From Ashley:  “Two years ago, a groomer dropped Paisley, rupturing part of her spine and leaving her unable to walk for a time. After 6 months of land, laser, and water therapy, along with acupuncture and lots of love, she now leads a happy life full of running and playing! She has some lingering effects from the accident, but her spirit is as bright as ever!

Paisley is an absolute darling dog with a heart so sweet and kind it amazes me.
Here are a few things about her…

1.) She is a Sheltie or a Shetland Sheepdog.
2.) She has half blue and half brown eyes.
3.) She loves walks, playing tug-of-war, and fetch.
4.) She has a slew of stuffed toys that she knows by name. Her favorite is lamb chop, which I buy in bulk to switch out when they get too ratty.

5.) She knows lots of tricks- sit, down, shake, give me five, speak, stop speaking, stay, come, go to bed, bang you’re dead, and she can steady a treat on her nose until I tell her to ‘get it’.

6.) Hates squirrels and bikes.”

Ashley even sent over the recipe for Paisley’s birthday cake!  For Paisley’s cake, she made two layers, so if you want the cake to look like Paisley’s, be sure to double the recipe.

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Peanut butter-carrot cake (for dogs)

A special treat for a dog!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 1 6 inch cake

Author Ashley Lynn

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup natural applesauce
• 2 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup organic peanut butter XYLITOL FREE
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 2 tsp vanilla

Icing

• 14 oz Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Cake

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease two 6 inch round cake pans.
• Make all of the cake ingredients together. If the batter seems too dry, add more applesauce.
• Pour batter into pans.
• Bake for ~25 minutes

Icing

• Mix yogurt and vanilla if desired.
• Allow cake to cool before icing.

You can read more about Paisley’s accident and recovery on Ashley’s blog.

Follow Ashley Lynn Photo on Instagram.

About Ashley Lynn Photography:  Based in Dayton, Ohio, Ashley specializes in wedding photography, as well as family and portrait photography.

The post Dog Pawty: Paisley the Sheltie appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

You wouldn’t necessarily know I’m a crazy dog lady by looking casually at photos of my house, but there are treat jars all over.  I believe in positive reward training, so I’m always looking for healthy dog treats, like Supreme Source®.  Many years ago, when my kids were small, I thought a plastic jar with paw prints all over it was cute.  But as I’ve grown older, my decorating ideas have changed. My favorite crafty project is creating treat jars. 

Because training my dogs is “a work in progress,” I need to have the treats easily accessible, but having them out isn’t my favorite look.  Theo and Sophie are tall enough to counter surf if left alone long enough.  Neither of them can be trusted with a bag of treats.  

I bought this green crock on sale, but it didn’t have a lid.  I knew I wanted it for dog treats, so I brainstormed a little and developed a plan.

Supplies

Wood Disc (you can purchase pre-cut ones in craft stores or cut your own)

Cork

Box cutter or Exacto knife

Cutting Mat

Glue

Optional:

Drawer pull/knob (and drill)

Paint or stain

Directions

Cut or buy wood to fit.  

Sand if needed.

To determine the diameter of cork seal:  measure the inside diameter of the container approximately 1/4 inch down (or the thickness of the cork). A compass works well for this type of measurement.  Alternatively, you can see if you have a bowl or plate that fits inside at the right depth and trace that. (That method worked for me.)

Cut cork with a  box cutter or Exacto knife.

If adding a handle, drill a hole in the center of wood and cork.

Stain or paint lid (optional.)

Assemble lid.  Since my hands are pretty small, I wanted a knob for easier access, but you can just glue the cork to the wood if you want.

Fill with delicious treats!

I’m picky when it comes to what I feed my dogs, so I was happy to learn about Supreme Source® grain-free dog food and treats.

Their products are grain-free (no corn, soy, or wheat!) which means even Nelly can eat them. Not only are they grain-free, but they are also made without artificial flavors or coloring in small batches in the USA.

My dogs love both the biscuits and the soft treats.  The soft treats only have 3 calories.  Both are easy enough to break into smaller pieces if needed.  

You can learn more about Supreme Source for dogs (and cats!) on their website.

Treat your pet and enter our giveaway of Supreme Source food, treats, and swag items for either a cat or a dog (winner’s preference.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Because every mom deserves a little pampering, be sure to enter the Pampered Pet Moms Sweepstakes at Supreme Source!

The winner will win a $500 Spafinder.com gift card plus a prize pack containing Supreme Source food, treats, and select grooming products from Chewy.com.

Follow Alice G Patterson on Instagram.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in editorial photography, dog portraits, and photography for small businesses.  

The post Ceramic Treat Jar With An Easy DIY Lid appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

Disclosure:  This is post is sponsored by Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Dog Treats.   I’m being compensated for sharing my opinion.   However, at Daily Dog Tag, we only review products that we use for ourselves or our dogs.   Photos are by Alice G Patterson Photography. This post also contains affiliate links. If you purchase through an affiliate link, I’ll earn a small fee at no additional cost to you. Your purchase would help keep this blog running!

As you might guess, most of my friends are dog lovers too. This Valentine’s Day, I’m excited to give them blueberry muffins and Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Dog Treats for their dogs. The Maple Bacon & Blueberry flavor is a big hit with all the dogs I know!

I always like giving and getting gifts with a personal touch, so I decided to try out the wood-burning kit that I bought a few years ago on a whim.  

Supplies

wood burning tool

precut wood hearts  (also available at craft stores)

practice wood (or extra hearts)

baker’s twine

scissors

pliers (not shown)

sandpaper (not shown)

Directions

Attach the desired tip to the wood-burning tool.

Turn on and allow to heat for about five minutes.

If you are stamping a design, press straight down into wood and rock it slightly to make sure the entire design is burned. Make sure to make some test stamps, especially if this is your first time using a wood burner. 

If you are free handing a design, keep the burner moving to avoid blobs.

Use pliers or let the tool cool before changing tips. You can save time by using one stamp on all the pieces before changing tips if you make multiples.

I wish I would have known a helpful hint:  sand wood before burning for a smoother surface!

I bought tags with predrilled holes. After decorating your tags, put a string through them.

I love the simplicity of glass jars. Fill with blueberry muffins or Vita Bone Dog Treats.

Attach the tag, and spread the love!

Vita Bone Artisan Inspired Dog Treats are gift-worthy! I am pawticular when it comes to the treats I give my dogs. Vita Bone Artisan Inspired dog treats are sourced and made in the USA.   Just as importantly, they don’t contain corn, soy, or artificial flavors. 

They also smell delicious.

Alice’s sweet Franny has been sick and lost her appetite, despite being on an appetite stimulant. However, she came in for her free sample of a Maple Bacon & Blueberry Vita Bone treat and then asked for a few more. I happily complied.

(Franny had surgery yesterday to remove her spleen along with a grapefruit-sized mass and will be home tonight. And yes, she has a jar of Vita Bone treats waiting for her!)

Do you get Valentine’s Day treats for your pet?  

Find a Vita Bone Retailer near you. Before you shop, print a coupon!

Follow Alice G Patterson on Instagram to see more of her work!

Check out Vita Bone on Instagram as well as on Facebook for lots of adorable dogs!

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in dog photography as well as custom photography for small businesses.

The post Gift Ideas: DIY Valentine’s Day Tags appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

Disclosure:   This post contains affiliate links.  Daily Dog Tag only promotes products that we use and love.  If you make a purchase through a link, I’ll earn a small fee at no additional cost to you.

I am not a dog nutritionist; this recipe is a special treat.  If you are concerned about potential allergies or health concerns, please don’t take a chance with your dog’s health.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, but carob isn’t.  However, since so many people just look at a photo without reading the directions, I didn’t want to use carob, for fear people would mistake it for chocolate.  Instead, I topped off my dog’s peanut butter dreams with the cutest grain-free treat.

When choosing peanut butter, be sure that it does not contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is extremely toxic.  We recommend Dogbutter or organic peanut butter.

Print

Vegan Peanut Butter Dreams (For Dogs)

Bake something special for your pup: peanut butter cookies

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 3 TBSP coconut oil
• 3/8 cup natural peanut butter or Dogbutter Be sure that it has NO XYLITOL which is extremely toxic to dogs!
• 1 cup rice flour may substitute any type of flour
• 2 TBSP organic unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 - 2 TBSP water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350
• Mix coconut oil and peanut butter together.
• Slowly add rice flour to the peanut butter mixture.
• Stir in applesauce and 1/2 TBSP water.
• If dough is crumbly, add more water.
• Shape to desired size. (Cookies do not rise or spread during baking.)
• Bake 9-11 minutes
• Optional: Press treat into cookie while still soft.

I’m joining the  2017 Holiday Cookie Swap.  Follow the links for more cookie recipes (for humans!) 

Snowballs from Samantha at Carter’s Cozy Nest
Paleo Chocolate Chip cookies from Mia at Mia Sutton Blog
Snickerdoodles from Lisa at Retro Housewife Goes Green
German Chocolate Cake Cookies from Abby at Winstead Wandering
Sugar Cookies from Lindsay at Pursuit of Pink
Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Almond Crescent Cookies) from Sandra at The In Between Is Mine
Cloud Snickerdoodles from Savannah at The Savvy Plate 
Peppermint Whoopie Pies from Abi at Abi Tomberlin Blog
Peanut Butter Dreams Dog Treats from Beth at Daily Dog Tag
Grandma Hermits by Lecy at A Simpler Grace

What is your (or your pet’s) favorite cookie?

Follow Alice G Patterson on Instagram.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in editorial photography, senior portraits, and dog photography.  She is passionate about helping small businesses.

The post Living With Dogs: Peanut Butter Dreams (Vegan Dog Treats) appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

When I was growing up, my family loved tradition.  We had pretty much the same menu for Thanksgiving every year.  The night before Thanksgiving, my dad and I would make the pumpkin pies.  The only dessert we ever had for Thanksgiving was pumpkin pie.

The first time I attended Thanksgiving at my in-laws, I was bewildered to find they had many different pies, cakes, and a trifle. 

Over the years, I have added and dropped various menu items to holiday meals to suit our family and guests.   

We’ve all seen traditional fall-themed pies, but why not break the mold and show off what you really love?    Dogs are family.  So we decided to bring that idea to the table this year, both with our desserts and something yummy for the dogs: Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Dog Treats. 

One of the things I’ve learned in life is that you don’t always have to do things the hard way.

If you’ve ever wondered where the phrase “easy as pie” came from, it was from someone who didn’t have to make the pie crust.  Now that you can buy premade crusts,  fruit pies are pretty dang easy to make.

Armed with an apple cranberry pie crisp recipe, my awesome dog cookie cutter collection, and a premade crust, we went to work.

While I love to bake, I’m not a professional.  I can never figure out how to crimp the pie crust edges to look like something Martha would make. So we decided to cover them up with a cute border.

After placing the border, it is time to add the cutouts.

And while I sometimes bake dog treats, Thanksgiving is a day that we are working extra diligently on food for the people.  However, I still want my dogs to have something special.

Vita Bone Artisan Inspired Dog Treats smell like stuffing.  They are made in the USA with real meat, fruit, and vegetables.  I like that they are corn-free, soy-free, and don’t contain any artificial flavors or by-products.  

What did Franny think of them?

She loved them!

Vita Bone Treats are available at Walmart (in-store and online) as well as grocery stores.

And because it just isn’t Thanksgiving to me without a piece of pumpkin pie, we made single-serving pumpkin pies too! 

To avoid a Pinterest fail, wait until the filling is firm before adding the crust cut out! 

Follow Alice G Patterson on Instagram to see more of her work!

Check out Vita Bone on Instagram, too, for lots of adorable dogs!

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in dog portraits as well as photography for small businesses.

The post Easy and Decorative Pie Crust for Dog Lovers appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.