Boney Parts Dog Birthday Cake
Ingredients: 2/3 cup ripe mashed bananas 1/2 cup softened butter 3 large eggs 3/4 cup water 2 cups Unbleached Flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup raisins
Cake Method: In mixing bowl, beat together mashed banana and butter until creamy. Add eggs and water. Beat well. Stir in dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Add nuts and raisins. Spoon batter evenly into oiled and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes, remove from pan, replace on rack and cool.
Frosting: 2 cup mashed banana 1 tablespoon butter 6 tablespoon carob flour 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 tablespoon unbleached flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Frosting Method:Blend thoroughly and spread on cool cake. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. The frosting contains carob, which is a safe (almost tastes like) chocolate substitute.
Decorate the cake with ginger and peanut mini-bones, tied with a doggie paw ribbon. Use “Pupperoni” sticks for candles.
How about some fun games for the pals to play? Catch the frisbee is a favorite among many…especially the retrievers. For the highly active and well finessed, an agility course might be the ticket. Tunnels can be set up throughout the yard in addition to hula hoops for those with an extra spring in their step. If you’re the handy man type, a balance beam can be created with steps and wide plank for dogs to run across.
Be sure to take plenty of photos. Guests can leave the party with their own paw print treat bag filled with an assortment of treats (homemade dog bone cookies) and a photo of themselves having a blast.
What better way to give your dog their special day filled with fun, food, and friends!
Recipe and text courtesy of L.A. BabyCakes...Thank You!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Southern Women's Show
Stop by our booth at the Southern Women's Show!
The Park Expo and Conference Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
September 16-19th, 2010
Stop by the Fluffs of Luv professional pet care booth to learn more about the in-home pet care options available to your fluffy family member such as mid-day dog walking, overnight pet sitting, elderly pet care, puppy and kitten care, vacation care, exotic pet care, and so much more. Pet sitting provides your pets with a safe, healthy, and happy environment in the comfort of their own home while you are away. There's no need to ask the neighbors for cat sitting or dog walking favors anymore. Fluffs of Luv has devoted and dependable pet sitters that enjoy delivering peace of mind to pets and owners in Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas. All of our Pet Sitters use the Pet Sitters International (PSI) guidelines for pet care, have Background Checks and are Bonded/Insured. Stop by our booth for pet treats and a coupon for 5% off of your first pet care service with Fluffs of Luv!
The Park Expo and Conference Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
September 16-19th, 2010
Stop by the Fluffs of Luv professional pet care booth to learn more about the in-home pet care options available to your fluffy family member such as mid-day dog walking, overnight pet sitting, elderly pet care, puppy and kitten care, vacation care, exotic pet care, and so much more. Pet sitting provides your pets with a safe, healthy, and happy environment in the comfort of their own home while you are away. There's no need to ask the neighbors for cat sitting or dog walking favors anymore. Fluffs of Luv has devoted and dependable pet sitters that enjoy delivering peace of mind to pets and owners in Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas. All of our Pet Sitters use the Pet Sitters International (PSI) guidelines for pet care, have Background Checks and are Bonded/Insured. Stop by our booth for pet treats and a coupon for 5% off of your first pet care service with Fluffs of Luv!
Friday, September 3, 2010
12 Tips for a Well Behaved Dog
1) Start training your puppy early on. While old dogs can be taught new tricks, what's learned earliest, is often learned quickest and easiest. Moreover, the older the dog, the more bad habits will likely need to be "un-learned". When it comes to raising and training a dog, an ounce of problem prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure!
2) Train your dog gently and humanely, and whenever possible, teach him using positive, motivational methods. Keep obedience sessions upbeat so that the training process is enjoyable for all parties involved. If training your pooch is a drudgery, rev things up a bit, and try the "playtraining" approach: incorporate constructive, non-adversarial games (such as "Go Find", "Hide 'n' Seek", retrieving, etc.) into your training sessions.
3) Does your dog treat you like "hired help" at home? Does he treat you like a human gymnasium when you're sitting on the furniture? Does he beg at the table? Jump up on visitors? Demand your attention by annoying you to death? Ignore your commands? How well your dog responds to you at home affects his behavior outdoors as well. If your dog doesn't respond reliably to commands at home (where distractions are relatively minimal), he certainly won't respond to you properly outdoors where he's tempted by other dogs, pigeons, passersby, sidewalk food scraps, etc.
4) Avoid giving your dog commands that you know you cannot enforce. Every time you give a command that is neither complied with nor enforced your dog learns that commands are optional.
5) One command should equal one response, so give your dog only one command (twice max!), then gently enforce it. Repeating commands tunes your dog out (as does nagging) and teaches your dog that the first several commands are a "bluff '. For instance, telling your dog to "Sit, sit, sit, sit!", is neither an efficient nor effective way to issue commands. Simply give your dog a single "Sit" command and gently place or lure your dog into the sit position, then praise/reward.
6) Avoid giving your dog combined commands which are incompatible. Combined commands such as "sit-down" can confuse your dog. Using this example, say either "sit" or "down". The command "sit-down" simply doesn't exist.
7) When giving your dog a command, avoid using a loud voice. Even if your dog is especially independent/unresponsive, your tone of voice when issuing an obedience command such as "sit","down" or ""stay", should be calm and authoritative, rather than harsh or loud.
NOTE: Many owners complain that their dogs are "stubborn", and that they "refuse to listen" when given a command. Before blaming the dog when he doesn't respond to a command, one must determine whether or not: a) the dog knows what the owner wants, b) he knows how to comply, c) he is not simply being unresponsive due to fear, stress or confusion.
8 ) Whenever possible, use your dog's name positively, rather than using it in conjunction to reprimands, warnings or punishment. Your dog should trust that when it hears its name or is called to you, good things happen. His name should always be a word he responds to with enthusiasm, never hesitancy or fear.
9) Correct or, better yet, prevent the (mis)behavior, don't punish the dog. Teaching and communication is what it's all about, not getting even with your dog. If you're taking an "it's-you-against-your dog, whip 'em into shape" approach, you'll undermine your relationship, while missing out on all the fun that a motivational training approach can offer. Additionally, after-the-fact discipline does NOT work.
10) When training one's dog, whether praising or correcting, good timing is essential. Take the following example: You've prepared a platter of hors d'oeuvres for a small dinner party, which you've left on your kitchen counter. Your dog walks into the room and smells the hors d'oeuvres. He air-sniffs, then eyes the food, and is poised to jump up. This is the best, easiest and most effective time to correct your dog: before he's misbehaved, while he's thinking about jumping up to get the food.
11) Often, dog owners inadvertently reinforce their dogs' misbehavior, by giving their dogs lots of attention (albeit negative attention) when they misbehave. Needless to say, if your dog receives lots of attention and handling when he jumps up on you, that behavior is being reinforced, and is therefor likely to be repeated.
12) Keep a lid on your anger. Never train your dog when you're feeling grouchy or impatient. Earning your dog's respect is never accomplished by yelling, hitting, or handling your dog in a harsh manner. Moreover, studies have shown that fear and stress inhibit the learning process.
Article provided by the American Dog Trainers Network. Thank You!
2) Train your dog gently and humanely, and whenever possible, teach him using positive, motivational methods. Keep obedience sessions upbeat so that the training process is enjoyable for all parties involved. If training your pooch is a drudgery, rev things up a bit, and try the "playtraining" approach: incorporate constructive, non-adversarial games (such as "Go Find", "Hide 'n' Seek", retrieving, etc.) into your training sessions.
3) Does your dog treat you like "hired help" at home? Does he treat you like a human gymnasium when you're sitting on the furniture? Does he beg at the table? Jump up on visitors? Demand your attention by annoying you to death? Ignore your commands? How well your dog responds to you at home affects his behavior outdoors as well. If your dog doesn't respond reliably to commands at home (where distractions are relatively minimal), he certainly won't respond to you properly outdoors where he's tempted by other dogs, pigeons, passersby, sidewalk food scraps, etc.
4) Avoid giving your dog commands that you know you cannot enforce. Every time you give a command that is neither complied with nor enforced your dog learns that commands are optional.
5) One command should equal one response, so give your dog only one command (twice max!), then gently enforce it. Repeating commands tunes your dog out (as does nagging) and teaches your dog that the first several commands are a "bluff '. For instance, telling your dog to "Sit, sit, sit, sit!", is neither an efficient nor effective way to issue commands. Simply give your dog a single "Sit" command and gently place or lure your dog into the sit position, then praise/reward.
6) Avoid giving your dog combined commands which are incompatible. Combined commands such as "sit-down" can confuse your dog. Using this example, say either "sit" or "down". The command "sit-down" simply doesn't exist.
7) When giving your dog a command, avoid using a loud voice. Even if your dog is especially independent/unresponsive, your tone of voice when issuing an obedience command such as "sit","down" or ""stay", should be calm and authoritative, rather than harsh or loud.
NOTE: Many owners complain that their dogs are "stubborn", and that they "refuse to listen" when given a command. Before blaming the dog when he doesn't respond to a command, one must determine whether or not: a) the dog knows what the owner wants, b) he knows how to comply, c) he is not simply being unresponsive due to fear, stress or confusion.
8 ) Whenever possible, use your dog's name positively, rather than using it in conjunction to reprimands, warnings or punishment. Your dog should trust that when it hears its name or is called to you, good things happen. His name should always be a word he responds to with enthusiasm, never hesitancy or fear.
9) Correct or, better yet, prevent the (mis)behavior, don't punish the dog. Teaching and communication is what it's all about, not getting even with your dog. If you're taking an "it's-you-against-your dog, whip 'em into shape" approach, you'll undermine your relationship, while missing out on all the fun that a motivational training approach can offer. Additionally, after-the-fact discipline does NOT work.
10) When training one's dog, whether praising or correcting, good timing is essential. Take the following example: You've prepared a platter of hors d'oeuvres for a small dinner party, which you've left on your kitchen counter. Your dog walks into the room and smells the hors d'oeuvres. He air-sniffs, then eyes the food, and is poised to jump up. This is the best, easiest and most effective time to correct your dog: before he's misbehaved, while he's thinking about jumping up to get the food.
11) Often, dog owners inadvertently reinforce their dogs' misbehavior, by giving their dogs lots of attention (albeit negative attention) when they misbehave. Needless to say, if your dog receives lots of attention and handling when he jumps up on you, that behavior is being reinforced, and is therefor likely to be repeated.
12) Keep a lid on your anger. Never train your dog when you're feeling grouchy or impatient. Earning your dog's respect is never accomplished by yelling, hitting, or handling your dog in a harsh manner. Moreover, studies have shown that fear and stress inhibit the learning process.
Article provided by the American Dog Trainers Network. Thank You!
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