Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Canine Good Citizen Program

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm
I got this idea from nestie Sama1981. Thanks!
Wow we have a lot of work to do. I'm saying this as I was just on my butt while walking Jade and Behr. We cut through some bushes and I wasn't watching that they were focused on a cat right in front of us.

Here are the items:
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting (we've got this one!)
Test 3: Appearance and grooming (teeth, ears, brushing, FEET!)
Test 4: Walking on a loosh lead
Test 5: Walking through a crowd (Behr hates this one)
Test 6: Sit and Down on command and Stay in place
Test 7: Coming when called (uhhh, Jade this way)
Test 8: Reacting to another dog
Test 9: Reacting to distraction (please don't let the distraction be a cat)
Test 10: Supervised separation (this means I ask you to hold my dog and I walk out of sight for 3 minutes and the dog is suppose to sit and not pull....anyone want to be my guinea pig?)

The link above shows all the rules and what is and isn't acceptable. We have so much work to do. Thankfully the test is done with one dog not both. I feel like so many of these things I'm going to do I'll have to ask people in the street to practice these things, because it's all about a stranger doing these things, not us.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Cran-Apple Cookies

By Jonna Anne

2 C Whole Wheat Flour
1 C Oatmeal
3/4 C Milk
1/2 C Fresh Apples (minced)
1/4 C Cranberries (minced)

I can't find fresh cran this time of year, so I used dried. Since dried has sugar your dog shouldn't have a lot of these at one time. But they are safe in small amounts don't worry.

Looks like mush huh?
1. Mix together flour and oatmeal.
2. Stif the milk into the flour mix.
3. Add fruit.
4. Shape with cookie cutters.
5. Bake 350 for 30 min.

Once again I scoped the neighborhood looking to hand these out! I found some folks to share with once more.

Graduates



Harley, Behr, and Jade We just completed group lessons with our friend Harley. We all graduated! Behr could do most of these things...but now we both can:
sit
stay
lay down
come (Jade's not good at this one either)
heel
come and heel combo
shake (Jade's not good at this)
take it
drop it
sit while being greated/petted
loose leash walking (my neigbors wouldn't agree....it's not loose when we see another dog, cat, or squirrel)

Our "Green" Dog

The nest recommended teaching your dog to recycle.


So far I ask him to sit, and then I say recycle and he goes and puts his head over the recycling bin. Next step is to take the can and then drop it in the bin. I'll let you know when we are successful.

Carrot Cookies

again By Jonna Anne

2 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 C Oatmeal
1 Egg (slightly beaten)
1/2 C Cornmeal
1/2 C Water (hot)
1/3 C Vegetable Oil
1/2 C Carrots (grated fine)

This is so EASY! Okay I must stop using the cookie cutters, that is so messy. However, making their name is easier! I also used the toaster oven so it didn't heat up the kitchen!

1. Combine all ingredients to form a stiff dough.

2. Pinch off bits...or be crazy and roll with both hands to make their name!

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 min.

Low Fat Beef Cookies

from Jonna Anne Healthy Doggie Biscuits
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup skim milk
3/4 cup water
1 small beef puree baby food jar I couldn't find beef puree, so I just grabbed something that sounded similar!
Blend dry ingrediants.Blend wet ingrediants.Slowly add dry to wet ingrediants.Roll out and cut with cookie cutters.Bake 375 for 35 min. Then let cool overnight to crisp.

I tasted these and cornmeal isn't very good. UCK! Anyway I aimlessly walked the neighborhood with Behr until I found some neighbors to hand them out to. Buck got some and a Ridgeback that had just gotten through with a bike ride. So then I went to the dog park...two more Ridgeback's got some, and then two mixed breeds that are so well trained to sit patiently in a mini cooper convertible without jumping out!

Fleece Dog Toy

So I used this link for my next project!
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_pets_other/article/0,1801,HGTV_3153_5508561,00.html

This is so easy and they love it! If you make any of these, go straight to the discount bin...that cutesy material with little dog prints, doesn't even show! I also saw these (but smaller) at Petsmart today for $3.99, they had a big knot in the middle, so it makes a handle. I'll try that next.
FYI, yes if you're a dog owner you will get one for Christmas, if I can keep from giving them to you early!
Success! That Converse is about to be mistaken for a toy...Will better move his shoes!