Season’s Gree ting! As the holidays ramp up, many people are busy picking out gifts for their loved ones. Of course, many people are homeschooling their children this year. (Our canine patients are thrilled about this.) Why not have the kids make something for Fido? This is a win-win: you get occupied kids and a happy dog! A local vet offers some suggestions in this article.
If there’s one thing that is appropriate for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s treats. Have make your pooch some simple dog biscuits. Start by combining a half cup of oats, 2 cups of pureed pumpkin or sweet potato, an egg, a half cup of natural PB, and three cups of whole-wheat flour. Mix everything into a batter, and then roll it out. Use a cute bone-shaped cookie cutter to form cookies. About 20 minutes at 350F should do it, but add more time for crunchier treats. These are also great gifts for Fido’s buddies!
Here’s an easy option: cut an old towel or tee shirt into thin strips. You can use a few different-colored fabrics if you like. Braid the strips together, and then braid those braids together. Then, when you have a decent-sized rope toy, tie the end off in a big knot. You can also make variations of this, by incorporating things like tennis balls or tying the knots into different shapes.
It’s very important for Fido to be able to sleep comfortably at night. You can go easy with this one, and have the kids stuff a blanket into a square or oval shape, and then stuff it. If you want something a bit more involved, you can upcycle a piece of furniture. For instance, you can turn a coffee table upside down, repurpose a hard-shell suitcase, or even make a pallet bed. Paint and stain will make it look nice and/or match your decor. Just make sure that there are no sharp edges.
Another option is to have the youngsters decorate a jar for Fido’s treats. Any simple ceramic jar or vase will work. A plain cookie jar is fine. They can use paint, stencils, or other mediums to decorate it.
Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your local vet clinic, if there is ever anything we can do for you. We are here to help!