Guilty Dog Biscuits

Meet my dog, Moe Sutherland.

Aside from being the best dog in existence (I realize this statement is up for debate with virtually every good dog owner out there), he truly is one of the great loves of my life.  

Kyle and I adopted him a year and a half ago from this lovely dog rescue.  When he was around 3 months old, he was discovered wandering in an alley by an awesome couple.  His ears had been cut off with a pair of scissors by his previous evil owner; he was hungry and scared. Unfortunately for that couple (but fortunately for us), they already had two dogs and were expecting a baby, thus they had to give him up for adoption.  He was fostered by them for four months before we found him on the rescue’s website, and the rest, my friends, is history.

For all of you who are dubious about pit breeds, let me say my dog is honestly one of the sweetest creatures you will ever meet.  My mother-in-law is not a dog fan, and even she loves him (my in-laws’ cat, Pumpkin, is another story).

 
Oh sure, we’ve had our ups and downs since making our coupling three’s a crowd.  There were the first six months, which I like to refer to as “Separation Anxiety Hell.” This period included expensive training sessions, relying on our friends for occasional day-sitting, and a run-in with a horrendous 10 hour dog-watcher for our wedding. Also, there were some gastrointestinal issues, something that’s apparently common in pit bull, American bulldog and boxer breeds, all three of which we suspect Moe is a combination of, which left us purchasing a ridiculous amount of pumpkin puree (a tried and tested antidote for hideous canine flatulence, it turns out).  However, we’ve made it through to the other side and Moe can now be left alone, and no longer clears a room on a minute to minute basis.

Recently, things at work have been incredibly stressful, not to mention time consuming.  Our hour-long morning walks have been reduced greatly and the remorse I’ve been feeling has been immense.  Truly, doesn’t this face just scream, “why aren’t we walking right now?!?”

I needed to assuage my guilt somehow, thus I decided to whip up some dog biscuits!  I discovered this recipe on this website, beyond a doubt one of the best resources of dog treats I’ve found.  Also, saying “Bullwrinkle” makes me laugh.  Out loud. 

I’ve made this particular recipe before, and not only is it Moe approved, his best friends (Tooey, Bogie and Humphrey) agree.  

So whip up a batch for your four-legged love; I promise they’ll thank you for it (most likely in kisses and drools).

Happy feeding,
Elizabeth

Fido’s Favorite Treats
From Bullwrinkle.com

1 cup rolled oats  
1/3 cup butter
1 cup boiling chicken broth
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons chicken or beef instant bouillon
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 cups whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. In large bowl combine rolled oats, butter and boiling broth; let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in cornmeal, sugar, bouillon, milk, cheese and egg. Mix well. Add flour 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition to form stiff dough. 

 
On floured surface, knead in remaining flour until dough is smooth and no longer sticky, 3 to 4 minutes. Roll or pat out dough to 1/2 inch thickness; cut with cookie cutters*. 

Place cookies 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. Store loosely covered for up to a week**. Makes approximately 42 biscuits. 

 
* These cookie cutters are excellent for traditionally shaped dog biscuits, but any cookie cutter shape will do!  Moe handed these out to his dog friends around Thanksgiving, and they were shaped like turkeys, Pilgrim hats and pumpkins. You could even use a knife to cut shapes if you're hard up for cutters.

 ** These biscuits are softer than the hard, crunchy treats you're used to buying at the store.  They also go bad more quickly, as they do not have any preservatives.  They'll last for two weeks if you store them in the fridge.