How to Get Your Dog to Eat their Vegetables

As dogs, we’re designed to be meat eaters, but did you know that adding vegetables to your dog’s diet can help them in many ways?

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

My mom’s favorite pet nutritionist, Rodney Habib, has lots of great information on why it’s important to add fresh vegetables to your dog’s daily diet. With the simple addition of veggies to your pet’s food, you could help prevent cancer! Now that’s pretty cool.

Lucky for me, I’m actually a vegetable lover, but many dogs out there hate them.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Not to worry, today I’m going to share with you one of my mom’s favorite recipes for getting picky dogs (like my pal Trooper) to eat their vegetables.

*this is not a sponsored post, but does contain some affiliate links

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Here’s what you’ll need:

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Add a small amount of The Honest Kitchen to a bowl and add water as per the specifications on the package. The sample packs are great for making about 3 – 4 stuffed toys.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Add some fresh vegetables to the bowl, broccoli is great diced up into smaller pieces.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Then stuff a few mini carrots into your toys. These are great at making it harder for your dog to get the treats out quickly.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Fill the rest of the toy with your vegetable mixture until nearly full.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Finish off with a dab of peanut butter to really get your dog interested.

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

You can then either feed these veggie treats immediately to your dog, or even stick them in the freezer to give to them later (no need to thaw first).

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Every night when my parent’s eat dinner I get my own special vegetable treat inside my crate. My parents are happy knowing I’m getting a healthy dose of veggies, and I’m happy because it tastes oh-so-good!

How to get your dog to eat Vegetables // Ammo the Dachshund

Not sure what vegetables to feed your dog? Check out this handy list for some ideas.

Do you feed your pet fresh vegetables on a daily basis?Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Easy Frozen Dog Treats & A Giveaway

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Happy Lapper. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you will love!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Lets face it, Summer is H O T! Which is why my mom helped me come up with a fantastic way to help you and your pup cool off this summer. These super easy DIY Frozen Dog Treats are the perfect way to spend a hot day!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

*contains affiliate links

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Now before we dive into how to make these frozen treats, I bet you’re wondering what the Happy Lapper is. It’s this super cool frozen dog treat holder designed and created for dogs by a small business owner in my home state of Pennsylvania! It makes eating frozen treats a snap for all the dogs out there, and I’ll show you just how to use it after I share how to make these 2 ingredient frozen treats.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I decided to make 2 ingredient treats (all you need is bananas and peanut butter) because most frozen treats for dogs have yogurt in them. While yogurt is super yummy, I actually have a sensitivity to dairy (just like my mom who is lactose intolerant) so I tend to steer clear of the yogurt!

So all you need to get started is your 3 bananas and your 1/2 cup of peanut butter.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Simply pop them in the blender and mix those two yummy things up into a fine paste! You’ll notice I was getting my treat making on outside, mostly because if you remember, my kitchen looks like this right now. But the great news is, you don’t even need a functioning kitchen to make these treats!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Then simply dish out the mixture evenly into your cupcake liners (or whatever you choose to use) and pop them in the freezer until frozen.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

While you wait for your treats to freeze, it’s perfectly ok to lick the spoon. You can’t let any of the yumminess go to waste!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

The Happy Lapper Frozen Treat Holder was going to be a great addition to my upcoming snack. It’s also dishwasher safe and made from 100% non toxic materials.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Once your treats are frozen you simply pop them into the Happy Lapper (I decided to leave mine in the cupcake liners, but you can also pop them out if you prefer).

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Then place the Happy Lapper on the floor for your dog to enjoy! The Happy Lapper has a non-skid base to keep it from moving around while your dog licks it. I can’t tell you how annoying it is to lick a treat and have it slide all around the house (or worse it slides so much you have to make your mom or dad hold it for you!).

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I’m such a nice guy, that I decided to share my frozen treats with my best pal Trooper.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Trooper’s Happy Lapper got placed under the leg of a chair to keep it even more securely in place, and you could even have your mom or dad hold it down with their foot too. Mom thought this was a neat idea for dogs who might like to steal each other’s treats (of course I would NEVER do that), because you could put their treats under the leg of a chair at opposite ends of the house.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Smarty pants Trooper also got creative and figured out how to hold his treat down himself. (I could have done that too if I had really wanted….he’s not the only smart one around here!)

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Trooper and I loved the Happy Lapper, and think it’s a great addition to your summertime frozen pet treats. You can even use it with store-bought treats*, or any homemade ones you might want to make for your pup (Pretty Fluffy has a great DIY E-Book out that has some yummy frozen treat recipes in it).
*affiliate links

You can fetch your own Happy Lapper for $12.50 and $4 flat rate shipping (no matter how many you buy!). These would make a great gift for all your dog friends this summer!

Check out the video of Happy Lapper in action.

And now for the best part…

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

THREE WINNERS WILL WIN A HAPPY LAPPER FROZEN PET TREAT HOLDER!

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

No purchase necessary. To enter use the Rafflecopter widget below. You will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends. Open to USA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. By entering you are agreeing to the terms & conditions set forth in the Rafflecopter widget (see below).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read our full Terms & Conditions for this giveaway. 

Never want to miss any of the adventures (or giveaways) on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

 

12 Days of Cheer! Holiday Dog Cookie Round-up

I don’t know about you, but when I think about the holidays I think about all the yummy treats that will ultimately be baking in my kitchen. Or I guess I wish were baking in my kitchen! So I’ve rounded up some of my favorite Holiday Dog Cookie recipes so you have no excuse not to bake your pet some yummy treats this holiday season!

12 Days of Cheer! Holiday Dog Cookie Recipes // Ammo the Dachshund

Gingerbread Dog Treats from Pretty Fluffy

12 Days of Cheer! Holiday Dog Cookie Recipes // Ammo the Dachshund

Gluten Free Dog Treats from Wear. Wag. Repeat.

12 Days of Cheer! Holiday Dog Cookie Recipes // Ammo the Dachshund

Home-Made Monogram Dog Cookies from 1 Fine Cookie

12 Days of Cheer! Holiday Dog Cookie Recipes // Ammo the Dachshund

No-Bake Coconut Dog Teats from Pretty Fluffy

I’m drooling already! *Make sure you check back later today as I have another blog post in store with some goodies for you to win too!Ammo the Dachshund

 

P.S. If you’re still looking for something special to gift this year, our friends over at Easy Canvas Prints are holding a Holiday Contest where you could win $300 towards a canvas print of your own! Just think of all the photos of your dog you could get printed on canvas – I mean all the gifts you could give!!

Here’s the details:

Easy Canvas Prints fans on Facebook (and their blog) can upload any photo they would like to get printed on canvas to gift someone this holiday season. The photo with the most votes will win a grand prize of $300 to Easy Canvas Prints! The 2nd and 3rd place winners will win a $100 credit to Easy Canvas Prints. Contest runs 12/15/13 through 12/20/13.

Anyone who enters will be sent a 60% off Sitewide + Free Shipping coupon code as well, so everyone wins!!

Shop with Ammo // Flying Hero Etsy Shop

 

Friday Fetch: 52 Weeks of Treats with Pretty Fluffy

When my pal Serena from Pretty Fluffy e-mailed me about her brand-new e-book, I just knew it was the kind of thing I had to share!

Filled with recipes for 26 simple and healthy dog treats for every season, it’s the perfect gift for your pet this season.

52 WEEKS OF TREATS // Healthy and Simple Recipes for Pets // Ammo the Dachshund

With a focus on fresh ingredients and seasonal produce, the quick and easy recipes include Cinnamon Honey Donuts, Raspberry & Coconut Bark, Puppylato, Hearty Beef Bites, Sweet Potato Pretzels, Raw Cranberry Bites and many more original and yummy snacks.

I’m already drooling!

52 WEEKS OF TREATS // Healthy and Simple Recipes for Pets // Ammo the Dachshund

Having already purchased my copy I can attest that this ebook has stunning photos and lots of great easy to follow (and make) recipes.

I was a bit worried at first that I might not be able to test out all the recipes in the ebook, because I have a sensitivity to yogurt. But I was ecstatic to see that the book lists a handy substitution chart for dogs with allergies – and I learned that I can easily substitute Almond Milk Yogurt or Coconut Milk Yogurt for any recipes that require yogurt. Yippee!

52 WEEKS OF TREATS // Healthy and Simple Recipes for Pets // Ammo the Dachshund

The ebook includes:

+ 26 Easy and Nutritious Dog Treat Recipes to keep your dog happy and healthy! + Separate section just for special occasions such as birthdays and holidays.
+ Healthy Allergy Alternatives Guide
+ Illustrated Pantry and Shopping Guide

+ Handy Apps Guide
+ Dog Treat Cooking Handy Hints
+ Handy List of Health Benefits of Foods Safe for Dogs.

So if you are looking for a gift for all the dogs and dog lovers in your life this year, you can fetch the ebook, 52 Weeks of Treats by Serena Faber Nelson with Sarah Dickerson at PrettyFluffy.com for $12.95Ammo the Dachshund

 

 

Birthday Week: Dog Treat Round-up

I couldn’t decide what I wanted mom to bake me for my Birthday, so I decided to round-up some of my favorite dog treat recipes on the web right now.

My paws are crossed that mom will bake me one of these this weekend, because when your Birthday is on a Friday you get to extend it into a Birthday Weekend – it’s a rule!

Natural Dog Treat Recipe with Apples from 17 Apart

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Natural Dog Treats with Apples

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 1 finely chopped or grated apple
  • 1 beaten egg
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup cold water

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Natural Dog Treat Recipe

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets. Blend flour and cornmeal in large mixing bowl, then incorporate apple, egg, oil, brown sugar, and water until well blended. Flour your workspace and roll out dough to desired thickness. Cut cookies to desired shape and size. Place dog cookies on baking sheet and bake 35 minutes. After baking, turn oven off and leave cookies inside for another 30-45 minutes until crisp. Allow to cool and store in an air-tight container.

 

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits from Pink Pistachio

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon applesauce

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix until well blended. Knead into a ball and roll out on wax paper to 1/2″ thickness. Using cookie cutters cut out cookies and place on an unlined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Store in an air-tight container.

 

Low Fat Carrot Dog Treats from Dog Treat Recipes 

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Carrot and Banana Dog Treat Recipe

Image via 17 Apart

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium banana (ripe)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applejuice
  • 1/8 cup water (maybe more, as needed)
  • 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (keep some handy for rolling)
  • 1 cup rolled oats

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Carrot and Banana Dog Treat Recipe
Image via 17 Apart

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, lightly spraying a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkling a little flour onto the surface you’re planning to use to roll out the dough. In a medium bowl, mash up the banana and mix in the shredded carrots. Then add water and apple juice. Stir. Next, add the oats and flour. Stir all of the ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined.

Using your hands, knead the mixture until a dough forms. Dump the dough onto the lightly floured surface that you prepared earlier. Roll it out until it’s about a half inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut into 3″ pieces. Place the pieces onto your lightly sprayed baking sheet. Bake the dog treats for 25 minutes.

Before “serving”, let them cool completely. Here’s a tip that you may find useful: If your dog likes a little more crunch to his treats, then turn off the oven and let the treats cool there overnight.

 

I don’t know about you, but I’m totally drooling! Ammo the Dachshund

 

 

Good Boy Treats

I was such a good boy at my Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Test on Sunday that Mom made me an extra special treat when I got home.

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

You might remember the Polka Dog Bakery DIY Sweet Potato Dog Cookie Recipe I posted about a few weeks ago – well Mom decided to make me some as a reward for all my hard work!

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

First Mom sliced up some sweet potatoes for me.

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

Then we let them soak in a bowl of chicken broth for about 1/2 hour.

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

While they soaked I sat on my bed in the kitchen just counting the minutes until they would be ready. It was a whole lot of minutes.

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

Then after baking them for 15 minutes at 400 Degrees I had to wait a whole bunch more minutes for them to cool.

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

Finally my good dog treats were ready for their taste test!

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

Of course wouldn’t you know that mom made me practice my leave it command before I was allowed to eat them!

Ammo the Dachshund DIY sweet potato treats

In the end it was worth the wait, because they were yum! Perhaps I should be a good boy all the time.

You can find the entire recipe for DIY Healthy Sweet Potato Dog Cookies HERE

Friday Fetch: DIY Healthy Sweet Potato Treats for your Dog

I’ve been posting a lot this week about the new Polka Dog Line at Target, and I couldn’t help but squeeze one more post in about them this Friday – because I found the icing to my cupcake!

Via the A Bullseye View Blog I found a DIY recipe for Healthy Sweet Potato Treats for your furry friend. And never one to pass up a good cookie recipe I wanted to share it with everyone! Not to mention this is super easy to make and only requires two ingredients – the perfect start to your weekend for you and your dog.

diy sweet potato dog cookies

Sweet Pawtato Chips
Makes 32-42 treats 

Made from sweet potatoes (loaded with vitamin C, potassium and fiber) soaked in chicken broth, these thinly sliced treats are a healthy snack solution.

What You Need:
2 medium sweet potatoes
Chicken broth

What You’ll Do:
1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. Wash and Scrub Sweet Potatoes. Slice 1/8” thick with a mandolin or sharp knife.

3. Place in small bowl and cover with chicken broth.  Let soak for 1/2 hour.

4. Take slices out of bowl and place on parchment lined sheet pans.

5. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

6. Remove from oven, and allow to cool.

diy sweet potato dog cookies

Make sure you check out the full post for more photos and another recipe for Chicken Dog Biscuits. And you can bet I’ll be begging my mom to make me some of these this weekend!

Images and cookie recipe reposted from ABullseyeview.com 

Birthday Week: DIY Birthday Bones

One of the special treats my mom made me for my Birthday was a batch of “Birthday Bones”. And since you are all my party guests – I think you your pups deserve a little treat too! So break out the blender and mixing bowls here’s a simple recipe even I could make!

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

Birthday Bones

Ingredients:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup unsalted natural peanut butter
1 cup skim milk

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

2. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Then mix in peanut butter and milk. Mix well.

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

3. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll out so that is is 1/4″ thick and cut out shapes using a cookie cutter.

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

4. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool, then store in an airtight container.

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

5. While you wait for cookies to cool, make sure you let your “helper” lick the peanut butter spoon.

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

Tada! Now you have delicious cookies for your favorite pup!

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

Thanks mom! I really loved my Birthday treats!

ammo the dachshund birthday bones

Recipe inspiration [via]. Looking for more dog friendly recipes? Check out this book from the Three Dog Bakery!