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Month: March 2011

Tasty Paw Prints!

To begin with…we think Martha Stewart is a creative goddess and we don’t mind who knows it! Who else would have dreamed up these scrumptious paw print treats that look good enough to eat! Oh wait…you can eat them! Or should we say, your dog can! They’re dog biscuits!

The Things You Need
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup brewer’s yeast
2 teaspoons of salt (although, we preferred only one)
3 table spoons canola or olive oil
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock

The Things You Need to Do
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine flour, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast and salt in a large bowl. Mix it up!
3. Add dry mixture to oil in a separate bowl, gradually introducing the stock as well, and mix.
4. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface then roll out into 1/4 inch thickness.
5. Use a round fluted cutter and transfer cut outs to baking sheets.
6. Use your thumb to make indents toward the bottom of the circle, then press an arch of 4 smaller indents on the top using your pinky.
7. Place in freezer for approximately 15 minutes, then bake for 20 minutes, making sure to lightly brush the cookies with remaining chicken stock party way through.
8. Allow to stand for 40 minutes, then spoil your dog!

Nutritious, delicious and wag-worthy; these treats are a great idea for the whole family to spoil Spot with! Bon apetit!

End of Winter Days…

Photo Courtesy of Kim Nguyen via Pet a Portland
While many of us here at PAWSH cannot wait for the frigid Canadian winter to be over so that we may open our arms, hearts, windows and closets to spring, we value the importance of living in the moment as our canine companions do. So to help celebrate and recognize the changing of seasons, we’ve come up with a few final things you and your dog can do together before the real thaw arrives.

1.  PLAY IN THE SNOW

True, the vast majority of winter may have been spent hibernating indoors, but now that the weather is warming up and the sun has decided to show its cheery face once again, take some time to play in the snow! Relish the simple joy that comes from throwing snowballs for your dog, making snow angels and breathing in the crisp cool air together. Fetch in the snow is always a guaranteed blast and to save yourself from slobbery tennis balls, try out the Classic Ball Launcher from Chuckit! Fetch Games.

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF END OF SEASON SALES

Just like people stores, pet product retailers also host extraordinary sales to clear out end of winter stock, so why not take advantage? Take your pooch on a much-needed shopping spree and pick up some great bargains! Sweaters, jackets, toys, booties and even winter themed dog treats will be up for grabs for those who have the nose for sniffing out sales! For example, check out Chilly Dogs and their sales on outdoor gear!

Photo Courtesy of Chilly Dogs

3. SPEND A WHOLE DAY SNUGGLING IN PAJAMAS

Winter is perhaps the best time of the year to spend an entire day snuggled up on the couch with your dog in pajamas. Hunker down to watch some of your favourite animal movies or flip through some magazines while chowing down on decadent treats. Sounds great, yes?

Photo Courtesy of Big Dog Clothing
4. RUBBER SNOW

Of course, if you and your dog are the type of duo who simply adore winter and cannot stand the thought of being without it for months on end, you will definitely be needing the Snowball Orbee Dog Toy.  Made from non-toxic rubber, buoyant and guaranteed not to melt, this whimsical little doo-dad is a wonderful substitute until the real thing shows up again. Oh, there’s a hidden treat spot too for added value!

However you choose to celebrate the final few days of winter, remember this season’s glittering presence will not be with us again for several months. Relish what time you have left in it while you keep a watchful eye open for spring. See you next season!

PAWSH’s First Birthday!

Photo by Buzzdog Studios
Today marks the first anniversary of PAWSH Magazine! It is almost impossible to think that 365 days ago we published our first article and photograph for you. A lot has happened since then. We have changed our name, launched a brand new website and are now embarking (no pun intended!) upon our debut Eprint edition, scheduled for release this spring! Yes, that’s right! A true magazine format is coming and we couldn’t be more excited to show it off to you all in April! Right now we’re busy designing our first issue and making sure everything is perfect! (More on that to come….)
However, the absolute best thing about the past year has been meeting all of you, our lovely readers. Thank you for sharing your stories, your support and your encouragement with us every day. We cannot say enough how much it means to us and the dear pets who continue to inspire our work. 
We hope now that you will join us in the celebration of PAWSH’s first birthday! Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Global Pet Foods Ottawa (the Bank Street and St. Laurent Blvd stores) we have an amazing birthday giveaway for TWO lucky readers!

THE PRIZES

1) A Dinosaur Tuffie

Designed with Jurassic strength in mind, these luxurious dino-themed toys provide enormous fun for even the toughest chewer! Boasting seven layers of stitching, two layers of industrial grade luggage material and one additional layer of durable fleece, there’s no wonder these large impressive toys have earned VIP status in the pet world. One of these beautiful beasts is up for grabs; although, may we recommend the T-Rex who stands more than two feet tall and retails for over $100! Big, bright, beautifully designed and machine washable!

2) Kitty Crinkle Sack

Cats are mysterious creatures who often sly away into the oddest nooks and crannies, even plastic bags! Well, eliminate potential danger and escalate your feline’s fancy with their own tailored hideaway crinkle sack. Although richly lined with Sherpa wool, this cozy bag crinkles nosily whenever touched, thus creating the perfect playful getaway for any active puddy-cat!  

3) Star Chaser & Turbo Scratcher

Keep your cat busy with this glamourous contraption that combines three feline loves: action, scratching and catnip! A motion activated LED light blinks brightly inside the ball that whizzes around a durable contained loop. The centre is comprised of a heavy duty scratching surface, which when sprinkled with a dash of catnip becomes irresistible to any eager kitty!

4) Neater Feeder  

This multiple award-winning invention is the cleverest thing ever to hit the doggy dish! Your pet’s dishes slide firmly into place within a plastic holder and the plastic holder is punctuated by a grill which resides over a tray. What does this mean? Any kibble or water that is spilled during supper time is caught and contained, avoiding sticky messes all over the kitchen floor. But the ingenuity doesn’t end there! This dish comes with optional legs, making it ideal for breeds who cannot eat properly with nose to the ground. Available in multiple sizes and colours, this is one stylish option to make every meal a dinner party!

HOW TO ENTER

To be eligible for our birthday giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment below or on our Facebook page stating three things:

1) Your name + your pet’s name.
2) Your favourite thing about PAWSH.
3) Your favourite PAWSH article to date.

And that’s it! Comments will be closed March 30th at midnight, at which point two entries will be drawn at random (one from the comments below and one from our Facebook page… comment on both to double your chances of winning!) Whoever is drawn first gets to select one item from the prize list! Whoever is drawn second gets to pick one item from the remaining three items!

Thank you again to Global Pet Foods Ottawa (the Bank and St. Laurent stores) for making this birthday giveaway possible. Happy birthday to us!

Doggy Domino Smarts!

Source Unknown
Worried that your dog just isn’t getting the mental exercise they need? Not only can a lack of mental stimuli result in a depressed pooch, but often times boredom leads to destructive behaviour too, which isn’t fun for anyone. So if you would like to prevent your favourite decorative pillow from being used as a chew toy and want to keep that doggy brain in good shape, try out the new Dog Domino Wood from Nina Ottosson!

The idea of this learning toy is to enrich your dog’s play, as well as the owner-pet bond. The dog will have to place movable discs into the correct positions so that blocks are uncovered. Your pup then pulls out one block after the other and discovers lots of tasty hidden treats! Jackpot!

This toy not only provides fun for your dog, but also an opportunity to learn and work out their canine smarts! However, in order to keep a dog from growing frustrated at the prospect of goodies just beyond reach, Nina highly recommends playing TOGETHER. You must work with your dog and show them how the discs and blocks move. In essence, you have to explain the game and make sure that your dog understands what is expected of them. Patience may be required, but the look of triumph on that furry face once treats are uncovered will be well worth the wait.

Oh, and to always keep the game fresh and new, switch up where you hide the treats. Genius!