When it all gets too much...

Barbie reflecting my own mood today....

The aftermath of a great day...

The weather was pretty bad today. A lot of people had their fences blow over, or roof tiles blow off their houses. We went shopping, and as we headed home, we saw that one of our local sporting fields was now covered with pieces of tree which had snapped off in the ferocious gale.

The dogs were a bit indignant that we went out without them, so we decided to take them out to Whiteman Park for a run.

They paid very little mind to the weather, and while Barbie spent a little bit of time under the only shelter in the park with us, she still went on a few big high-speed laps around the park. When we got home she went straight to bed before I could even get her collar and lead off!

Bender, as usual, has some missing skin after an hour long session of fetching his ball. We think that when he skids along the grass he loses skin and paw pad in the process. He thinks it is worth it. 

Tuna Fudge training treats

For training, it's important to have some very high value treats on you. Usually treats that have a 'high value' to dogs are actually human food, not those prepackaged, dried, salt filled treats you can buy in the supermarket (I'm looking at you, Schmackos!)

Dogs are so easy to cook for, and I think the best rule is keep it simple - you can make something your dog loves with just 4 or 5 ingredients.

I have been experimenting with 'tuna fudge', and here is my recipe.

350g of canned tuna (do not drain)
300g of plain flour
40g of grated or powdered parmesan cheese (optional)
2 eggs
garlic powder (optional)

Combine all ingredients, and add water if necessary (I always have to add water if I bought 'no drain' tuna cans), mix with an electric beater until it becomes a cake-mix like consistency. Well a chunky cake-mix. Transfer to a buttered cake tin and cook in the oven for about 45 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

This is one cake where I am not keen to lick the beaters. As is the usual tradition in houses with human pups, here we let the kids lick the bowl.

It goes brown on the top and shrinks away from the edges a little when it's done. It will be a little gooey in the middle if you have added parmesan. 

When it's cool and 'set', cut into treat sized pieces. The result will not be too messy in your pocket as long as the weather is cool. Keep the bits in a nice sealed container in the fridge for the longest life.

Barbie and Bender certainly love these treats, and heartily endorse them. They always hang around in the kitchen when I am cutting them up.