PetSugar

Doggies Sit and Stay For a Bit O Luv Beef Jerky Treats

PetSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:10:14 -0700

I just couldn't resist putting up this picture of little Samson as he sat nicely and waited for his Bit O Luv Bistro Beef dog treat. It's just too cute! Bit O Luv's philosophy about dogs not just being pets, but being a part of your family, goes right in line with my own. So naturally, I wanted to give the treats a shot. Well, not me, but Samson and North anyway.

Bit O Luv makes all their treats here in the US without any by-products or fillers. And their jerky? Slow roasted. Sounds better than some of the things that I eat on occasion. If Samson's excitement to eat the jerky bits was any indication (well, let's face it - this guy doesn't discriminate), I think your doggie will love them too. Just make sure you check the feeding instructions on the back of the package so you don't overdo it. Just cause your pup is a good boy, doesn't mean he should be overweight too!

Quiz: Guess How Many Calories Are in These Dog Treats

PetSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:00:19 -0700

Admittedly, I've never been a calorie counter. Even if you're really good about reading your food's packaging, how often do you do the same for your pet? Other than checking out the ingredients of his food, I've never thought about the calories in treats I give North other than some seem like they pack quite a few . . . based on his look afterward! I've rounded up the counts of common dog snacks - see if you're surprised with the findings and take this quiz!

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This Just In: Getting Greenies Just Got a Little More Difficult . . .

PetSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:00:44 -0700

Rather controversial but still well-loved by pups across the nation, the manufacturer of Greenies just announced today that the product will now be offered exclusively through vet hospitals and pet specialty stores. The hard treats help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, but some dogs have trouble chewing and properly digesting them . . . which leaves many animal lovers confused and on the fence about the snacks. Citing studies that show nearly 75 percent of pets exhibit some stage of oral disease by age 3, Carolyn Hanigan, vice president of marketing for Nutro Products, Inc. says:

We believe that pet medical professionals at veterinary hospitals and well-trained, knowledgeable staff at pet specialty stores are best equipped to answer pet owners’ questions about our products, and to make the right recommendation.

I've given these treats to North in the past and, while he'll gladly gobble most anything, I would never offer one unsupervised. What do you think of the news? Does it change your take on the toothbrush-shaped snacks?

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St. Patty's Day Treats For Your Four-Legged Friends

PetSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Although Samson isn't Irish (obvs), that didn't stop LilPeaPod from making her little guy some special St. Patrick's Day treats to enjoy so he wasn't left out of the celebration fun. She sent in a few photos, and describes how she made the Irish bars with one of my household's favorite ingredients: peanut butter! She writes:

After attending the St. Patrick's Day parade this weekend in San Francisco, I had enough Irish treats and Guinness to last me a week! Since this was Samson's first St. Patty's Day, I didn't want to leave the little guy out of the fun, and decided to make a green-themed treat for him. I took the Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookie recipe you posted last year, and cut them into small, bite sized bars. As you can see, I added to the recipe by topping the cookies with a cream cheese and honey frosting. With just a few drops of organic food coloring that I found at my local Whole Foods, I got the nice green tint. It was super easy to make, and my little guy gobbled them up!

View 5 Photos ›

Those cookies definitely look good enough to eat! Check out the full cookie and frosting recipe when you read more.

Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies For You and Fido
Petville

Great tasting cookies that are safe for your pup, and will appeal to your palette as well.

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons of sesame seed oil
1 cup peanut butter-creamy or chunky
1 cup low-fat milk
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups of uncooked oatmeal
Honey (no more than 1/2 cup) – as a yummy extra

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease cookie sheet(only 1 needed)
3. Put 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 cup milk, 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons of oil in a bowl, mix well.
4. Heat peanut butter and honey(together) in microwave for 30 seconds and mix into bowl mentioned in #3.
5. Pour 2 cups of oatmeal into bowl and mix well.
6. Pour and spread into cookie sheet.
7. Take 1/2 cup oatmeal and spread on the top and tap down with fork to make it stick when done cooking.
8. Bake for 25 minutes, longer if you want them crispy.
9. Hot or cold, cut treats into 3-inches by 1 1/2-inches and store in sealed container.

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Doggie Friendly Cream Cheese Frosting
Original Recipe

Great topping for your pet-friendly cookies!

Ingredients

5 ounces of low fat cream cheese
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of honey

Directions
Mix cream cheese, canola oil, vanilla, and honey in a bowl. For color, use one or two drops of food coloring. Frost cookies with mixture and enjoy!

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Cloud Star Farmstand Slices Send Pups to Cloud Nine

PetSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:00:06 -0800

There are so many tempting treats out there for pets, but it's tricky when we're drawn to ones we'd want to eat ourselves based on looks . . . with no clue what's inside. That's not the case with these nutritious treats minus artificial colors or flavors – they're human-grade ingredients meant for healthy pets. Cloud Star Farmstand Slices in Apple ($6) or Carrot ($6) are made from dehydrated fruit and veggies just for furballs – simply offer whole to bigger dogs or break up into tiny training treats, too. Yum!

Real Meat Treats Not "Meat-Flavored"

PetSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:00:34 -0800

If Samson even knew what I was writing about, I bet his lil mouth would be watering – after all, he totally loved those wild-salmon yummies! Similarly, these healthy dog treats all feature a first ingredient that's surely also number one on your dog's list: meat. Each variety features three skinny layers of codfish (rich in vitamins A and D and omega 3s and 6s) and two thick ones of actual meat blended with sweet potatoes (high in potassium). I'm betting my nonvegetarian pet would love to get his chompers on these! Check out the meaty offerings in a widget below.

Pampered Pals: Petit Four Legs

PetSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:30:45 -0700

OK, OK, I've got a sweet tooth. I could pass up fries or other savory snack, but show me a cupcake or some ice cream . . . and suddenly there's an empty spot in my tummy. Now I think these pastry chef created Petit Fours look absolutely fab . . . and would make a sweet gift for me my doggie!

Made of peanut butter or carob chip flavors, the small snacks are hand decorated with all pooch safe products. Even the packaging of the petit fours or truffles is presentation-worthy and a totally unique gift for your next pet party. Check 'em out below!

Do Tell: Would You Feed Your Pet a Free Sample?

PetSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:00:26 -0700

Last week a Sugar staffer left me this sample she was handed on her way to work. Sadly, it's not for dogs since North is always up for a taste test, but it got me thinking about our pets with sensitive tummies. Since my pooch is healthy, has no allergies, and loves eating even food I don't give him, I would totally mix in a trial product . . . after reading the label of course. Would you do this and has any sample off the street ever led to an entirely new meal plan for your furry friend?

Growing Up Samson: Making Neighborhood Friends

PetSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:00:23 -0700

Sugar staffer LilPeaPod has a usual route for Samson's daily potty walks – she heads over to a small patch of grass nestled a few blocks from her apartment. And since Samson is so darn cute (and totally irresistible), it seems he's found himself a few friends along the way:

Every day at lunch I take Samson on his usual potty walk route. We walk by a few shops on the way, but there is one salon in particular that Samson has taken a shine to. Why? I think it might be cause of the free doggie biscuits the awesome salon owner gives him when we pass by. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Aww, it's good to see that smooshy is making friends! I can say for sure that North knows exactly where to go in our neighborhood to load up on some free yums. Do your pups remember where the freebies are in your town?

Growing Up Samson: Training With Simon and Huey Treats

PetSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:00:48 -0700

Training a puppy is one thing I can't say that I miss. It can be very time consuming and takes some serious dedication just to get your pup to "sit," "lie down" and "stay"! And don't even get me started on potty training! Yeesh! So recently, LilPeaPod shared her secret weapon to getting Samson to pay attention: Simon and Huey Training Treats!

Samson still likes his Zukes Minis, but after I got a free sample of Simon and Huey's from Babies, Samson was all over it! He really likes the Peanut Butter Molasses line that also stuffs oats, honey, and unsweetened carob into their soft little treat. He can't get enough, and now he even knows how to "stay"!

The great thing about Simon and Huey is they only use all natural ingredients, so you won't find anything in their treats or food that you can't pronounce. Plus, the company was started after the founders began making homemade food for their own pups, so you can trust they won't skimp on the goods. Congrats to Samson on learning the basics! He's getting so big, isn't he?