K-9 LifeSavers

If your K-9 has been sitting patiently in the doorway of your kitchen while you whip up batches of holiday treats for the family, it just might be time to show your puppy some love with his very own holiday cookies!

K-9 Candy Canes

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp dry milk
• 1 1/2 tbsp dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 3 tbsp rolled oats
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Yogurt for icing

Directions:

• If using a bread machine, mix all ingredients together and place everything in machine on the dough cycle.
• If using a mixer or by hand:
   - Dissolve the yeast into water
   - Mix in the vegetable oil
   - Mix in the flours, dry milk, sugar, cornmeal, oats and cinnamon
   - Knead the dough (using hands or dough hook on a mixer) into a ball, cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes.

When dough is ready divide it into 3 pieces and roll each piece out to 1/4" thickness.

Use a candy cane shaped cookie cutter* to cut out your treats and place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake the treats at 275 degrees for about an hour, checking to make sure they don't get to brown.  Turn off the oven and allow them to remain in the oven to dry overnight. When completely dry, the treats should be dry, hard and crisp.

Decorate the treats by painting stripes with the yogurt as icing.

The treats may be stored at room temperature for a month as long as they have been sufficiently dried.

* If you don't have a candy cane cookie cutter, you may roll out small ropes and shape them into candy canes

We think candy canes bring Joy and this little girl would love to find a home filled with homemade goodness! Only weeks old (born Nov 5) Joy and her siblings are a happy bunch that are spending their days playing and nosing around, hoping to discover a forever home!

Holiday Tip:

If you consider your K-9 a member of the family, you’ll want him to partake in the festivities, but remember turkey bones can be a choking hazard for dogs, and access to holiday leftovers can leave him with an upset stomach, so make him a special treat of his own like these Thanksgiving Bones!

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground turkey
2 eggs
2 cups cooked rice
8 oz. peas
3 carrots, diced
1 apple, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well by hand. On baking sheet, form into the shape of a large dog bone. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Let cool and serve.

If you happen to be looking for an addition to your family this Thanksgiving, allow us to introduce Archie.  This happy little guy radiates all the fun life has to offer and would be so thankful for a loving home. If you're looking for a little ray of sunshine, let us know!

It's back to school time for many of us, and if your K-9 is joining the ranks of those in classes around the country, consider taking along these homemade treats with tuna to keep his attention focused directly on you in the chaos of a class!

Tuna Training Treats
• 2 6-oz. cans tuna in water, do not drain
• 2 eggs
• 1 to 1 1/2 c. flour (rice flour is best, but any kind will do)
• Parmesan cheese

Mash tuna and water from cans in a bowl with a fork to get the clumps out.
Use a food processor or blender to liquefy, you may need to add a few extra drops of water.
Pour tuna into a bowl and add flour and eggs, mix until you achieve a consistency similar to cake mix. 
Spread the mixture into a greased pan and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, until the edge pull away and the texture is somewhat putty-like.
Use a pizza cutter to slice into tiny squares.

The weather doesn't show any signs of cooling off anytime soon, so refresh your K-9 with this super simple Frosty Paw recipe.

Frosty Paws
• 1 ripe banana
• 4 oz fat free yogurt–vanilla or banana
• 2 oz water

Put all ingredients in blender and puree. Pour into ice cube trays or cut down Dixie cups. Freeze.

If you're not sure if you're in it for the love haul, but would like to hang out for a while, Levi would love to stay with you as a foster!

If you're ever inspired to go natural for your K-9's meal, may we suggest the following quick and easy recipe to satisfy both you and your favorite pal.

Directions

1. Place chicken, vegetables, and rice into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Stir in water until the mixture is smooth. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes. Cool completely before serving; store covered in the refrigerator.

Though Nicolette would love homemade meals, all this little girl really wants is to feel safe and to have a loving family take care of her. Though still young, her life has been filled with scary situations leaving Nicolette a bit shy.  She is warming up to her caretakers and promises to be a sweet and loyal companion to someone that will love her.

Scooby Snacks
Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 TBSP baking powder
• 1 cup peanut butter (smooth only, please)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup oatmeal

Directions:
Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees and lightly greasing a baking or pizza pan.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder and oatmeal. Once that's mixed, add the peanut butter and milk. Stir it together until a dough forms.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, knead it and then roll it out until it's about a 1/4? thick. Break out your bone-shaped cookie cutters or a pizza cutter and cut the dough into the desired size and shape.
Bake those on the lightly greased baking pan and cook for about 20 minutes or until they're golden brown.
Treats should be stored in an air tight container. Yield will vary based on cookie cutter.

Though many of us celebrate Pet Appreciation Week throughout the year, it is officially commemorated this week. The goal of Pet Appreciation Week is to celebrate the furry (or scaly or feathered) friends in our lives. Take the time to celebrate your pet and the human-animal relationship you share this week!

Though many of you may be wondering how you would possibly show your K-9s more love, if you are in need of inspiration, allow us to suggest Jerky Cake:

Jerky Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup soft butter
• 1/2 cup corn oil
• 1 jar strained beef baby food
• 4 eggs
• 2-3 strips of beef jerky

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease and flour an 8x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Cream butter until smooth. /li>
• Add corn oil, baby food, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
• Mix flour and baking powder into mixture until batter is smooth<
• Crumble beef jerky and fold into batter
• Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
• Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack 15 minutes.
• Frost with plain yogurt, cream cheese or cottage cheese.
• Crumble another strip of beef jerky and sprinkle on top of icing.
• Store in refrigerator.

It's heating up outside, and if you enjoy an ice cream cone these days, you can be sure your K-9 would like one too! Here's a quick recipe for homemade frosty paws to cool off your K-9!

Frosty Paws
• 32 oz. vanilla yogurt
• 1 mashed banana or one large jar of baby fruit
• 2 tsp peanut butter
• 2 tsp honey

Blend it together and freeze in either 3 oz. paper cups or ice cube trays. Microwave just a few seconds before serving.

Spring is a great time to hit the trails with your favorite K-9! Many of us pack power foods like energy bars or even beef jerky for ourselved, but have you considered doing the same for your four-legged partner? Make them some homemade "beef Jakeys," pack some water for both of you and you are ready to go!

Beef Jakey's

Ingredients

• 1 small potato
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 package self rising yeast
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups wheat flour
• Beef stock (approximately 1 cup)

Directions:

• Microwave potato for 4 minutes on high, or until fully cooked
• Peel off skin and mash potato
• Add garlic, yeast, Worcestershire sauce and honey. Stir until thoroughly combined.
• Add flour and beef stock alternately until well mixed and dough consistency is heavy and stiffer than that of bread dough.
• Roll out and use a cookie cutter to cut to desired shape.
• Bake at 325 for approximately 40 minutes.
• Treats will be tough, a la beef jerky.

The sun is shining and the weather is warming up outside which means many of us are choosing foods on the lighter side.  Though few K-9s will turn down a treat of any sort, sometimes they might needs something light and refreshing too so turn to these cookies.

Be My Babies

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 oz jar Beef or Chicken baby food
• 1/3 cup wheat germ
• 2/3 cup non-fat dry milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Mix all three ingredients together.  If the batter seems to thick, you can add just a bit of water.
• Use a tablespoon to drop cookies onto cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes, until starting to brown.
• Allow to cool before giving to your K-9.
• Store in the fridge in a tightly sealed container.