Pedigree Dentastix® "Pupsicles"

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareFunshine #CollectiveBias

My kids are counting down the days till school ends and we can officially begin our Summer fun. I can hardly believe that next week will be their last day.

But isn't Summer always better with a friend? Well I know the dogs are eager to have their playmates home during the day and I am already stocking up on fun activities and items to keep us busy and help us stay cool this Summer.

For the kids that means slushes and homemade frozen treats, but what about for our four-legged friends? We love Cooper and don't want to leave him out of the Summer fun.

Yes, I headed into our local Walmart to stock up on all our Summer favorites, and now is a great time to stock up for your family, too. First, be sure to enter for a chance to win in the Funshine Sweepstakes below.

Share a Little Funshine Sweepstakes

There was a whole section in my local Walmart for different sizes and flavors of Pedigree Dentastix®. I stocked up on both the beef flavor and original. Why so much? Well, I have big plans for these.

I also picked up some other family favorites. And while stocking up, be sure to Download the Blippar app from your Apple or Android store to scan your package and receive exclusive content.

There are so many recipes and fun activities I have planned for these Summer staples like Dr Pepper® Cherry, Skittles®, Pedigree Dentastix®, M&M's® Plain candy, and the Life Savers® Hard Candy Variety bag. Many of these products were favorites of mine growing up and have a lot of great Summer memories with them. The Pedigree Dentastix are new to me, but I have an idea that will make them a staple in our pantry this season.

All stocked up, I was ready to get started on my "Pupsicles".

Pedigree Dentastix® "Pupsicles

You will need:

• Pedigree Detastix, medium or large
• 2 c. low sodium, organic beef stock
• 1 tsp. Brewer's Yeast *optional

Grab an ice cube tray, or if you have a dog-themed frozen treat tray, grab that!

Fill the ice cube mold with a mixture of beef stock and Brewer's Yeast. I should note that you want to find a beef stock that doesn't use onions or a contains excess sodium.  It is easy to make your own with leftover bones, carrots and celery added to a stock pot. This is also a great way to keep the broth free of added sodium.

Cover with kitchen wrap and then cut a small slice into the wrap above each mold. Stand a Pedigree Dentastix up in each mold. This will become the "handle" for your "Pupsicle".

Freeze until solid. Then treat your favorite pup! Store the remaining "Pupsicles" until you are ready to use them.

This is also a fun treat to share with your neighbors and dog pals. I wrapped a few up with lollipop wrappers and tied them up with a little kitchen twine. I will store these in the freezer as well until we can deliver them to our four-legged neighbors.

And what did our furry friend think of our "Pupsicles"?

Well, Cooper might have just been polite, but he didn't waste a bit of his "Pupsicle". I keep our treats small, but on a hot day something like this is a big treat.

My kids love to share treats with our dogs while they are playing in the backyard. It is just one more way that Summertime is special.

I enjoying seeing the bond between my oldest and our family dog. Yes, Summer is about fun and friends, regardless of it those friends are four-legged or not.

Do you have any special plans to #ShareFunshine with your pet this Summer? 

Be sure to check out http://cbi.as/8v0q for Summer inspiration.  I'd love to hear which are your favorite ideas for making summer FUN!

This Halloween Don't Forget the Dogs - Trick Or Treat Em

This #TrickOrTreatEm Big Heart Pet Treat shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions and experiences are mine alone.

This time of year my kids can't stop talking about their favorite treats. You know, from Trick-or-Treating, Halloween parties, the Fall School Carnival, etc. But what about our four-legged family members? I am pretty sure they wouldn't turn down a special dog biscuit or pet treat, right?

Right now it seems like more of a "trick" than treat around our house with a new puppy and kitten being added recently. There is a lot of adjustments to be made and time to be found to make sure everyone feels special.  I have been working hard with our existing pets and the kids to give everyone a little more love and be sure not to leave anyone out. So it is always nice to have a few extra bags of treats on hand for a little extra praise for the older pets, as well as positive reinforcement for our new arrivals.

Take Cooper for example.

We recently welcomed an 8-week old Patterdale Terrier into our home, and my Border Collie, Cooper, has been a pretty good sport about sharing us. One key to accepting the new puppy has involved lots of playtime together as a family and some reassuring treats with praise.

The thought to dress Cooper up for Halloween has never really crossed my mind. He is a big, working farm dog through and through. But now that I have a small terrier, I was excited to have the kids help me find the perfect dog costume for Halloween. 

Of course one big key to dressing a dog, is positive reinforcement...and making it fun.

Since my Dog 4-H days, I have enjoyed keeping treats like MilkBone dog biscuits and Pup-peroni on hand. Right now our puppy, Huck, is learning to do basic commands like come, heel and sit. For him I keep a long piece of Pup-peroni handy, and break off little pieces as needed. The scent really keeps his attention.

Of course wearing a costume is also a new thing for him. I wasn't sure how he was going to react, but he was more than willing to give it a try for a little treat.

Huck has had to warm up to treats. I am not sure they were offered before he came to live with us. Now I think he can sniff them out anywhere. This little terrier has a great nose on him. I just can't put the treats down, or he might sneak a few while I'm not looking. 

With Halloween coming, it was great time to stock back up on our favorite dog treats and select the perfect costume for our new puppy. We found a wide selection at our local Fred Meyers. There was even a display for Trick or Treat Em stocked with some of my favorites.

My favorites for training and treating still remain MilkBone dog biscuits, I like to use the small sized biscuits, and Original Beef Flavor Pup-peroni. Besides being a hit with the dogs, they are also easy for my children to use as rewards.

In order to make Halloween more fun for your your pet, here are my family's 5 tips to keep your pet happy & safe this Halloween.

1. Select a costume your pet can move in. Please be sure your dog's costume doesn't restrict movement or breathing. Since this is Huck's first Halloween we opted for a simple harness style. He can still move his legs and see easily, but he is festive and fun. 

2. Make sure your pet is visible. I went with a bright orange costume and paired it with a glow-in-the-dark leash. Another good option would be to put reflectors on the pet's costume somewhere.

3. Try your costume on beforehand. This was our trial-run with Huck's costume. I didn't want him to freak out wearing it on the big night. Also make sure your pet doesn't have an allergic reaction or becomes overly stressed. If your pet isn't up for a full costume,  bandannas can be just as fun and easily made out of scrap Halloween fabric.

4. Keep pets away from Halloween dangers like candy, glow sticks, candles etc. There are a lot of spooky temptations Halloween night. Keep a close eye on your four-legged friend to make sure they have a safe experience.

5. Be prepared. If you go out Halloween night with your dog, don't forget your leash, ID tags, water and of course, their own safe treats to enjoy. No one wants to be left out of the fun!

One thing kids catch onto fast is how the puppy will listen if they offer a treat. I love how they are all interacting with each other. 

Pets are a big part of our family and I wouldn't have my kids growing up without them. It just makes sense that we would share one of our favorite holidays of the year with our newest addition.

Huck was such a good sport and made an adorable little Jack-O-Lantern! 

To memorialize your own Trick-or-Treat pet memories, head over to http://trickortreatem.com to take their pet personality quiz, create a fun photo and frame to share on social media and grab some tasty treat coupons as well! 

Grab those treats when you are out grabbing last minute Halloween candy.

Since this is our first Halloween with Huck, I was eager to show him off in his costume. What do you think?

Doesn't this sweet face deserve to be treated too?

Will your pet be dressing up for Halloween? How will they celebrate?

Dogs Make Us Smile, Care for Theirs with Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM

The Milk-Bone® dog products, information and VISA gift cards have been provided by the Milk-Bone® brand. All opinions and experiences are my own.

I couldn't imagine our home without our family dog, Cooper. He is the perfect blend of high energy, gentle manners and outdoors man that fits in perfectly here. He is family.

That being said, I am not a fan of "dog breath". I try to feed Cooper well, care for him, etc. but the breath can be the difference between a welcomed dog hug and a "down boy". Here on the farm he gets into all sorts of things. Most of which I probably don't want the details on. Since we got Cooper from the shelter I wasn't able to condition him from a puppy for activities like tooth brushing.

Back as a 6th grader in Dog 4-H I remember learning about the importance of a dog's dental health. Some of my friends had AKC registered show dogs and would rub their teeth and gums to keep them clean and healthy. I, on the other hand, had a mutt... a gentle giant of a dog whose mouth I avoided. Instead we gave him treats that helped with his breath, but did nothing for his teeth.

So I was very intrigued when I heard that Milk-Bone® had a new product, Brushing ChewsTM. These are a clever and useful treat/ tool all-in-one.

The Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM come in two sizes, mini or small/medium. Yes, they taste like a chicken-flavored treat, but act like a toothbrush... for your dog! Using daily, they are  are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth twice per week for reduction of tartar build-up and bad breath. Also,

• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM were developed to transform at-home dental care for dogs, so that now your dog to brush his own teeth every day – just like you!
• *When fed daily, Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth twice per week based on the reduction of tartar build-up and bad breath
• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM feature a specially designed 75 degree twist that helps the brushing nubs reach down to the gum line, even cleaning hard-to-reach back teeth
• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM are so effective that they have earned the trusted Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance, similar to the American Dental Association (ADA) seal seen on human dental products

And what does Cooper think? Well, he loves them. He is pretty shy with treats, so I didn't want to interrupt his little toothbrushing moment for a close-up. Let's just say I haven't had to shy away from stinky dog breath recently.

I imagined he would just wolf it down in two bites and that would be it. Instead he sat down in the grass and proceeded to chew on the bone. This is a dog that will chew through just about anything in no time at all. He actually took his time to work on it.

Connect and share with Milk-Bone® on Facebook, Twitter and Instragram.

Could a dog in your life use Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM?

Would you like to win your own Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM product and a gift card, just like I received? Well, one lucky reader here will.  Enter on the giveaway widget below:

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Why It's A Great Day to be a Dog - #iLoveMyK9 #CBias

Our dog is fast, gentle, intelligent and, I think, the perfect fit for our family. But our Border Collie cross, Cooper, has only been a member of our family for the past two years.

We don't have much information about Cooper's first owners, but we do know he had a short stay at our local animal shelter, Saving Grace. That is where we found and adopted him. Now he is a big part of our family. I like to give him treats, but he enjoys being out with us, attention and a good game of fetch the best.

Cooper watches over our yard, herds our chickens and is our constant companion when we are out in the strawberry patch or cherry orchard. Originally I had hoped he would be a great companion for my husband around the farm, but Cooper had other ideas. This dog hates getting into a truck, won't run with a four-wheeler and tends to run right down a row of plants. Luckily for me he is a big sweetie and will play endless games of catch and Frisbee with me and the kids.

In honor of adopting Cooper from Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center, our local non-profit animal shelter, just two Summers ago. Named after a yellow lab that was adopted from a shelter, Grace, it is the only animal shelter in our entire county. They recently completed an expansion of the facilities because there is a growing need for their services here. This is the second time I have had a dog adopted from this shelter. The dog I grew up with, Buddy, was also a brief resident.

For my "It's A Great Day to be a Dog" project we wanted to put together a basket of goodies to share with our four-legged friends at Saving Grace. Just as a thank-you for helping to make our family complete.

The dog treat section at our local Walmart is quite impressive! Bags of every flavor, shape and color imaginable is there to tempt pet owners. My little shoppers helped to find some of my favorite brands.

Pup-Peroni and Milk-Bone are two brands I grew up giving to my family dog, and I still love them today. We also picked up a bag of Milo's Home-style Kitchen treats which are a new favorite. Both our dog and the Great Grandparent's dog up the street, Cocoa, love them!

For this shopping trip we selected the Milk-Bone Trail Mix, Milo's Home-style Kitchen Chicken Meatballs and Pup-Peroni Mix Stix to share with our friends at the animal shelter. You can see our whole shopping experience in my Google+ album.

We are excited to put our little "thank-you" together for the animal shelter. They just recently moved into a new and larger facility in order to care for more animals and complete more families through pet adoption, just like ours. If you are curious, take a peek at the new kennels and indoor/outdoor runs Saving Grace has.
I hope they enjoy our basket of treats.

Just a small token of our thanks for the companionship and fun Cooper has brought into our lives! I am proud to say, #iLoveMyK9.

You can connect with these great brands on social media:
Milk-Bone @milkbone and on their Facebook page.
Pup-Peroni @PupPeroni

*Disclaimer - I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions are my own.