Meet Our Happy Dogs

(To "meet" any of our happy dogs just click on the pictures. A click will take you to each one's story.)

The most exercise I get is letting each of them in or out multiple times per day. It’s my job. Just ask them. I exist only for them.

We don’t let them all out at the same time because they conspire to escape and run through the neighborhood. They are less likely to escape if we are outside with them. If we turn our backs on them or get distracted by something as mundane as gardening, they bolt! En masse!

Even happy dogs like to run free now and then!

They like to check out the area and visit some of the neighboring dogs. Sniff a few garbage cans, roll in whatever nasty thing they can find—you know, all the things dogs love to do!

Pet Exercise

"If your dog is fat you are not getting enough exercise.”

Our dogs are not fat but I still don’t get enough exercise! We try to make sure that our happy dogs get at least thirty minutes of outdoor time to run and play every day, weather permitting. Ray’s legs are bad so we no longer take them for a daily walk—I CAN’T walk all three. They would drag me down the street!

Cody is a trim 78 pounds, Missy a sleek 65 pounds and Gator a stocky 42 pounds. That total is more than half again what I weigh. They like to pull—perhaps I should just let them pull me in a wagon?

To keep them trim we give them measured amounts of Purina One lamb and rice formula. We add garlic, coconut oil and olive oil. They get their supplements tucked into a chicken hotdog twice a day.

In the afternoon, before play time they get their hotdog as well as Newman’s Own Organics. When the weather is warm they also get a frozen treat.

You’re familiar with frozen doggie treats, aren’t you? You find them in the ice cream section at the grocery store.

I started adding up the cost of those frozen treats. Between our pups and occasional guest puppies I figured we were spending well over $90 per month. Hmmm. They really like those treats but our wallets don’t!

I make frozen treats for a small fraction of the price and they seem to like them even better.

I thought you’d never ask!

You will need a muffin tin, paper cupcake liners, plain (not flavored) yogurt, natural peanut butter, eggs, water and ice.

In a blender mix 8 oz yogurt, two eggs, ½ cup peanut butter (must be natural—no sugar) and about 8 oz water. Add enough ice to fill the blender to about 32-36 ounces. Blend on high for two minutes. Immediately pour into muffin tin cups and freeze.

When frozen, remove the paper and serve. I haven’t found a dog yet that doesn’t like it. Before they moved, our neighbors’ dog, Jack, would stop by every afternoon for a frozen treat.

Here's Jack being cool in Texas!