Category: Zara


Feb
2018

Happy Valentine’s Day!

categories: Holiday fun, Oscar, Recipes, Zara

Oh how I love Valentine’s Day. You either love it or hate it. Why hate it when it’s the day of love? Those that hate it say “why should I show you how much I love you on just one day”. Easter is one day, Christmas is one day and your birthday is one day, so what’s the difference?

It’s important to show the ones you love just how much you love them all the time, agreed not just on February 14th. But just go with it, enjoy the cliche of small white teddy bears holding red hearts, yummy indulgent chocolates and champagne, and long stem roses that cost an arm and a leg just because it’s Valentine’s Day.

Oscar and Zara know exactly how much they are loved. I tell them everyday basically all day that I love them and I know they understand every word!

Zara is not shy to show me how much she loves me back. Each and every morning she brings me a present. These presents are her toys, her most prized possessions of course, she chooses just one and that’s the gift of the day. This is such a special thing we have going, I wake up every morning wondering which toy i’ll get gifted with. I never taught her this at all, she one day started doing it and it’s now a ritual. Zara is also the queen of kisses. She pins me down (because yes she is stronger than me) and attacks me with her tongue! The love that Zara has is like nothing I have ever experienced, it’s so over the top and just so Zara.

Oscar on the other hand is a little more reserved in his expressions of love. His way of telling me he loves me is by never leaving my side. And I mean never! He follows me all over the house no matter what. I try get up and sneak out the room if he is snoozing (I don’t like disturbing his sleeps) but that nose of his picks up a scent that says “mom has left the room”. He is up like a rocket and finds me in three-seconds flat. He is by far the most loyal steed I have ever encountered. He is one hundred percent devoted to protecting me.

So naturally this Valentine’s Day I have made them some yummy bright red heart-shaped treats to devour….

Valentine’s Day Treats

Ingredients

2 cups beetroot puree

2-3 cups flour

2 tbs coconut oil

1 egg

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees. In a mixing bowl mix together your beetroot puree, coconut oil and egg. Then add your flour one cup at a time until you have a lovely dough. This dough can be slightly soft sticky, as long as you can roll it out it is fine. Gently roll out your dough and using heart shaped cookie cutters cut your treats. Place them on a greased baking tray and bake for +- 30 minutes or until cooked. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool. The bright red colour of these treats is just gorgeous and your pups will LOVE them.

Whatever you decide to do or not do this Valentine’s Day, make sure you let those around you know how much you love and appreciate them. I know I will. <3

Thank you for reading

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Jan
2018

Product Review: The Nooshel Dog Diary.

categories: Oscar, Product Reviews, Zara

Wow, just wow! The Dog Diary from Nooshel is nothing short of spectacular. From the packaging to the paper quality, this diary is a must for every dog lover out there.

Our Dog Diary arrived in a beautiful box, neatly wrapped up. I couldn’t wait to open it. For a change the delivery was for me and not the pups.
Page one | “Hi… I’m a dog person” | I giggled at this because it is just so wonderful to have an everyday diary that incorporates my love for Oscar and Zara! Each month begins with a new quote that is pooch related of course, and I adore each one of them!

This sophisticated and modern A5 diary fits perfectly in any handbag or laptop bag, with a hard cover to protect it from getting bent and damaged.

Throughout the year the Dog Diary let’s you know of important “dog days” for example, dress up your pet day was on January 14th. Sadly we missed out on this fun “dog day” but future days are diarised so we won’t miss out on a thing-stay tuned.

I wasn’t expecting a pen or decorative stickers with my Nooshel Dog Diary, but that’s exactly what I got! I love crafting, a lot, and I have already whipped up my own personal stickers to go with my cute Nooshel ones, and filled my Dog Diary with loved ones birthdays, vacations and public holidays! It looks fantastic to say the least.

Nooshel is a brand that loves four legged creatures as much as I do, and that’s A LOT. So it’s no wonder I adore my Dog Diary the way I do. It has been made with loads of love and care, and for pet parents who want their fur babies incorporated into their everyday work life. Nooshel believes that every dogs life matters, and proceeds from all their products are donated to charities who share this same vision!

We could all use a Dog Diary in our life, it helps us stay organised and on track. I know I always feel so much better if I have a daily diary I can refer to for my list of things to do and achieve for the week. The Dog Diary certainly is special, you won’t regret placing your order…

Order your Nooshel Dog Diary here
Follow them on Social Media | Facebook | Instagram

Don’t forget to follow us for daily fun and cuteness | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Thank you for reading.

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Jan
2018

FriendshipCollar_SA Instagram Take Over: Stylish Paws in the Kitchen.

categories: Oscar, Recipes, Zara

So this is a first for us and we are very excited about it…. We are taking over Friendship Collar_SA Instagram story for the day.

Firstly, we are huge fans of FriendshipCollar, we of course have our own set of The Top Dog range. It’s bright, colourful and cheerful and looks great on us all 🙂

The Top Dog set is all about being “playful, boisterous and cute as can be, when playtime is over, it’s cuddles next to me”. This description fits us perfectly! Those of you who follow us regularly will know that Zara is a super happy and energetic pup who absolutely loves swimming and playing with all her toys. Oscar on the other hand is a huge snuggle bug and loves to spend his days sleeping right next to me. Zara has learnt a thing or two from the snuggle king and she now loves to snuggle up too, usually on top of me!

For the Instagram Story take over, the theme is “Stylish Paws in the kitchen”. Those of you who know me might laugh hysterically at this. Cooking for myself is not something I love doing at all. In fact I find it a chore. BUT when it comes to finding yummy recipes for my furry loves, i’ll happily spend hours baking, creating recipes and yummy treats for them to enjoy- of course they love it when I’m in the kitchen because they know I am usually cooking or baking for them 😉

Today’s recipes and treats are a winner in our house. They’re super easy with ingredients found in most kitchens and most of all they’re quick! Here goes…

Fresh and Frozen Kong recipes:

I have two totally opposite pooches when it comes to food. Zara literally eats anything and everything! She loves tasting new fruits and veggies and so far the only thing she isn’t keen on is raw eggplant-who eats raw eggplant anyway- and zucchini. Oscar on the other hand will sniff a piece of meat for about thirty-seconds just to make sure it is in fact something good enough to put in his mouth. He is by far the fussiest pup I have ever come across. So, for the two of them to get the full fun experience of a KONG toy, Zara gets a frozen one which keeps her busy for a few hours, and Oscar gets a fresh one because he doesn’t enjoy the ‘coldness’ of the frozen one and would leave it to melt before eating it…

Zara’s Frozen Kong

Ingredients

Scrambled egg-cooked and cooled completely

Cottage cheese

Coconut oil

Chick peas

Directions

You can either layer each ingredient or mix everything together and stuff it inside the KONG toy. Then freeze for a few hours or over night.

Oscar’s Fresh Kong

Ingredients

Mashed banana

Peanut butter

Strawberries or blueberries

Coconut oil

Directions

You can either layer each ingredient or mix everything together and stuff it inside the KONG toy, give it to your pooch straight away. Fresh Kong’s are a lot messier than frozen ones so you may want to give it to your pooch somewhere comfortable outside.

The combinations are endless when it comes to Kong toys. You don’t need to rush out and buy special ingredients. Use what you have and be creative with it. Of course please be very mindful of what is safe for your furry love to eat and what’s not!

Baked biscuit recipe: Green Pea

This biscuit recipe is one of my favourites to do because it is so quick and easy to make a batch and we always have the ingredients. Plus the colour of these treats is just awesome…

Ingredients

1 cup frozen peas blitzed up into a puree

1 egg

A handfull of fresh parsley chopped up (optional)

1 cup flour

2 tbs coconut oil

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together the pea puree, egg and parsley. Then add your flour and combine until a dough forms. If it is a bit sticky just add a little extra flour. Roll your dough out onto a floured surface and use cookie cutters to cut the treats. Place them onto a greased baking tray and bake in the oven for +-20 minutes or until cooked and just slightly brown (you want to keep their bright green colour). Allow the treats to cool, and store in an airtight container. Your pups will love these!

So that’s our kitchen experience for today, of course we did all this while wearing our super stylish Friendship Collars! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @stylish_paws and @FriendshipCollar_SA and watch the story take over- you’ll love it!!

You can also browse the Friendship Collar collection in the Stylish Paws online store | click here to shop. 

Thank you for reading.

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Jan
2018

Product Review: Geopetric Personalised Pet Products

categories: Oscar, Product Reviews, Zara

When Geopetric contacted us and asked us to be apart of their affiliate programme I was of course over the moon with excitement! I chose what I thought would look good on Oscar and Zara and waited patiently for their new items to arrive.

Wow, I was blown away by the quality of both the personalised collar and the softness of the bandana. Both are absolutely gorgeous products.

I love that the collar is personalised with Zara’s name on and the bandana has a very African theme to it-Living in Africa of course that speaks to my heart. The pinks and purples of Zara’s collar looks gorgeous against her black fur and Oscar just looks so good in green with bold colours-but then again he looks good in everything 🙂

Each product sold in the Geopetric store has a unique pattern, the materials used are made with bright and bold colours with geometric shapes and patterns to decorate. The outcome is of course stunning in every way. You won’t mistake a Geopetric collar for any other!

Geopetric offers a wide variety of pet accessories including personalised collars, harnesses, gorgeous bandanas, fun bow ties, collar tags, yummy treats and super cute puppy starter kits!! And not forgetting us humans, there are some lovely goodies for us too in the form of t-shirts, bracelets, hats, tech accessories and personalised key chains.

The Geopetric brand provides, charitable, cruelty free and eco-friendly products for both you and your pets. They only use eco-friendly materials including recycled bottles and vegan cork-leather. They have partnered with and continue to partner with animal rescues across the globe to promote animal adoption.

We’re all trying to make a positive difference in our world, with your help Geopetric is doing just that. I love the fact of knowing I can make a difference in a shelter dogs life simply by spoiling my own pups, Oscar and Zara!!

Our partnership with Geopetric gives you a fabulous 20% discount whenever you decide to shop online with Geopetric. Simply use the code OSCAR&ZARA when you check out…. So what are you waiting for? Shop TODAY, spoil your pets and help pets in need!!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook @stylishpaws and Instagram @stylish_paws

Thank you for reading.

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Oct
2017

Howl-O-Ween.

categories: Holiday fun, Oscar, Recipes, Zara

In Africa, we don’t typically celebrate halloween like the USA does but that doesn’t stop us from having a little fun of our own, in the form of dressing up and enjoying some yummy Halloween treats! For those of you that have followed us for a while, will know that Oscar LOVES to dress up and Halloween is one of the best times to dress up in funky fun costumes. Last year Zara was a tiny tot just learning the ropes in the beginning stages of her modelling career. This year she is a real show stopper in her Halloween outfit!

Everyone goes pumpkin mad during the month of October and I managed to get my paws on a lovely one. I gave it to Oscar and Zara as is, to see what they would do wth it… The usual Mr Fusspot decided it looked good enough to eat as it is and went straight in for the kill, much to his disappointment he couldn’t break it open at all. Zara was not sure what it was and happily posed for some gorgeous photos instead!

Since we don’t get all the yummy halloween treats you get in the USA, I promised Oscar and Zara I would turn this pumpkin into something yummy for them, and this is what I decided to make….

Pumpkin Spice Puppachinos 

Not so long ago I made some puppachinos for Oscar and Zara which they LOVED! (you can see the recipe by clicking here) So I thought why not make a Halloween pumpkin spice puppachino for them. A few of my USA Instagram friends have expressed their love for pumpkin spice latte’s- for humans only. So I decided to make a human pumpkin spice latte for me to enjoy and a pumpkin spice puppachino for Oscar and Zara to enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Latte-Human only version:

Ingredients

To make pumpkin spice you will need-

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp all spice

Mix these spices together and store in an airtight jar. This makes 1 tbs of Pumpkin Spice mix.

To make the latte-

1 cup coconut milk

2 tbs cooked pumpkin puree

1 tbs syrup

1/4 tsp of the pumpkin spice mix you made

1/4 tsp of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of your favourite brewed coffee

1 can of squirty cream-to use as a topper

Directions

Pour all the ingredients into a saucepan besides the coffee. Heat over a medium heat until hot but not boiling. Keep whisking the mixture so you get a thick and frothy milk mixture. Pour your freshly brewed coffee into a mug, then add the hot coconut milk mixture. Squirt some squirty cream on top and sprinkle over a pinch of pumpkin spice. Put your feet up and enjoy your Halloween treat!

Pumpkin Spice Puppachino

Ingredients

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup cooked pumpkin puree

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Squirt of honey

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Squirty cream

Directions

Pour all the ingredients into a blender and blend until thick and creamy. Then scoop out the mixture and place it into cute cups for your pups. Squirt some cream on the top-because which pup doesn’t love squirty cream… And watch your pups enjoy!

If you have any mixture left over you can spoon it into ice trays and make little frozen treats or fill a Kong toy and freeze for a boredom buster the next day 🙂

Pumpkin Pancakes

Everyone loves pancakes so I decided to make some Halloween pumpkin pancakes for us (the humans) and the pups (Oscar and Zara) to enjoy…

Ingredients

1/2 cup cooked pumpkin puree

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp pumpkin spice mix- Important: When making for the pups please leave this out and replace with plain cinnamon!!!

1/4 tsp salt

1 tbs sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbs melted butter

1/2 cup milk

Syrup and squirt cream to garnish

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until completely combined and light and airy. Heat up a pan on a medium heat and spoon the desired amount of mixture into your pan. Cook until golden brown on each side. Serve warm with syrup and squirty cream drizzled over the top. Enjoy!

If you have any pancakes left over, place them in air tight containers and freeze them for another day. Remember to clearly label which are safe for your pups and which are for humans only!!

Happy Howl-o-ween to you and your furry loves! We hope you enjoy these simple and easy Halloween treats as much as we did.

Thank you for reading.

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Oct
2017

October: Pet Obesity Awareness Month

categories: Oscar, Zara

I have lost count at the amount of times someone has told me that Oscar is fat. I have heard it from complete strangers at the dog park and even from my friends and family. There are two things about Oscar that I never ever want to hear, one being, Oscar is rather fat and two, Oscar is looking old these days. It’s simple, keep those two opinions to yourself!

Oscar has been misunderstood for most of his life given his unique body shape and frame. He is a basset hound cross English bulldog and has unique features from both breeds. His short legs make his stocky body look even stockier and his extra skin and wrinkles give people the impression he needs to lose weight. Now I am not deluded when it comes to Oscar and his weight. His health has always been extremely important to me. When he was around five years old, shortly after he was neutered, we had to put him on a diet for a couple of months to help him shed a few extra kilos he had suddenly picked up. That was a once off and I have always carefully controlled all his meals including treats and any extras he gets! Believe me he is by no means deprived of treats and yummy extras, I simply feed them in moderation and always opt for healthy treats and snacks for him.

 

The food we used to help Oscar shed some weight was Hill’s Prescription Restricted Diet. Our vet recommended using this diet as opposed to just cutting down on the amount that he was being fed.The Hill’s R/D is a careful formula that makes sure your pooch still gets the correct vitamins and minerals while being low in calories. Within two weeks both myself and our vet noticed a difference in Oscar! We only fed him the R/D food until he reached his goal weight then returned to his usual food and still to this day he has kept that weight off! A fantastic achievement in my eyes. Since that was many moons ago, Hill’s has in-fact restored and improved their weight loss product which is now called Hill’s Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution. It is still part of the Prescription Diet range and comes in Metabolic + Mobility diet, Mini Metabolic and treats too. ps this food works fantastic for your feline loves too!!

With Zara having only just turned a year old in August, she still has plenty of growing to do especially being a large breed pup. Her meals are also carefully monitored and measured out in exactly the right quantities. Her treats and extras are also carefully controlled and something healthy is always on offer. She has a larger than life appetite and if she doesn’t have something to nibble on between her breakfast and dinner she tends to get a bit mischievous (read my Kong filler post for yummy mid-day snack ideas). It is important for your pup to be fed the best quality food that you can afford! You want them to get the best out of life.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition suggests you look out for these key signs of obesity-

Signs of Obesity

• See your vet regularly to accurately measure and monitor your pet’s weight.

• Look at your pet – if it is significantly overweight it should be obvious, although long-haired dogs and cats may ‘hide’ fat better.

• The rib test – when you stroke your pet’s side you should be able to easily feel the ribs underneath the skin.

• The waist view – when you look at your dog from above it should have a distinctive waist in front of his hips.

• Side view – look for a scooped abdominal tuck up towards the hind legs. Overweight pets have a flat to bulging tummy profile.

• Neck and tail base – look for fatty deposits around the tail base and neck. Pets at ideal weight have clear muscle definition and a smooth contour with tail base bones that can be easily felt.

• Overweight pets are more prone to shortness of breath, overheating and stiffness.

• Check for skin irritations or a scruffy coat due to difficulty in grooming.

While diet is a very important part of maintaining a healthy weight for your pet, exercise is just as important. Here are a few snacks and games you can use to help keep your pups happy and healthy.

Healthy snack ideas: We all love snacks, and so do our pups! It is so important that you give your pup the right snack.

Chick peas:  Both Oscar and Zara LOVE chick peas. I don’t even have to do anything with them other than open the tin, drain and rinse them, then pop them into an airtight container or Zip-Lock bag and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days (they never last that long in our house). These make excellent training treats too!!

Carrots: This one I particularly love giving to Zara because it also keeps her entertained for a while. I give her the entire carrot to enjoy. Just be sure to have your pup eat it outside because it tends to make a bit of a mess.

Biltong: A firm South African favourite human treat and pups love it too. Just be careful with the spices and salt content (everyone has their own recipe) so be sure to use plain and simple biltong or biltong sticks.

Cucumber: Zara loves her cucumber slices and will eat cucumber all day if she could. You can cut it into chunks and put into a treat ball as an interactive toy with a healthy treat or simply give your pup the entire cucumber to enjoy.

Strawberries and blueberries: Both berry varieties make excellent snacks. Fuss pot Oscar will only eat a frozen blueberry and don’t even think about giving him a strawberry! I love using frozen blueberries in treat balls for both Oscar and Zara to play with.

Fun and games: Keeping fit and active is not only a health benefit for us humans. Our pups thrive when they are fit and healthy too. Having fun and exercising with your pup is another great way to increase that special bond you have.

Fetch: fetch is ancient game that will never grow old or out of fashion. We love this game in our house-except Oscar of course! We like to change things up, sometimes it’s a teddy, a frisbee, a ball or squeaker toy. Anything will do for this high energy game.

Tuggy: Tuggy is a great one that seems to tire Zara quickly. She puts so much force and energy into making sure she is the strongest in this game. This is a great game to build endurance.

Swimming: With summer just beginning for us, swimming is a super fun way for both you and your pup to stay fit. Swimming lengths chasing floating balls and sticks is great fun. Try have a doggy paddle race against your pup, you’ll soon see just how difficult it is and how much energy you use 🙂

Find it: This game is a real favourite for both Oscar and Zara. I use the healthy snacks mentioned above, run around the house and garden placing them in strategic hiding spots then let the pups out to find their treasure. It is a great game to get your pups excited.

October is National Pet Obesity Awareness month and together with Hill’s Pet Nutrition South Africa, we urge you to take your pets for a weight check. Rather than putting your pet at the risk of obesity-related diseases, love them enough to take them for a quick weigh-in. You can find a participating vet practice on www.PetSlimmer.co.za. It’s simple and free.

Links / URLS

www.PetSlimmer.co.za

#PetObesityMonth #HillsMetabolic #HillsPetSlimmer

Twitter: @HillsPetSA

Facebook: @HillsPetZA

Instagram: @HillsPetFoodSA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HillsSouthAfrica

Thank you for reading.

 

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Aug
2017

Happy 1st Birthday Zara!

categories: Zara

Wow, where has an entire year gone? I have no clue, but what I do know is that my baby girl is not such a baby girl any more. Happy 1st birthday to Zara! From the moment she waltzed through our front door, she knew and we knew that she was home. She casually made herself comfy in Oscar’s teepee as if she had been here before. Of course Oscar was not sure what to think of this new fluff ball who had decidedly taken over.

Zara has grown into the most lovable, caring, loyal and beautiful girl in the world. Right from the beginning she just fitted into our family life, adjusted to how things worked without so much as a whimper. She never cried at night or messed in the house. We were the ones who woke her up for midnight toilet breaks. Her larger than life personality has made this year full of fun with lots of laughter.

I will admit, I needed some convincing that a Rottie would be the perfect addition to our family… Oscar is my very first pooch and it has always been just him, so forgive me if I had his best interests at heart here. After doing extensive research, I kind of got a sense for what we would be in for and agreed. After all I am a firm believer in the way you raise a puppy will affect their behaviour as an adult-much like raising a child.

I am not sure the research really did prepare me for Zara (haha) but I will say I am 100% a Rottie mom and totally fallen in love with the Rottie breed. She is quite frankly a dinosaur who eats us out of house and home, has mad half hours and trashes the living room and bedrooms, who takes toys out her toy box and leaves them all over the place, runs around at 7am squeaking her favourite snake toy, steals socks at any moment she can, brings me rocks as surprise presents and completely takes over our bed at night, but you know what… I wouldn’t have it any other way!

She has brought out the playful side in Oscar again and the two of them have their own unique way of playing together. She understands that he is older and he has boundaries and when he says enough she happily leaves him and comes to play wth us instead. She adores her brother and constantly sneaks licks and kisses on the top of his head. She watches him ever so patiently while he eats his breakfast and dinner to see if he has left her any scraps to nibble on. She watches him snore with great curiosity and tries to sneak in a cuddle or two every now and then.

She greets us in the mornings like she hasn’t seen us in years with a smile from ear to ear and loads of kisses and cuddles. She has the cutest morning tradition where she runs to her toy box and brings me her toy of choice as a gift, a wake up gift. Returning home after being out for a few hours is like pandemonium! Her excitement is off the charts with cries that resemble a hyena. Of course she sniffs around to see if there are gifts and usually there are-yes they are spoiled 🙂 Now returning home from a holiday is pandemonium times a hundred… She honestly gets so excited she does not know what to do with herself. She has a hard time choosing who to get cuddles from first, myself or dad. It’s a tough choice for such a loyal pup. When we get back from holidays both Zara and Oscar do not leave our sides for hours. Literally following our every move, making sure we don’t suddenly disappear again.

So today we celebrate Zara’s first birthday and no birthday would be complete without presents and cake! So here is the recipe for Zara’s birthday cake:

Cake

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas-mashed

4 tbs honey

1 egg

2 cups water

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup oats

1 cup peanut butter

1tbs coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla essence

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together all the wet ingredients until properly combined. Then add in the oats, baking powder and flour and mix all together. I used a hand beater to make it easier and quicker. Once everything is mixed properly pour the cake batter into a greased cake tin and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through. Once cooked leave the cake to cool completely before decorating.

tip: if you have any left over cake after the celebrations, cut it into slices and put them in tubs and freeze for a yummy frozen treat for your pooches!

Frosting

Plain yoghurt

Peanut butter

For the frosting beat together equal parts of yoghurt and peanut butter. If the frosting seems a little thick/stiff then add more yoghurt until you are satisfied with the consistency. Once your cake has cooled completely go ahead and frost your cake.

tip: if you have any frosting left over, simply scrape it into silicone moulds (I used heart shaped ice trays) and freeze. Then pop them out and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for yummy frozen treats for your pups. Oscar and Zara LOVE these!!

Treats

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas-mashed

1 egg

1 tbs coconut oil

2 tbs natural peanut butter

2 cups flour

Directions

Pre-heat your over to 180 degrees. Mix together the mashed banana, egg, coconut oil and peanut butter until all combined. Then add in the flour one cup at a time until you have the perfect dough consistency. Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough out, using fun cookie cutters cut out the treats which will decorate your pups birthday cake. Place them onto greased baking trays and bake for +-20 minutes or until golden brown. Leave them to cool completely before decorating your cake with them. Any extras can be out in an airtight container and stored in a cool dry place or pop them in the freezer for another day.

Presents

Zara has come to LOVE getting presents and new things. Her new toy becomes the favourite of the week, almost as if to show just how much she appreciates it. For her first birthday we decided to get her some water toys. She is such a water pup and loves swimming and playing in the sprinklers. We thought her own doggy sprinkler would be a great idea as well as a doggy water fountain, some toys to play in the pool with and some treats and chews too.

I am so grateful to have both Zara and Oscar in my life. Without them I would honestly be lost. My days revolve around them, cuddles, baking treats, playing games and going for walks. They mean the world to me and today we celebrate Zara’s first year in my world. Happy birthday my baby girl-Yes you will always be my baby girl!

Follow us on Instagram where we are hosting #zarasbirthdaysafari party. Everyone is invited and anyone can join! Watch our Instagram story to see all the fun we are having celebrating this wonderful day.

Thank you for reading.

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Aug
2017

Frozen KONG toy ideas…

categories: Oscar, Recipes, Zara

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the magnificence that is the KONG toy!! Where has this toy been all my life? Ok let’s be honest, Oscar isn’t the most food orientated pooch on the block so I never really explored different recipes or ways to keep him entertained using food. Enter Zara, a hurricane of energy and appetite… I suddenly found myself in a frustrated mess as to how to keep my beautiful baby girl entertained and happy while sustaining her massive appetite between meals.

Zara lives for food. She will do a backflip for you if it means getting a treat, be it meat, fruit or veggies, she LOVES food! Oscar is the fussiest pooch around and will happily tell me when he isn’t so keen on a new teat recipe I am trying out.

During my months of being a frustrated mess, my Instagram family steered me in the direction of the KONG toy. Sure I had heard of it but I wasn’t sold on the idea. I had a lot of reservations about it, will it be strong enough to withhold the teeth and jaws of my dinosaur puppy? How will she get whatever I put inside out? And will this seemingly small toy really keep her that entertained?

I gave in and ordered the biggest and strongest KONG toy of the collection. And waited patiently for it to arrive… While waiting I began to explore and think of the things I would put inside this new toy. I was sorting through Oscar and Zara’s toy box and I came across two other balls that had a hole in the centre. One was a Rogz Grinz ball and the other was a BIONIC ball. The BIONIC ball would have to be modified but it would work I figured. I decided to give this a try and I filled them each with natural plain yoghurt and blueberries and put them in the freezer for a couple of hours and then surprised my two babies with a yummy frozen delight. The reaction was unbelievable. Both Oscar and Zara found a comfy spot and sat quietly and enjoyed their new treat. I could not believe that I now had some “free time” on my hands. I actually didn’t know what to do with myself so I just sat and watched while they enjoyed-haha!! I could not believe that Oscar was into his frozen treat, the fussiest pooch around!!

Oscar’s frozen ball is a very specific kind, he cannot seem to get his tongue into the smaller holes of the KONG or the Rogz Grinz ball so I have modified a BIONIC ball for him and he loves it. It has a hole that runs right through-a bit like a donut. I simply put a small piece of tin foil around the bottom, fill it up and freeze it.

Because of their eager reaction I came up with a whole lot of yummy fillings for all three fillable balls and here are their favourites…

Frozen Ideas:

Plain yoghurt, blueberries, strawberries, coconut oil

Plain yoghurt, peanut-butter, blueberries

Plain yoghurt, mashed banana, peanut-butter

Carrot mash, frozen peas, coconut cream

Sweet potato, frozen peas, carrot chunks

Pumpkin mash, frozen peas, carrot chunks, coconut oil

Fresh Ideas:

Cooked pasta, carrot cubes, coconut oil

Cooked pasta, Mince meat, coconut oil

Cooked pasta, cottage cheese, fresh peas

Butternut mash, apple chunks, grated cheese

Cottage cheese, apple chunks, strawberries

Pineapple chunks, strawberries, peanut-butter

Macaroni cheese

These are just a few of the endless possible filler ideas. They happen to be Oscar and Zara’s favourites so I just mix and match the ingredients depending on what we have in the fridge. I am obviously mindful of what is safe and not safe for pups to eat and you should be too!

Since the KONG toy arrived I have not regretted my decision at all! In fact I want to order some more so there is always one in the freezer ready to be enjoyed. Changing the filling from frozen to fresh is also a great way to keep things interesting for Zara. So if you have not ordered your KONG toy yet, I suggest you do now!

Thank you for reading.

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Jun
2017

DOGA.

categories: Oscar, Winterwonderland, Zara

Today is International Yoga Day! And because I love to include my furry loves in as many of my daily activities as possible I thought I would explore the Doga craze.

Many of you may laugh and think how on earth does this happen. There are two main ways you can practice Doga. One, where you take the yoga class and your pup happily watches on, and two, where you and your pup perform the moves together. Now I absolutely love practicing yoga and since my two rascals Oscar and Zara are always around me, the obvious thing would be for me to include them. Without me realising it, we practice option one on a weekly basis so I thought I would try option two and see how things go…

Yoga in itself is a wonderful thing to practice, and the thought of including my pups for extra stress relief and fun is a fantastic idea. I am not sure I would take the two of them to a Doga studio-even though the thought is wonderful. My two would run around and cause complete chaos wanting to play with everyone, Zara would lick everyone to death, and we would all get banned within 5 minutes-haha. So practicing Doga at home where all three of us are comfortable and happy is the perfect choice for us.

Doga offers an extra bonding session between you and your pooch and it should be fun for both of you. If your pup isn’t into it today then leave him be, let him watch! Never force your pups to do anything they don’t want to do.

Benefits of DOGA include:

Extra stress relief

Increases the bond between you and your pooch

Gives you added extra quality time together

You are guaranteed to laugh

Good exercise for you both

Puts you in an instant good mood

It is said to help calm hyper dogs, so lets see if it helps Zara

As with any exercise there is always risk of injury so only do what your body allows and what your pup allows.

Here are a few very simple moves you can do with your pup:

Downward dog:

Get your pup to lay on his tummy or stand up if he wants to, and you do the downward dog move over him. If he looks up at you just gaze into his eyes.

Chaturanga:

Lay your pup on her tummy and just stroke her back in long slow strokes.

Heart-to-hound Mudra:

Have your pup sit in front of you while you sit cross legged behind her. (I sat in front of Zara because she is a little too big for my arms to reach around her-haha). Place your one hand on her heart and the other on your heart; Breathe and enjoy this connection.

Puppy Paw Mudra:

Get your pup to lay on her stomach with her front paws extended outwards. You then kneel down behind her and place your arms over hers and rest your head on her back.

Inner dog Mudra

With your pooch laying or sitting, rest your forehead on his. Just stare at him and enjoy being so close.

Savasana:

Get your pup to lie on her back and stroke her belly with long slow strokes.

Wheelbarrow:

With your pooch standing in front of you, stand behind him and slightly lean forward; gently pick up his back legs, supporting his legs and joints with both hands! Just let him stretch his torso then gently lower his back legs.

Our sessions seem to fall to pieces and we all end up in a chaotic mess on the floor but I have laughed and Oscar and Zara have had fun which makes it a success in my eyes! We hope you have as much fun as we did. Enjoy being in the moment with your furry loves.

Thank you for reading.

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