Blueberry, Banana, Peanut Butter Treats

Otter's Note: Woof! What’s better than peanut butter? Peanut butter with banana and blueberries, that’s what. These are amazing and Mom says they are HEALTHY - they have protein, fruits, oats and the good-for-you fats. 

Blueberry, Banana, Peanut Butter Treats

Adapted from A Cozy Kitchen and Dog Treat Kitchen 

Makes 28 tablespoon sized treats 

Ingredients:

1 medium banana, mashed


3 tablespoons creamy (natural) peanut butter


1 tablespoon of coconut oil

1 large egg


½ cup blueberries (mine were frozen)

1 3/4 cup Garbanzo bean flour

1/4 cup rolled oats (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

In a blender, add banana, peanut butter, coconut oil, egg and blueberries, mix until completely combined. Into a medium bowl, add the wet batter to garbanzo bean flour and rolled oats; mix until dough is well incorporated.

Transfer the dough to a piece of heavily floured parchment paper. This dough is very sticky, so flouring the paper is really important. Roll the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

After the dough is chilled, roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness and cut out the cookies using a cookie cutter of choice (remember to flour the rolling pin and cookie cutter). Re-roll the scraps and cut out more cookies. (I along with A Cozy Kitchen) used a small heart shaped cookie cutter and ended up with 28 cookies.) Transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. These cookies won’t spread much so placing them close together is okay.

Bake the cookies for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Allow the cookies to come to room temperature on a cooling rack. Cookies will be good for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

*If you would like to make these treats grain-free omit the oatmeal.  

Xoxo Otter + Mom 

Product Review: Isle of Dogs Deep Cleaning Sulfate Free Shampoo, 16 Fluid Ounce

Otter’s note: I don’t like baths at all, but I love attention. Since no one really wants to pet a stinky pup, I oblige my mom and tolerate my baths. This shampoo makes me smell so good that I usually get to sleep in my parents bed. 

Product Description:

A gentle, yet thorough, cleansing shampoo that removes dirt, grime and odor, and extends time between baths. Green Tea Extract, Aloe Leaf Juice and Witch Hazel Extract combine to deodorize and freshen the coat.

Note: The product picture was taken from here  and this product description was taken from here

Pros:

• Great smell, that’s long lasting
• Sulfate free
• Paraben free
• Gentile enough for Otter’s sensitive skin
• Great Lather
• Made in the USA 

     Cons:

•      It is relatively expensive
•      Haven’t been able to find it in many places. We buy ours from Whole Foods

Overall:

Overall we love this product. It is definitely worth the price and we will continue to purchase. We have gotten several compliments on how clean Otter is and how great he always smells – even week or so after a bath.  Plus we absolutely love that its Sulfate and Paraben free. 

We are also interested in trying some of their other products as well, specifically the Isle of Dogs Coature No. 10 Evening Primrose Oil Dog Shampoo for Dry and Sensitive Skin. The reviews look great, but it is much more expensive. Have any of you tried this product? If so, is it worth it?

Xoxo Otter + Mom 

Otter's Adventures

I LOVE the beach.

Things I love about the beach:

• I usually get to play fetch (if it’s not crowded)
• Playing in the waves and rolling in the sand 
• Eating things I am not supposed to
• Getting to play with other dogs
• CLAM DIGGING

Yes, you read that last one correctly. Check out this video of me doing what I love to do most. DIG CLAMS. My mom and dad think it’s pretty cool that I bring home dinner for them. Can you say clam chowder? Yum.  

xoxo Otter + Mom

Product Review: Cloud Star Buddy Biscuits Dog Treats, Soft & Chewy, Bacon & Cheese - 6 oz pouch

Otter’s note: I just choked on my own saliva after dreaming about these delicious cheesy, bacon-y bites from heaven! Mom, can I have one now? I am going crazy just thinking about them!

Product description:

Soft & Chewy Buddy Biscuits are soft treats you can feel good about.  Made in the USA with natural ingredients, they are free of corn, soy, and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Highly palatable and easy to chew, Soft & Chewy Buddy Biscuits are perfect for older dogs and puppies, and are sure to delight dogs with seven delicious flavors to choose from. Soft & Chewy Buddy Biscuits are free of common allergens, and are suitable for all dogs, even those with allergies or sensitivities. With low fat options available, they are quite possibly the best soft dog treats.

Note: Picture is from here; product description taken from here

Pros:

• We affectionately call these treats “doggy crack” because Otter is obsessed with them. If he knows they are in the house and he hears any sound resembling a plastic bag opening, which he associates with the treats, he comes spiriting full speed into the kitchen
• We like that they are soft and easily broken up into smaller pieces – we don't usually give him one whole treat, rather we break the whole treat into 3-4 pieces
• They come in a variety of flavors, all of which, Otter loves. But he especially goes gaga for the cheddar bacon variety
• Several treats come in one bag, so we feel that they are 100% worth the cost

Cons

• They have a strong odor to them that can get on clothing (we usually put a few in our pockets when we go on walks). (not really a viable con, but worth mentioning that you might smell like bacon and cheddar for an hour or so after your walk.)
• We can only find them at Whole Foods

Overall

These are our go-to treats for Otter. He's so obedient when we have them in our hand and  we love how they are easily broken up.

 xoxo Otter + Mom 

Toy Review: KONG Ballistic Ring, Dog Toy, X-Large

Product Description

KONG Ballistic is made using a patented, multi-layer design. The Extra-Large Extreme Ballistic Ring has four layers of material (two inner layers of 600 Denier Poly with PU Coating*, inner layer of 1050 Denier Ballistic Nylon with PU Coating* and outer layer of soft fleece) with eight rows of stitching to create a tough and durable dog toy. KONG Ballistic toys are gentle on teeth and gums and all toys squeak and float. Each squeaker is secured using individual nylon pouches inside the toy. KONG Ballistic - TOUGH enough to be called a KONG. *PU Coating is a water resistant coating that is gentle on teeth and gums as well as non-toxic.

Note: Product description taken from here

Pros

•        Non- toxic
•        Had squeaker toy (Otter loves those)
•         Soft materiel that wouldn’t make his gums bleed

Cons

•         Took approximately 1 minute for him to rip through the seems of the toy and get the squeaker toy out
•         Took about 30 seconds more to get all of the filling out
•         Expensive - $26.49 – $14.86

Overall

I would not recommend or buy this product again. We were very disappointed and even saved the remains to send it back, but of course life got in the way and never got around to sending it back.

Xoxo Otter + Mom 

Salmon, Tuna and Squash Treats

Otter's Note: These treats are an extra special treat. I went berserk for the yummy combo of salmon, tuna and peas. 

These nutritious bites of heaven are just the thing that will take an average day and turn it into an extraordinary one. If you are looking to give your furry friend an extra special treat, look no further. 

Salmon, Tuna and Squash Treats 

Adapted from Kol’s Notes

Makes 36 tablespoon sized treats 

Ingredients:

4-5 oz of deboned salmon (we had some leftovers from dinner) 

1 can of tuna drained 

1/2 cup of frozen peas

1 can of plain pumpkin (aprox. 2 cups)

1 1/2 cups of Garbanzo bean flour (aka chickpea flour)

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder 

1 egg 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (I used a food processor to mix most of the ingredients, so these instructions will use one as well)  Add chickpea flour, egg, pumpkin, and baking powder into the food processor and blend together thoroughly. Then add salmon and tuna and hit the pulse button 6-8 times. Finally, transfer the batter to a bowl and mix in the frozen peas. I wanted the peas to be visible, but you can add them into the food processor if you want everything blended together.

Using a tablespoon, scoop out batter onto a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Allow to cool and give one, or two to your deserving pup. Best stored in the refrigerator or freezer.  

Xoxo Otter + Mom 

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