Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday: Turkey Meatballs

Chewy loves meatballs, but store-bought doggy meatballs usually contain a whole bunch of additives, so I decided to make some healthier ones. These are super simple to make- the most difficult part is chopping the veggies. I used carrots, celery and pumpkin, but you can also substitute using other dog-friendly veggies if you wish. I also used ground flax seed, which contains omega-3's for healthy skin & coat. [Complete recipe at the end]

Chewy was really excited about the meatballs from the moment I took the turkey out of the fridge, because MEAT!

All you have to do is mix everything together,

make them into meatballs, and pop them in the oven. I used parchment paper so that I wouldn't need to add more oil by greasing the pan. You can make them a smaller size as well, just adjust the baking time.

Before and after baking

Then let them cool, and feed the pup(s)! I served them to Chewy on a bed of leftover pumpkin puree with unflavored sweet potato fries and cucumber slices.

...I am waiting...

He of course went for the meatballs first, because he does not understand the concept of saving the best for last.

*scarf scarf scarf* ... Can I perhaps have some more?

These are meant as a treat, not to replace your dog's regular, balanced meals.


Turkey Meatballs for Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1 medium sized carrot, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup plain pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup quick cook oats
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley or 1 tbsp. dried parsley
• 2 tbsp. ground flax seed

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix well. Form 1.5" diameter balls (makes ~16) and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until cooked through and lightly browned, about 20-30 min. Let cool completely before serving. Store uneaten meatballs in the fridge up to 1 week, or freeze for longer.

Wordless Wednesday

Preparing for a Snowstorm with Your Dog in Mind

We're expecting a blizzard this evening in our part of New York, with an accumulation of 20+ inches of snow by tomorrow night. All the humans here are scurrying about preparing for the big storm, stocking up on food, gas, and shovels, but don't forget about necessities for your pups! These are the things that Chewy always has on hand when a storm is rolling through:

1. Food and water

When the roads are treacherous or you are snowed in, you don't want to have to make a trip to the store because you ran out of your dog's favorite kibble. It's always good to have some potable water on hand, as well.

So many yum yums! You've been hiding ALL of these?!?

2. Toys

When you are forced to stay inside, boredom can ensue. And that's why Chewy has lots of toys! They can provide mental and physical exercise for your pup to ease the cabin fever. This is a moot point if your dog does not like toys, though. Instead, you can play games like hide and seek or find the treat, or perhaps just snuggle. Or even do some training.

Did you spot Chewy? He kinda blends in.

Shaky shaky!

3. Dog boots

The outdoors can be a horrible place for paw pads during and after a storm. Strong winds may scatter tree branches and debris, and jagged ice may form after cycles of sun during the day and freezing temperatures during the night. Road salt and sand can be irritating to doggy feet, and frolicking in the snow tends to dry out Chewy's paw pads. For these reasons, Chewy usually wears dog boots when he goes out in inclement weather. 

This is how Chewy feels about dog boots...

...but they help prevent icicle foot...

...so he can focus on this!

Snow prance #goldenretriever

A photo posted by Chewy (@itschewytime) on Feb 5, 2014 at 2:00pm PST

4. First Aid Kit

In case your dog cuts his paw pad on something (because he wasn't wearing boots!) or sustains some other non-emergency injury, it is good to have some basic first aid supplies on hand. We have anti-septic sprays, bandages, styptic powder (to stop bleeding), and paw pad moisturizers, among other things. Also make sure you have enough supply of any medications your dog needs.

5. Flashlights & batteries, candles & lighters, charged electronic devices

Strong winds could potentially knock down trees and take down power lines, so we always have multiple flashlights and fresh batteries, as well as candles and lighters. You don't want to accidentally step on a tail because you were wandering around in the dark! 

Have your electronic devices fully charged so that if there is a power outage, you can still receive alerts, report emergencies, and contact concerned family/friends. You never know when your dog will get into something they shouldn't and you need to call the vet for advice! We also have a battery-operated radio so we can stay up to date with the latest storm news. 

[Be sure to keep pets away from open flames!]

6. Extra blankets or dog sweaters/coats

If the power goes out, we have no heat, and it is COLD in the middle of a snowstorm! While Chewy's higher core temperature (compared to humans) and fluffy double coat makes him a nice footwarmer, it may not be enough when it is truly cold in the house. Because he does not like to get too hot, I give him a blanket when I think he looks cold, and he can shake it off himself when he gets hot.

Comfy, cozy!

A smaller or less furry dog might appreciate a sweater or coat to keep warm.

After Hurricane Sandy we had no power/heat, so I put my old kitty fleece on Chewy in case he was cold. He looks like he's ready to break out some hip hop moves with his uneven pant legs and bling! ~6 months I think #goldenretriever #throwbackthursday

A photo posted by Chewy (@itschewytime) on May 29, 2014 at 7:38am PDT

Stay safe!

Outtakes, because Chewy is sometimes a distracted model:

Wordless Wednesday

Supervisor Chewy and the New Storage Unit

Chewy loves to supervise his humans. He watches us vacuum, following the evil device from room to room to keep an eye on its activities, while still maintaining a safe distance. He inspects all packages, shopping bags and sometimes even coats that enter the house. He also makes sure to watch us while we eat so he can get a share of all the good stuff. One more thing he enjoys supervising is furniture assembly:

Got some new #ikea cabinets yesterday and Chewy was supervising the assembly, then this happened. #goldenretriever #sillydog

A photo posted by Chewy (@itschewytime) on Jul 22, 2014 at 8:49am PDT

This time we got a shiny, new teal storage unit from IKEA, and of course Chewy was in on the action. We don't have a coffee table because Chewy likes to launch himself on and off the couches, and there's nothing between the couches because he likes to hop from one to the other. So, I finally decided to get something to put against the wall for setting down food/beverages, and with bonus storage! 

Chewy takes supervising very seriously, and is prone to micromanaging:

Inspecting the box

Tasting the box

Unpacking the box
!!! Always be sure to keep small parts away from your pets !!!

Reading the instructions

Watching from above

Taking all the credit

Modeling "his" work

Final inspection

Project complete!

This storage unit was much more difficult to assemble than I expected! It took a lot of force to keep the seams tight, and I even cracked the coating in one spot from hitting it too hard (but it's hidden against the wall!). It was definitely more fun with Chewy around, though. His silly antics always lighten up the mood!

Do you have a 4-legged micromanager in your house?

Wordless Wednesday