2011 - been a while!

Ok, here it is February 2011 - it's been a while and much has changed!  We rented out our Portland home and moved down to San Carlos, CA!  Loving the 'ranch' living - the dogs are in hog heaven!  What hasn't changed is that I'm still cooking for my dogs, but I no longer have to cook for my husband since he eats at work all the time :)

Over the past several months, I revised/improved/refined/reworked my recipes for the 'kids'.  I've used kelp/sea weed, flax, all sorts of things and decided to simplify.  Using Dr Pitcairn's book, I would make a batch of the "Healthy Powder" to add to their meals.  For meals, I would cook up potatoes - either sweetpotatoes, red or fingerlings, sometimes spinach, or green beans, that is the 'filler portion' - no grains.  Then if using ground beef, I'll cook that in the mix.  I like to buy a whole top sirloin roast from Costco and slice it myself - about 1/2" thick is nice so that the dogs can exercise their jaws.  A RAW chicken wing after each meal to brush their teeth is best.  They also get salmon oil or fish oil - whichever I have handy.  I've not had any problems with the dogs being gassy or having diarrhea problems - they are totally happy and healthy babies!! :)

Here's a mixture of potatoes, green beans and adding some chicken stock...

Add a slice of top sirloin...USDA Choice is good enough for our 'kids' =)

 Then some "Healthy Powder" - recipe from Dr Pitcairn's book and some good salmon oil

 Healthy meal for our kids!

 Followed by some outdoor roam time...

 Lots of fresh air, sunshine...

 Results in very happy kids!

These are the sardines:

sardines with lemon and virgin olive oil - high in omega 3, calcium and more, more for me then :P

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...the princess looks away with disapproval...I suppose she will be dieting this weekend :P

unlike my husband's approach when it comes to his precious baby girl, there are some boundaries in place...I mean c'mon... a can of good sardines is not good enough???

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Supervision is key to getting food!

Kaci likes to oversee the work in the kitchen so that there is no slack time. She is discovering that her owner is easily side tracked without a close watch of her every move.

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Great Book for Healthy Happy Pets - I highly recommend it!!

Dr Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats

I love this book! - I bought it from Amazon a couple of months ago and the dogs have been quite happy!

 It's a very nice guide to natural foods for dogs versus commercial foods.  I use the book more for a guideline regarding foods - It gives many recipes for dog food, and a great list of the various foods they can have in their diet.  The book also has natural remedies for common ailments, but I haven't had anything to take care of since feeding our dogs a better diet.

My vet is a believer of using a combination of natural and the regular veterinarian methods; our dogs have their annual physical along with recommended shots and monthly heart worm tablets.  

Cooking for my dogs!

I got tired of spending money on the 'best' dog foods out on the market - Orijen's 6 Fish, at 75 bucks a bag or any other top dog foods that are out there, especially when common sense tells me that humans are
not the only living creatures on earth that benefit from fresh foods!!!  I
mean, c'mon!!!  Given a choice of having fresh, balanced meals versus, say a box of some high quality cereal, which would be better for you??  I would hope you choose fresh foods!!  Vegetables, fruits, good grains like oats, eggs, cottage cheese...followed by beef bones(raw) for healthy clean teeth, integrated with raw beef liver and raw chicken wings for snacks once a week or 2 - that has been my new feeding routine for my dogs - and they are happy and healthy!!
(Above Right:Oatmeal, sweetpotatoes, raw beef liver and raw egg yolk)

(Above: Oats with artichoke, asparagus, asiago cheese fritata)

(Left: Oats with cooked egg whites, sweet potatoes, sardines and raw egg yolk and Right: Happy Hour noshes for humans :)

Here are the center cut beef marrow bones that I get by the case - case of 30# at about $1+/lb.  They love the meaty outside and the marrow on the inside.  I give one after each meal - especially when eating soft foods like oatmeal, it's good to finish with something to clean the teeth.  You can go to a butcher and ask to buy by the case - much cheaper than by a small package of 3-6.

Now keep in mind, there will be times when we'll have to get dry kibble - like...my husband's cooking versus dry kibble - dogs would be wiser to avoid the latter XD  For dry kibble needs, my favorite pet store in the area is Western Pet Supply over in Raleigh Hills.  They have the biggest selection of the top rated foods, toys, grooming supplies - you name it, they are the best AND their people are fantastic!
Here are our babies:

Kaci(pictured left under the Japanese maple) She is our baby girl - her dad spoiled her rotten and now, we are 'owned' by her!

Cody(pictured right) is our baby boy - we call him 'Boog-night - he is blacker than black!  If it weren't for his white tuft on chest, he'd be invisible!  He loves to lay on the picnic table - he'd love it I'm sure if we ate there too!