I have a special treat for you today — 26 special treats actually, presented in a beautiful book format! Serena Faber Nelson and Sarah Dickerson, the lovely ladies behind Pretty Fluffy, have released their very first ebook dedicated completely to simple, healthy, human-grade dog treat recipes! The cover alone is a delight and what lies beneath it is even better!

I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to ask Serena all about 52 Weeks of Treats. Keep reading for her lovely insights, sneak peek photos of the goodies and a special discount exclusively for Pawsh readers!

1) Your beautiful book offers 26 mouth-watering recipes. How challenging was it to come up with such a diverse collection? Where did you find inspiration?

Thank you! The inspiration first and foremost came from the four seasons and the produce available within them. I wanted the ingredients to be fresh, nutritious and easily accessible, while evoking the spirit of each season. We love fresh gelato and fruity popsicles in summer, so why not treat our dogs to the same thing?

From there inspiration was everywhere! I could see a pastry in a bakery and wonder what the doggie version would be like, I would be watching a movie and be inspired by a snack the main character was eating…It went on from there. I became a bit obsessed!  When it came to shooting the images for the book I turned to the likes of Donna Hay, Katie Quinn Davies and Jamie Oliver for inspiration – I love their fresh, stylized and rustic take on modern food.

2) What is your favourite recipe in the book and why?
The Cinnamon Honey Donuts. I have a penchant for sweet treats, so a healthy doggie version of one of my favourite snacks was always a must have in the eBook. They look so cute when finished and Soda gobbles them up in a heart beat.

3) In your opinion, what is the greatest problem facing the dog treat market right now?
To be honest I think the biggest problem facing the dog treat market is the same problem facing manufactured food in general – for people and pets. That is we don’t always know what we are consuming and pre-packaged food can be filled with preservatives, fillers and other nasties that we really shouldn’t be putting in our systems.
In our household we try to stick to rule “If your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize it, don’t eat it.” The same goes for our dog treats. As Soda gets older it’s even more imperative in my eyes that she consumes only fresh, nutrient rich ingredients that nourish her from the inside out. That’s exactly where the idea for 52 Weeks of Treats came from.

4) What are some of your favourite baking supplies/accessories at the moment?
Oooohhhh…so many favourites to mention. My top five would have to include:

A stand mixer – whether it’s an iconic KitchenAid or another brightly hued brand, these little gems are like having an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.
Donna Hay Cake Stands – Half the fun of baking is admiring your handiwork! These cake stands come in a range of colours and are perfect for displaying goodies. I have two.

Silicone Bakeware – I’m a recent convert and love the ease and convenience of using siliconeware. They make things easier for beginner and more seasoned bakers alike.

Stay Cool Rolling Pin – When you’re making lots of dog treats, your rolling pin becomes a third arm! This version allows the dough to stay cool and prevents sticking.

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker – This baby is a genius. Literally pour your ingredients in and in 20 minutes later you have ice cream, gelato or even puppylato! I got mine in pink (of course).

5) What advice would you give someone who wishes to make dog treats but does not feel confident in the kitchen?
I love this question. Because believe me, if I can do it, you can do it. My advice would be to start small. In the book we have a number of ‘no bake’ treats that involve only a few steps and no oven. Once you feel comfortable with those recipes try some of the ones that are more involved and work your way up.

I consciously made an effort for many recipes in the book to share staple ingredients and cooking methods for beginners to gain confidence in the kitchen. Last but not least – let go of the fear and fail spectacularly! For every final recipe in the book there were a number of kitchen failures on my part.

Keep in mind that every ruined cookie, lumpy batter or deflated cupcake is a lesson learned for next time. Plus you just never know if a mistake may be a culinary discovery in disguise!

6) What is your most memorable moment from working on this book?
Soda deciding she’d had enough of the photo shoot for our ‘Doggie Smores’ recipe and deciding to start eating the treats then and there! I have to say as a dog owner, there really is something special about taking a half hour out of your day to cook some treats just for your dog.
They really do appreciate it, and you feel like such a good fur-parent! I also can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed working with our designer and contributor, Sarah Dickerson from Chic Sprinkles. Without her vision and skills, 52 Weeks of Treats would not exist as it does today.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s probably time to plan a date night. This year Pawsh is pleased to bring you a series of fun and affordable date night ideas that are dog-friendly!

First up — a stylish movie night! Yes, this is a somewhat typical date idea, but what is great about movie nights is that they work no matter what stage of dating you are at and the pressure is off. You can dress up and snuggle up on a couch with your latest crush or throw on some comfy pants and veg out with a longtime partner. Plus your dog can curl up cozily too! 

Here are three winning movie combinations:

FOR ROMANTICS
For a romantic evening brimming with class, watch The Artist. Treat your dog to an equally classic bone chew toy and dress up in a stunning lace skirt.

FOR BELLY LAUGHS
For a little bit of heartfelt humour watch Marley & Me. Treat your dog to a tantalizing popcorn toy and add a little bit of sentimental bling to your attire with a golden bone-shaped necklace.

FOR THE LOVE OF TOM HANKS
For a casual night of good old fashioned fun you must load up Turner and Hooch (who doesn’t adore Tom Hanks?). Toss your pup a slice of pizza toy and relax in your comfiest of pjs!

1. Toile Bone Toy  2. Pendant Necklace  3. Veggie Pizza Toy  4. Dannie Lace Skirt by Goldie  5.  Canvas Popcorn Toy  6. Pajama pants

Which movie combo would you enjoy most for a date night?

PAWSH PERKS: 5 easy ways to spend more quality time with your dog

Pet photographs are invaluable and I personally believe that professional pet photographers are AMAZING! Not only do they work with the unpredictable antics of animals on a daily basis, but they deliver breathtaking products so that pet parents can always remember their furry bundle of joy.

The internet is bursting with beautiful websites and blogs dedicated to showing off stunning wedding, event and interior design photography projects, which I adore, as I am sure you do as well. But I personally would love to see more attention paid to the pet photographers.

That is why I am creating “Pawsh Spotlight” — a space dedicated to meeting the talents behind the cameras, who put our dogs in the limelight and capture what nobody else can.

To debut this feature I would like to introduce you to Grace Chon of Shine Pet Photos. Grace lives in Los Angeles, CA and has a striking portfolio filled with editorial, commercial and celebrity work. Keep reading for Pawsh’s intimate interview with Grace and many more of her adorable photos!

Grace Chon (Photo by Christina Gandolpho)

4) What are three things you cannot leave the house without?
Mints (love fresh breath!), my phone (gotta be able to check emails!) , and my watch (I hate being late!).

5) You’ve worked with a lot of celebrities. Can you tell me about that?
I photographed Lisa Edelstein from the show House with her dogs Shazam and Kapow at their home for the cover of Best Friends Magazine. I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of celebrities over the years including Chelsea Handler, Perez Hilton, Margaret Cho, Lance Bass, and even Uggie the Dog, who was in last year’s Best Motion Picture The Artist.

I was featured on an episode of Tori Spelling’s reality TV show on the Oxygen Network. And over the summer I was on a TV show as a “celebrity pet photographer” about Pampered Pets on HGTV and had an on camera shoot with Antonio Ballatore, one of their HGTV personalities. I was also approached by How I Met Your Mother to shoot some fun dog photos for one of the sets (see below).



6) What are things you like to do in your spare time?
Growing organic heirloom tomatoes, hiking with my dogs, and shopping at flea markets for mid-century modern furniture

7) What is your idea of the perfect photo session?
A dog that is willing to open up to me and work with me, a human that isn’t stressed out of anxious about their dog behaving or me getting the perfect shot, and a location that is beautiful! I adore homes that have great staging and fabulous light.

8) What is the most challenging thing about your job?
Photographing dogs that are terminally ill. I’ve been doing this for five years now but it never gets easier.

9) The best thing about your job is…
Playing with animals! They are absolutely magical to me. I am constantly in awe of the amazing relationships we share with our pets and consider it a privilege to share our lives with them. It is an honor to be someone that documents these relationships.

10) What is your personal motto?
“Try your best and let God do the rest.”– my mom.

11) Your favourite pet product at the moment is…
Any stinky smelly treat. My dogs love them and so do the dogs I photograph. They make my life as a dog mom and photographer much easier!

Thank you Grace for taking the time to speak with Pawsh! Be sure to follow Grace’s beautiful work on Facebook and Twitter!

Choosing a dog bed for your pooch begins with one basic decision — shape. Which style do you prefer? Rectangular or circular? Both of these beauties are from Olive Dog, a tomato red rectangle bed and a sophisticated navy blue circle bed. Which do you like best?

PAWSH PERKS: The perfect bed for a British dog!