Intersting Turn of Events

Well, I apologize for not keeping up with this blog recently.

I've had to turn my attention elsewhere lately, as I've started working two other jobs outside of grooming from home. Which in turn leads to things like the Internet falling farther down on the list of priorities!

If and when things slow down a bit and I'm able to catch up, I'll be sure to let everyone know.

But for now, keep your furkids safe, yourself happy, and have a great Autumn!!

Busy bees...

Whoops! Things have gotten a bit busy over the last while. Updating this blog hasn't been high on the list of priorities! 


Spring seems to have made an early arrival. Plants are greening up, flowers are blooming, and soon enough the bugs will be out in force.

Looks like it'll be an early start to flea/tick season!! Yikes! Make sure you're stocked up and ready to go, and that your dog's had their heart worm/lyme disease tests at their regular Veterinarian.

"What ___ think I do!"

Mild Winter = FLEAS!

Yes. You heard it. Fleas in Winter! 

Due to the unusually mild winter we've had, there's been a surge of dogs suffering from Fleas this winter. People who are used to not treating their animals during winter have found themselves infested due to the warmer than normal temperatures and lack of killing frost/snow. All it takes is one infested dog to visit the dog park, deposit some of his "friends" and next thing you know, your poor pets are itching and scratching themselves raw! As such, we're seeing more clients who's dogs are infested coming in to be groomed.

An additional fee of $10 applies for any dog requiring a flea bath/treatment. 

So please keep this in mind when booking a grooming appointment!

If your dog is suffering from fleas, we recommend seeing your Veterinarian and asking for K9 Advantix II, Advantage II, Frontline PLUS (regular Frontline does not control flea development), or Bio-Spot Defense.

Please do NOT use anything over-the-counter from the pet store (we know that saving a few bucks may be really tempting), like the stuff made by Hartz. Those products can be dangerous when applied incorrectly, and can cause severe side effects. Only get your pet's flea medications from a Veterinarian! Lastly, Flea Collars do not work so don't waste your money!


Here's hoping everyone has an itch-free winter!

Taffy's Favorite Home-Made Cookie Recipe!

This recipe is SIMPLE! If your dog has a grain allergy, supplement the white flour for something like Garbanzo or Fava Bean flour.

Here's what you need:

• 2 cups of Flour (White or grain-free, your preference).
• 3/4 cup of Natural or Organic Peanut Butter (Chunky or Smooth, your preference)
• 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil. (I use Organic flax seed oil, but if you don't want the benefit of Fatty Acids, Olive Oil works well too.)
• 1 cup of H2O.

Combine ingredients until everything is incorporated and forms a dough.
Roll dough out to a thickness roughly 1/2 to 1 cm (0.2- 0.4inch). The thinner, the crunchier the treat will be.
Cut using a cookie cutter, or into triangular strips with a knife.
Place on a cookie sheet, and bake at 325 for roughly 20 minutes. Keep in mind that the thinner the cookie, the faster it will cook, so keep an eye on things so it doesn't burn (not that most dogs would care)!
Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Place in baggies, or a container.




Total time from start to finish to make these cookies is under an hour!


I've found that this recipe yields about four cups of small cookies. Which lasts my dog a week or more. And what's great is that you can add things to make it specific to your dog's needs and tastes! Add herbs like rosemary, flax seeds for extra crunch, or Omega 3, etc!


Great for training exercises. And you know EXACTLY what's in them, because YOU made them! A much healthier alternative to store-bought toxin-filled dog teats like Milkbones. Not to mention cheaper than expensive store-bought treats, which is a big deal when you go through a lot of treats while training!


Hope this inspires other dog owners to give making their own dog cookies a try! Your dog will love you for it!

Home-made Dog Treat Recipes!

My new favorite website for ideas on dog treat/cookie recipes!

http://www.all-natural-dog-treat.com/

Given the terrifying amount of toxins and general garbage found in processed dog treats you buy at the pet or grocery store, and how fast and EASY home-made recipes are, there's no reason not to make your own!  Not only is home-made healthier for you beloved furry companion(s) because YOU decide what goes in them, it's cheaper than always buying box after box of  Milk-bones or  Beggin' Strips. A small bag of flour, a jar of natural peanut butter, some olive oil, and bam! You're set! And if your dog has allergies to wheat? No problem! There are tons of alternatives for dogs with allergies!

In the future, I'll share some of my own, favorite recipes on this blog! So keep an eye out for some great Taffy-Approved goodies that you can try for your own dog! :)

 

Killing our Pets with every Meal.

Here's a great article outlining why you should always read the label on your pet's treats and food!


http://goodnessgracioustreats.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/where%E2%80%99s-the-beef/


I used to feed my dog Milk-Bone products as training treats. But after reading the ingredients list carefully, and then reading this article, I now feed my dog home-made cookies instead!!