Get your paws on some fabulous treats!              

Whether your four-legged friend is about to celebrate a birthday or there’s simply another ‘great’ occasion to look forward to (like … um … a day ending in ‘y’!), there are LOTS of great ideas and ways you can treat your dog in style and yet without breaking the bank – or most importantly, compromising on your dog’s health.  Here’s how!

Bake a Pupcake!

Let’s face it, we’ve all heard of ‘cupcakes’ but ‘pupcakes’ are much more fun and of course, mean you can get messy together in the kitchen!  If you’re already a dog owner, then you’ll probably know how much dogs like human interaction so what better way than to bake a pupcake together, from start to finish!

Generally speaking, pupcakes fall into two categories – ‘meaty’ and ‘spongy’.  If your dog likes the more savoury taste, then there’s no reason you can’t do a meatloaf type version, but just remember not to include any breadcrumbs, garlic, spices or onions – all of which can be potentially dangerous to your dog’s health.

Meaty offerings! …

Made with ground pork, bacon and carrots, you can quite easily make a pupcake from general leftovers yet whilst making it a bit more special with a paw-shaped or bone tin, which you can find online at very reasonable prices.  Simply pre-heat your oven to Gas Mark 5, then mix the following ingredients before placing in the oven for 35-40 mins:

  • 5 slices of cooked bacon (cut into small chunks)
  • 1lb diced beef
  • 1lb diced pork
  • 2 carrots (peeled and grated)
  • ½ cup of chopped parsley
  • 1 egg

Some owners also choose to do a frosting which can be made from cream cheese and piped onto the finished pupcake with a piping bag but unless it’s for a very special occasion remember, dogs can’t read!

Want something a little more traditional? …                              

If, on the other hand, you want to keep things a little more traditional (and pinch a little yourself!) then why not try a dog-friendly sponge cake, which you can easily achieve by adding protein-rich additions such as peanut nutter and eggs, yet whilst avoiding refined sugar and other ‘nasty’ ingredients.

Banana Carob Oat Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting!

There are lots of ways you can make your pupcake completely dog-friendly and even add to the occasion with a few simple touches, such as dog biscuits to really showcase your joint teamwork!

Remember, whichever option you decide to go for, the beauty about baking for your dog is that they won’t be too bothered about the presentation – although that’s certainly not to suggest you shouldn’t make the effort.  After all, it’s the smallest gestures that speak the biggest volumes and let’s be honest, most dogs are motivated by food!

And don’t forget, it’s not all about the cake … lots of retailers also sell “Pawsecco” too, which means you can both raise a glass (or paw) to your very special occasion!