Let’s Get Cooking for our Hungry Hounds

by Carrie Boyko

Snacks, Please?

This summer my cooking interests have turned a bit toward the dogs. As far as they are concerned, that’s a very good thing. With upper 90s every afternoon, I’ve started a daily frozen snack to occupy, as well as cool them. Check in Monday for recipes to chill your hot dog. He’ll be sure to love you when you prepare these frozen treats.

Speaking of treats, I’m busy putting together a cookbook of dog chow, treats, snacks and even beverages (?) for healthy hounds. Would you like to contribute a recipe? There will be prizes and credit for all recipes included in the book, and it will be available to you FREE, right here on the site. I’d love to share your creative cooking ideas.

Not into cooking? That’s okay; you can still participate and win prizes. I’m going to reward some lucky reader for coming up with the best name for our canine cookbook. Let the brain storming begin!

And there’s more. All you photographers out there can earn kudos and a prize for offering up the best cover photo for this cooking extravaganza. Got Photoshop? Fine! Have a willing pup who will pose in a chef’s hat? That works too. I’ll take any and all entries, and we’ll even show them off in a post, after the cookbook comes together. Warm up your Nikons and Canons.

Meanwhile, get those recipes in! My dogs have offered their services as testers. It’s a tough job, but somedoggie has to do it! Here's the address: LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Don't forget to include your name (if you want it included), your pup's name, and his picture. Recipe photos are welcome, as well. Have fun!

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Changes at All Things Dog Blog...

by Carrie Boyko

(c) Carrie Boyko

Tanner Announces Good News

for Adopt a Dog Park

All the dogs at All Things Dog Blog have been itching to have their own blog. I told Xena, Tanner and Oliver that it is a lot of work, but they assured me they can handle a tip a day. Starting today, you can read their tips at 5 Minutes for Fido, where my pack will take turns giving us ideas for happy pups and happy families. 

Tanner won the drawing to get his picture on the blog. It's a totally silly picture, so Oliver and Xena have been teasing him. Such is the lot of a 'cover dog'; somebody is always going to be jealous. Stop in and see what's up with doggie play dates, exercising on a rainy day and more at 5 Minutes for Fido.

Well, folks, it seems that all good things must come to an end.  After nearly a year (18 answers in 11 months) of answering your dog health questions, Dr. Jacki, with her thriving practice and growing, young family, finds herself with a bit too much on her plate. I'm hoping she'll pop in for an occasional guest post, but there's more....keep reading.

This column was the start of something big for All Things Dog Blog, and I will be forever grateful to her for helping me get off the ground. The impetus for the blog's growth, I credit the ASK THE VET column as the beginning of the blog's sudden expansion, its rise to an appearance on the Technorati Top 100 Pet Sites, and the addition of more regular columns to meet the many needs of my readers. Your response to the ASK THE DOG TRAINER column has been absolutely thrilling to both Judy and me.


Additionally, I am thrilled to announce that sponsors have stepped forward for Adopt a Dog Park, my grass roots effort to save our dog parks from demise during the economic downturn. Thank you in particular to Lupine Leads. You can do your part by visiting Adopt a Dog Park to learn more.


Soon I will be introducing you to your new ASK THE VET columnist. Keep checking in, as that announcement will come shortly.


All Things Dog Blog's Columns:

• ASK THE DOG TRAINER, with Judith Joseph
• Rescuing Rover
• Coming Soon: A Doggie Cooking Column (Interested? I'm currently accepting recipe submissions, and will be sponsoring a recipe contest in the fall. Prizes will be awarded for several categories of recipes, a cover photo, and a 'name the cookbook' winner. More information will be announced shortly). Send your recipes, photos or name ideas to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

Help protect our precious dog parks

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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All Things Dog Blog's Canine Cookbook Coming

by Carrie Boyko

It's time to have some fun. I've been hearing from quite a few readers who enjoy cooking or making treats for their dogs. The variety of ideas I have been told about is nothing short of scrumptious. Frozen treats sounded especially good to my crew, here is hot, humid Florida.


Whether it be nibbles, kibbles, or a hot meal fresh off the stove, I'd like to publish your creations in a cookbook that readers can access here on the site--FREE!


Submissions will be credited to their authors, and  food or dog photos will be included, so come on dog chow lovers; let's get cooking!


Shall I make it just a little bit more fun? How about a FREE collar and leash from Lupine Leads to the winning entry. My dogs can vote on the tastiness of the recipe, and I'll vote on the photo provided, if you submit one of your pup or the recipe (or both!). Why not show off your adorable, furry inspiration.


Okay, I'll make it even more fun. If you don't have a recipe to contribute, you can compete by naming the recipe book. It will be a web page, easily printable, and  easily accessed by a link in my sidebar. The title can be anything dog food oriented, so put on your creative cap and let's get some ideas flowing. Whomever comes up with the most clever name will get credit for their contribution AND  a  pup prize. Got any ideas? 


Submission of recipes, photos, or title ideas may be sent to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com; include a note in the subject line saying "Cookbook entry". 


This contest will run through the summer, giving you time to stir up some goodies and snap those pics. Don't leave out Fido, when you "say cheese". I'll make the final judging for prizes on Labor Day and the winners will receive their goodies in September. To review, here are the four prize categories:

• The winning recipe for most creative, yummiest edible will receive a new collar and matching leash from Lupine Leads. Tanner and Oliver's judging decisions are final.
• The winning photo of your pup--cooking, eating or just being cute--will receive a surprise from a local pet store. I'll choose something fun selected especially for this pet's favorite activities, so go ahead and include his bio in the entry. Tell me a little about your Rover and his favorite things to do. And here's one last tip on photos. If you'd like to use Photoshop or a creative costume to come up with an absolutely adorable 'dog chef' picture, your pup may earn the privilege of being our Cover Dog. You know, the one that graces the top of the recipe book. Sound like fun? You bet!
• Finally, an additional prize will be awarded to the winning entry for a cookbook title. This title should embody the message that the contents are for dogs, and  it must be creative and inviting. Get those thinking caps on and let's start brainstorming.

That's right, four judging categories for me and my furry threesome to tackle. We've got our work cut out for us. Your job is to send in those recipes, photos and title ideas. The clock starts now!

Need ideas? No copying, but you can search Amazon for tons of recipe books, and then experiment with some of your own. Here's my pick for our organic lifestyle; you can click through to Amazon and pick from dozens of others if you need inspiration. The clock is ticking...get cooking.

Contest Rules: By submission of recipes and photos you acknowledge that you own the right to publish these, and are passing on that right to me. I intend to give this cookbook away free, to any reader or site visitor that wishes to have it. There will be no monetary gain in this for me. In addition, your submission gives me permission to use your pup's image or your recipe in blog posts, Facebook announcements, cookbook illustrations, sidebar announcements, etc. to announce or further share our recipe collection. Photos may not show human faces.


Be sure to check out my latest guest posts at:


Dog Park USA: Child Safety at the Dog Park
Dog Care Journey: Socializing Your Puppy or Dog: It's Never Too Late

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

Help protect our precious dog parks

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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