Tag: rottweiler


Feb
2021

Valentine’s Day

categories: Holiday fun, Recipes

Valentine’s Day. It’s a day you either love or hate. Some love to celebrate it and some don’t and that’s ok, thank goodness we’re all different. You can guess that I love to celebrate it!

dogs and babies sharing cupcakes

Many argue that your love for someone shouldn’t have to be shown on one particular day of the year and while I agree with that, there is something different about sharing a meal, a coffee or a slab of chocolate with someone you love on 14 February. That someone doesn’t have to be a romantic love partner either. It can be your child, your furry loves, your best friend or a family member you treasure. There are so many people I wish I could share a slab of chocolate with on Valentine’s Day this year but as we all know, some things cannot happen right now. 

valentines baking

With that being said, our little family will celebrate together. We will drink pink milkshakes, share cupcakes and eat spaghetti & meatballs lady and the tramp style 😉 

This years valentines treats are not necessarily dog specific but if there is one thing that 2020 taught me, it’s that life is way to short to not eat cake. So this valentine’s day Zara will eat cupcakes and Gia will help make them… 

baking valentines cupcakes
toddler baking valentines day treats
baking with toddlers

Yes these cupcakes came out of a box, and who actually cares right. We still had to add the eggs, butter and milk hahaha! This is a local Zambian brand which I’m happy to report did not disappoint. They turned out perfectly, Gia devoured them while Zara I don’t think really tasted them as she swallowed the entire thing whole, paper and all-typical Zara! So thank you Meraki cakes for our yummy valentines cupcakes. 

meraki cakes
baking valentines day dog treats
dogs licking bowls
Valentine's Day cupcakes

We hope you enjoy your valentine’s day however you decide to celebrate it, remember to hug your loved ones extra tight and give your furry loves an extra kiss at bedtime 😉

Thank you for reading

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Jan
2021

Activated Charcoal Dog Treats – An Update

categories: Recipes

Activated Charcoal still seems to be everywhere I look, and that is not a bad thing at all. It made me think back to the last time I wrote about Activated Charcoal and whether or not it actually worked…

When I first wrote about activated charcoal and created the recipe for it, I had only done a little research about the benefits but I wanted to test it out for myself.

activated charcoal treats

Here’s the thing, my Activated Charcoal treat recipe does work! In fact it worked wonders for Zara’s digestive system. She had noticeably less gas and I feel she digested her food better. 

Her teeth have stayed clean since her doggy dental she had back in September last year and her breath had a neutral smell. 

During the holiday season, Zara didn’t have her special activated charcoal treats and as we all do, she indulged a little too much in all the good things in life. Her gas levels were at an all time high, she wasn’t digesting her food very well which resulted in lots of farting, burping and some vomiting too. And her breath just smelt different. 

activated charcoal dog treats

It then dawned on me what the difference was a few months ago so I got to work in the kitchen and baked her a huge batch of activated charcoal dog treats again! Recipe below:

Activated charcoal dog biscuits

I doubled this recipe so that I have enough to last a while. I pop the baked treats into ZipLock bags and put them in the freezer. I take 3 out every night for Zara, they defrost within 30mins 😉

Ingredients

2 cups flour of your choice (rice, oat, wholewheat etc)

1 egg

1/2 cup milk of your choice (cows or coconut)

2 tbs coconut oil

1 banana mashed

1/4 cup activated charcoal

Directions

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl until a nice dough forms. If it is too sticky then add some extra flour. Once you have your dough, roll it out onto a floured surface and using cookie cutters of your choice cut out your doggy treats. Place them onto greased baking trays and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before letting your pooch enjoy. 

homemade charcoal dog treats

I really hope these treats help your pooch as much as they help Zara. Tag us in your baking posts 🙂 @stylish_paws

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Oct
2020

Petsville Product Review

categories: Product Reviews

When Petsville asked us to be official brand ambassadors we of course said YES! They’re a brand new up and coming stylish brand with their heart in the right place, so who wouldn’t want to be a proud ambassador for them. 

Petsville high raise dog bowl

Petsville is a unique brand with an eye for style. All their products are proudly South African and handmade to perfection. Petsville is a family brand, which of course really captured me.

We received the high Skye Bowl size large, and wow. Just wow. It is honestly made beautifully! 

I have seen quite a few fellow big doggo’s with raised bowls and wondered if it really made a difference… I now know the importance of having a high bowl for a big pup like Zara! 

Petsville big dog bowl

Zara has been using her Skye Bowl for a few weeks now for both eating her meals and drinking water from. Zara is a fast eater and usually uses a slow feed bowl at meal times, however this raised bowl seems to work just as well. She seems to take in less air while eating and drinking. I have no clue about the science behind this or if there is any but I do feel it has eased the tension in her front joints and neck because she no longer has to get so low to tuck in. 

It seems Gia loves Zara’s new high raised bowl too, especially when it’s filled with water. She’s obsessed with splashing her hands in it, throwing her water bottle in and even taking an aircon remote for a swim! Zara of course loves watching all these shenanigans because for once she isn’t in the centre of the chaos-haha. Both Zara and Gia are two water obsessed babies so the two of them can play like this for ages. I of course absolutely love watching the chaos and their bond grows stronger through play like this too.

dogs and babies
dogs and babies
petsville dog bowl

Each one of Petville’s unique products fits perfectly into any home style and I have a feeling this won’t be the only product we have in our home 😉 They have a beautiful selection of dog and cat items. Each one designed and thought out with comfort and style in mind. 

I did however notice that other proud ambassadors have products named after them, so I challenge Petsville to create something extra sassy named after ZARA!! 

Petsville

Overall Petsville is a brand you want in your home. Simple yet very pleasing on the eye. There was a gap in the market for products like these in South Africa and I am so happy it has now been filled.

Thank you Petsville for choosing us.

If you would like to view their product range, visit their website here

And don’t forget to follow them on Facebook | Instagram

Thank you for reading

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Sep
2020

Activated Charcoal Dog Treats

categories: Recipes, Zara

Activated charcoal seems to be everywhere and in everything at the moment so I wanted to do a little more research into how it can benefit Zara in the form of activated charcoal dog treats.

homemade activated charcoal dog treats

Zara had a full doggy dental done last week, not because her teeth were in terrible condition -Dr Sally actually said they look great but a doggy dental session will make them look fabulous and who doesn’t want fabulous teeth!

I wanted to know how activated charcoal could help Zara stay healthy from the inside which means a healthy digestive system, no doggy breath and of course beautiful healthy white teeth and this is what I found…

homemade dog treats

The main use for activated charcoal has always been to treat poisonings, however vets all over the world have experimented more and more with this supplement and it turns out it can be a healthy supplement to add to your pets diet. Activated charcoal cleanses the body and gets rid of toxins. The build up of toxins often results in our furry loves releasing gas and having bad breath. Zara doesn’t have doggy breath at all but there is room for improvement on the gas releasing side- haha, so I am curious to see if these activated charcoal treats make any kind of difference. 

Activated charcoal dog biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups flour of your choice (rice, oat, wholewheat etc)

1 egg

1/2 cup milk of your choice (cows or coconut)

2 tbs coconut oil

1 banana mashed

1/4 cup activated charcoal

Directions

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl until a nice dough forms. If it is too sticky then add some extra flour. Once you have your dough, roll it out onto a floured surface and using cookie cutters of your choice cut out your doggy treats. Place them onto greased baking trays and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before letting your pooch enjoy. 

activated charcoal dog treats
activated charcoal

These treats are the most awesome colour ever! Something different for Zara to enjoy 🙂 

If you decide to make some for your pups too, be sure to tag us on Instagram @stylish_paws

Thank you for reading

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Aug
2020

Scruffs Luxury Dog Beds Product Review

categories: Product Reviews

Zara loves to nap, especially when her baby sister Gia naps. So it’s only fitting that Zara naps on a Scruffs Luxury Dog Bed. 

scruffs luxury pet beds

Scruffs was born and bread in Britain, however you can purchase their luxury pet beds all over the world, including South Africa. They have a wide variety of shapes and sizes with luxury beds on offer for everyone and every home. Zara was lucky enough to receive the Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress all the way from the UK and she loves it! It’s soft and puffy and she makes herself very comfortable on it. 

luxury dog beds

The Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress that Zara received is lightweight and easy to move around. If your pup is like Zara and has different spots around the house she likes to nap, then this luxury bed is perfect. Zara loves being tucked under my feet while I’m writing or crafting at my desk. Had I known she would want to be under my feet I would have made that space a little bit bigger, but Zara manages to squish herself under my feet and loves having puppy dreams while I get creative. I decided to put her new Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress under my desk so the space is a little comfier for her. The mattress is of course larger than the space but because its so lovely and soft I can squish it up a little. Zara definitely approves! 

scruffs luxury dog bed

It’s also a great mattress to put in your car for your pup to have a comfy spot to sit or lie on while you travel. It’s soft and puffy so you can squish it into a small space if need be. It also has non slip  material underneath so it won’t slide around while you drive. This mattress will definitely accompany us on future adventures. 

The Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress is made with 100% recycled green fibre filling which of course is better for the environment. It also comes in a variety of colours to suit your home decor and personal preferences as well as size options. 

dog beds

Overall I am very impressed with the Scruffs brand and the bed Zara received. It easily fits into our home in every room. It’s not a mission to pick up and move around. It easily fits into the washing machine and because it is lightweight the machine handles it easily which makes me happy because Zara’s bedding is washed every week to keep it clean, healthy and smelling pretty- fit for a princess!  

scruffs dog beds

Thank you Scruffs for sending us such a wonderful and diverse luxury mattress for Zara to enjoy! You have opened my eyes to your amazing brand and I hope I can inspire other dog moms and dads to spoil their pups with a luxury Scruffs bed too. 

Don’t forget to follow Scruffs on Social Media

Instagram @petslovescruffs @scruffssouthafrica

Facebook @petslovescruffs @scruffssouthafrica

And use the hashtag #scruffssnaps

Thank you for reading

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Aug
2020

Moringa Dog Treats

categories: Recipes

Moringa, the superfood you should be including in your pets diet as well as your own. Boasting endless reasons why it’s so good for you… Jam packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory properties, this is a superfood you want to be taking. 

dog treats

By now you all know that Zara has had TPLO surgeries on both her knees so I am always on the lookout for natural remedies that will help her in any way and Moringa seems to have plenty to offer her. 

I started taking Moringa capsules myself and decided to do a little more research into its benefits. I was totally blown away by what I discovered. It is said to have 15 times more potassium than bananas, 12 times more vitamin C than oranges, 25 times more iron than spinach and 9 times more protein than plain yoghurt, the list goes on! It comes in capsules, powder and tea which is delicious with some honey and lemon added to it. 

dog treat recipe

With all this goodness in one superfood, I thought why not try it out on Zara. I bought some Moringa powder and began experimenting with ways in which she will eat it. It turns out simply sprinkling it over her kibble doesn’t do it for her so I had to get creative and find a way she can get enough if this incredible superfood each day. 

As you know Zara gets quite a few treats throughout the day. She gets three special treats every night at bedtime plus one first thing in the morning if she slept all night on her own bed 😉 One of Baby Gia’s favourite things to do is give Zara treats too so I knew the treats had to be yummy enough for Zara to want plenty!!

Moringa Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

1/2 cup moringa powder

1 cup wholewheat flour

A handful of fresh mint leaves chopped finely 

T tbs honey

1 egg

1 apple peeled and grated

1/2 cup water

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together your dry ingredients so the Moringa, mint and flour are nicely combined. Then mix together your egg, apple, honey, grated apple and water then add it to your dry mix. Mix it together until a dough forms. If it’s too sticky add more flour, if it’s too dry add a splash of water. Roll out your dough onto a floured surface and using your chosen cookie cutters, cut out your doggie biscuits. Place them onto greased baking trays and bake for +-25 minutes or until cooked and lightly going golden. Wait for them to cool before letting your pooch enjoy them.

You can batch make these treats and freeze them. 

moringa dog biscuits

Frozen Moringa Dog Treats 

Ingredients

1 tsp Moringa powder

1 cup plain yoghurt

Directions

Mix both the Moringa powder and yoghurt in a bowl. Once completely combined spoon into silicone moulds and freeze. These are nice to add to your pups breakfast or dinner or to offer as a frozen treat. 

frozen Moringa dog treats
frozen Moringa dog treat

I hope you find the Moringa superfood as useful as I am right now! Zara is enjoying it as treats, and I’m all for natural remedies that keep her healthy and those legs as pain free as possible!! 

Don’t forget to follow our adventures on @stylish_paws

Thank you for reading.

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Aug
2020

August

categories: Calendar

Hello August. August is another exciting month the year for us because it is Zara’s birthday month! She will be turning 4 on the 28th. On one hand it feels like Zara has been with us forever but on the other hand I can’t believe she is turning 4!

It will be the second birthday Zara gets to celebrate with her baby sis Gia. Last year August Gia was only 3 months old so I think Zara’s birthday celebrations this year will be filled with a whole lot more fun… I can’t wait!

August 2020 calendar

Download your August calendar here

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