dog treats Archives - Stylish Paws

Tag: dog treats

28
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.

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.

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.

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

Thank you for reading

24
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.

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…

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

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

12
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

23
Apr
2020

Raw Love Pets Product Review

categories: Product Reviews

Zara loves treats and I love treats that are made with love and are healthy for her, so when Raw Love Pets asked us to review their treat range, I was super excited to put them to the test.

Raw Love Pets have been making pets happy with raw meals and hand-made treats since 2009! Everything about Raw Love Pets is being sustainable, using organic and reusable products.

We received a huge selection of treats to try out-much to Zara’s delight! Because we live in Zambia, all our treats are baked not raw. There are raw options if you prefer and I’m pretty sure your pups will love it.

Zara’s baked selection of Raw Love Pets included Health treats, Bedtime treats, Training treats, Venison droeworse, Venison biltong, and Venison chews. Plus something extra called Diatomaceous Earth powder.

Zara’s favourite treats of the range is definitely the Bedtime treats. Zara lives for her three Bedtime treats. Oscar used to get two treats every night at bedtime which of course Zara got too when she joined our family. When Oscar passed away we decided to give Zara an extra treat at bedtime to remember her brother by. I would say these Bedtime treats pull on a heartstring of mine, making them my favourite too. I have been keeping them in our bedroom where Zara sleeps at night. She jumps into bed and won’t take her eyes off the box until she’s had her three, and yes she can count!!

Another favourite of the selection are the training treats. They’re small and Zara thinks they’re very tasty. They are grain free, and made with Organic venison liver, lentil flour, organic rolled oats, free range eggs with no added salt, preservatives or colourants. These are a great treat to have on hand, to use as a spoil or when you want to train your pup or get her to pose for photos 😉

I also love the Health treats because I am always looking for healthy treats for Zara. Let’s be honest, not all treats out there are healthy! I do try to limit the unhealthy treats, but knowing these Raw Love Pets treats are extra healthy puts my mind at rest, especially when Zara gets at least three every time.

This might be slightly random but another thing I love about the Raw Love Pets baked treats is they don’t leave a smell on your hands. So many dog treats leave your hands smelly even after washing them. The Venison droeworse and biltong is an exception here.

If you are looking for a natural way to treat ticks and fleas then this Diatomaceous Earth powder is for you! You can either rub it onto your pups fur or add it to her food. I tried rubbing it all over Zara and it was pretty much a disaster. There was powder everywhere-haha! It’s much easier adding it to her food each night. It can also be used around the home and your garden to get rid of unwanted bugs and slugs. We have a veggie garden which is 100% wild and natural so this powder is going to come in handy-sorry Zara but I think this one is going to be for me 😉

Overall we give Raw Love Pets a pawfect rating. Everything about their treat range is fantastic! If you are looking to raw feed your pets or for some healthy but yummy treats then Raw Love Pets should be your brand of choice. I will certainly stock up when Zara’s stash is finished. Thank you Raw Love Pets, we love you.

You can find Raw Love Pets here: www.rawlovepets.co.za

They are FULLY operational during the current nationwide lockdown happening in South Africa! Go on, order some treats, teach your pup a new trick or simply spoil them right now.

Follow on social media | Facebook | Instagram

Thank you for reading

21
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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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…

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

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!

Thank you for reading

25
Jul
2018

Cheat Treats

categories: Recipes

It’s no secret that I love making treats for Oscar and Zara. Be it baked biscuits, frozen lollies or stuffed Kong’s, I love finding what they love and being creative. But sometimes life gets a little crazy and I don’t always have loads of time to spend in the kitchen thinking of ideas, baking hundred of biscuits.

The thought occurred to me while browsing the isles in the grocery store, don’t ask me what I was doing in the baby food isle since we don’t have any two legged babies just yet… But I thought to myself if the food is good enough for a baby, surely it’s good enough for the babies I do currently have? Of course I looked at all the ingredient lists and made sure there was nothing unsafe for Oscar and Zara to eat. I chose a few flavours I thought they would enjoy and started thinking of ‘short cut’ ways to make them treats…..

You can choose which ever brand you love, I chose these Squish ones simply because I know some moms who have given them to their babies, but I will be on the lookout for some organic ones.

When you start thinking about it, the ideas are endless! But here are a few which will satisfy your pooch:

Frozen Kong:

Squeeze the entire packet into the Kong, top up with yoghurt if it doesn’t fill it completely and you’re done! Pop it in the freezer over night and there you have your frozen Kong for the next day. If your pup is like Oscar and prefers a fresh Kong, simply squeeze the Squish into the Kong until its full and then give it to your pooch. You might want to put a towel down since it can get a bit messy!

Ice Cubes:

Squirt a little into ice trays and freeze. These are great little treats for your pups to enjoy, especially when it’s hot!

Lollies:

You will need an ice lolly maker tray for this one. Simply squeeze the Squish into the lolly moulds and pop them into the freezer until frozen.

Of course you can add frozen berries, coconut oil or peanut butter to any of these ideas to spruce them up. All of the above ideas will take you less than 10 minutes to make!

Biscuits:

Making baked biscuits using the Squish eliminates you having to think of a flavour for your pups treats (banana and peanut butter, carrot and apple etc etc..) The flavours are already made for you!

Ingredients

1 Squish packet

1 cup flour

1 egg

Directions

Mix together all your ingredients in a bowl. If the dough is too sticky then add extra flour, if it is too dry then add a splash of water. Once you have a nice dough, roll it out onto a floured surface. Now because time is of the essence here, I skip the cookie cutter part and simply cut the rolled dough into small squares using a sharp knife then scoop them up and place them onto a greased baking tray and bake for +-20mins or until cooked through and golden in colour. Store the cooled teats in an air tight container for up to four weeks.

I hope you can now find the time to make some yummy treats for your pups. Life gets hectic for all of us but our pups deserve wholesome, healthy teats too. And remember to be creative and try different ideas and combinations. Have fun!

Thank you for reading

30
Mar
2018

Easter Yummies…

categories: Holiday fun, Oscar, Zara

Easter, that holiday time where there is an endless supply of chocolate. Chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, chocolate chickens, chocolate-chocolate-chocolate. I have quite a sweet tooth and I absolutely LOVE chocolate so these holidays are definitely one of my favourite to celebrate!

We all know the serious dangers when it comes to dogs and chocolate! Ours is always packed away in a sealed tub on a high shelf. Oscar has zero chance of reaching it with his little legs-haha… And being in a tightly sealed tub Zara has zero chance of getting to it too. But did you know that dogs can enjoy some carob chocolate? Oscar and Zara absolutely love it and I make little carob treats for them on special occasions so they feel extra special and included in the celebrations. My Easter blog post last year focused on carob doggy Easter treats (read here), so this year I am using it in a different way.

Carob comes from the carob tree. Inside the carob pod is a sweet pulp that is then dried, roasted and ground into carob powder. It is naturally sweet and has a slight nutty taste. Carob is completely free of the toxic compounds that are found in chocolate and has a moderate amount of fibre, potassium and vitamins. Carob is also a great healthy alternative for chocolate for humans and boasts a range of health benefits. You can find carob chip and carob chocolate bars in selected health stores.

I like to keep carob powder in the pantry because it has such a variety of ways I can use it for Oscar and Zara. I love experimenting with it and seeing what they love and what they don’t. Zara usually loves everything, it is Oscar that I need to impress 😉

My Easter recipes are pretty simple and seriously yummy this year. There is one for us humans-which is a little different to the traditional way and one for the pups… Enjoy

Humans only Giant Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

Hot Cross Bun

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbs yeast

4 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp nutmeg

2 eggs

4 tbs soft butter

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (because raisins are the devil hahaha)

Depending on how sweet you like them you can add an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of sugar.

Syrup

1/4 cup water

1/4 sugar

Cream Cheese Icing

1/2 cup icing sugar

2 tbs cream cheese

1 tbs soft butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tbs water

Directions

Combine the warm milk, sugar and yeast and let it rest for the yeast to activate.
I use an electric mixer for the next step because it’s easier and quicker. Mix together your flour, salt and nutmeg. Add the eggs and butter to the yeast mixture and stir then pour it over the flour and using the dough hook beaters, mix until your dough looks lovely and smooth and well combined. You can add your chocolate chips at this stage and carry on mixing. If the dough is too wet then add more flour, if it is too dry add a little water.
You will need to let your dough rise, so lightly oil a big bowl and place your dough in the bowl. Cover with clingfilm and place it in a warm spot so it can rise. It is done when it has doubled in size.
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Take your dough out the bowl and punch it down then break off small parts (mine turned out to be huge) and begin rolling your hot cross buns into balls. Place these on a greased baking tray and cover with a clean cloth and allow them to rise again.
Then bake them for +-20 minutes or until cooked and golden brown.
To make the syrup glaze simply mix the sugar and water in a pan on a low heat, allow it to just go a bit thicker then remove from the heat.
For the icing you beat together all the ingredients with an electric beater. You can either put it into a piping bag to neatly pipe onto the top of your buns or you can spoon it on, it’s entirely up to you-the icing is really yummy!
Once the buns are cooked, remove them from the oven and brush the top with your sugar syrup. Allow them to cool completely before decorating them with the icing. You can even add a few more chocolate chips on top-get creative! Then ENJOY!!

Doggy Hot Cross BunsIngredients

4 cups flour

1 tbs honey

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tbs baking soda

1 cup milk

1/2 cup organic greek yoghurt

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbs butter

Carob chips

Syrup

The same as above

Cream Cheese Icing

The same as above

Directions

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.
Combine all your dry ingredients. Combine all the wet ingredients then add to the dry flour mix and add the carob chips.
Mix together until a dough starts forming then tip it out onto a floured surface and knead for a few minutes.
Break off small balls and round them into shape and place them onto a greased baking tray.
Bake for +-30 minutes or until cooked and golden brown.
Remove from the oven and you can use the same syrup mixture from the human buns to glaze these ones. You can also use the human buns icing mixture to decorate these yummy buns for your pus. They sure will love these!!

Along with enjoying these yummy hot cross buns and spending quality time together, Oscar and Zara of course had to dress up. Oscar decided he wanted to try become a chicken and Zara became a bunny-weiler… And of course the three musketeers wish you all a very Hoppy Easter too.

Whatever your Easter plans are, stay safe and enjoy precious family time!!

Thank you for reading

14
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

19
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.

18
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.