Play days for dogs with treats

A little bit of Summer fun for your dogs and their friends.

A great idea for a day for socialising young dogs. It’s Afternoon Tea Week next week (8th-14th August) and to celebrate we have some great ideas for your dog’s day.

Recipes for a dog-friendly afternoon tea treat

Bob Martin share their tips and advice on what to include (or not include!). Your pet’s health should be your number one priority, so it’s good to know which ingredients are safe for your dog and which ones aren’t.

Dog-friendly sandwiches

You can’t have a classic afternoon tea without a plate of traditional, dainty finger sandwiches. However, to keep this special treat as safe and healthy as possible, it’s best to make some dog-friendly, bread-free versions. Dogs can only tolerate a very small amount of plain bread, and some flavoured loaves with seeds or herbs like chives, garlic, and onions can actually be toxic. So, to create a lighter, safer meal for your pooch, try making a plate of lettuce wraps instead and pack them with delicious fillings.

When it comes to fillings, there are a wide variety of dog-friendly options to choose from including vegetables, lean meats, and small amounts of cheese. Here’s some tasty flavour combinations for both owners and their dogs to give you some inspiration:

• Cucumber sandwiches with a very light layer of cream cheese
• Xylitol free peanut butter and apple sandwiches (make sure to check there are no apple seeds, as these are toxic for dogs)
• Turkey sandwiches
• Ham and a cheese that’s lower in fat, like mozzarella or cottage cheese

Savoury treats

As well as the sandwiches, it’s common to add another savoury treat to afternoon teas, usually in the form of cheese scones. While your dog can have a very small nibble of a cheese scone, a full one will be far too much for them. This is especially the case if you’re adding a small amount of cheese to your dog’s sandwich too. So, for the savoury treat, you may want to steer clear of dairy and opt for something smaller instead.

While you’re enjoying a cheese scone, your pet can enjoy one or two homemade biscuits made especially for their delicate stomachs. See our recipe for home made oat dog biscuits with oregano.

The cake

The highlight for many when it comes to afternoon tea is the delicious desserts. However, most of the time our dogs don’t get to enjoy sweet treats like cakes. So, for this special occasion, treat them to a tasty dog-friendly cake of their own. Like the savoury treats, you only need three ingredients for this cake so even if you’re short on time, you can easily whip one up in a hurry.

Simply mix up 60g of xylitol free peanut butter, three eggs, and 45g of oat flour until the mixture is smooth — you can make your own oat flour by simply blending the oats. Then pour the mixture into a small cake tin and bake at 190°C for 15 minutes. Once you’ve taken it out and left the cake to cool, drizzle a teaspoon of honey over it to add a little sweetness.

It’s important to note that you should portion out this cake for your pet to enjoy over at least two or three days, and even longer for smaller dogs. Paired with their entire afternoon tea, a whole cake would be far too much even though it may look small. Split the cake up into sixths and give your pet a small bit at a time to see how they get on.

The drink

Complement your furry friend’s tasty afternoon tea with the perfect drink. While it’s a good idea to give them their water bowl alongside the meal, why not give them something fun as a treat too? It can be difficult to find tasty drinks for dogs which are safe for them as well. Some types of fruit juice can be okay, but only in tiny amounts. Dogs can also enjoy milk in moderation, but if your pet is having cheese in their sandwiches, it’s best to avoid this as too much dairy can cause stomach upset in dogs.

One flavourful drink which is completely safe for dogs is coconut water. As well as being a whole new taste for your pup, it’s also hydrating, refreshing, and contains some important vitamins too. You can even enjoy a glass yourself for a refreshing way to round off your meal!

Bob Martin