Respect My Agility!

Sorry, I haven't posted in awhile. We've been pretty busy trying to kill off the jungle in our backyard. At some point, whoever owned the house before us thought English Ivy would make an awesome ground cover. It did look nice, but it took over the whole yard!

Now, we're trying to tame the green beast to make room for my own agility course! In the mean time, I put up some temporary fencing in the middle (already Ivy-free section) of our yard so Quest and I can get some practice in.

It was a pretty simple project. We opted for some garden netting and some garden posts. One of the great things about it being temporary? I can roll it up and set it up anywhere. We can take it to family gatherings, camping, the park, etc. Any place where we want to train off leash with the security of being "fenced."

Another reason I decided to go ahead and put up the temporary fencing was so we could begin working on the exercises outlined in Control Unleashed. If you haven't read it, it is awesome! It's a quick and easy read and goes through how to teach your dog confidence (and the handler confidence) through positive reinforcement training.

Next, I'm planning to add a teeter and possibly a pause table to our mini-course.

And what am I? Chopped Liver?

After a successful day at the Farmer's Market, Quest and I came home with some nice raw bones for him and a package of liver. I have never touched the stuff and thanks to an influential episode of Nickelodeon's Doug. However, I bit the bullet because it seemed like a cost effective way to get some healthy, clean, high-value treats for when we start our agility class next week.

I was able to buy all of this organic/grass-fed beef liver for only $4, which is what the same booth was charging for their 1 oz bags of already dehydrated liver treats.

 

The first step is to cut the liver slices to the appropriate size. They will shrink, but not too much. Depending on your meat, you may want to flatten it to save on drying time.

 

Next, you want to arrange them on a cookie sheet. I lined mine with parchment paper to save on mess. I had enough liver for two cookie sheets.

Now, I don't have a fancy dehydrator so I made my treats using just a regular oven. The oven was set at 175 degrees. When all was said and done, this batch of treats probably spent about 5 hours in the oven. They probably would have been fine at 2 1/2-3 hours, but I wanted a little bit more of a jerky texture.

When they come out of the oven, flip them over to allow some of the moisture that accumulated to dry. You could even pop them upside-down back into the oven to finish them off.

 

Quest Approves:



Sun, Surf, and Sand!

We got back from our family Beach Camping trip last night. We had a great time! Quest enjoyed his first beach trip. He loved playing in the sand and tidepools. He wasn't crazy for the waves, but enjoyed chasing the foam.

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Dog Stuff is Hitting the Beach!

Next weekend, we'll be headed to the beach. In my research of trying to make our beach camping trip go as smoothly as possible, I came up with a few things to ensure your pooch enjoys paradise.

 

 

• Fresh Water. No one likes a mouthful of salty ocean water. Make sure both you and your pup stay hydrated by bringing fresh water.

          *Please Note: Too much salt water can cause vomiting and diarrhea.*

• You know that feeling of dread when you left your flip flops by your towel and you have a couple hundred feet of scorching sand to get across? Your dog feels the burn the same way. Try to limit his walking on the dry sand during the hottest part of the day. Remember to lay out a towel as well.

• Find out if the beach you’re doing to allows off-leash dogs. If so, be prepared for “visitors.” If the beach is off-leash approved and you want to partake, make sure your dog has a reliable recall. If dogs are required to be on leash, follow the rules (required length included).

• Pick up after your dog. The mom down the beach doesn’t want her little Johnny building a poo castle! Plus, it’s just gross. If by chance your dog has been sneaking sips of the salt water, you may want to bring a shovel. Just because he got the runs, doesn’t mean you get to leave it.

• We already mentioned clean water to drink, but make sure you are able to rinse off your dog. The salt water is rough on their hair (and our hair too!), plus it can cause some skin irritation. Rinse their hair, collars, leads, etc.

• Fetch in the ocean? If your dog loves fetch, try bringing a floating toy with you. Just make sure it isn’t one you mind losing! Fetch is a whole different game when waves are involved.

• Sun and Sand? How about some SHADE! If possible try to find a shady spot. If there aren’t any, make your own. You can use an umbrella or one of the shade tents. We’ll be bringing Quest’s pop-up crate. It has large mesh “windows” for ventilation and is easy to pack. I mentioned getting Quest his own little shade tent, but the husband quickly vetoed that plan.

• Also, along with the Sun comes Sunburn. If you have a light colored dog, a dog with a pink nose or upright ears, or even a hairless. Please look into dog-safe sunscreen. Remember, Zinc is toxic to dogs! Those of the hairless variety may also want to look into a t-shirt.

Quest has only been in rivers and lakes...this will be interesting!

• This will be Quest’s first time in the ocean (he’s spent time at the lake before), so he’ll be wearing his harness and remain on a long-line in case we have to fish him out of the big drink. As for our dogs with short legs, snort muzzles, or those that just can’t swim very well, there are many options out there for doggy lifejackets. Not every dog swims like a fish!

Once we get back, I'll put up some pictures of Quest kickin' it on the beach.

In the meantime, what are your tips for a fun (and safe) beach getaway with the pups?

 

 

A little less crafting...

Well, there hasn't been a new post for the past couple weeks. I haven't been doing any real "doggy" crafts lately. Though, I have been sewing up a couple dresses for myself.

Instead, this will be a "Kudos" to Kyjen and Outward Hound. They have the most awesome customer service staff and are an excellent company to work with.

A little less than a year ago, I bought Quest a backpack for him to wear while we go camping and hiking. We loved not having to carry everything and he loved having a job to focus on while hiking.


Baby Quest on his first camping trip

We all had a great time! We climbed some rocks and made it to the top of the mountain. Quest was only about 8 months old at the time, so he was pretty tired once we reached the top.

Back to why Kyjen and Outward Hound are so awesome. We went on another camping trip, day hikes, and maybe the farmer's market a couple times, when the seams on his awesome pack began to unravel. This didn't seem normal after less than a year of moderate use, so I contacted the company directly and gave them the information. Even though our backpack was well past the 30 day guarantee, they agreed that the pack shouldn't be unraveling. They sent us a free replacement backpack, with free shipping, and it arrived in about a week. We have our next camping trip scheduled for next weekend, so we couldn't be happier. Thanks Kyjen and Outward Hound!

Quest taking the new backpack on a test run

Just a little flirting...

There's really no harm in flirting. In fact, in my opinion it is one of the best things you can do for your relationship....with your dog.

I'm not talking about whispering sweet nothings in his ear or batting your eyelashes. I'm talking about making your own flirt pole! There are times when all you want to do is relax with a book and a glass of wine and all Sparky wants to do is play, play, play. You look longingly at the sofa and fuzzy blanket, but you know as soon as you get comfortable, you will be stared at from across the room by big puppy eyes pleading with you to show them affection and maybe spend a few minutes wrestling on the floor.

Do you have a dog where even if you spend two hours walking, they still come home and run laps around the couch? Thirty minutes with a flirt pole has been compared by some to that two hour walk.

By now you are probably wondering what a flirt pole is, besides apparently a magic wand. A flirt pole is basically a giant cat toy for dogs. It's a simple pole and toy connected by a thin rope. You can make one yourself, which is what we did at DIY Dog Stuff, or you can purchase one. Our original was made from a spare curtain rod, rope, and a stuffing-free dog toy. Recently, we upgraded to a lunge whip for horses with a stuffing-free toy at the end.

 

Many dogs love to leap into the air to catch their "prey." Quest would rather it drag around the ground really fast and he'll try to scoop it up. Once it's caught, he'll shake it until you can almost hear his eyeball rattle in his head.

 

By the way, if you ever want to get pictures of your furkids playing with their flirt poles, it might be best to have a second person around to use the camera. Fast dogs + flirt poles + cameras in one hand = blurry pictures.

Weights for Agility Tunnel

My wonderful husband embraced my love for our furchild and training and bought me an agility set for Christmas. I honestly think it's the best present he has ever gotten me! It had the basics: a bar jump, tire jump, weave poles, pause box, and a short tunnel (with removable chute). The tunnel came with stakes to put in the ground for outdoor practice, but this winter was also a winter with tons of rain. I was anxious to start practicing and teaching Quest the basics.

I quickly realized that the tunnel would need to be weighed down for safety. I went through my fabric scraps and pantry can came up with a plan to make some small weights.

 

 

They're simple to make. Just cut squares, put the wrong-sides together, and sew three of the sides. Then, turn the pouches right-side out and fill with rice/beans/sand. I put the rice in baggies first, so if I ever took them outside, I wouldn't have to worry about ground moisture leaking in. I took a small section of bias tape and folded it in half and placed it about halfway down the top of the weight (green tab in picture) for the line to attach to and sewed across the top.

These do not weigh very much, but for indoor/light use (ex. recalls through the tunnel) they keep a short tunnel fairly stable. If your dog is going to be running at high speeds through the tunnel - please increase the weight for everyones safety. This can be done by using water filled milk jugs.

Pumpkin Kong "Icing"

 

As mentioned at the end of Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats, here is what to do with the remainder of your can of pumpkin.

The rest of your canned pumpkin makes excellent filler for Kongs (both frozen and regular). It's a pretty general recipe and you can create many variations of based on what you have on hand (and in my case, what is about to expire that you don't want to waste).

In this recipe, I used:
1/2 Can Pumpkin
Glob of Peanut Butter
Glob of Plain Yogurt

"Glob" is a term to describe "add until the consistency looks right." Again, this is a very vague recipe.

I have also added some leftover apple sauce that was taking up space in the fridge. This made it a little more runny than I would like. This can be balanced out by other ingredients.

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend together.

You know how difficult it is to fill a Kong spoonful by spoonful? Well, I decided to pour the entire mixture into a baggie and attach an icing tip! Nice and easy Kong creating! Plus, it gets deep into those crevices to extend your Quiet Time. "Quite Time" the rarely experienced time of day free from toys and noses being thrust into your face, lap, food, etc.

 

When filling your Kong, the "icing" makes excellent glue to hold all the other goodies together, as well as, closing off the top of the Kong. Also, if you're looking for a way to stop your Kongs from rolling all over the freezer while they turn into lovely Kongsicles, a small box (trimmed to size) holds the Kongs in place.

Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator. I just stuck another baggie over the tip and secured with a rubber band.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats

Happy Saturday!

Since it's Saturday and I usually make these Saturday mornings while the hubby sleeps, our first DIY post is going to be PB and P (Peanut Butter and Pumpkin) Dog Treats. Our boy loves them and with all the recalls lately (If you're wondering, the most recent was the Iams Shakeables) it's comforting to know exactly what your dog is eating and how it was made. No mystery ingredients here!

These take a little bit of time to get the perfect "milk-bone" crunch, but luckily the dogs love them fresh (and mostly cooled) from the oven as well. 

Though I love reading recipes on blogs, it's a little frustrating to me that the ingredients are listed at the end of all of the instructions and photos. So, here is a list of what you'll need:

1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1 C. Oats (I use Old Fashioned)

2 tsp. Baking Powder 

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Ginger

1 tsp. Allspice (I usually use Ground Cloves instead - Quest loves Cloves!)

2 Tbs. Coconut Oil (Canola works as well)

1/2 Can Pumpkin (Pure Pumpkin - NOT Pie Filling)

1/4 C. Peanut Butter

1/4 C. Water

Cookie cutters

Mixing Bowl (or two)

Rolling Pin

Cookie Sheet (2 or more)

Parchment Paper (Optional - I use it while rolling the dough, because I'm lazy and don't want to have to clean the counter)

Foil (Again, optional. I hate cleaning cookie sheets too)

Okay! That is the basic list of what you'll need. Do you feel prepared? It's really easy! Maybe your dog can even help you gather your supplies!

I taught Quest how to help out in the kitchen by closing drawers and cabinets for me. He can get pretty exuberant over it and will try to close them before you are done getting things out. 

For the sake of efficiency, pre-heat your oven to 325 before doing anything else.  Combine all of your dry ingredients (Flour, Oats, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Ginger, Allspice/Cloves). Get them nice and blended. 

Then, I like to combine the wet ingredients separately and later combine them with the dry. It seems easier to me, even if I have to wash an extra small bowl. 

When everything is all put together, the wet with the dry, grab a decent size handful and start rolling it out. Cut out some fun shapes and put them on the cookie sheet. This recipe will make approximately 3-4 cookie sheets full, depending on the size of your sheets and cookies. 

Bake for 15 minutes (at 325...remember the efficient pre-heat?). You'll pull them out and they'll feel like they're full of air. That's fine! As they cool they harden into a delicious crunchy canine cookie. Once all of the cookies are baked, I like to flip them all over (tops-down) and combine them on to as few cookie sheets as possible, turn the oven off, and throw them back in while the oven cools down.  Leave them in there overnight or for a few hours at least before storing. This limits the moisture that will remain in the cookie and allow you to keep them fresh longer without having to worry about mold in your cookie jar. 

Once they've spent their few hours in the cool oven, you can put them away and over the next day or so they'll turn into the crunchy cookie. 

Remember the 1/2 can of pumpkin we have left over? Well, I'll show you what to do with it in another post!

Welcome!

Welcome!

You have found DIY Dog Stuff where you can get a good dose of doggy DIY.

Here is a little background information on DIY Dog Stuff. I am Kassie. I am a wife and fur-mom. James and I have been married for almost two years. Quest is our bundle of fluff. Like most newlywed wives, I've become involved in quite a few DIY projects. These range from house fix-ups like installing light fixtures to creating a garden to be proud of (which is not easy for someone with a hereditary black thumb and is still a work in progress) to getting crafty with fabric and paint.

However, my favorite projects have been the things I've made for our fur-kid. Also, since dog parents love spoiling their kids, I'll review a few products we use. The amount of dog stuff we have accumulated in just over a year is astounding.

 

 

This is Quest. He'll be a model for most of the creations that will be posted. He'll also be honorary taste-tester, toy-tugger, and cuddle bug. We adopted him in February 2012 and our lives haven't been the same since. As anyone who's raised a young dog knows, the early years are rough. Their energy usually outlasts yours, they're learning appropriate behaviors, and you can't wait until they hit the 2 year mark where supposedly they reach maturity and things are rumored to calm down. Quest is only 19 months, so we're not quite there yet. I'll let you know if it's true, but I'm not holding my breath. It's due to his immense energy that we had to get creative and start coming up with ways to entertain him, hence all the DIY projects centered around him.

Again, welcome to DIY Dog Stuff. I'd love to hear from you, so please comment and ask questions. I hope to have the first project up within the next day. I'll also take requests for projects.