Dog Halloween Treats & Games
Howl-O-Ween Tricking Treats
These frightfully good Howl-O-Ween Treats are guaranteed to give your pup a very spooky Boo-st!
Courtesy of The Three Dog Bakery Cookbook. by Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff
Makes 14 bewitching treats!
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
2 1/2 cups Water
1/2 cup canned Pumpkin
1/8 teaspoon Vanilla
1 Egg
4 cups Whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup chopped Pecans
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 cup Oats
In a bowl, mix water, pumpkin, vanilla and egg thoroughly. Combine flour, pecans, baking powder and cinnamon in a separate bowl, stirring well. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well, making sure no dry mixture is left. Spoon into a greased muffin tin, filling each cup completely. Sprinkle the top of each muffin with oats and bake for 1 1/4 hours. Cool completely and store in a sealed container.
Have a Neighborhood Howl-o-ween Dog Parade
Start and end at a local park, backyard or safe area from traffic. Be sure to let the rest of the neighborhood know even if they don't have a dog. They are sure to have fun and laughs watching the parade.
1. Be sure to include a Costume Contest for:
The Funniest Costume
Tthe Scariest Costume
Tthe Cutest Pair Costumes
The Best Handmade Costume
The Most Unique Costume
The Best Diva Costume
The Best Macho Costume
Try to make every dog a winner! Be sure to have healthy treats on hand. We've included some simple and easy treats. Check with the dogs owners for allergies or special diets before passing out treats.
2. Have a Best Trick Contest. This gives the pets (and owners) a chance to show off!
3. Treat Hunt Contest. Hide treats in the park or neighborhood and have a treat hunt.
4. Howl-ing Contest. Judge the Loudest, Funniest, Tiniest and Cutest.
5. Best or Funniest Picture Contest. Make sure everyone brings their cameras. After the contest/parade/party, share photos and choose the best/funniest photos!
6. You have to include The Best Dog/Owner Look Alike Contest.
7. Dress Up Doggie Contest. Save old scarves, hats, men's ties, long necklaces during the year. Or you can shop at a Thrift Shop and/or Dollar store for fun items. Pet owners and their dogs then form a circle. Place the ties, scarves, etc in the middle of the circle. When you say go, or start the music everyone is to grab one item and put it on their dog then go back for another item, put it on and repeat until the music stops and you say stop. The dog wearing the most items wins! A great photo opt! Some dogs will shake the items off, other will stand like statues, lots of laughs.
Require that all dogs are on a leash to avoid fights and mishaps. You never know when a pup might decide to fight over a treat or another dog. Keep all food and treats OFF the ground. Provide pick-up bags and a basket to dispose of them. Check to see that all dogs are spayed or neutered, if not, let the owners know which ones aren't. For treats be sure that you are not including any dangerous or poisonous foods.
Contact your local newspaper, radio or TV station and let them know about the parade. You might be surprised with a write up and pictures in the paper or on the local news. Ask for donations for the local animal shelter. Gift Cards, Toys, Blankets or call the shelter to see what they need prior to the event. Make posters and check at the local grocery store, bank and gas station to see if you can post them. Have fun, your dogs will appreciate the attention and socialization. No doubt you will too!! :)
Contact your local newspaper, radio or TV station and let them know about the parade. You might be surprised with a write up and pictures in the paper or on the local news. Ask for donations for the local animal shelter. Gift Cards, Toys, Blankets or call the shelter to see what they need prior to the event. Make posters and check at the local grocery store, bank and gas station to see if you can post them. Have fun, your dogs will appreciate the attention and socialization. No doubt you will too!! :)
Lazy Bones Carob Balls
Makes 20 Balls ... So easy, they almost make themselves - NO COOKIN....ONLY GOBLIN Required!
Courtesy of The Three Dog Bakery Cookbook. by Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff
1 cup Carob Powder
1 cup Skim Milk
2 Tablespoons Honey
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
3 cups Bran flake cereal
In a large bowl, combine carob, milk, honey and vanilla. Add bran flakes and mix thoroughly. Break off golf ball-size pieces and form into balls. Place balls in a sealed container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Store remaining balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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Tips'N Tails - Pumpkin is liked by dogs and is a superfood loaded with beta-carotene, which aids in cancer prevention, reduces inflammation and regulates Vitamin A. Vitamin C boosts basic immune functions, and the presence of Vitamin E also helps maintain healthy skin and coat.
Pumpkin is also high in fiber, which is vital to your dog's digestive health. A small amount of canned or fresh pumpkin puree is often recommended for dogs with upset stomachs and it is even known to help dogs who suffer from motion sickness. Stay away from pumpkin pie mix as it is loaded with sugar.
MORE SAFETY TIPS: The sweetener Xylitol is found in candies, gum, baked goods, and toothpaste it can cause an insulin surge, lowering blood sugar enough to cause weakness, vomiting, and loss of coordination in pets. It could even lead to liver failure. Any exposure can cause problems, but the more your pet consumes, the more severe the issues will be. Keep an eye on your pets during all parties and if the are around children. BE SURE to educate your children on the risks of giving Chocolate and Candy to any pets! Those Adorable eyes on a begging pup is easy to cave in to! You don't want to ruin the party spending the night at the Emergency Vets!
If you have a BLACK CAT, Please keep it inside. All pets should be watched because Halloween is known for pets disappearing, never to be seen again. Black Cats in particular are a target for thieves.
Hallowe'en Howlers
Pamper your pet with a flavorful Oat, Cream Cheese and Berry Cookie
Courtesy of PupSnacks by Stephanie Mehanna & Robert S. Goldstein, VMD
Makes 30 - 35
Prep time 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 -15 minutes
Bake at 325 degrees
8 oz. Oats
1 Egg, beaten
4 oz. Low Fat cream cheese
4 oz. Strawberries, chopped
3 oz. Blueberries, crushed or chopped
4 oz. Low-Fat Cream cheese - For the frosting
Mix together all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Brush a decorative cookie cutter with oil and place on the baking sheet. Spoon a little of the mixture into the cookie cutter and press down in a even layer. Carefully lift away the cutter. Repeat with the remainder. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Icing: Place the cream cheese in a small bowl, beat with a fork to soften, then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a fine nozzle. Or put cream cheese in a zip-lock bag and snip a small corner, squeeze to decorate. Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Tips'N Tails - Oats are a good source of dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates. They make a comforting filler if feeding raw or cooked with meat and vegetables. Pour 5 oz. of oats into a saucepan and cover with boiling water. Leave to soften and cool. Mix the softened oats with meat or fish and an handful of blended vegetables to create a warming winter dinner. Avoid Grapes, Raisins, Onions, Chives and Allium veggies.
DO NOT FEED YOUR DOG NUTMEG. Nutmeg is added to a lot of pumpkin recipes for humans. Some animal testing also suggests that nutmeg overdose can lead to liver cancer. Fever, shock, a feeling of impending doom, psychotic episodes, and death have also been known to occur. Symptoms will appear anywhere from a half an hour to two and a half hours after the user ingested the nutmeg. It can last over the next 24 to 48 hours and will most likely not be a pleasant experience.
Make your pet an internet star! SUBMIT YOUR HOWL-O-WEEN PHOTOS to puprwear@aim.com.
Include your pups name and any information you would like included.
Top Ten Safety Halloween Tips for Pet Parents
Attention, companion animal caretakers! The ASPCA would like to call your attention to these common-sense cautions that’ll help keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of year.
1. Please don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween. There are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, and even killed pets on this night.
2. Keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween. (P.S. It’s also our duty to remind you here that kitties are healthiest and happiest when they live inside ALL year round!)
3. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Sammy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.
For additional Safety Information click on www.aspca.org - "Copyright c 2006 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Reprinted with permission of the ASPCA. All Rights Reserved".
