holiday. And don't forget your camera.

To add to your fuzzy faced friend's fun, here are two easy to make treats from 180 Delcious Gourmet Recipes by Kevin J Cook

Steak Snaps

Serves: 2 dozen Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 3 T whole wheat flour
• 3 T wheat germ
• 3 T nonfat dry milk powder
• 3 beef bouillon cubes
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce

Preparation and cooking:

Beat eggs in large mixing bowl while dissolving bouillon cubes in 6 T of hot water. Add flour, wheat germ, dry milk, bouillon and Worcestershire sauce to eggs and mix until a stiff dough forms. Roll out dough to 1/2" thickness on lightly floured surface and use cookie cutters or knife to make doggie themed shapes. Arrange on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, then turn over and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool overnight.

Baby Biscuits

Serves: 2 doz Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup dry milk powder
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 Cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 T garlic
• 2 T Molasses
• 1/2 Cup water
• 6 T beef broth
• 1 jar baby food meat puree

Preparation & Cooking:

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and roll out to 1/4" thickness on lightly floured surface. Use a pizza cutter to cut small rectangles from dough and arrange on cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cool overnight.

Dog Boots, Coats, and Sweater for Winter: Luxury or Necessity?

According to the ASPCA: “Ice melt products may contain ingredients that can be very irritating to the skin and gastrointestinal tract, and could also potentially result in more severe effects including depression, weakness, disorientation, low blood pressure, cardiac problems, seizures, coma and death depending on the type of ice melt and circumstances of exposure”.

Dog boots, sweaters and coats can help keep these products from coming into contact with paws and stomach. Boots, sweaters and coats can also protect your dog from the sleet, snow or ice and minimize the potential for skin irritation. In addition to keeping your dog’s feet warmer the boots can help prevent painful ice balls from forming on the feet.

Puppies and short haired breeds will also benefit from warm apparel because they are especially susceptible to the cold.

To ensure a proper fit when purchasing sweaters and coats measure from the base of the tail to the base of the neck.

Do not allow your dog to chew on boots, sweaters, and coats during or after using.

Marge Holdorf
http://theactivedog.com/
http://theactivedog.blogspot.com/