Happy 12th Birthday Oscar!

Today Oscar tuns 12 years old! Birthdays in my family are always a time to celebrate, and because Oscar is a very important member of our family, naturally we celebrate his birthday too! Some people have the opinion that celebrating your pooches birthday is a little on the OTT side. I ask why? When your furry love is your best friend, your soul mate and a part of the family. We have celebrated each one of Oscar’s 12 birthdays and they have always been tons of fun for him and for us. Oscar knows when it is his special day. Unwrapping presents is his best, and of course he always enjoys his birthday cake!

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Here are some ways you can celebrate your pups special day…

paw Bake a cake

There is nothing more rewarding for me than baking for Oscar. He loves all his special homemade treats and he knows the difference between a shop bought treat and my homemade treats. He has no problem turning his nose up at shop bought treats.

Here are 3 recipes that are easy to make and your pooch will love you forever:

Oscar’s birthday cake

Ingredients

2 cups water or fat free milk

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla essence

3 cups wholewheat flour or all purpose flour

1 tbs baking powder

1 large egg

Frosting

1 tub plain cream cheese

1 tub natural greek yoghurt

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together and mix for 5 minutes, making sure all ingredients are properly mixed (I used a cake mixer and mixed on a medium speed for 5 minutes). Grease your cake tin and pour the cake mixture into your cake tin. Place it into your oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until cooked. You know the cake is done when you insert a fork in the centre and it comes out clean. Let it cool on a cooling rack before frosting.

To make the frosting beat your cream cheese until it is light and fluffy. Add the greek yogurt one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Be careful not to make it too runny. Frost your pooches cake and decorate with homemade treats (recipe below).

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Pupcakes

Ingredients

2 mashed bananas

1/3 cup natural smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil or coconut oil

1/2 cup fat free milk

1tsp vanilla essence

1/3 cup honey

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup wholewheat flour or oat flour

1tsp baking soda

Frosting

Natural greek yoghurt

Natural smooth peanut butter

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together and mix for 5 minutes, making sure all ingredients are properly mixed (I used a cake mixer and mixed on a medium speed for 5 minutes). Line your cupcake tin with cupcake liners or you can use silicone cupcake moulds like I did. Place a spoonful of your pupcake mixture into the cupcake liners and bake them for 15 minutes or until cooked. You know the pupcakes are done when you insert a fork in the centre and it comes out clean. Let them cool on a cooling rack before frosting.

To make the frosting blend together 3 tablespoons of natural greek yoghurt and 1 1/2 tablespoons natural peanut butter. Frost the pupcakes and decorate with homemade treats (recipe below).

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Honey and oat dog treats

Ingredients

2 cups flour or more if you need

2 cups oats

1/2 cup fat free milk or coconut milk

1/3 cup honey

1 large egg

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Add all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. When you can no longer mix with the wooden spoon, tip the dough onto a floured surface and knead it. Roll out your dough and use cookie cutters to cut into biscuits for your furry love. Place them onto a greased baking tray and bake for 15 minutes, turning them over half way through baking time. The biscuits are done when they are golden brown. Leave them on a tray to cool. You can store these in an airtight container for on hand treats.

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paw Give them a present

In the same way we love to buy ourselves a new handbag or those designer shoes, your pets love getting new toys, beds and collars too. So spoil your pets on their special day, wrap it up and watch them have some fun opening their gifts! You can visit the Stylish Paws online store for stylish pet accessories (www.stylishpaws.co.za/shop2).

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paw Take them to the beach

I wish we lived at the beach! Oscar absolutely loves running free and rolling in the beach sand. A birthday beach day would definitely be his ideal way to spend his birthday. When we do go on beach holidays, it’s always that much more special because it doesn’t happen everyday.

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paw Host a party

Throw your pooch a birthday party and instead of guests bringing gifts for your furry love, they can bring food, bedding and toys for a local animal rescue shelter. You and your pooch can then take a trip and donate all the goodies. At Stylish Paws we support Woodrock Animal Rescue and Oscar just loves visiting!

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paw Make the day about them

Make sure your pup knows the day is all about him. Take the day off work and go for an extra long walk in the park, play tons of games together and have a picnic in the garden. Just be in each others company and enjoy the quality time.

If Oscar could have one wish I wonder what it would be? I know what mine would be….

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We hope you enjoy celebrating your pups birthday as much as we do!

Thank you for reading.

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Alternatives to Raw-Hide dog chews

We all know how disgusting and unhealthy raw-hide treats are for our pets. But no doubt at some point you have given them to your pets-I did!! Oscar would sit for hours gnawing on them or rush off to bury them in the garden for another days entertainment. I didn’t know exactly how dangerous they were until I did a little research, and I was horrified!

Here are some homemade, easy and healthy options for your furry loves to snack and chew on…

Homemade sweet potato chews:

These are the perfect veggie alternative to raw-hide and they are so easy to make.

Ingredients

paw 2 sweet potatoes (I used the orange variety)

Directions 

Pre-heat your oven to 120 degrees. Slice the sweet potatoes lengthways about 2cm thick. Place them on a baking tray and bake for 3 hours. Turn the slices over half way through baking time. Once done let them cool on a rack. You can refrigerate in an airtight container or freeze them so you always have a treat on hand.

If you have a food dehydrator, you simply slice the sweet potatoes. Place them on the dehydrator racks-don’t overlap the pieces. Turn it on and leave for 14-24 hours.

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Another great alternative for your furry love is homemade chicken or beef biltong sticks.

Chicken biltong:

Ingredients

paw 500g boneless and skinless chicken breast

paw 1/2 cup olive oil

paw Dog friendly seasoning (parsley, rosemary, sage)

Directions

Slice the chicken into strips about 3cm thick (slicing with the grain will make the biltong chewier)

Coat the strips in the olive oil and seasoning and place the strips on the food dehydrator trays, spacing them evenly and making sure they don’t touch.

Leave the chicken pieces for 24 hours. Check the pieces regularly to see how dry they are. Time will vary depending on the type of dehydrator you have. The biltong is done when the chicken strips are completely dried out. You can store the biltong strips in an airtight container and freeze them.

If you do not have a food dehydrator, you can try this beef biltong recipe using your oven.

Beef Biltong:

Ingredients

paw 500g very lean beef

paw Dog friendly herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme)

paw String

paw Cooling rack

Directions

Slice the beef (with the grain), about 3-4cm thick and about 10cm long. Season the meat strips with the dog friendly herbs you have chosen. Using a piece of string, tie 3 strips together at one end and then tightly plait the strips and tie the bottom ends together. Do this for all the strips. Use the convection setting on your oven and pre-heat to 60 degrees. If your oven is not a convection oven then pre-heat to 70 degrees and leave the door open a little. Place the twisted meat onto the wire rack and bake for 4-5 hours. Then turn your oven to its lowest temperature and bake for another 3-5 hours. Check on the treats regularly. The treats are done when they have shrunk to about half their original size and are dark in colour and hard. Untie the string and let your furry love enjoy his treat. Store them in an airtight container and freeze for convenience.

Apple chip chews:

Ingredients 

paw Apples (as many as you want)

paw Lemon juice (optional)

paw Cinnamon (optional)

Directions

Begin by removing the core from your apples. Slice them about 2cm thick so they look like donuts. Place the slices in a bowl and squirt with lemon juice and sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish. Mix well. Place the apple slices on the food dehydrator trays. Make sure they do not touch. Leave them for 10-14 hours. Check the treats regularly and remove the ones that are done. Give them a gentle squeeze to check the moisture content. For a softer chew, most moisture must evaporate but leave a little. For a crunchier chip leave them until they are dry and brittle. Store them in an air tight container and you can freeze these too. PS these are great human snacks too 😉

apple chips

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Oscar loves these raw-hide alternatives and I feel comfortable knowing that I have made an effort to give him the healthiest chew option available!

Thank you for reading.

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Toxic and non-toxic plants

Flowers are blooming and everyone is happy, summer is finally on it’s way! We all love to fill our homes with gorgeous flowers and have gardens that are filled with colourful blossoms. But do you know which flowers and plants are harmful to your pets? Upon doing my research I was shocked and surprised at how many beautiful flowers and plants are harmful to Oscar! The next time I visit our nursery, purchase a bunch of flowers for myself or send some as a gift I will be sure to only purchase items off the pet friendly list.

Here is a list of some popular toxic and non-toxic plants for your furry loves, both dogs and cats…

toxic plants

A few popular toxic plants:

Aloe Vera

Elephants Ear

Hyacinth

Autumn Crocus

Lily of the valley

English Ivy

Azalea

Chrysanthemum

Lillies

Oleander

Sago Palm

Hydrangea

Jasmine

Tulip

Daffodils

Poinsettia

Baby’s breath

non toxic plants

If your furry love enjoys tasting your flower arrangements then choose to fill your home and garden with these safe options…

A few popular non-toxic plants:

Burro’s tail

Boston fern

Spider plant (airplane plant)

Bamboo

Golden Palm

Pony tail palm

African Violet

Miniature rose

Begonia

Rose

Orchid

African Daisy

Oscar is forever wondering around and enjoying his garden, so it is important that I know what plants he is sniffing 🙂

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We hope this information has been helpful.

Thank you for reading.

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Get fit with your dog!

Spring Day is around the corner! A day where we notice the blossoms starting to bloom and the sun feels slightly warmer. Everyones mood suddenly changes too… Summer is on it’s way! Lets face it, exercising during the cold winter months is hard work and most of us would rather curl up under a blanket and snuggle with our furry loves.

With warmer days, we are more inclined to put on our running shoes and get fit- So why not do it with your best friend! Here are some ideas on how to get outdoors and get fit with your furry loves…

paw Take a jog – everyone loves a running partner and your furry love is perfect for the job. Ease into it and take care not to over do it for yourself or your pooch. No one went from couch potato to marathon runner over night! If you are not a keen runner, a brisk walk is just as good. If you live near a beach, even better. Taking your pooch for a walk will not only increase your mood, it will increase your pups mood too and he will be less likely to behave badly.

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paw Join an agility training group – agility training is a great cardio workout for both you and your pup. It also increases your dogs coordination. You can train for competitions too, who knows you might just win that first prize!

paw Doga – It might sound strange, but the benefits of yoga are just as good for your furry love as they are for you. Teach your hound a few poses like ‘downward dog’, ‘upward dog’ and ‘double leg stretch’. This quiet time with your dog is great owner-pet bonding time.

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paw Take a swim – Swimming is a fun way to get fit, and swimming with your furry love is even better! Run, jump and dive with your pooch. Play fun water games like fetch and see who is the best doggy paddler. Swimming is especially beneficial for dogs suffering with arthritis. Taking a slow calm swim is just as beneficial for them.

paw Play some frisbee – Dogs love to play fetch and frisbee offers a fantastic workout at the same time. A quick game of frisbee in your garden after work will do wonders for your pooch and yourself. Get the kids to join in too. It’s a fun activity for the entire family.

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paw Kick a ball – Which dog doesn’t love running after a ball? So playing a game of soccer is an obvious choice. It is another game the entire family can enjoy too. Please take care not to kick the ball too hard or directly at your dogs face and body!

paw Take a hike – If you have an athletic pooch, a hike is the perfect way to spend your Saturday or Sunday mornings. Dogs love to go out and find new smells and meet new animals while spending quality time with their owners. Be sure to protect yourself and your pooch against ticks and fleas and remember to pack plenty of water to drink.

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paw The dog park – while this isn’t necessarily the best work out for you, your pooch LOVES a bit of off the leash madness! Provided your dog is well socialised, having a crazy run around with friends at the park is an awesome way for them to burn off that extra energy.

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Please be careful not to over do it with your pets. You know your dog, so look for signs of fatigue. Be careful not to exercise during the heat of the day. Early mornings or late afternoons are best. Always remember to offer your dog plenty of water during and after exercising. Just like us dogs can dehydrate and get heat exhaustion. Consider the age of your furry love too. Puppies shouldn’t be over exercised and older dogs will be slower in their activities. A visit to the vet is always recommended before you start an exercise program with your pets.

Most importantly, enjoy getting fit with your best pal!

Please share your comments and photos of you and your furry loves getting fit together 🙂

Thank you for reading

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Pup-Sitting…

Well this is most definitely a first for our family! We are puppy sitting a super cute 12 week old Jack Russell puppy for two weeks. Oscar has been an only child for his entire 11 years of being with us. He only knows the house with himself getting all the love, affection and attention so this is a very new experience for him to deal with. I was unsure at how he would cope with sharing his most prized possessions – his toys, his bed, his couch, his space and most importantly his family. I was unsure at how meal times would go too. All I can say is that I am immensely proud at how well Oscar adjusted to having the temporary presence of Cali. He has played with her for hours, he even allows her to sneak onto the edge of his bed for a cuddle, he allows her to share his water bowl and steal a kibble or two at meal times. Of course he gives her a stern word when he has had enough of play time and needs a power nap to regain his strength to carry on with another marathon play session. However, despite all the cuteness and fun Oscar and Cali have had together, it has not been quite so easy for the humans of the house. Opening your house to a puppy when you have not had one for quite some time, can be challenging! She has had accidents in the house, wakes us up three times a night to go outside and constantly steals whatever she can find lying around.

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So before you agree to puppy sit, here are a few tips on how to make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved.

paw Make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Suggest a sleep over a few weeks before.

paw Make sure your own dog and the visiting pup have their own space where they can escape each other and have a little time out.

paw You may want to get a baby gate to keep the puppy in a secluded area to play, or even use a play pen. This way your house remains in one piece and you have peace of mind knowing the puppy is safe and not getting up to mischief!

paw Make sure the puppy is fully vaccinated as well as tick and flea free. You don’t want her infecting your house or your pets.

paw If like us you have not had a puppy in your home for a while, you may want to puppy proof your home prior to her arrival.

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paw Keep all cupboards closed and locked if possible. You can use rubber bands over the handles to secure them too.

paw Keep the pantry door closed at all times too. There are loads of potential hazardous items for a puppy- Yes Cali loves visiting ours and sniffing things out!

paw Keep your toilet seats down. A puppy can easily drown if she jumps up and falls in.

paw Don’t leave any cables, chargers, plugs or tv remotes lying around. I’m sure you won’t feel like rushing out to buy a new cell phone charger!

paw Don’t leave shoes, socks or clothes lying around the floor. They will either get ripped apart or become a comfy spot to take a nap.

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paw Make sure all cleaning products, garden poisons and tools are locked away. You definitely don’t want to rush a puppy that is not yours to the vet!

paw Most importantly enjoy having the puppy in your home. Oscar has loved having someone to play with, but he will be very happy when he doesn’t have to share his home or his family with anyone 🙂

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Have you ever puppy sat for an extended period? How was the experience for you? Please share your stories by writing in the comments box below.

Thank you for reading.

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Master the art of a doggy massage!

We all love a full body massage! There is nothing better than lying on that massage bed while the therapist gets rid of all your stresses and knots. You feel amazing after a full body massage right? Massages stimulate blood flow, soothes sore muscles and it calms and relaxes you. So why not let your furry love enjoy these benefits too…

While snuggled on the couch or while lying in front of the fire, give your pooch a massage he will want every night of the week!

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Here are some tips on how to give your dog the perfect full body massage.

paw Set up your massage area, either on the floor, on the couch or on the bed. As long as you are both comfy. A blanket will make the spot extra snug and comfortable for your dog.

paw Get your dog to lie down, preferably on his belly to begin with. Start at the top of his head making circular motions with your finger tips massage down to his neck. Remember to be gentle with your dog, you want him to enjoy this experience.

paw Dogs LOVE their necks being tickled and scratched so take your time and really massage his neck.

paw Massage slowly all the way down his back to the base of the tail. Don’t rush through the massage. This is a time for you and your furry love to enjoy each others presence. It also gives you the opportunity to feel for irregularities such as lumps, bumps, scratches or bruises that may have developed.

paw You can carefully turn your pet over onto his back so you can massage his neck, chest and tummy area. Again, be gentle and don’t press too hard on his neck or tummy. If your pooch has loads of excess neck skin like Oscar does then this part of the massage will be a winner.

paw If your dog flinches or yelps, you have most likely hit a sore spot so be gentle.

paw Massage his legs all the way to his toes. Keep an eye out for any debris that may have wedged in-between his toes like grass shards, thorns or seeds.

Enjoy this quality time with your furry love. Tickle him, kiss him and love him.

Oscar lives for his weekly massages. We hope these tips help you give the best doggy massage!

Oscar after his massage…

after massage Oscar

Have you given your dog a massage? Please share your tips with us by leaving a comment in the comments box below.

Thank you for reading.

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Homemade cat treats

Here at Stylish Paws Wednesdays are known as Kitty Wednesday! It’s one day of the week that we dedicate to our feline friends. So to honour our beloved cats, I thought I would share a cat treat recipe that is so quick and easy and your cats are sure to love!

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Oscar doesn’t care that these are cat treats-he wants some too!

Ingredients

paw 1 tin of tuna in oil

paw 3 cups of flour (add water if your mixture is too dry)

paw An egg or two (depending on how big they are)

paw 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

paw Cookie cutters

Directions

Add all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Roll the dough onto a floured surface and using your cookie cutter, cut into little bite sized treats. If you don’t have a small cookie cutter you can roll into bite sized balls.

Place them onto a greased baking tray and bake at 150 degrees celsius for 10 to 20 minutes. After the first 10 minutes keep checking on the treats regularly. You know when they are done when they are golden brown in colour. Leave them to cool on a cooling rack for a few hours or over night to air dry. Store the treats in an air tight container.

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Oscar knows he is not a cat but that doesn’t stop him from enjoying these delicious treats! We hope your cats loves them too. If you have your own cat treat recipe please share with us in the comments box below.

Thank you for reading.

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Plan B dog treats

We have all been there… you have just taken your pooch for a walk and he deserves a treat or two, you open his treat container and it’s empty! You can’t tell that gorgeous face looking up at you with big eyes and a wagging tail “sorry we have run out of dog treats, you will have to wait until tomorrow.”

Don’t worry! Here are 8 healthy and tasty back up treats your pooch will adore:

paw Strawberries- contains healthy omega 3’s and vitamin C, which makes them a perfect doggy treat.

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paw Apple slices- loaded with fibre and vitamin C, dogs love these healthy treats. Please remember to remove the stem, core and seeds first.

paw Banana slices- packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to keep your pets healthy.

paw Carrot slices- they naturally clean your pup’s teeth and promote healthy gums. You can also dip the carrot stick in some natural peanut butter for a super delicious treat.

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paw Watermelon- this is on Oscar’s favourite treat list! I love it too. And because it is 90% water I know it will keep my boy hydrated. Just remember to remove the seeds or buy a seedless one.

paw Green beans- frozen green beans are a real treat for your pooch. They contain fibre, vitamin K, vitamin C and manganese to keep your pet healthy.

paw Pineapple chunks- this is the perfect after dinner treat due to its digestive enzymes.

paw Peas- Oscar loves to snack on frozen peas. You can put them into a treat ball and let your pooch have some fun or throw a handful on the floor and let him ‘hoover’ them up.

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We hope these back up treat ideas come in handy for the next time you run out of dog treats.

Please remember to feed treats in moderation.

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Thank you for reading.

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6 ways to beat winter boredom

During the cold winter months we all just want to snuggle up and be indoors, including our pets. The thought of going to the park on a cold winters day does not appeal to Oscar at all! He loves to cosy up and snuggle with me, but he does get bored too.

Here are 6 fun things that Oscar loves to do indoors. Not only will these activities brighten your pooch’s mood, they also create some fun bonding time.

 

  1. ‘Find It’ – Oscar’s favourite game:

Things you will need:paw

 6-8 empty yoghurt containers (the size will depend on the size of your furry love)

paw Lots of treats

How to play:

Turn each yoghurt container upside down. Only put a treat under two or three of the containers. Then shuffle the containers and tell you pooch to “find it”. (Oscar prefers the container to be upright so he can put his nose right in and get the treat.) Oscar can play this game for ages… We have to run out of treats before he stops.

 


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  1. Indoor Obstacle Course:

 

Things you will need:

paw Pillows

paw Chairs

paw Coffee table

paw Boxes

How to play:

Have some fun with your pets! Build an indoor obstacle course using pillows stacked up, coffee tables to crawl under, chairs to jump over, boxes to sit on and whatever else you can find around your house to make the obstacle course fun. This is one way to get the blood flowing and you’re having fun with your best friend. Don’t forget to reward them for correctly completing a task!

 

  1. Hide and Seek:

 

Things you will need:

paw Places to hide

How to play:

Tell your pooch to ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ while you run and hide. You then call for your pooch to come and find you. One or more people can hide and as he finds them, you can reward him with treats.

 

  1. Obedience Training:

 

Why not take the opportunity and brush up on some obedience training. Teach your pooch to sit, lie down or roll over. Of course there are more advanced tricks for you to teach your pooch like how to hold a treat on his nose until you tell him he can eat it, fetch his favourite toy or to lie down and cover his eyes. Just remember to be patient with your pets and to reward for effort.

 

  1. Fill a Kong Toy:

 

You have all heard of the Kong toy right? Well an awesome way to keep your pets entertained for hours is to fill them with all sorts of yummy things. Here are a few ideas your pets will love:

paw Mash up some banana, plain yoghurt and honey. Place inside the Kong toy then freeze for a few hours.

paw Combine pumpkin, plain yoghurt and some cooked rice. Mix well and squish into the Kong toy. Freeze for a few hours.

paw Make some good old macaroni and cheese and fill the Kong toy.

paw Combine sugar-free applesauce with some fruit chunks; fill the Kong toy and freeze.

paw Mix mashed potato with some dog biscuits and stuff the Kong toy.

paw Combine a banana, plain peanut butter (that does NOT contain xylitol) and some cheese. Mix well and fill the Kong toy and freeze.

 

 

  1. Treat Ball Time:

 

Oscar loves his treat ball. Not only does it squeak, but it also dispenses treats- much to his amazement! I pop a few bite sized treats in and let him roll away. Yoghurt drops work really well.

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We hope you and your pets enjoy the fun indoor activities that Oscar and I love.

 

Thank you for reading

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