Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?

  Posted on April 4, 2011  by Joy of Living  No comments

Bolt, Yorkie-Poo guest columnist, with a grievance to air:  Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. That’s all that I can say.  That six-year-old Wheaten Terrier that I tolerate living with on a daily basis has stooped to the lowest of all lows.  Some human in our household inadvertently left the pantry doors open, all but welcoming Naismith into its tempting lair.  Upon initial inspection of the pantry, he discovered not one, but TWO boxes of cookies, partly open and readily accessible.  Unbeknownst to the humans, and to myself at the time, Naismith grabbed as many of the tasty treats as he could with his mouth and silently snuck off behind the couch.  Fortunately, an alert human discovered this escapade within a couple of minutes, and Naismith was sent to the penalty box, sans the lifted treats.  It appeared that he only had time to enjoy up to three cookies. As for me, I got only the satisfaction of knowing, if only for a few moments, that I was the good dog in the house!

So, if your dog wants a tasty treat, what are you to do? Obviously, chocolate chip cookies are not a good rule of thumb. However, if you want to share in your humanly food passions, offer up some fresh or frozen fruits and veggies.  Bite-sized chunks of fruit are a great treat, and the sweeter the better!  We want our taste buds to dance!  Frozen blueberries rock, not only for their taste but for their anti-oxidant benefits!  Offer some baby carrots, green beans, or melon pieces. It’s all good!

Instead of chocolate, think carob, which is a great substitute for chocolate.  Put carob chips in muffins, cookies, and even into your canine friend’s birthday cake. He will love you for it!

If it’s meat that gets your dog salivating, unseasoned cooked lean meats like chicken or certain cuts of beef make for superb doggie treats.  Just avoid using salt and administer garlic sparingly, if at all.  Mix a few chicken cubes with brown rice and mashed vegetables with boiled chicken pieces, and we will be in canine taste bud heaven!

We also enjoy cheese.  String cheese and other soft cheeses are great snack offerings. Just make sure to cut them into small pieces.  If your dog is lactose intolerant, however, this is obviously not advisable.  If you are not sure, offer only a very small piece and see how he reacts, making sure there are no ill effects, such as gas and stomach upset.

So, with that other dog still in the dog house, I am off to secure the pantry doors and wait patiently by the fridge, bearing my “good dog” face!  Gotta go!  This blog writing is making me ravenous, and I just heard someone open the fridge. That’s my cue! Game on!

(Thanks to ehow.com for this info!)