Easy Pet Friendly Recipes

Rachel Ray's K-9 Ingredient Meatballs
These meatballs can be used as a beefy treat for your loved one.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees . Grease a muffin pan or a baking sheet. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Fill each muffin tin with about 1/4 cup of the mixture, or form the mixture into 10 balls and place on the baking sheet. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack.

Pumpkin Treats
Perfect for anytime of the year your pet will love!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup 100% pure pumpkin canned
• 2 tablespoons peanut Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.

Choose the dog that best fits your lifestyle

The truth is, one size does not fit all. There are specific breeds that fit certain people’s lifestyle. If you are athletic and love to take your daily morning run, there is a dog for you. If you work 8 hours a day and spend most of your time at home lounging, there is a perfect dog for you.

For the active lifestyle

Sporting dogs are full of energy and love lots of attention. These are not the dogs you adopt if your favorite past time is to watch TV. They are naturally active and alert and are great companion dogs. They are used to hunting and gathering. These animals need lots of love and attention.

Spaniels

Retrievers

Setters

Pointers

Vizsla

Weimaraner

Spinone Italiano

Terriers are also perfect breeds for the active lifestyle. They are a very energetic breed. They may be difficult to train but with lots of determination and love it is possible. They are brave and extremely loyal pets that have the tendency to snap at strangers. They love to dig and hunt small rodents. A tall fence and a field to run through makes a happy terrier.

Herding dogs are also dogs meant to live an active, exercise filled lifestyle. They love to be on a harm and given the job to herd other animals but when they live an urban lifestyle they need something to do. They are best when given a job to do either, involved in a sport such as agility or obedience.

Working dogs are not typically the best family dog because of the amount of exercise they require. Often used for a job, such as sledding, hauling or rescuing, these dogs are happiest in the service area.

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

Anatolian Shepherd

Bernese mountain

Black Russian terrier

Boxer

Bullmastiff

Cane corso

Pinscher’s

Giant Schnauzer

Great Dane

Great Pyrenees

Swiss mountain dog

Komondor

Kuvasz

Leonberger

Mastiff

Neopolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland

Water dog

Rottweiler

Saint Bernard

Samoyed

Siberian Husky

Tibetan Mastiff

There are several classes of dogs that will fit a less active lifestyle.

Non-sporting dogs are popular family companions. They are loyal and enjoy cuddling on the couch with you but still do need there exercise.

Eskimo Dog

Bichon Frise

Boston Terrier

Bulldog

Chinese Shar-Pei

Chow Chow

Dalmation

Spitz

Keeshond

Lhasa Apso

Lowchen

Lundehund

Poodle

Schipperke

Shiba Inu

Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Terrier

Xoloitzcuintlli

Toy dogs are in love with their families and are considered lap dogs. However, lap dogs need their exercise too! These dogs love to be around people and are perfect little space heaters.

Affenpinscher

Brussels Griffon

King Charels Spaniel

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested

Toy spaniel

Havanese

Italian greyhound

Japanese chin

Maltese

Manchester terrier

Miniature pinscher

Pepillion

Pekingese

Pomeranian

Poodle

Pug

Shih Tzu

Silky Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

People Food for Pups'

Turns out most food that is good for us is also good for our furry loved ones! Most pet lovers know that too much people food is not good for your pet, but there are certain foods that you can add to your pet's food in moderation to boost your pets nutrition intake. As always make sure you stick to their recommended calorie intake and exercise regularly. Most foods that are good for you are also good for your pet.

People Food safe for your pet

1. Yogurt

Make sure you pick up the yogurt that has "live active bacteria," the bacteria acts as a probiotic. Also, choose a yogurt with no artificial sweeteners or sugars. For an overweight dog, pick up the fat free kind without the fat substitutes. 

2. Fresh Salmon

Salmon is a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids. The fatty acids support skin and coat health. It has been said that they may help with your pets allergies. Make sure that you cook the salmon fully before you feed it to your dog as it may carry a parasite if fed raw. 

3. Pumpkin

You may have heard a home remedy for your dog if they have an upset stomach is pumpkin. Turns out pumpkin, keeps their GI tract flowing normal and keeps the cells lining their tummy healthy.

4. Sweet Potato

Just like sweet potatoes are good for you and me, it has similar health benefits for dogs. Sweet potato contains Vitamin C, potassium, fiber, magnesium and many more healthy ingredients. Don't serve it raw, boil and mash for best results.

5. Blueberries

Blueberries contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, manganese and fiber, anthocyanidins, which are potent antioxidants. It is better to feed your dog blueberries as a treat because blueberries eaten in mass amounts can upset the tummy. 

6. Eggs

Never serve them raw as they can create a biotin deficiency but cooked whole eggs are healthiest for your pet. They can help with sensitive stomachs and provide for a protein boost. Dogs love eggs. 

7. Popcorn

Popcorn that is air popped containing no butter or salt provides for a healthy treat for your pet. Popcorn naturally contains potassium as well as the bone-building minerals phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium.

8. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is good for every dog but is most beneficial to the older dog. Just like humans, dogs start losing control of their body’s natural functions when they get older. Oatmeal can help with bowel dysfunction. A small amount with no sugar or other added flavoring also provides an alternative source of grain for dogs not on a wheat diet or are allergic to wheat.

Add a protein boost to your pet’s diet. These are the eight best people foods for dogs that I found. As always, everything should be eaten in moderation and pay attention to calorie intake.