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A Puppy’s Guide to Love

Not sure what to do for Valentine’s this year? We suggest a lovely snog — literally! This beautiful hardcover book entitled, SNOG: A Puppy’s Guide to Love is such a beautiful compilation of Rachel Hale’s stunning photos that you really do want to cry while flipping through the pages. Rachel Hale, in case you didn’t know, is an absolute goddess when it comes to stylish pet photography. Her environmental style captures a simplistic sort of charm and grace that is almost impossible to describe. Stamped with the PAWSH seal of approval, you cannot go wrong giving this adorable title to your loved one this year. We promise!

PB & Nails?

By Shirley Bittner

We all know that peanut butter and jam are meant to be together, but who knew this common household spread worked wonders with a pair of nail clippers too? This has got to be one of the most innovative tricks for trimming a dog’s nails we’ve ever seen!

The trick? When Fido needs his next manicure, grab your trusty jar of peanut butter and smear some on your refrigerator door. Your pup will instantly be attracted to the sight of delicious nutty flavour readily available at his level, and while he’s busy licking it up you are free to zip around and trim his nails! Brilliant!

By Shirley Bittner

It is important that a dog remains calm when having his nails tended to, as one small slip can result in a painful experience. So a nutty distraction is a great way to direct his attention away from his paws and create positive association with the whole process. Plus, your fridge will be nice and clean too!

Cupboard Love

We at Pawsh would like to share with you our favourite Valentine’s pet items for 2011, and this is what our own Kevin Mogk decided was best for his special girl, Cinder.

To win over Cinder’s heart on Valentine’s, I appeal to the Labrador in her. Just like men, Labs can be wooed through their stomachs, so I decided to whip up a batch of homemade dog cookies for the both of us to chow down on. I found this easy-breezy plain dog cookie recipe and Cinder was nuts for them!

(Makes 16 biscuits)
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 cups whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons wheat germ

Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs together. Add wheat germ and milk, stirring until smooth. Add whole wheat flour and mixture into the eggs and combine with your hands (please note, paws are not useful for this procedure). Pat dough into a rectangular shape, then cut into 3/4 inch pieces (obviously, in the Valentine’s spirit, a heart shaped cookie cutter is necessary at this point). Place about an inch apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, then flip cookies over and bake other side for an additional 25 minutes. Cool biscuits on racks and gobble up with delight! *Drooling may be a kitchen concern when making these scrumptious treats.

By Kevin Mogk

Power Play

By Laura L. Benn
It’s the first thing they like to do when they wake up. It’s the last thing they do before going to sleep. They dream about it, bark about it and run around excitedly in circles whenever mention of it reaches their furry little ears. That’s right, we’re talking about play! True, it seems like a no-brainer: dogs like to play. But did you know how much power play holds over your pooch’s health?

Not only does play give your dog tremendous exercise, but it also provides mental stimulation and can help strengthen the human-canine bond. From about fours weeks of age, puppies begin to have fun and games with their siblings and mother. Although their clumsy actions and awkward movements may seem infantile, puppies at play are actually learning how to coordinate their fluff-ball bodies and how to socialize with others of their kind. Even if the rough house gets a little too rough and results in a pint-sized snap, a puppy is still learning a valuable lesson about boundaries and acceptable canine behaviour.
As puppies grow into their paws, their play develops as well. Their antics escalate, helping them to learn dominant and submissive roles, which in turn helps them develop social bonds. Dogs are physical creatures, meaning they communicate foremostly through tactile perceptions and a puppy who has grown up with a good dose of regular playtime is likely to have superior communication skills than a puppy who did not.
All too quickly, however, puppies grow up into adults, but that doesn’t mean life should suddenly become too serious. Often times people mistake an adult dog’s lower energy levels as sign of fatigue and disinterest. The truth of the matter is that play is an ageless past time and helps a dog’s brain to remain active, encouraging problem solving and satisfying their instinctual urges to hunt, chase, tug and run.
But perhaps the most beautiful thing about play is the respect and affection that it generates between the players. Dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes look forward to romping around with a playmate and quickly associate positive feelings with the activity. In other words, play keeps a pooch happy. So our advice? When you get home from a long day at work, no matter how tired you may be, take 20 minutes and play with your dog. Simply drop the briefcase and hit the park or the living room rug and have some quality one-on-one time with your waggy friend. You might be surprised how positively powerful regular playtime can be for your relationship.
What are your dog’s favourite games?