My Dog Diary

Xiao Bi started having diarrhea about 3 days ago and I’ve got darl to get me a slice of pumpkin for her. The smallest slice that we could get was still too big for her to finish. lol. So when I was googling around for some pumpkin’s benefits, I’ve landed on a recipe for Pumpkin Dog Biscuits. Sounds pretty easy and I’ve decided to make some up.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (in my case, I used raw pumpkin. Simmered to tender and mashed them up)

1/2 teaspoon salt (I only added a very small pinch)

2 tablespoon dry milk (I didn’t have dry milk in hand so I used about 1/2 cup of full cream milk)

2 1/2 cup flour (whole wheat flour recommended)

Water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (that is about 175 degrees C).

2. Blend eggs and pumpkin together. Add salt, dry milk, and flour. Add water as needed. The dough should be dry and stiff.

3. Roll to 1/2 inch thick.

4. Cut into shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 20 minutes on one side, then turn over and bake for another 20 minutes.

While I didn’t have cookie cutter in hand, I just picked up via hand and placed small pieces on the cookie sheet. Also, I think it wouldn’t harm to slightly grease the sheet. It’s really hard to get the cookies turned over!

Mine turned out like this. I think I’ve put a bit too much of water and the inner part just wouldn’t get hard. I cracked the bigger pieces to smaller bite size chunks and baked again for another 10 minutes. Got better but still kinda soft inside. Anyway, I gave Xiao Bi a few pieces and she loved it!

I think I’m going to pack a few and give her friend this evening. It’s a thumbs up healthy treat and I hope he’ll like it too.

Yesterday was a significant day for Xiao Bi. She finally turns one year old! … or maybe I should say it was a significant day for me, as ever since Gobi’s departure I’ve had this phobia of… anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Xiao Bi!

So to celebrate with her (although I don’t think she realised that she is now one year old), I’ve made her a small liver brownie - her favourite.

She didn’t wanna blow her candle - or she probably didn’t know that she HAD to blow her candle. Anyway I helped her blowing off the candle and I’ve made a wish for her to stay happy and healthy forever.

And then her favourite moment. Cake eating time!

Oi! Why are you there busy-ing with the camera? Come eat my birthday cake lar!

LOL. Happy Birthday again Xiao Bi!

Xiao Bi had her ‘no I don’t wanna eat’ attitude again this morning. I really hate it when she left her food there and all the birds came flying from everywhere and starting to share the meal among them. So after a while of waiting I moved her dish into her sheltered area, hoping that she’ll finish it after a while.

I went back checking on her after having my breakfast. Guess what the genius dog had done.

She moved her dish out of her sheltered area and covered her food with sand!!! @.@

You can still see a piece of her food on the right side - although the colour looks similar to the sand. It’s yellowish brown.

Of course I had to throw away her food. Conclusion - she is still not eating today. @.@

This week is considered a hectic week for me. As mentioned in the previous post, I’ve been working on listing on international sites, as well as the current ones. At the same time, sales and orders came pouring in - which of course, I really LOVE it!

I was talking to DARL the other day and I realised how many things I am currently taking care of. From designing to purchasing, from account to customer service. No wonder it’s hectic. But I guess the most important thing for me is, how our customers feel dealing with us.

Over the week, there were plenty of customers who replied to us, either telling us about our service, or our products. I love reading their emails, for their compliments, which really made my day. One of them who happened to be a student stated that she will be getting another similar item for herself (she bought one for her mother this time). Another one love the service that we have been giving her. All these really made me feel more confidence to venture more into what we have been doing. I really love you people!

Today I started listing our items on eBay Singapore. At the same time, I’ve prepared a stencil for our next Pooch Series T-shirts *hint: it’s going to be a couple T!*

On the side note, with all my hectic working around, Xiao Bi came up with her attitude of not eating her meal again. @.@ She has skipped 2 meals, up to date. I suspected it was because of the mutton in her food. At one point she loved mutton so much that she would jump and jump for it. But now she just refused to touch them. @.@

Oh well. Nvm. Save on the mutton then.

While I was checking out the Malaysia Dog and Puppy Portal - which I haven’t been checking for months due to my pathetic hectic working life - I stumbled upon a post on homemade food for dogs. It reminded me that I once wanted to share Xiao Bi’s diet plan with everyone. So I thought I should do it this time.

I once referred to plenty of books and online resources to get the best recipe for Xiao Bi. With months of experiments and observations, here is what I have with Xiao Bi now. It’s a basic recipe that will help to keep her healthy with all the nutrients and vitamins needed. My main reference book is still Dr Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats. I really like the book. It’s easy to understand and work around with. These are my modified versions based on the book.

I feed Xiao Bi twice a day, morning and night. Morning at around 8 AM and night at around 8 PM. I notice that if I feed her too early she won’t eat and will forget to eat later. I am not sure why but it’s probably one of her funny habits.

Morning

200g chicken breast meat or beef or mutton or liver, cut into chunks

4 slices bread (wholemeal or white)

1 medium or large egg

1/2 cup of full cream milk

1/4 cup of vegetable (optional)

1/4 tablespoon of garlic

1 tablespoon Healthy Powder (a mixture of nutritious elements like kelp powder, lecithin granule, nutritional yeast and calcium powder. Recipe can be found at Dr Pitcairn’s book)

Mix all ingredients and steam for 10-15 minutes. I normally prepare this at night and feed her in the morning. The Healthy Powder can be added before or after steaming.

Night

250g chicken breast meat or beef or mutton or liver, cut into chunks or pieces

1/2 cup rice or 1 cup rolled oat

1/2 cup of vegetable

1/4 tablespoon of garlic

1 tablespoon Healthy Powder (a mixture of nutritious elements like kelp powder, lecithin granule, nutritional yeast and calcium powder. Recipe can be found at Dr Pitcairn’s book)

Cook the grain first. Add in the meat when it’s half or almost cooked. When the meat is cooked, add in the vege and garlic. Add the Healthy Powder before serving.

Note: Xiao Bi is a 25kg Golden Retriever. You may need to adjust the amount of ingredients to suit your furkids. Dr Pitcairn actually recommended feeding raw meat. However, Xiao Bi is not so into raw meat. Once she just refused to eat. So I have to go back to the cooked version.

Every week, I feed her 4 times of chicken, 2 times of beef, and 1 time of liver for breakfast, and 3 times of chicken, 3 times of beef, and 1 time of liver for dinner. She doesn’t really like mutton recently so I have cut it off, and only feed her like once a fortnight, taking away chicken or beef. Btw, she loves liver - most dogs love liver. But beware. Do not feed more than 10% of the total food consumed per week.

Personally I find her very healthy and active now. The only thing is that I don’t think she is getting enough exercise - well that’s my fault. I haven’t had enough time to play fetch with her. @.@

Hope this helps those who are looking for the perfect recipe in one way or another.