Apr
2020

Easy Easter Dog Treats

categories: Recipes

Happy Easter weekend everyone. I guess this Easter is a little different to what we all had planned… yes our travel plans got cancelled too but that doesn’t mean Easter has to be cancelled! 

Whenever I think of Easter I only think of one thing… CHOCOLATE and lots of it! We are all well aware of the dangers that chocolate brings to our furry loves. I have done carob treats in the past for Oscar and Zara which were a hit but a bit messy to make and eat so I thought I would simplify things right down and make some yummy carrot treats for Zara, since the Easter bunny loves his carrots 😉

Zara’s Carrot Biscuits

Ingredients

2 steamed carrots, pureed

1 cup wholewheat flour

1 egg

1 tbs coconut oil

1tsp chia seeds

Directions 

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together your carrot puree, egg and coconut oil. Then add your chia seeds and flour and mix until a dough forms. You might need to add a splash of water if it’s too dry or extra flour if it’s too wet. Roll your dough out onto a floured surface and using cute Easter themed cookie cutters, cut out the treats. Place them onto a greased baking tray and bake for 20-30mins or until cooked and slightly golden in colour. Allow the treats to cool completely before icing them.

Icing 

2 tbs cornstarch and 4 tbs water. Mix them together then use to decorate as you wish. You can add organic food colouring to make different colours.

Using traditional coloured icing sugar is also totally fine! 

Zara is sharing Easter with her baby sis this year, and while I love finding recipes so both girls can enjoy the same treat, sometimes baby Gia needs something a little extra yummy because after all it is her first Easter! 

So here is the recipe for baby Gia’s Easter treats… 

Super Easy Shortbread Bunnies

Ingredients

1 cup butter

2 1/4 flour

1 cup icing sugar

2 tbs vanilla 

Directions

Preheat your oven to 170 degrees. Cream together your butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Add your flour and mix, then add your vanilla. Mix until a dough forms. You may have to turn the mixture out onto a floured surface to combine. Once combined, roll out your dough and using Easter themed cookie cutters, cut your shortbread and place the shapes onto a greased baking tray. Bake for +-20 minutes or until biscuits are lightly golden. Remove and allow them to cool before decorating. 

You can decorate your biscuits however you wish, using icing, buttercream, melted chocolate etc… My decorating skills need a little work-haha. Nonetheless, these Easter biscuits are a total hit amongst the humans in the house! And Zara is loving her Easter treats too… My heart is happy!

Happy Easter everyone. Stay safe and enjoy your quality time with family at home! If you decide to make these yummy Easter treats for yourself or your furry love, don’t forget to tag us in your pics… @stylish_paws

Thank you for reading

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Mar
2020

Hello Dog Box Product Review

categories: Product Reviews

Who doesn’t love a monthly subscription box? It’s like a present to yourself every month, or in this case a present to your dog every month…

When Hello Dog Box asked us to review their latest March subscription box, of course we were excited and wondered what our box would be filled with.

Hello Dog Box

Hello Dog Box is a monthly subscription box for your dog. It’s a box delivered to your door every month filled with fun, interactive and chewable toys that will keep your dog entertained until the next one arrives. 

Zara finally received her Hello Dog Box when we returned from our latest trip to South Africa. It was a gift I was particularly excited to give her and a gift I was excited to open! 

Zara couldn’t wait to get her nose inside this box. She busted it open and what we saw excited us both… 

dog subscription box

Inside our Hello Dog Box was a Petstages Chew. Zara loves chew toys, they’re like her after dinner treat while we watch some tv together. Although this one needed to be opened and chewed on immediately. 

petstages

There was a super awesome 2 in 1 grooming mitt. It’s no secret that Zara loves water, be it having a bath or a swim. Of course Zara had to have a bath so we would test out this new Noodle Drying mitt. I love this grooming mitt! Instead of using about 4 towels to dry Zara’s fur, the mitt did a perfect job. I just had to wring it out when it got full and heavy and then carried on. It also kind of gave Zara a massage so she really enjoyed it. On the other side is the grooming part of the mitt which I used when Zara was dry to get off all her loose fur. Such an awesome product to receive and one that will last far longer than just one month! I will most definitely use this grooming mitt during swimming season and give my towels a break 😉 

dog grooming

I have seen quite a few of Zara’s instagram besties enjoying their Cool Dogs Ice Cream and wondered how I could get my paws on some for her too. I didn’t do any research into it because I assumed you bought the tubs of doggy ice cream straight from the freezer, ready to serve. So you can imagine my utter excitement when I saw the tub of Cool Dogs Ice Cream for Dogs in our Hello Dog Box. Totally surprised by the fact that it comes as dry ingredients, all you have to do is add a small amount of cold water, mix it well and freeze. Zara received the biltong flavoured tub and it was a total hit. She could have easily eaten the entire tub in one go but I made sure we saved some for another day 😉 I will certainly be ordering more Cool Dogs Ice Cream for Dogs, for Zara. 

dog ice cream

Zara also received a super cute ladybug squeaky toy to run around and have a mad half hour with, which she did! I’ll admit Zara is quite gentle with certain toys. It’s almost like she knows when a toy is slightly tougher and she can be a little more rough with it. This super cute lady bug was tossed all over the garden, got shown to the lizards and even Baby Gia had it in her mouth- haha! And it’s still in one piece… 

dog toy

There was a huge box of Probono biscuits for Zara too. She practically bit my fingers off when I gave her a taster! I think she likes them… A LOT! 

dog treat

And lastly there was a lovely red bandana. Red suits Zara, so she wore her new snazzy bandana with such pride! 

red dog bandana

I absolutely loved this Hello Dog Box and so did Zara. I love the box itself, it’s strong enough to keep its contents safe from damage. The presentation of all the goodies inside the box is lovely and neat too. I particularly loved how colour coordinated this box was, red being the obvious colour! Each item is good quality and something your dog will love. Not all the items are perishable and some you can reuse and use again which makes the box extra value for money in my eyes. 

hello dog box

It’s pretty easy to get your paws on one of these awesome boxes! They’re brought to you by Petheaven, an amazing online pet store. All you need to do is click here and decide which subscription you would like. 

Packages start from R495 per box for a 6 month subscription. I can honestly say the value of these boxes is worth way more! By clicking the link you also qualify for R100 off your FIRST box! What’s not to love… Spoil your furry love now! 

And remember, each item inside our box is available to buy online from Petheaven too… Happy shopping! 

Hello Dog Box contents

Please note that Petheaven will still be operating during the Government instructed lockdown from midnight 26 March until midnight 16 April 2020, meaning all your pet necessities will still be delivered to your door, keeping your pets happy and healthy during this time! 

Follow Hello Dog Box on Social Media | Facebook | Instagram 

And Petheaven | Facebook | Instagram ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Feb
2020

Zuki Review

categories: Product Reviews

When Zuki asked us to do a review we were over the moon with excitement. We had just won their December giveaway so this was the perfect opportunity to explore their website and product range and put their online store to the test. 

Zuki is an online pet store that offers a huge variety of products. They don’t only have your general pet products, they have some pretty quirky and different items too! At first glance they offer all your premium and super premium brands of pet food, treats and toys. But I was looking for something  interesting and something a little different, and I certainly found just that. They also offer products for small animals, which meant the Amigos were about to get spoilt too…

Zuki online pet store

Yes we won the Zuki giveaway! We got to spend R2500 in their online store, so naturally I chose some pretty awesome goodies for Zara and the amigos. After some initial technical malfunctions from my behalf, which were handled immediately and professionally, our big box of awesome goodies arrived within 48 hours! Pretty impressive if you ask me. Everything was neatly packed into one box and everything was packed so that nothing was damaged in the delivery process. 

The one thing I particularly love about Zuki is, you can schedule order your pet food and treats. Meaning you can set up a date every month for your pet food to be delivered to your door! And if at any point you’re undecided or need any help you can live chat with Zuki online. Pretty awesome customer service if you ask me. 

So this is what we got… 

The Foobler self reloading puzzle feeder. This gadget is awesome!! You can put kibble or treats inside the compartments, choose your timer speed and switch it on. I went with 15 minutes which means every 15 minutes a bell alarm sirens off and a compartment of treats is released. Zara then has to push and nudge the ball to get her reward. A bit like a treat ball but a super awesome one!! Zara is obsessed with it so much that I actually have to hide it away. This is a fantastic item to leave for her when we go out. 

Zuki Foobler

A Mighty Rhino dog toy. We are very familiar with the MIGHTY range of dog toys and our green rhino did not disappoint! I think for most South Africans a rhino holds a special place in our hearts so it was a no brainer as to why Zara needed a rhino toy! 

Mighty rhino

A SLOMO food bowl. Zara is an extremely fast eater! It’s also something I have been quite open and vocal about so when I saw this modern and stylish slow feed bowl I knew we had to put it to the test. It certainly helps Zara to eat slower and not gulp her food down in 0.2 seconds. She has to work harder to get each kibble which is great. She’s had a slow feed bowl before but this one is a lot more complicated making meal times slower for her. 

slomo slow feed bowl

A Captain Fantastick. This is a toy I find incredibly hilarious!! Who thinks of these toy designs.. HAHA!!! I love him and so does Zara. It’s surprisingly tough and fun to play with. Zara and I played fetch for a long while with Mr Captain Fantastick. 

captain fantastick

A Glow in the Dark ball. Thats right, a glow in the dark ball! It’s perfect for low light ball fun. It’s such a fun ball because it squeaks and bounces too. We also received a soft fun pink ball which Baby Gia seems to have claimed. Gia and Zara roll the pink ball back and forth which is so cute to watch. 

glow in the dark ball

Zara got a pack of her favourite Orijen freeze dried treats! Possibly the best treats on the market. Zara will happily finish an entire bag in one go. 

Orijen treats

To top it all off we chose the Toy Basket to keep all of Zara’s new toys in. It’s a really nice size and great quality too! 

Zuki toy basket

The Amigos got spoilt too… 

A really awesome Carrot Cottage. This is an edible hidey which has kept them gnawing non stop for over 48 hours. I’m wondering if they even took a break to sleep! This is such a great boredom buster and a great item for them to gnaw on. I am really impressed with this one. 

carrot cottage

A selection of boredom busters. I’m always on the lookout for boredom busters for the Amigos. Zuki has a great selection, it was hard to choose which ones they would love the best! 

bunny boredom buster

And of course some special bunny treats because every bunny deserves a yummy treat or two! These were a total hit, Mr Duke dive bombed the entire bag of Naturals Fenugreek Crunchies and harassed me for over an hour after I had packed the rest away for another day. 

rabbit treats

Our overall experience with Zuki has been FANTASTIC!! Their website is easy to use with lots of product categories which helps you find products very easily. Images of each items are clear so you can see exactly what the item looks like along with good product descriptions to help make choosing the right product easier. 

Zuki

We highly recommend Zuki as an online pet store where you can schedule your pet food plus add in a few extras to spoil the furry loves in your life. If you haven’t already, head on over to their website www.zuki.co.za 

Follow them on social media too Facebook | Instagram

Thank you Zuki for ALL our spoils! We absolutely love everything.

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Jan
2020

Gizzls CBD oil for Pets Product Review

categories: Product Reviews

Medicated CBD oil for pets, are you for it or not? I’ll tell you where I’m at…

When Gizzls contacted us, it was at a time that is most stressful for Zara… The silly season. December time for us is filled with chaos and fireworks. Yes fireworks! Christmas and New Year loses it’s appeal because Zara becomes hysterical to the point where she’s almost uncontrollable! I have tried various methods of calming remedies and each one so far has not worked so I thought let’s give CBD oil a try.

CBD

You could say that our bottle of Gizzls full spectrum CBD oil and medicated CBD treats came just in time! We started giving Zara her treats and oil drops the week before all the chaos was due to start! 

Gizzls is a company that produces medicated CBD products for your pets. They pride themselves in using only the best sourced plants. Making sure their full spectrum CBD oil is free of any herbicides, pesticides, GMO products, preservatives or any other additive. 

CBD oil treats

CBD oil has become an extremely popular way to help ease stress, anxiety, chronic conditions and help with pain management. I will be honest, I was on the fence about this way of medicating Zara, I’m not sure why. I just was! Fast forward a few weeks of continuous use and I’ll say that I am quite happy with the results… 

During the silly season of fireworks I will say Gizzls CBD oil and treats helped to a certain extent. Unfortunately nothing will take away the intense sound a firework delivers to our pets, however it did ‘take the edge off’. She seemed to calm easier than previous years. She settled in-between the couch pillows and us and actually drifted off to sleep while the bangs were sporadic- something she has not done in previous years. During the crazy hours of non stop bangs she was a tad hysterical, panting and pacing around, clawing around our bed and the couch. But as I said she was a lot easier to settle and she didn’t listen out for when the next bang was coming even though we all knew it was on its way- A positive step in mind. 

CBD oil for dogs

Another observation I’ve made is how confident Zara seems on her legs! After having two TPLO surgeries six months apart from one another, we relied on stronger medication to help with Zara’s pain and inflammation management. I can confirm Zara has not had an anti-inflammatory tablet in over a month!! She runs happier, tends to want to jump up on things and just seems confident while running around playing with her toys- Another positive step in my mind. 

CBD dog treats

Gizzls also said that their CBD oil was suitable for the three Amigos. I held off giving it to them until I saw how Zara responded to it. Two weeks ago Peaches fell ill very suddenly. Anyone with a bunny will know that when your bunny is not feeling well you need to act immediately or they can lose their life! After a stressful night I made the decision to start giving them their drop of CBD oil. I simply put one drop each on their pellets and make sure each bunny gets their CBD covered pellet. It’s hard to say at this moment if it’s making a noticeable difference but if it can help keep the Vet away and provide overall health then I’m all for it!

I’m not a CBD expert, we simply tried and tested Gizzls full spectrum CBD oil and treats. If you would like to know more about the science behind CBD oil then head on over to Gizzls website, they explain it perfectly.

CBD oil

All in all I would highly recommend switching to Gizzls full spectrum CBD oil as a way to safely medicate your pet. The oil can be tricky to administer so I simply place Zara’s three drops on one of her Gizzls hand baked treats and she scoffs it in one go! She doesn’t mind the taste of the oil at all and the Amigos don’t seem bothered by it either. 

Gizzls full spectrum CBD oil go hand in hand with their treats but also work on their own. Go ahead and place your order via the Gizzls website, it’s money well spent! 

Gizzls

Thank you Gizzls for keeping Zara and the Amigos healthy! 

Follow Gizzls on social media | Facebook | Instagram and shop all their products via their website.

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Jan
2020

From The Barkery Product Review

categories: Product Reviews

When From The Barkery asked if they could send us a few goodies to make Zara feel better, I had no idea what we were about to receive! From The Barkery did not disappoint and made Zara forget that she was ever sick… 

Zara had been feeling a little under the weather when From The Barkery contacted us. We seem to think she has a little bit too much fun in the pool and as a result she feels quite sick the following days. 

the barkery dog treats

Fast forward a few weeks and let’s just say all those yummy treats have worked their magic!

We have never received such a big box filled with goodies before. Zara was in her element, and since unboxing is a family affair, of course baby Gia was there to help too. My mind was blown at the sheer generosity and thoughtfulness that went into this gift for Zara! 

the barkery blanket

In our box we received a beautiful blanket, which was an instant favourite for Zara! She couldn’t stop nuzzling it. Despite Zara having her own dedicated bed fit for a queen, she insists on sleeping on our bed so I decided to put her new From Barkery Blanket over our duvet and she absolutely loves it. At least I get to sleep with some of my own duvet now- haha! 

Zara also received a super sweet personalised collar! We all know Zara is a sassy diva so now she has the collar to prove it! 

personalised dog collar

The best part of our gift box was of course the unlimited supply of treats we received!! Zara was sent ten packets of beautifully handmade treats. Each packet is a different flavour, some of which I would like to try-haha!! 

From The Bakery has a very natural and holistic approach to their treats, each one is handmade using only the best ingredients sourced! There are zero artificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives in their treats and they only use unbleached flour. The other ingredients added are what you should find in every household fridge… Healthy fruit and veggies! 

the barkery

I would say Zara’s favourite are the blueberry and kale treats and I quite like the smell of the chamomile and honey treats. Zara has enjoyed tasting all the different flavours of the treats she received. Included in our treat stash were two packets of CBD/Hemp treats which Zara LOVES too. I’m all for treats that will help ease anxiety and in the long run help her hips, joints and legs. 

the barkery dog treats

All in all we would highly recommend From The Barkery and all their treats!! You can shop via their website or visit one of the many stockists listed on their website. Your pups will thank you and you won’t regret your purchase, only the fact that you didn’t buy enough 🙂 They also make cat and horse teats so there is something for everyone…

the barkery dog treats

THANK YOU to From The Barkery team for such a gorgeous and generous gift for Zara! 

the brakery

Be sure to follow From The Barkery on social media | Facebook | Instagram and visit their website.

There is a full video of us unboxing Zara’s beautiful gift on Instagram so be sure to watch!

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Dec
2019

Product review: Eau De Pooch

categories: Product Reviews

As the name suggests, Eau De Pooch is a posh range of grooming products for your pooch. Everything about Eau De Pooch is posh, from the name to the packaging to the actual products. Eau De Pooch is simply fabulous darling…

When Eau De Pooch wanted our opinion in their products, of course we were super excited and couldn’t wait for them to arrive! I was extremely impressed and nicely surprised with their products. I love the black and gold look of the entire range. The smell of each product is strong yet subtle. 

We received one of each in the entire range – Zara sure is a lucky pooch! 

The moisturising nose and paw butter, The feminine perfume, The masculine perfume and The natural room and linen atomizer. 

I wish I could crack the secret to applying nose and paw butter and keeping Zara calm for long enough for it to soak in and work its magic. She allows me to apply it and is rather intrigued by it but that lasts all of three seconds then she’s up, slipping around the house looking for a surface to scrape it off. But I have been applying this one to her elbow callus’ and it’s working wonders.

The feminine perfume has a lovely scent. It’s perfect for in between bath days or when your pooch just needs a fresh scent sprayed on them. Made with coconut and avocado extracts which nourish and moisturise the skin and fur. I quite enjoy this scent on Zara.

I wish my boy Oscar was here to enjoy the masculine perfume because he would totally rock it! It’s strong and manly but not OTT! It’s perfect for a stud muffin like Oscar 😉 

The room and linen atomizer is my absolute fave! We can try as hard as we like, Zara simply will not sleep on her own bed for the entire night. She sleeps for a short while then sneakily jumps up and steals our bed and duvet… So I love the linen spray because I can spray it on our bed to keep it smelling beautiful and fresh! I know it’s meant for Zara’s bed, but hey our bed is Zara’s bed-haha!! 

All Eau De Pooch products are natural and made from plant based ingredients. They have been created out of love and pure passion for all things fabulous for our darling furry loves. To make you love Eau De Pooch even more, a percentage from each sale goes to two special animal charities close to the brands heart. HONEY’S GARDEN – MEDICAL ALERT DOGS SA: whose mission is to place quality service dogs with people within South Africa who are under privileged, fighting with disabilities or diseases, and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing.  They also help with animal rescue and educate the public regarding use of service dogs in public places. The other charity they love is TEARS Animal Rescue and their mission; to help animals in distress with medical assistance, humane education, rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming.

All in all we love Eau De Pooch products! They smell fabulous, they look fabulous and the are fabulous. 

You can follow Eau De Pooch on Facebook | Instagram as well as browse their website

Thank you for reading


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