Easter is right around the corner. Easter is a sure sign of Spring and there may be some treats involved if you celebrate with friends and family. As we've talked in the past on Dog Blesses, pets are part of the family and if everyone is enjoying a treat, well, they shouldn't be left out is the thought. Problem is, a lot of people treats don't translate well in to pet treats, so whaddya do?
Enter Jodi Jarvis-Therrian! She's our CPDT-KA CTDI Certified Dog Trainer and not only is she out to help your pet live it's best life, she's out to help you help them do just that! You can make treats at home that your pet will not only love, but it will be great for them and you can slip in ingredients that they might otherwise turn their nose up at. Carrots? Oats? Spinach and applesauce? Would your pet just waltz up and eat those? Chances are probably not, BUT if you follow the steps and the recipe provided, you'll see that it's a sincere possibility!
We dropped in to one of our sponsors to film a few episodes. We're in the really wonderful surroundings of Must Love Dogs in Grand Haven for a few weeks and Jodi is not only going to talk Easter treats, but she's going to begin to introduce some new friends that are looking for their forever home who are currently housed in a place that is very near and dear to her heart. Take a listen.
With a little knowledge in your ammo belt, you are ready to not only face Easter, but any other time that requires a positive reinforcement with a healthy and nutritious treat for your dog that they won't even know what hit them. You'll find the recipe below and in the next couple of weeks we'll be talking more about the nutrition and digestive issues with your pet! Stay tuned!
Hoppin Happy for Carrots Dog Cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
For the orange part of the carrot:
2 cups pureed or grated carrots
1 heaping Tbs cinnamon
1 egg
2 Tbs coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Mix well or put together in food processor
Add about 3 cups Oat, almond or coconut flour (or mixture of the three.)
Add a ltitle bit at a time, until dough like consistency. Chill for at least an hour.
For the green the part of the carrot:
10 oz pkg frozen spinach
1/2 cup boiling water
Pour boiling water over spinach and let sit for a few minutes (the water will turn green and help to color the dough)
1 heaping Tbs cinnamon
1 egg
2 Tbs coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Mix all including green water, well or put together in food processor.
Add about 3 cups Oat, almond or coconut flour (or mixture of the three.)
Add a ltitle bit at a time, until dough like consistency. Chill for at least an hour.
Roll out orange and cut in the shape of a carrot with a knife.
Transfer with a flat spatula to a parchment paper covered cookie sheet
Pinch off some of the green dough and form your carrot greens, push them down on the top of the orange shape.
Take any leftover dough and press on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Can be cut into bite size dog treats quickly with a pizza cutter.
Bake for about 20-30 minutes till slightly crunchy.
Cool and store in sealed container in the refrigerator. Remember with no preservatives they will mold if not chilled.
