Let's Have Some Fun!

So, last week, I talked about DIY enrichment options for your cats and dogs.  All of these enrichment options rely on the use of your pet's regular food or treats to not only stimulate their interest, but to reward them for their efforts!  While you can certainly purchase treats for your pets, it's also fun, and quite satisfying, to make your own. Here are a few recipes that my collies enjoy:

1.  Kong Filling:  combine 1 cup of cooked, skinless chicken breast with either a 1/4 cup of peanut butter (xylitol free peanut butter only!) or a 1/4 cup of reduced fat cream cheese in a food processor and process until smooth.  Stuff your dog's Kong toys with the homemade filling and place in the freezer to use once they are frozen.

2.  DIY Dog Chews:  Most dogs love sweet potatoes and it's easy to make your own sweet potato chews.  Here is a link to the recipe I use:  https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/easy-diy-sweet-potato-dog-chews/

3.  Frozen treats:  Just as washing an old toy makes it seem like something new and exciting, so does freezing things your dog enjoys eating!  You can freeze strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, for example, and those will make a nice antioxidant-rich treat for your dogs.  In the summer, I make "pupsicles" for my dogs using liquid yogurt and frozen berries in popsicle molds.  You can also do them in ice cube trays.  While messy, dogs really do enjoy the odd texture of frozen treats.  Plus, it has the added benefit of taking them a bit longer to consume in order to avoid brain freeze!  Here's a recipe for a frozen apple treat:  http://irresistiblepets.net/diy-frozen-apple-dog-treat-recipe/

4.  Pumpkin:  It's no secret that most dogs love pumpkin as well as carrots. This recipe combines both and these treats are good for hiding when you are playing foraging games.  https://www.mypawsitivelypets.com/2014/11/holiday-dog-treat-recipe-pumpkin-carrot.html

5.  Cat treats:  while a lot of DIY cat treats will require refrigeration (and cats don't always appreciate cold treat selections!), I like this recipe as it can be kept fresh in an airtight jar. https://www.messforless.net/homemade-cat-treats-recipe

Ozzie loves frozen "pupsicles!"