Chip Shop Rap

I know this is going against my last post about healthy homemade chips, but we humans treated ourselves to chip shop fish and chips (for my foreign followers imagine mcdonalds fries but fatter with battered cod). Beau and Angus LOVE chip shop chips, so I had to make a video/rap about their favourite food.

Lights, Camera, ACTION! - Channel 4

Being a media teacher means I have to keep an eye on jobs and casting, thus, I am signed up to a few jobs sites specific to media. I was distracting myself from doing any work and just searched dog, and behold, 2 casting calls came up. One for BBC - sports relief goes walkies and one for channel 4. Both sounded exactly the same, a doggy sports day game show i think would be the best way to describe it. The BBC were the first to ring and to offer an auditions and then Channel 4 rang and offered us an audition. To be honest I don't think that we are what they looking for as Beau is quite aloof and I can be quiet around strangers, but we gave it ago.

Channel 4 was first audition and Beau and me were in a group of 3 other dogs and their owners.

First was Tri ball??? I know I had no idea what this is until we did it, but I have to say Beau was really good and I think it is something we would like to do. ( i have just brought a gym ball to practice). The basics of it is that you have 3 big balls 20 footish away, you send your dog from heel away behind the ball facing you and then they push it towards you. Beau was really good.

Second was Flyball, hahahaha. We have never even does this as she is not ball motivated. BUT (big but), she did it, I was sooo surprised, she ran over all the jumps, touched the ball and back again, I cannot say the same for me, I think I need to go to the gym!

Third was agility with a bit of rally. Beau has only done an 8 week agility course prior as we didn't like the trainer, so we knew we would be alright, not quick though. Again Beau did really well. First was the A frame, she has never done this before and it took her 3 goes to get to the top. When she got to the top however she decided it would be good fun to jump off! It was a 6 foot jump. She landed ok but did go over on here left leg, but is fine, not even a limp. We then had the sea saw, again she did ok, then the tunnel, it was a bent tunnel, this was a no no, so they straightened out the tunnel and she did it. Then on to the jumps, again fine, no probs. Then came the rally bits. I knew we would do well on this, and we did, she was the best in the group.

Then was the Water jump, I nearly wet myself with laughter when I found this out as I knew their was no chance. The pool was massive, 20x40foot! Beau didn't even put her toes in, she gave a good go, so I was quite pleased with that.

And finally was the interview, this was my time to shine. They asked all the same questions that were on the form but I had to appear interesting. I thought I did ok as it was me talking about Beau, so fingers crossed.

It airs on channel 4 daytime on the 17th Feb 2014.

Healthy Doggy Chips

If your pooches are anything like mine then chip shop day is their favourite day. But as you know they are not really that healthy for us humans, let alone dogs. I had some left over carrots and potatoes and decided to experiment. I didn't take any photos of the process as I didn't think it would work, sorry.

What you need;

2 large potatoes
2 too 3carrots
Corn flour
1 large egg
Plain flour
Pizza cutter
Baking paper.

What to do:

1 - Peal and chop your potatoes and boil.

2 - Grate your carrots into your potatoes when cooked and drained.

3 - Mash together and add 1 large egg.

4 - Your mash will be really moist so you need to start adding the cornflour and flour, it's hard to say how much, I added half of each till it was less sticky and the mixture stuck together in one large lump and wrap in cling film.

5 - Put in the fridge till cold. (I cheated, i put it in the freezer for 40 mins)

6 - Put your oven on to 200degrees celsius, (I have a fan assisted oven, but if yours is not then put in at 220).

7 - Take your mixture out of the fridge and roll out on to a floured surface, ( I had to split my mixture into 3 as my chopping board is only small). 

8 - Use your pizza cutter to slice strips and place on a baking tray covered with baking paper.

9 - It took my oven 30-40 mins to cook, as they were all slightly different thickness due to me rolling 3 batches. Turn over half way, and take out when edges get a darker brown than the rest and firm on top but still soft in the middle.

10 - The cut to desired length when cooled, if you wait till they go cold then it will be harder to cut.

MMM Posh chips.

Chip shop chips.

I noticed that the carrots made them look like black county battered pink chips. 

However, my one mistake was that I needed to use more carrots, 

but I have advised in the ingredients above. 

Doggy Pjs

With the nights getting colder and Beau being a really late molter (she has just got her summer coat), it's time to make her and Angus some pjs. Yes you might laugh but Beau has been jumping on the bed in the middle of the night the night for cuddles and warmth.

Without Pjs we wrap them up.

I made my own pattern from a hoodie I brought Beau 3 years ago, this is the 3rd time i made Beau heres, so my 4th were for Angus. I always have issues with the arms not being in the right position, but I re drafted the pattern for the arms and they look better on Angus's pjs.

This was the 2nd pjs that i made.

This was the material I choose. I nice fleece.

As you can see the arms look ok when she leans forward.

And when she sits down.

I did a higher neck with some button detail, She likes the higher neck as its cosy.

Angus in his Pjs, the arms are better, but i did have to make the bottom a 

little shorter due to him being a boy and going to the loo.

Matching doggies.

A Lazy Sunday

For a change Beau has requested that she writes this blog as she would like to defend her and the other 2s behaviour from last week after harassing my mom with the chicken.

After my Hooman decided to post that awful video of us being greedy with left over chicken I would like to defend Angus, Lotti and myself and tell you all that it is now part of our Sunday routine, and if Nanny didn't give us food in the first place then we wouldn't hassel her! So it's the Hoomans fault really. So in defence this is our Sunday routine.

This is how it starts, with a lazy lie in till 10am

We then all go out for a walk, which leads us to the front 

door of nanny's for our Sunday lunch.

It's chicken again, so while nanny is plating up we help her

by getting up anything that is dropped.

After nannys my Hoomans take us home where Cara goes

 back to bed and eats chocolate, we hassle her as well 

till she lets us lick her fingers.

After the licking of fingers we settle down on the bed, A new bed as well.

I think Angus likes the bed better than me as I often go back down stairs for 

cuddles with Rich on the sofa.

It may only be a small spot but I like cuddles with Rich.

Sometimes I win and he gives me more of the sofa.

Cara then comes back down where Angus gives Rich slobbery kisses.

It's then tea time, again we hassle the Hoomans for left overs, I have a special

way of dribbling on their socks till they give me some.

After tea we watch some good TV and get more cuddles.

When it's bed time I manage to get on the bed in Cara's spot till 

I get thrown off in my own bed.

Angus goes to bed straight away, I might add that this is my bed

that I sleep in while down stairs, but he has pinched it. I don't mind as I

get the sofa.

Then I get told to go to bed as I get told that the Hoomans what their bed back.

Well that's our Sunday, I love Sundays, Play, food and sleep, wish we could do this every day.

Beau,  xxx.

Sunday Lunch Left Overs

Being a bit of a home girl (I only live a 3 minute walk round the corner), I go to my parents every Sunday to be fed a huge Sunday roast, and the dogs also get feed a Sunday roast.

When it's chicken Sunday the dogs know that my mom will take the extra bits off the chicken to use in the week for dinner, so they hassle her till she does and as you can see from this video rather enjoy it.

Sorry its's quite small, I shot it on my phone.

Hand Made Leather Dog Collars

Recently i decided to start sewing and brought a old vintage singer sewing machine from the 60s that would sew leather with the idea that I would eventually be good enough to make myself a leather jacket. I decided to start off with dog collars and with scraps of leather made these few.

 

This was the first collar I made, dead easy and decided to mess with the different stitches.

 

 

 

 

 

 This was the second one I made and it looks dead cute but suits Angus better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the third collar I amde using square studs.

 

All look amazing and are really good but i keep making them too big and not ajustable.

 

The Loss of A True Hero

I found out that Hero the Shar pei crossed rainbow bridge. When I found out I was at work and cried for most of the day. I have never meet Hero but knew him so well through his amazing blog. http://herothesharpei.blogspot.co.uk/ 

He had a truly amazing relationship with his family and especially their little girl, most of the Blog was pictures that spoke a thousand words, so touching and incredible were his outings and life that I really feel attached to this little boy.

Rest in peace Hero, your a true Shar pei that touched so many of us, you inspired me to start this blog and I will never forget you. xxx. Beau, Angus and Me.xxx.

Welcome To The Family ANGUS!

After fostering Angus for 5 weeks we have decided to keep him, Yay! Welcome to the mad house.

He is such a nice boy with an amazing temperament, he gets on really well with Beau and Lotti and is even easier to train than Beau.

So if you don't mind I will also be posting about Angus and our life together as one big happy family.

A Dog's Life Summer Holiday 2013

After last years video I had to make another, We all went to the same place again but with a new fostered addition, Angus. Angus parents would like to see if they would like to find him a new home and I offered to help out for a few weeks to see if they were making the right decision, so he joined us on holiday.

We had an amazing time, hope you enjoy the video.

Crufts 2013 Good Citizen Gold Display Team

Yay, we finally made it!

Sine I was a little girl I have always wanted to get on the green carpet, and it didn't disappoint, we had a fantastic time. After all the training you have seen in the video Beau didn't let me down on the day.

The day started at getting up at 3.30am, getting there at 6.30pm, practice at 8.30, first display at 10am and a second at lunch and a 4th at 5pm. 

Beau was crated when she wasn't demonstrating but refused to sleep. Being a guarding breed she likes to know where we are at all times and being in a crate meant she couldn't folow, so the poor girl stayed awake till we got home at 6pm. Bless.

Here is the video I made 

Here is the video Crufts filmed on us on the green carpet.

Summer Super Fruit Dog Treats

I have had tinned blueberries in my cupboard for ages now,  I brought them to try and make Beau some treats. I didn't have a recipe for it so that was probabaly why I haven't made them, too scared of cocking it up. 

 As we know cranberries and blueberries are classed as SUPER fruits and are full of antioxidants that are good for us, the same with dogs and really safe for them to eat, Beau loves eating dried cranberries with me straight out of the packet, but like us it all needs to be in moderation.

1 - What you need.

         Tin of blueberries 

          1 Egg

          2 Tablespoons of breadcrumbs

          A small handfull of dried cranberries (soak in water for 30mins first)

          2 1/2 Table spoons of dried coconut flakes.

          2 Teaspoons of oregano

          Wholemeal flour

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2 - Drain the blueberries and keep the juice, just in case your mixture gets too dry you can add this later.

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3 - Add all your ingredients. With the flour I don't measure as it can depend how large your egg is or how much juice is left in the blueberries, so just keep adding little bits till it gets less sticky. 

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4 - Mix and mulch with your hands, remember keeping adding the flour when needed.

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5 - When it starts to stick together I then start picking it up and throwing it back in the bowl, I don't know why but it helps stick it all together.

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6 - Roll in a ball and wrap in cling film and leave in the fridge from 30-40 minutes to harden up so that it is easier to roll out.

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7 - As the mixture was so large I halved it and rolled onto a floured surface. You may have to keep sprinkling flour on it so that it doesn't stick to the rolling pin. I then used my new pasta cutter to cut into strips, but you can use cookie cutters or a knife.

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8 - As I am using mine as training treat I had to make them smaller, so I gentley rolled my pasta cutter over the top so that it just scored half way through, as this makes it easier when cooked to snap off into smaller chunks.

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9 - I then used my palet knife and moved to to baking paper in an oven 200 degrees celsius for around 20 minutes. As all ovens are different I would advise that you keep an eye on them, you will know when they are done when the ends go a darker brown. They should be crispy on the outside and still be soft in the middle.

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Gorgeous healthy super fruit treats.

Happy dogs wanting the next one.