Doggone Etiquette —

Your Valentine?

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

Okay, so who’s your Valentine? Come on, fess up. I bet you know. Is it one of your Very Important People?

Or maybe it’s that pretty little Bichon Frise that lives down the street? Or the handsome chocolate Labrador that shows off when he plays with you. The best thing about Valentine’s Day is that you can have a whole lot of them and no one gets upset or jealous. Or maybe the best thing will be that you will be chosen as somebody’s special Valentine. Then there’s the best thing of all — a very special Valentine’s Day treat.

Better be very, very good!

A Word to the Dog’s Owners:

These days the kids are more into valentine cards and emails, counting how many they got, against how many they gave out. Adults are more into flowers and chocolates. So what’s in it for dear Rufus? Definitely not chocolates, because chocolate can be poisonous to dogs. You just don’t give flowers to a dog! Of course, I do know some dogs that will eat any flower or bush available, but that’s not what this valentine business is all about. It has to be something special for Rufus, and very doggie. A trip to your favorite pet supply store with dog in tow will offer an enormous range of treats and toys.

Caution: Be sure you know how your (sweet, friendly, obedient) dog will react when faced with a store full of goodies! You’re paying, and you’re choosing! Pick a toy that you are reasonably sure will last more than five minutes in your dog’s mouth . . . uh, possession.                                

For this special day, how about something really different, something from you own kitchen, something the kids could make (or help make). The nice part about making treats for dogs is that you won’t hear any complaints, or criticisms. The reaction is always, “Wow! Is this for me?” The smell from the oven is enough to get Rufus dreaming about what’s to come!                

Here are a couple of easy recipes for you to try. Let me know how they go over.

“Hearty” Valentine Cookies

5 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup flour

½ cup finely grated cheddar cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Blend oil and cheese until smooth. Stir in the garlic; then mix in the flour. Mixture will be somewhat crumbly. Shape into one or more logs about 1½ inches in diameter, roll in plastic wrap and chill until firm. Cut slices about ¼ to ½-inch thick. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until slightly brown. For an added treat, before rolling into logs, add bits of crisp bacon.

Honey Valentine Cookies

1 ¾ cup flour

¼ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup quick cooking oats

¼ cup honey

¼ cup wheat germ

1 tsp baking powder

¼ cup peanut butter

¾ cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1 cup of flour with all remaining ingredients in a mixer at low speed. Remove and knead in the balance of flour until dough forms a ball. Roll out on a lightly floured surface until ¼-inch thick. Using a cookie cutter (heart? dog bone-shaped?) cut out biscuits. Reroll scraps and keep cutting. Bake on cookie sheet for 20 minutes. Turn off heat and leave biscuits in oven for 1 hour. Store in a tin, or they may be frozen.

This recipe has two advantages if you have kids. Kids love the kneading and rolling and cutting part, and while the cookies are sitting in the oven for one hour and twenty minutes, they can clean up the mess!

If for any reason at all, you are not into creating dog biscuits, or handing out toys, there is one thing you can do for your dog on this special day — offer your heart. Show an extra bit of loving to your dog — it goes a long way. In fact, it goes both ways!

Until next time – BE GOOD!

—Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine.

In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me! which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award last year.

Bardi may be reached at bardi29@aol.com.