HOWL-A-WEEN Pumpkin Treats

Here's an easy-to-prepare treat
you can prepare for your precious pooch
so he or she can join in the howliday festivities!

Ingredients
· 2 eggs
· 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 2 tablespoons dry milk
· 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
· water, as needed

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Blend eggs and pumpkin; add salt, dry milk, and flour

NOTE:you will need to mix dough with your hands… it is too stiff for an electric mixer- add water as needed to make the dough somewhat workable- the dough should be dry and stiff (don't be concerned with crumbs being left in the bowl)
3. Roll dough to ½” thick
4. Cut dough into shapes
5. Place 1" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet
6. Bake for 20 minutes on one side, then turn over and bake another 20 minutes
7. Allow cookies to cool before serving

HOWL-A-WEEN Safety Tip #3

Keep holiday confections… especially those that are high in sugar or contain chocolate… out of the paws of your pooch. Ingesting even small quantities can cause gastric upset, pancreatic distress, and even more dire results. Ditto for those pesky wrappers which can get caught in their throats or intestines.

Don’t want your beloved bow-wow to feel left out? Splurge on a supply of seasonally prepared treats available from local dog bakeries and boutiques. OR… check out the fast & easy recipe that will be posted on October 29 and bake up a batch of your own!

HOWL-A-WEEN Safety Tip #2

You may think the constant stream of neighborhood children dressed as superheroes and aliens arriving at your door is cute, but your fur friends will most probably be in a heightened and perpetual state of arousal as the result of unremitting doorbell ringing and strange voices. Such unfamiliar commotion can easily cause extreme anxiety, door dashing, and perhaps an uncharacteristic nip or bite from even the most even tempered of dogs.

Do Fido or Fluffy a favor by safely secluding them in a room far removed from the hubbub of the holiday. Soothing music, a favorite chew toy, and periodic reassuring visits from their beloved family will make this year’s Halloween a REAL treat!

HOWL-A-WEEN Safety Tip #1

If you’re planning to costume your canine (oh come on, you KNOW you want to!), be sure to strike that all important balance between “adorable” and “appropriate”. Beware of those parts of the outfit that may obstruct movement, hinder breathing, or entice chewing. Ease him into the idea by practicing the dressing process and ensuing activity over the course of the days prior to Halloween; some encouraging words and extra treats might help make the process more tolerable for them.

But the bottom line is, if Fido or Fluffy look or act miserable in their holiday attire, they probably are. ‘Nuff said?

Dog Heroes of 9/11

An incredible tribute to the dog heroes of 9/11. http://tinyurl.com/lh65rb

Beauty Is Only Fur Deep!

In my eyes, all dogs are beautiful... both inside and out. That's why I was particularly taken aback when I opened my newspaper this morning to read and see that there is actually an annual World's Ugliest Dog contest held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Northern California... and hoards of pet owners bring their offbeat looking canines to compete for that dubious title.

I personally would never subject my furbabies to such indignity. But then again, they are far from viable candidates! Now if there's ever a World's Most Irresistable Fur Face contest, I've got the winner, first and second runners up laying at my feet even as I type!

Well, a contest's a contest, and that means the winners have been named. Let's put our paws together for this year's World's Ugliest Mixed Breed, four year old BoxerX Pabst who's rather prominent underbite and distinctively scrunched up face was a real judge pleaser. Miss Ellie, a blind geriatric Chinese Crested Hairless earned top honors in the pedigree category.

Think YOUR dog deserves first place in a contest of any kind? Send me a picture and the title he or she should have and I'll see what I can do!

TODAY'S THE DAY: TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK!

Lots of fun today when The Top Dog and Phoenix FOX10's Corey McCloskey visited one of the Phoenix companies celebrating "Take Your Dog To Work" Day! Really gave the phrase 'working your tail off' a whole new meaning!

Andrea Norman, president of marketing company Mind The Gap, had her 2-legged team members bring their 4-legged friends Lacey, Chalupa, Angel and Tracey. She acknowledged that having the furry ones at the office created a more congenial and creative environment (ideal for a marketing company... or ANY company for that matter!).

Just a reminder that one of the main reasons that Petsitters International created "Take Your Dog To Work" Day was to encourage pet adoptions. Please considering opening your heart and home to an animal (or two or three!) who needs a "woof" over its head through one of the rescue organizations in your community. There are over a hundred such groups in the Phoenix area alone; visit PACC911 for a listing of their purebred and mixed breed welfare partners. For those of you outside this area, Google the terms

• 'adoption' or 'rescue'
• 'dog' or 'Golden Retriever', 'Jack Russell', 'Poodle', etc.
• and your city

Petfinder is another great online resource, as is a trip to your local shelter.

Okay, closing thought... you don't have to wait until next June's "Take Your Dog To Work" Day to enjoy all the benefits that this annual event brings. Get the tennis ball rolling by planting the seeds now for quarterly, monthly, or even weekly opportunities to spread the word about the joys of pet ownership throughout your company!