Father’s Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads

Celebrate the Dog Dad in your life this Father?s Day and let them know how important they are to you! Father?s Day isn?t only for dads with human children. Dog dads work just as hard as a regular human dad. There?s lots of responsibility and hard work that comes along with being a dog dad, picking up poop, filling the water and food bowls, early morning walks, bedtime cuddles. It?s just like having a human child. So spoil the dog dad in your life this Father?s Day because picking up dog poop is hard stinky work!

1. Beer Cozy: Dog Beers – $4.99US

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Beer Cozy

Is your dog dad a beer drinker? If the answer to that question is a yes, than they will love this gift. This beer cozy says, ?Beers are like dogs, they prefer to run in packs!? This is a super nice and cute gift that any dad that?s a beer drinker would love. If you don?t like this saying, check out the other beer cozies on the My Beer Cozy website. They have other dog-related cozies that the dog dad in your life will also love!

2. Personalized Paw Print Cufflinks – $190US

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Personalized Paw Print Cufflinks

If your dog dad dresses in a suit and tie everyday for work, they will love these personalized cufflinks. These aren?t your typical personalized cufflinks that are monogramed. These cufflinks are from Silver Pet Prints and they will put your dogs paw print on a pair of cufflinks. Your dog dad now never has to leave to go to work with leaving their dog behind. Take along your four-legged friend in any way that you can!

3. Best Dog Dad Ever T-shirt ? 13.99US

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Best Dog Dad Ever T-Shirt

Tell the dog dad in your life that they are the Best Dog Dad Ever with this super cute t-shirt. While Father?s Day may only be one day a year, the dog dad in your life won?t forget that you love them with this t-shirt. They can wear it any day of the year and proudly show that they are, the Best Dog Dad Ever!

4. Pop Your Pup Personalized Canvas – $149.99US

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Pop Your Pup Personalized Canvas

Who wouldn?t love a picture of their dog? Hang this personalized canvas in your home so that you and your furry friend can enjoy looking at them. This is a great gift for any dog dad that has lost their pup or genuinely just loves their dog. I know I love looking at pictures of my sweet girl and a personalized canvas of her would be amazing.

5. Cookbook for Dogs ? $12.90

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Cookbook for Dogs

For the hands on dad, this cookbook is perfect. Get messy in the kitchen cooking up a meal or some treats for your four-legged best friend. Begging is allowed in this kitchen, since you will be cooking for your doggie. This gift is also great for the dog dad that wants to spend time at home with their furry best friend. The best part is that this cookbook is less than $13 on amazon!

6. World?s Best Dog Dad Mug – $16.86

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - World's Best Dog Dad Mug

Let everyone know that you?re the World?s Best Dog Dad with this mug from Strictly Business Mugs. Use this mug at home for your morning coffee, or bring to the office to let the whole world know how amazing you are. If you don?t like this style of dog dad mug, check out the other options from this cute Etsy shop!

7. Personalized Keychain – $29.46

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Personalized Keychain

Everyone has a key that needs a keychain. Which is why this is a great gift idea! At Rosie?s Pendants they make personalized keychains where you can have a picture of you and your dog on one side. On the other side a cute saying such as ?This Dad belongs to a *insert dog breed*? This is such a nice keepsake that any dog dad would love to have. Not to mention, they will be able to show off their doggie anywhere they go!

8. ?PupSocks – $29.99US

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - PupSocks

What is more personal than your dogs face on your socks? Everyone wears socks at some point, and now you can walk around with your best friends face on your feet! Pup Socks?is the company that makes these personalized socks and they do it for the low price of $29.99US. Any dog dad would love a pair of these, and at that price, why not get two pairs?

9. Dog Dad AF Hat – $26.77

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Dog Dad AF Hat

The sun getting bright while you?re walking your dog everyday? The closer we get to summer the more important a hat is. Step out in style with this Dog Dad AF Hat from the Etsy shop Zira The Corgi! Now you can represent being a dog dad everywhere you go with this trendy hat. All the other dads at the dog park are going to be jealous.

10. DIY Pet Safe Ink Paw Print Picture – $20

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - DIY Pet Safe Ink Paw Print Picture

Some of the best gifts are handmade ones, or should we say paw-made. Check out our DIY Pet Safe Ink Paw Print Picture! This gift is super easy to make and costs $20 or less. The majority of the cost is in the picture frame, so you could even go to your local dollar store and pick up a cheap canvas to do this DIY project on. Trust me the dog dad in your life will love this gift because of the meaning behind it, not the money spent!

11. Dog Dad Father?s Day Card – $5.83

Father's Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads - Father's Day Card

Don?t forget the card! Every gift needs a cute or witty card to go along with it. The Etsy shop Wonderflies, makes this cute but funny card that any dog dad would love. This card would work for any breed, size, or age of dog, because let?s be real all dogs poop and someone?s got to pick it up!

We hope that our Father?s Day Gift Guide for Dog Dads helps you! Make sure you celebrate all dads this Father?s Day! Remember that it?s not how much the gift costs but that it comes from your heart.

Let us know if you purchase any of these gifts for the Dog Dad in your life this Father?s Day!

Happy Father?s Day to all of the Dog and Human Dads out there!

Wet Kisses and Tail Wags,
Karlee and Marlee

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

Now that spring is upon us, and summer around the corner, we are officially in Wedding Season! If you?re getting married this spring or summer, you may be looking at ways to include your furry best friend in your big day. That is why we are bringing you 5 Ways To Include Your Dog in Your Wedding. Having just got married this past October myself; I know the importance of wanting all of your family members celebrating with you.

These 5 ideas are all things that my husband and I did to include Marlee in our wedding. Some take a bit of planning, while others are super easy. But what?s important is that your four-legged friend gets to be included. Whether that is with you in person or in other creative ways.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Engagement Pictures

1. Engagement Pictures

A very simple way to include your doggie in your wedding and events leading up to your wedding is engagement pictures. This is your first step towards your wedding after the actual proposal.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Engagement Pictures

Here are a few of my tips for including your dog in your engagement pictures:

  1. Talk to your photographer in advance if you plan on bringing your dog along. You want to know if your photographer has worked with animals before. It?s possible they could be scared of dogs and then they aren?t able to perform their services to the best of their ability.
  2. Pick an outdoor location. Your dog will feel most comfortable being outside and not in some strange persons house. Of course you could always take your engagement pictures at your home, where they also feel at home. But we recommend outside so that your dog is calm.
  3. Take your dog for a walk before hand. This goes along with my previous tip. If you?re outside you can bring your dog for a walk before hand and let them run around. This way they are calm and tired for the pictures. Ensuring that they will be more willing to sit and stay still for your photographer. Bonus: If you want your photographer to catch action shots, they can always do this while you?re playing with your dog.
  4. Bring along treats. This may seem like a no brainer but it could be a lifesaver. If you have a very well trained dog, this may not be necessary, but still couldn?t hurt. Most dogs are food motivated and having treats on hand is super helpful. Marlee isn?t food motivated but having some of her favourite treats on hand, always comes in handy. No pun intended. But really, your dog may have to sit or lie dog for a long period of time depending on the pose you are doing and having a reward is always a great idea.
  5. Bring along a friend or family member. This was the best decision we made! My best friend came along with us and took care of Marlee. We wanted some pictures with Marlee and some without. She was able to take care of Marlee for the photos we took without her. It was also really helpful having her for the pictures we took with Marlee because she was able to stand with the photographer and call Marlee?s name. For occasion such as engagement pictures, another person is a must if you include your dog.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Honorary Wedding Party Member

2. Honorary Wedding Party Member

It may be a little more complicated to include your dog in your wedding as a wedding party member but it?s worth it! We were very lucky to get married on my mother in laws property so we didn?t have to worry too much about the logistics of this. However, you will want to check your venue, if dogs or pets are allowed. Most will have strict rules about this. Most likely if your ceremony is in a church this option will not be possible. However, most outdoor locations are great for allowing dogs.

We had one of our maids of honour (we had two) walk down with Marlee and then hold her leash during the ceremony. This way she was able to walk down the aisle and then stand next to us during the ceremony. You could also have your furry friend walk the bride down the aisle, or go down with the flower girl or ring bearer. There are so many options, what you choose truly depends on you and your dog.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Honorary Wedding Party Member

You can also dress your four-legged family member for the occasion. With Marlee we put a cute white and black damask collar on her. But you could do a flower collar or flower crown, a special leash. Or my personal favourite, a special engraved dog tag that says their role, such as ?Flower Girl? or ?Groomsman.? Whatever suits you, your future husband and your doggie the best. The important thing is that you get to include your dog in your wedding.

Just make sure that you have a plan for your pup post ceremony because the reception may be a little too wild for them. Marlee went into the house when the real party started in the reception tent. Family members took turns letting Marlee and my mother in laws dogs out for pee breaks throughout the evening and night. If this isn?t an option for you, consider hiring a dog sitter for the evening. Or have someone you trust drive your dog home.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Cake Topper

3. Your Cake Topper

Having your dog apart of your cake topper is an easy and subtle way to include your dog in your wedding. I feel that this is a really cute touch to any wedding where the bride and groom own a dog. It requires little extra work and doesn?t mean that your dog has to be present at your wedding. We wanted to include Marlee in as many aspects of our wedding as possible. Which meant that she had to be on top of the cake with us!

I had looked at customized cake toppers but they were pretty pricey and out of our budget. While this would have been nice, the reality of the matter is that it?s only for one night and then you never use it again. With that in mind I immediately set out looking for alternatives that still included our fur baby.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Cake Topper

We ended up ordering our cake topper from Wedding Star. As you can see from the picture we ordered the ?Leaning for a Kiss? couple figure Cake Topper. This was our main cake topper and then we ordered the Miniature Bichon Frise Figurine. Marlee isn?t actually a bichon frise, but this dog looked the closest to her breed. However it was all white and she isn?t.

My amazingly talented best friend, actually painted the porcelain dog to match Marlee?s hair colour. This completely brought the dog to life and looked just like her. We then were able to put the dog figurine on base of the couple figurine cake topper. The cake topper as a whole was a huge hit. This is a super cute and easy way to include your dog in your wedding. Bonus: these cake toppers are currently on sale!

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Getting Ready and Wedding Picures

4. Wedding Pictures ? Getting Ready Pictures

What better way to include your dog in your wedding than your wedding pictures. There are a couple ways to do this. First, if you?re taking bridals or any wedding pictures in advance you can bring your dog along. If you?re going to do this, use the same tips that I mentioned for including your dog in your engagement pictures.

Another way to include your dog in your wedding pictures is by taking pictures with them when you?re getting ready. This is something that I did and really enjoyed. Since we were married on our family?s property it gave us a lot of leeway. Marlee was in the house with us so it was just natural for her to be by my side as I was getting ready. Our photographer captured some really nice pictures of the two of us.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Getting Ready and Wedding Pictures

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Getting Ready and Wedding Pictures

The last way to include your dog in your wedding pictures is by having them present the day of your wedding. I previously mentioned having our dog in our wedding ceremony. Because of that she was at our cocktail hour before the reception. We took the majority of our pictures during this time. We actually let all the dogs run around and mingle with our guests. Looking back on our wedding pictures, there are quite a few where Marlee is seen off to the side or hiding. It truly is something special to have your furry best friend included in your big day.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Save the Dates and Thank You Cards

5. Your Save The Dates/Thank You Cards

You can include your dog in your save the dates and thank you cards in a couple ways. If you want them in your save the dates then you can bring them along to your engagement pictures and use those photos. Or you can have a little cartoon made of them and included somewhere on the save the date. We did not have Marlee included in our save the dates because we were going to a more elegant/rustic feel. But we did include her in our Thank You Cards.

You can do this by using photos from your wedding day, if you had your dog present that day and got pictures. Another way as I previously mentioned in the form of a cartoon, which is what we did. Even though we had Marlee at our wedding and got some cute pictures, I wanted to do something a little more fun. We treat Marlee as our child, which means she is as apart as the family as my husband and I are. Because of that, I reached out to a cartoonist who was able to make Marlee into a cartoon based on pictures I sent him.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Save the Dates and Thank You Cards

I thought it would be really funny if Marlee was a cartoon and she had a speech bubble saying, ?and we all lived happily ever after!? We then put it on the back of our Thank You Cards. That way the front still matched our wedding theme, as well as our Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations. But it added a little fun element that was unique but included our dog in our wedding.

Well there you have it, 5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding! We hope you enjoyed our ideas. Some are super easy to achieve, such as included them in your cake topper or save the dates/thank you cards. While others may require more planning, it is totally worth it in the end. If you?re able to include your dog in your wedding I highly recommend it. I love looking back on our wedding pictures and seeing Marlee right next to us. I can?t wait to look back on them in 10, 15, 25 or even 50 years and see her and remember how it was such an amazingly special day.

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Marlee

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding - Wedding Pictures

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

Let us know if you have included your dog in your wedding and if you have any other ideas to do so!

Don’t forget to check out some our previous posts?on including your dogs in all aspects of your life, such as birthdays with these Wheat Free Peanut Butter Banana Muffins for Dogs?or during the holidays with these DIY Easter Treats for Dogs!

Wet Kisses and Tail Wags,
Karlee and Marlee

Wedding and Engagement Pictures Taken by G3 Designs Photography. Thank You Cards by Pretty In Print Invitations.

Dog Mom – Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Dog Mom Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is an important day to celebrate all mothers. Whether you’re a mom with human children or a dog mom, it’s a day to recognize the love and sacrifices you have given your family. That is why we have brought to you 10 ideas that any dog mom would love for Mother’s Day. These items range from as inexpensive as $8 to $299 if you really want to spoil your mom. Let’s be real, if you’re a dog mom, you can also just treat yourselves this mother’s day, theres no rule saying someone else has to buy the gift for you. We hope you enjoy our Dog Mom – Mother’s Day Gift Guide!

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Devoted Dog Pandora Charm

Pandora Dog Charm – $40

Most of the time when you?re a mom, you don?t often buy yourself things that aren?t necessities. Being a dog mom, I know this is no different having a dog child than a human child. I am more likely to purchase toys and clothes for my fur baby than myself. So Mother?s Day is the perfect time to treat that dog mom in your life and get her something she wouldn?t buy for herself. What better way to show that her fur baby loves her as much she loves them than with the Devoted Dog charm from Pandora. Even when you?re not together, every time you look down and see the cute dog face on your Pandora bracelet, you will think of your four legged best friend.

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Dog Mom Hat

Dog Mom Hat – $30

If you?re a dog mom or know a dog mom, then you know we are loud and proud about it. The Dog Mom hat from thedogmomco is a perfect staple to have in any dog mom?s wardrobe. Having a bad hair day? No problem, just throw on your dog mom hat and you?re ready to go. Even if you?re having a great hair day, the dog mom hat is a great additional to any outfit. With the beginning of summer coming up and the warm weather upon us, represent all dog moms by wearing this cute hat. I know I would love one for Mother?s Day.

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Furbo Dog Camera

Furbo Dog Camera – $299

The Furbo Dog Camera, this is one gift I wish I had. Ellen DeGreneres had this on her show around Christmas I believe and I have wanted it ever since. Are you worried that your fur baby is alone all day? Do you miss them when you?re at work, or out of the house? Fear not! The Furbo is here and has the solutions to all your problems. The Furbo allows you to see and talk to your doggie while you?re not home. It even sends you alerts when your dog is active, if there is a human or if your furry friend is barking. The best part though, is that you can throw your four legged friend treats! Now you can reward them for good behaviour when you?re not even home! For a limited time, Furbo is having a Mother?s Day sale, offering $85 off your purchase.

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Bark & Co Schoodles

Bark & Co Shoodles by Bucketfeet – $95

 

Every dog mom wants to walk her dog in style. Make sure the dog mom in your life is stylish with these Bark & Co Shoodles. Slip your feet into a pair of these super adorable bucketfeet shoes, that feature illustrations by Dave Coverly. You?ll always be representing dog moms while wearing these shoes. Worried about getting them dirty during those muddy dog walks? That?s okay, they also come in grey and black which shows less dirt. But let?s be honest, you should just buy both pairs because the dog mom in your life will be getting lots of use out of these.

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Fur Baby Mama Mug

Fur Baby Mama Mug – $17

This super cute Fur Baby Mama mug is sure to put a smile on her face this Mother?s Day. The floral pattern for the paw print is adorable and screams Mother?s Day. The dog mom in your life will continue to love this mug day and day. They can enjoy is at home or bring it to the office to show everyone how proud they are to be a Fur Baby Mama. If you want to give a mug but want a different saying, Home Sweet Pet on Etsy, has different options to choose from, as well as pet tags. So you can treat the dog mom and the dog!

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Crazy Dog Lady Tote Bag

Crazy Dog Lady Tote Bag – $15

We?ve all heard about the crazy cat lady, but let?s be real. All of us dog moms have a little bit of crazy in us as well. This super cute and handy Crazy Dog Lady Tote Bag, lets everyone know just how crazy you are about your dog. It?s great for your dog mom to carry her belongings in. But even better for carrying your dogs stuff in. It works great for overnight trips to pack your fur babies, toys, treats, blankets, and other necessities. The tote is also great to use for running errands, or grocery shopping. Any dog mom would love to have this as an addition to her daily life.

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Dog Mom T-Shirt

Dog Mom T-Shirt – $24

Buy this for the dog mom in your life, and it is quickly become a staple item. The Dog Mom shirt is something that dog moms can represent everyday and never get tired of it! These dog mom t-shirts from LucyGooseCo are available in about 15 different colours. Which makes it possible to wear one every day of the week. These t-shirts are classic and cute. You can wear them with jean shorts and skirts during the summer or jeans and leggings during the winter. They are so versatile and there will be no mistaking that you love your dog. This is a great Mother?s Day gift that any dog mom would love and enjoy.

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Dog Treat Jar

Dog Treat Jar by Amici Pet Beverly Hills – $10

A Dog Treat Jar is a great gift for the dog mom, the dog and anyone in the house that gives the dog treats. They are a cute addition to your kitchen counter, or wherever you like to store your dog treats. They are also super helpful and efficient at de-cluttering treat bags. I don?t know about your dog, but our dogs know the second the treat bag is picked up and they are there waiting to receive one. Really, the crinkle of any bag, has our dogs up in our business wanting whatever we have. Eliminate that problem with a jar, and soon the dogs are always wanting your food from the crinkly bag. These treat jars are also great for keeping smaller amounts of treats out at a time. We buy the largest bag of duck treats we can find and then fill up the jar. The rest of the bag we store in the cupboard, to free up counter space in our kitchen. Apart from it?s functionality, it?s adorable and adds to the d?cor in your home. So any dog mom would love this gift for Mother?s Day!

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - Friendship Collar

Puppy Love Friendship Collar – $45

Dog Mom?s are always buying new stuff for their doggies. I know that I am always buying my little Marlee new collars to keep up with holidays and the seasons. But while she is always looking cute and stylish, I?m left out. Which is why Friendship Collar is a great solution. Now the human isn?t left out while the dog is looking trendy. When you purchase your dog a collar, you get a matching bracelet. Because #twinning. Friendship Collar offers so many different patterns, but my favourite for Mother?s Day is the Puppy Love pattern. It?s pink with little hearts and couldn?t be cuter. You have a boy dog? That?s okay, now a days real men wear pink, didn?t you know? But if you?re not okay with that, like I said, there are a variety of different colours and patterns available for you and your fur baby to wear and match. Don?t forget the best part! While you and your pup get to match, with every purchase of a Friendship Collar you are helping to feed other doggies in animal shelters. So really, it?s the gift that keeps on giving!

 

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Mom - ED Ellen DeGeneres Kitchen Towel Dog Print

Dog Kitchen Towel by ED Ellen DeGeneres – $8 each

Most dog mom?s love anything dog related. That?s why these ED Ellen DeGeneres kitchen towels are perfect for a Mother?s Day gift. Being a dog mom myself, I love having little cute reminders of dogs all over the house. Every time the dog mom in your life uses one of these kitchen towels, it will make her smile and think of her furry friend. They are also very useful since everyone needs kitchen towels, so why not buy ones that are fun? There will be no questioning whether you?re a dog lover with these in your kitchen.

We hope you love all of these items as much as we do! While mom deserves every item on this list, we hope you have found at least one or two that you are excited to give her.

Let us know if you purchase any of these items, or if you have other ideas to include for next year!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the dog moms out there!

Wet Kisses and Tail Wags,
Karlee and Marlee

DIY Easter Treats for Dogs!

DIY Easter Treats

This past Easter I wanted to go all out and make DIY Easter Treats for the dogs. In my husband?s family, between his mom, aunt, and two of his brothers, as well as us, there are seven dogs. We are also all the type of people that bring our dogs along on vacations and family dinners. These results in some seriously interesting family get togethers, full with all things dogs. Matt?s (my husband) eldest brother actually recently had the first grandchild in his family, so we know as we all start to have babies this will change. But for the time being, our focus is on our dogs and them getting the most out of their lives!

In saying that, I decided to make three different types of freezer treats and put them in little mason jars for our furry family members. All of these are super easy to make and just require chocolate or ice cube moulds. I purchased my Easter chocolate moulds from my local Michael?s Craft Store. They often have different kinds depending on the season and usually they go on sale closer to the holiday. I purchased mind for buy one get one 50% off. If you don?t have a local craft store that carries these, you can also purchase them from Bulk Barn or online from Amazon. I recommend purchasing the silicone moulds so that it is easy to pop to treats out once they are frozen.

The three different types of treats that I did were, coconut oil and blueberries, peanut butter and raspberry jam, as well as frozen strawberries and blueberries. All of the ingredients in the treats I had on hand at home and were very simple to make. Of course you can tailor the ingredients to your dogs likes. As I have mentioned in the past, I have a very picky dog so I am always trying new combinations and flavour to see what she likes and is worth making again.

So lets get into the DIYing!

Frozen Blueberry Coconut Oil Dog Treats

Frozen Blueberry and Coconut Oil Dog Treats

Ingredients

  • Coconut Oil
  • Blueberries (I used frozen)

DIY Easter Treats - The ingredients for Frozen Blueberry Coconut Oil Dog Treats

Method

  • Take your clean dry mould and place on a metal cookie sheet/tray.
  • Put 2-3 blueberries in each cavity of the mould. Since I used a cute bunny bum mould, I put the blueberries where the tail and the paws are.
  • Heat up your coconut oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or until it is a liquid.
  • Pour or spoon the coconut oil over the blueberries in the cavities, until almost full to the top.
  • Repeat with all of the cavities.
  • Take your cookie sheet/tray with the mould on top and pop it into the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour. This recipe will take the least amount of time to solidify since coconut oil is solid at room temperature.
  • Once the coconut oil has solidified all the way through take them out of the freezer.
  • Then take the mold and pop out the treats.
  • Store in a jar or container in the freezer. You can store these ones in the fridge as well, however if you have used frozen blueberries as I have, they made release some liquid.

 

Frozen Blueberry and Coconut Oil Dog Treats

So there you have the first DIY Easter Treats. These coconut oil and blueberry treats are a huge hit with Marlee and she is a picky eater.

These treats are also really healthy for dogs. Coconut oil is good for your dogs stinky breathe due to its antibacterial properties. It is also good for digestion and reduces allergic reactions. One of the benefits that I love is that it?s great for your dog?s coat. It aids in itchy dry skin and works from the inside out. If you?re new to giving your dog coconut oil, it is recommend that you give your dog 1 teaspoon for every 10 pounds or 1 tablespoon for every 30 pounds. Start your dog off will a lower dosage to not throw off their system. If you plan on doing this recipe, I would work your dog up to being able to consume this much at once, or use a smaller mould with less coconut oil.

Frozen Blueberry and Coconut Oil Dog Treats

Blueberries are great for your dog just like they are great for humans. They contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants as well as fiber. Blueberries are said to help improve vision, protect the brain against stress, as well as protect against cancer in dogs. For more check out the article, Health Benefits of Blueberries.

The second DIY Easter Treat that I made was Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam. Who doesn?t love the classic of peanut butter and jam? I know I do so I figure that my four legged family members would as well. In the past I have mentioned that Marlee isn?t a huge fan of peanut butter. However, this is because she gets frustrated and doesn?t want to make the effort to eat it. These treats are a great solution to that problem since they are frozen. Your dog can take bites of the treats, eat it whole if they are a big enough dog, or lick it to savour the flavour.

Let?s get started to this twist on the classic PB and J

Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam Dog Treats

Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam Dog Treats

Ingredients

  • Peanut Butter
  • Raspberry Jam
  • Coconut Oil

DIY Easter Treats - The ingredients for Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam Dog Treats

Method

  • Place clean dry mould onto a metal cookie sheet/tray.
  • Warm up a small amount of coconut oil in the microwave for 30 seconds or until in a liquid form.
  • Warm up your raspberry jam in the microwave to loosen it up. Don?t over heat and make hot.
  • Mix together a very small amount of the coconut oil into the loose raspberry jam. This will help keep the form of the treat when out of the freezer, since coconut oil is solid at room temperature.
  • Spoon raspberry jam and coconut oil mixture into mould cavity until halfway full.
  • Repeat with all of the cavities.
  • Place the tray in the freezer for 30-60 minutes until the raspberry jam has firmed up and is stiff enough that the jam and peanut butter won?t combine.
  • Warm up the peanut butter in the microwave to loosen it up until it is a little bit liquid-like consistency.
  • Take some of the liquid coconut oil and mix it with the warmed up peanut butter. Again, this helps to keep the peanut butter more solid while out of the freezer and helps to allow you to store them in the fridge.
  • Take your peanut butter ad coconut oil mixture and spoon it into the cavities the rest of the way to the top.
  • Repeat for all of the cavities.
  • Place cookie sheet/tray with the mould in the freezer and freeze for 3 hours or over night until treats are frozen all the way through.
  • Then take the mould and pop out the treats.
  • Store in a jar or container in the freezer.

Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam Dog Treats

There you have it, the peanut butter and jam classic turned into your furry companions new favourite treat. This recipe is so simple and also has some health benefits for your doggie.

Many people know that peanut butter is a good source of protein. This is no different for dogs. Apart from peanut butter being as good source of protein it also contains heart healthy fats, vitamin B, Niacin and vitamin E. However, it is always advised to give your dog a small amount as a treat and not over indulge them, even though it may be their favourite.

Raspberries also have some great health benefits for your furry best friend. They are antioxidants similar to blueberries, as well as an anti-inflammatory. This is great if your four-legged friend has arthritis. Raspberries also contain vitamin C, manganese and fiber. However, it is important to note that raspberries also contain a small amount of xylitol, which is dangerous for dogs. Due to this reason, make sure that you limit the amount of raspberries your dog consumes and do not give raspberries to them regularly. In this recipe I used raspberry jam, but you could also take frozen or fresh raspberries and blend them up in a blender or food processor. However, make sure you only give them this treat in small amounts and not regularly.

The last DIY Easter Treat that I made was strawberry-blueberry. When coming up with these recipes I wanted to use ingredients that most people already have in their fridge and freezer. Maybe it?s just me, but I always have a ton of frozen fruit on hand. It?s often cheaper than buying fresh fruit, lasts longer, and is so versatile. Apart from feeding it to the dog, I love whipping it up in smoothies, topping my cereal and yogurt with it or just eating it straight. But it does come in handy with Marlee as well. That is why I have used strawberries and blueberries in this last DIY Easter Treat. It?s healthy for dogs and they love these two fruits.

Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats

Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats

Ingredients

  • Frozen Strawberries
  • Frozen Blueberries
  • Coconut oil

DIY Easter Treats - The ingredients for Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats

Method

  • Place your clean dry mould on a metal cookie sheet/tray.
  • Take your frozen strawberries and put them in a food processor or blender.
  • Blend until the strawberries are broken up in small enough pieces that it turns into a paste when mushed together.
  • Repeat the process above with your blueberries, making sure that they are small enough pieces that they combine into a paste.
  • Next melt a small amount (about 4 tablespoons) of coconut oil in the microwave.
  • Mix half of the coconut oil with the strawberries
  • Mix half of the coconut oil with the blueberries; you need to do this quickly so that the coconut oil doesn?t harden when you are combining it.
  • Take your strawberry paste and spoon it into the mould cavity until it is half full.
  • Repeat for all of the cavities.
  • Place in the freezer for 30-60 minutes, until the mixture is slightly firm.
  • Take your blueberry paste and spoon it into the cavities until it is completely full.
  • Repeat with all of the cavities.
  • Once finished, place the mould on the tray in the freezer for 3 hours or over night until treats are frozen all the way through.
  • Then take the mold and pop out the treats.
  • Store in a jar or container in the freezer.

Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats

These DIY Easter Treats are fairly simple and are easy. I had frozen strawberries and frozen blueberries on hand so that was convenient. You can also use fresh, but I find that more expensive and it may take longer to freeze into a solid mould. Therefore, I recommend using frozen fruit.

Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats

I already mentioned the many benefits of blueberries above for the Frozen Blueberry Coconut Oil Dog Treats. However, strawberries are also very beneficial for your four-legged friend. Similar to blueberries they also contain antioxidants. They are also full of fiber and contain vitamin C. Strawberries also have an enzyme that helps to whiten dog?s teeth, which is always great if your dog isn?t a fan of bones or teeth brushing.

Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats

 

All there of these DIY Easter Treats are super easy to make and use so little ingredients that most people will have them on hand. Also, if you don?t want to include the coconut oil in the Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam Dog Treats or the Frozen Strawberry-Blueberry Layered Dog Treats you don?t have to. But I recommend storing them in the freezer and giving them to your dog in their bowl or on a place mat. Otherwise they melt very quickly and can make a mess. The blueberries will stain so be careful where your doggie is enjoying their treats.

DIY Easter Dog Treats

DIY Easter Dog Treats

Mini Mason Jars and Easter Tags

Since these were gifts, I packaged them in the mini mason jars and cut out a name tag for the dog that was receiving it. To cut out the name tag I just used a bunny shaped cookie cutter, as well as an egg shaped cookie cutter. but you can free hand it. I then punched a hole in the tag and used some string to attach it to the mason jar. It was super easy and the mini mason jar is great for storing in the freezer.

DIY Easter Dog Treat Jars - Cookie Cutters

The best thing about these treats is that you can make them for any occasion. You can use generic dog moulds, or a mould for a different holiday and use the same recipes. You also don?t need an occasion to treat your dog. These are a great treat for the summer when it?s hot and your furry friend needs a little cooling down.

DIY Easter Dog Treats

Let us know if you out try these DIY Easter Treats or if you have other recipes your doggie companion loves in the comments below! Stay posted for our upcoming Doggie Easter Egg Hunt!

Wet Kisses and Tail Wags,
Karlee and Marlee