Summer is in full swing for us and Zara couldn’t be happier. She’s swimming everyday living her best life of summer 2020.
Download your October calendar here
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by 
October
categories: Calendar
by by Tag: stylish paws
by Activated Charcoal Dog Treats
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
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.
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
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by Hello September
categories: Calendar
Happy Birthday month to my little legend Oscar! He may no longer be with us on earth but not a day goes by that we do not think about him.
Each September since he passed I think of him a lot more and my heart hurts a little more.
Download your September calendar here
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by Zara turns 4
categories: Zara
Happy 4th birthday Zara! I can’t believe Zara has been with us for four whole years already. On one hand it feels like the other day we went to collect this small(ish) bundle of fluff to bring home to Oscar. And then I think how much has happened in our lives the past four years and I cannot believe how times flies.
In the four years since Zara became a member of our family, the three Amigos joined too, she’s had 2 TPLO surgeries, I turned 30-eeek! We got engaged and married (officially), we lost Oscar, we had baby Gia, we traveled and we had a whole bunch of fun in between.
On Zara’s birthday last year, baby Gia was exactly that, a baby. This year she’s a tiny walking talking human who Zara can interact with. Zara loves having someone else to harass in the house and Gia is just as obsessed. So much can happen in a year and this past one was no different.
It’s fair to say twenty-twenty has not lived up to most peoples expectations however I do feel that having months of staying in rather than going out has made our family stronger especially the bond between Zara and Gia.
Zara is always close to Gia. If Gia is playing in her bedroom, Zara is there too just watching. If Gia is reading in her play corner, Zara is there too listening to Gia ramble on. If Gia is playing outside, Zara is watching over her and of course looking out for any lizard action too. If Gia is eating, Zara is right by her side waiting for any leftovers. If Gia watches Paw Patrol on tv, Zara is watching too. In the same way that Zara is always close by when Gia is doing something, Gia enjoys being close by when Zara is doing something. Gia loves exploring the garden with Zara, the two of them go looking for lizards and watch the birds fly in and out of the trees.
Since Zara and Gia are always together it’s kind of a no brainer that I wanted to include Gia in the birthday celebrations and that meant making pupcakes that both Zara and Gia can enjoy!
Zara’s Birthday Pupcakes
Banana bread & Peanut butter icing pupcakes
Ingredients
3 large very ripe bananas
1/2 cup melted butter
2 large eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
Directions
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Line your muffin tray with cupcake liners. Then in a large mixing bowl mash the bananas well and add the melted butter and brown sugar and mix well. Stir in the beaten eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Don’t over mix. Scoop your cupcake batter into each cupcake holder and place in the oven. Reduce the heat immediately down to 180. Bake for +- 20/25 minutes or until each pupcake is cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool before topping with the icing.
Peanut butter icing
Ingredients
2 cups plain thick yoghurt
2+ tbs less sugar less salt peanut butter
Directions
Place the yoghurt and peanut butter into a mixing bowl. Using an electric beater, beat until the peanut butter is whipped into the yoghurt. Whip for about 2-3 minutes.
Once your pupcakes are cool, pipe your peanut butter icing and decorate as you wish.
You can store un-iced pupcakes in the freezer in an airtight container, simply take it out the freezer and let it defrost on its own before serving.
We love spoiling Zara with gifts on her birthday and this year was no different. If you follow us on Instagram you’ll know how much Zara loves to swim! Zara’s pool broke just before winter so an obvious gift was of course a new pool for her, I can’t wait to set it up and fill it so she can have some pool fun again. I also added some fun pool toys and some pretty pool floats all bought on Amazon.
Click here to view our Amazon store with all our favourite pet goodies.
We love celebrating Zara’s birthday, after all she is a very important member of our family. To some she’s just a dog but to us she’s one of our baby’s and always will be!
If your pup is having a birthday soon or you just feel like baking something yummy we hope you try out this pupcake recipe and don’t forget to tag us @stylish_paws
Thank you for reading.
by Scruffs Luxury Dog Beds Product Review
categories: Product Reviews
Zara loves to nap, especially when her baby sister Gia naps. So it’s only fitting that Zara naps on a Scruffs Luxury Dog Bed.
Scruffs was born and bread in Britain, however you can purchase their luxury pet beds all over the world, including South Africa. They have a wide variety of shapes and sizes with luxury beds on offer for everyone and every home. Zara was lucky enough to receive the Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress all the way from the UK and she loves it! It’s soft and puffy and she makes herself very comfortable on it.
The Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress that Zara received is lightweight and easy to move around. If your pup is like Zara and has different spots around the house she likes to nap, then this luxury bed is perfect. Zara loves being tucked under my feet while I’m writing or crafting at my desk. Had I known she would want to be under my feet I would have made that space a little bit bigger, but Zara manages to squish herself under my feet and loves having puppy dreams while I get creative. I decided to put her new Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress under my desk so the space is a little comfier for her. The mattress is of course larger than the space but because its so lovely and soft I can squish it up a little. Zara definitely approves!
It’s also a great mattress to put in your car for your pup to have a comfy spot to sit or lie on while you travel. It’s soft and puffy so you can squish it into a small space if need be. It also has non slip material underneath so it won’t slide around while you drive. This mattress will definitely accompany us on future adventures.
The Scruffs luxury Windsor Dog Mattress is made with 100% recycled green fibre filling which of course is better for the environment. It also comes in a variety of colours to suit your home decor and personal preferences as well as size options.
Overall I am very impressed with the Scruffs brand and the bed Zara received. It easily fits into our home in every room. It’s not a mission to pick up and move around. It easily fits into the washing machine and because it is lightweight the machine handles it easily which makes me happy because Zara’s bedding is washed every week to keep it clean, healthy and smelling pretty- fit for a princess!
Thank you Scruffs for sending us such a wonderful and diverse luxury mattress for Zara to enjoy! You have opened my eyes to your amazing brand and I hope I can inspire other dog moms and dads to spoil their pups with a luxury Scruffs bed too.
Don’t forget to follow Scruffs on Social Media
Instagram @petslovescruffs @scruffssouthafrica
Facebook @petslovescruffs @scruffssouthafrica
And use the hashtag #scruffssnaps
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by 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.
by August
categories: Calendar
Hello August. August is another exciting month the year for us because it is Zara’s birthday month! She will be turning 4 on the 28th. On one hand it feels like Zara has been with us forever but on the other hand I can’t believe she is turning 4!
It will be the second birthday Zara gets to celebrate with her baby sis Gia. Last year August Gia was only 3 months old so I think Zara’s birthday celebrations this year will be filled with a whole lot more fun… I can’t wait!
Download your August calendar here
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by Dogs and Babies… A year on
categories: Zara
When I first posted about dogs and babies, a year ago, baby Gia was less than a month old and I was still in South Africa waiting for the doctors clearance that we were both able to fly. So much has happened in that year…
This topic also sparks a lot of interest from my amazing Instagram community. I cannot thank my followers enough for welcoming baby Gia the way that you have! You all LOVE seeing Zara and Gia together, you love to watch their bond grow, as do I! Gia has grown into a beautiful, kind and loving one year old and Zara is learning about life with a tiny almost walking human, but has embraced her role as big sis in ways we never imagined.
Our main goal with the girls has always been and always will be for them to respect each other. They both require their own space, time alone as well as family time. From the very beginning we have been teaching and showing both Zara and Gia how to interact in a respectful way. For example: Gia is not allowed to crawl or stand all over Zara in her attempt to get onto the couch. Zara is not allowed to push over, stand on Gia or steal Gia’s food from under her nose. Things happen, Gia is a one year old and Zara is an excitable 53kg Rottweiler! The girls are not perfect nor perfectly behaved all the time, it’s how we manage it and teach them what’s acceptable that’s important.
We got our fair share of ‘warnings’ when I was pregnant with Gia and we still get raised eyebrows when we mention we have a one year old and a Rottweiler. The judgement only makes us want to showcase the girls even more.
Here are some of the things we did when baby Gia arrived home and things we still do to make sure Zara feels very much included and part of her pack…
No area is off limits
No area is off limits in our home. I got a lot of warnings and even read numerous articles that said pets should be kept out of the nursery. I’m not quite sure what keeping your pets out of your baby’s room would do… but it wasn’t going to happen in our home. Zara helped us prepare Gia’s room which was our way of showing her that change is coming. As a result of including Zara, she now leaves a toy in Gia’s room every night and it’s also her favourite place to take a nap.
Sharing toys
The girls share toys. Yes Gia is at the age where everything goes into her mouth, as long as she can’t choke on it, I am totally fine with it. I think the world needs to worry about a lot more than dog germs. Both Zara and Gia have recently been dewormed so in my eyes it’s good for them to share toys. It teaches Gia important lessons, so important that Gia now puts her comfort rabbit toy in her mouth just like Zara would to transport it… Genius I tell you 😉
Learning to share food
It’s no secret Zara lives for food! I always knew the starting solids stage with Gia would spark a lot of interest from Zara and it definitely did. Without a doubt meal times are Zara’s favourite! We’ve had to teach Zara that she can’t steal food from Gia’s bowl or out her hand. We have taught Zara the clues Gia gives to say ok you can have this now. Zara has been very patient and she knows that when Gia is done there is always something for her. Of course this doesn’t happen 100% of the time, just last week Zara decided to steal Gia’s entire meal. But it’s ok, not the end of the world. We are all still learning.
Showing affection
We have never stopped showing Zara how much we love and appreciate her. We might have a tiny human who demands so much time, energy and love but we include Zara in all of that too. Gia sees how much we kiss and hug Zara and it has become her favourite thing to do… Kiss Zara! We also allow Zara to kiss Gia, why wouldn’t we. Gia’s first kiss from Zara was the day after I arrived home with Gia. It was important that Zara knew it was ok to love and show love towards this new human that is now living in her space.
Being respectful
Respect is an important part of Zara and Gia’s relationship. They both need to respect each other and learn each others boundaries. I am extremely lucky to be a stay at home mom so I am always around making sure boundaries and limits are not crossed. Gia is only one year old and still has plenty to learn, so when I see Zara has had enough kisses from her baby sis I gently remove Gia from the situation and direct her attention towards another activity. In the same way when Zara is licking Gia’s face ferociously to welcome her home from our shopping trip, I divert Zara’s attention so Gia can catch her breath.
Both Zara and Gia are our girls. One I gave birth to and the other I didn’t but that doesn’t mean Zara cannot be a fully fledged member of our family. It is possible to keep your fur babies as part of your family when you welcome a human baby. I struggle to understand why some people find it so difficult. Some days are harder than others, being new parents is tough. There is nothing easy about raising a tiny human but I honestly couldn’t imagine doing this without Zara. She’s licked away plenty tears and endured hours of cuddling when we are too tired to run around and play. Zara has embraced her role as big sis and we couldn’t be prouder!
If you are pregnant or recently welcomed a newborn into your family and have fur babies too, I really hope this post has inspired you. It is ok to have pets and babies!
ps: The photos used in this post are 100% natural and unfiltered. They’re personal photos I wanted to share to give you a glimpse of how my girls interact on a real level. They’re not posed and beautifully edited. They’re beautiful moments simply captured on my iPhone 🙂
Thank you for reading.
by 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.
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by 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
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