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!

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

 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).

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).

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.

 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).

 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.

 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!

 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….

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

Thank you for reading.

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