We treat dogs as family members, and it's understandable that we don't want to leave them out of our Christmas dinner tradition, but we shouldn't share our food with them, so what should we give them?
Christmas is certainly a holiday of feasts. We spare no expense on a variety of cookies, canapes and open sandwiches; in short, our tables are covered with food. Seeing our dog's sad eyes begging for at least a tiny bit of that goodness may make it harder for us to enjoy the abundance. We start to feel guilty and we want to give our dog something,
But as we know, human food does not belong in a dog's stomach. So what should we do? Deny ourselves the goodies, or hide somewhere in the corner to eat in secret? How about preparing our dogs their own goodies that won't hurt their belly and that they are sure to enjoy?
An alternative to Christmas dinner is simple. Your pets can have the same as you, only in a modified form. Whether you're having fish or schnitzel, separate a portion for your dog (or even your cat) before cooking, don't salt it or pepper it (and don't bread it) and cook it in water or steam rather than frying it. Be sure to debone the fish thoroughly, or blend it up.
You can also prepare a dog version of potato salad. Just leave out the mayonnaise, onion and pickle. You should also reduce the amount of potatoes, or use sweet potatoes instead. You can add more vegetables such as tomato, carrot and peas. That would make it more like a shopska salad, wouldn't it? Instead of a salad you can also serve dried vegetables.
Instead of getting into production, as there is enough work to do on Christmas Eve, I would rather give my dog or cat a high-quality can of food. This year I chose one with a side dish, but last year it was a meat monoprotein can with added fresh vegetables.
You can also make your pets happy with their own cookies. To learn how, read the article Making homemade treats from canned meat. However, the healthiest and easiest option is buying healthy and even functional treats. If you want to indulge your dog and give him a good amount, choose a light version.
If you give your dogs their own menu, you will also eliminate their desire to steal goodies from your table at an unguarded moment. Of course, some dogs still won't be deterred, so better keep food out of their reach. Especially nuts, chocolate, cocoa, coffee and sugar are dangerous to dogs. They should also avoid salty snacks.
How do you celebrate Christmas Eve? Do you include your dogs in the celebration, do you cook them special food, or do you just buy them gifts?
In the first part of the interview with the Slovak musher Katarina Vigodová, we talked about how to prepare for a skiing trip with your furry friend. Today we are going to hit the skiing trails with Katka. What commands should the dog know? Why are a...
Spring is round the corner together with extreme dog races. What can we look forward to this year? And what is this dog sport all about?
The shared history of humans and domesticated animals is full of interesting facts. Expand your horizons with the following forty interesting facts about pets, spanning over centuries.
Breeding supplies are currently becoming a fast growing sector and as with any other industry, even here we can trace the development trends of new products coming to the market. Let's take a look at the biggest trends in the world of our furry...
An interesting trend brought by the pet industry. Compared to other sectors, this one is growing at a dizzy rate. Why is that? Let's take a look at the newest trends in pet acquisition and adoption, and whether shelters and breeders really are as...
Obesity isn't a civilization problem concerning only humans but also pets. It is a condition where the body receives more energy than it expends. What is the main cause and how to deal with obesity in pets? Answers are provided in the following...
Are you wondering how to create the perfect meal plan for your guinea pig? What is crucial for larger rodents and what is better to avoid? Everything about guinea pig nutritional requirements can be found in the following interview with the breeder...
We've become accustomed to the sight of dogs in public places. Probably everyone has experienced a dog in the workplace, in a park, in a café, etc. Dog owners should therefore always bear in mind the handling and training of their pets. Let's go...
We recently wrote about planned musher races. The canicross events aren't being left behind and the fans of running with a dog have plenty to look forward to this year.
Winter is showing off in all its glory. And winter sports fans are setting off for the mountains. They're often accompanied by their four-legged friends. Especially more and more popular is becoming ski mountaineering. Furry companion's presence is...
For pet owners, smart toilets are a welcome replacement for the traditional litter box, which has to be cleaned every day. You can even control them via a mobile phone application and monitor the frequency of the toilet usage, especially when your cat...
Fresh meat, insect protein or sustainable pet food. New trends in dog nutrition. Adding fresh meat into dog food enhances the taste and smell of the product, but it's also easier to digest.
