So You Want to Be a Star?

The deadline for casting calls for the next season of It's Me or the Dog is July 15th. So if you are in the NYC area and have a dog who won't eat (or eats too much) or any other behavioral issue that needs the attention of Victoria Stilwell, click on this link and get all the details!

Dogs Allowed!

Cocoa Beach Florida is the first city to give permission for dogs to dine in restaurants! Read all about it here and get us that chef for Book II!

Circle of Animals Exhbiti

If you are in the vicinity of Central Park in New York City, you might want to stop by and see the wonderful outdoor exhibit of bronze animal heads by Chinese artist, Al Weiwei. Each animal represents a year of the zodiac and the one above is, you guessed it, for the Year of the Dog.

The exhibit runs until July 15 and this photo is courtesy of the Martha Stewart blog. As she would say, it is a good thing.

Sally's Birthday Cake Recipe

Do you know Stephen Huneck's work? The image above is one of his charming prints. Although Huneck unfortunately took his life about a year ago, his wife continues to sell his work at their wonderful Dog Mountain studio in Vermont, also home of Dog Chapel, a place Huneck built for all dog lovers to remember and celebrate their four legged friends.

This birthday cake recipe is direct from Dog Mountain for Sally, one of Huneck's beloved labs. We think it is worth creating even if it is your or your dog's unbirthday!

Sally's Birthday Cake recipe


Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F, and grease a 9” x 5” loaf pan, or a single 8”-9” round cake pan

Ingredients:

1½ cup Flour

1½ teaspoons Baking soda (as in Arm & Hammer)

½ -1 cup Smooth peanut butter

½ cup Vegetable oil

1½ -2 cups Carrots grated (food processor recommended)

2 teaspoons Vanilla

½ cup Honey

2 Eggs

Directions:

Mix Flour & Baking soda

Measure: Oil, add, and then measure Peanut Butter (it will slide right out of the oily measuring cup)

Add All the rest of the ingredients. Mix – it will be fairly thick – if you want to add some ½ & ½ or water, go ahead. Use your hands to knead everything fairly evenly, and then get it into the cake pan.

Spread the thick mixture into the greased baking pan and pat the batter down fairly evenly.

Put into 350 degree preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until it smells done.

Cool & then turn upside down onto plate – you are now ready to ice & decorate it.

Icing:

Ingredients:

2 packages of 12 oz Cream cheese

Some Sugar (or honey)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Directions:

Add all ingredients together into a microwave-safe mixing bowl – if you wish to add a little ½ & ½ (or water) go ahead. Microwave everything for 1 minute, and then stir until smooth.

Smooth this icing onto your inverted cake, decorate and refrigerate overnight. Serve to both dogs and people.

Happy Birthday!

Dr. Weil's Advice for Healthy Canines

Even Dr. Andrew Weil, guru of all things healthy, is getting into the act with a list of healthy eats for dogs:

1. Lean meats. Thoroughly cooked meats with visible fat trimmed off and all bones removed are acceptable for dogs.
2. Vegetables. Many dogs enjoy carrot sticks, green beans and cucumber slices - all are low-calorie treats that are healthier than many store-bought dog snacks. However some veggies should be avoided - see tomorrow's tip for more information.
3. Fresh fruit. Sliced apples, bananas, oranges and watermelon can be a safe and tasty treat, but be sure to remove all seeds, stems and leaves first. Some fruits should be avoided – again, see tomorrow's tip for more information.
4. Cooked rice. Cooked white rice can offer relief from stomach upset in some dogs.


To the category of relief from stomach upset, don't forget canned pumpkin. Works wonders!

Hot Dog!

What's on your grill for the 4th and what are you sharing with your culinary canine?

Culinary Canine in the Making

This is Leo, a 13 week Bernese Mountain dog we met in the park. He may not be a Culinary Canine--yet--but he is most definitely a cute canine!

Send us some of yours!!