​I have a cat that is really feisty.  He is an 18 month old ginger cat and he is as devilish as he is lovable!  He loves to play, but having all his claws (four wheen drive, as my husband calls it) he is very hard on his toys.  He can rip a catnip mouse to bits in record time.  He also has shredded his little cat house, along with several scratching posts.  After a while it started to get a little expensive, replacing toys and playthings for the little furball!
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Halloween can be a perilous time for dogs. Decorations, extension cords, candles and all that candy can be dangerous to any pet, Halloween night especially can be very stressful on your pets, especially dogs. Most dogs are protective of their home and their people, so rings at the door mean potential danger from strangers, to a dog. Repeated doorbell rings can create a state of agitation that can do everything from make your dog physically sick to make them unusually aggressive or prone to bite.

Keeping your dog (and your neighborhood kids) safe on Halloween is a fairly easy thing to do with a little bit of planning.

I love to make my own pet toys.  The ones available in the store are so expensive and they fall apart (or are chewed apart!) in such a short period of time, it is a waste of money.  I am always searching the internet for DIY dog toys that I can make, so I decided to share some of my favorites with you. 

Try a few of these, and you will see how fun and inexpensive it is to make your own!

It always bothered me that there are so many ingredients in store bought dog biscuits that are unpronounceable.  Dog treats do not need all that junk in them.  So I decided to make my own.  If you make your own, then you know exactly what you are feeding your pet. 

I decided to make my treats with chicken instead of beef because it has less fat, but they can be made with beef or pork, just sub it in for the chicken or turkey.  I prefer whole wheat flour because it gives a more dog biscuit-like texture than white flour.  The recipe is really easy to make, it's just like making cookies!

Heatstroke can easily happen to dogs.  Dogs, just like people, are affected by the temperature and exertion level, and if both of them are high, heatstroke can be the result.  For all the kidding we do about heatstroke, it is a very serious condition, especially for dogs, and if action is not taken quickly, it can kill them.

So what do you need to know about heatstroke in dogs?  How to recognize it, which dogs are more susceptible and what to do about it if it happens would be a great start!

Updated 2019

If you have a dog that likes to run around outside and explore your property, then I am sure you have had to deal with fleas and ticks.. These horrid little pests are, unfortunately, a natural part of the landscape.  You need a way to protect your dog, so you buy a flea and tick collar from the store.  When you unwrap it, you can smell the chemicals and you wonder how something that smells like that can be good for your canine pal.  Will it irritate his skin?  How can you cuddle him or her with that smell?  Is there another answer to the flea and tick problem?  Maybe one that is less expensive as well as healthier?

Yes there is.  Make your own with safe, good smelling essential oils!  Here's how:

This week is Dog Week on Homemade by Jade.  A whole week of posts about man's (and woman's) best friend.  Recipes, health tips and more!  If you love dogs, this is the week for you!  Make sure to check back every day this week!  Today, I am sharing my best homemade fresh dog food recipe and also a fresh dog food recipe for dogs with upset tummies.  Enjoy!

Day 2 - How to Make Homemade Flea and Tick Collars
Day 3 - Dogs and Heatstroke - What You Need to Know
Day 4 - How to Make Dog Treats and Greenies
Day 5 - The Best DIY Dog Toys