Like Owner, Like Dog.

Weekly Weigh-in: -1.6 lbs, total down: 14.2 lbs!

I'm sorry I ate that book. Can I have some cheese now? Please?

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.  ~Phil Pastoret

I'm a crazy animal lover. I admit it- I spoil my dog rotten. Look at those big brown eyes-- how could you *not* love and snuggle this dog, even if she chews up your roommate's $50 sandals?! Chewing up my West Wing Season 6 cover? One cock of the head and I'm over it. She *does* gets in trouble- for about 5 minutes. Then we're playing ball or tug-of-war again. No harm, no foul. And, even if there *is* harm, like Monday's trip to the dog park (I have a nice scratch running from my lip to my cheek bone from her crazy ass), it's quickly forgotten about.

As I was making Daisy's batch o' treats this weekend, I realized something- most people take better care of their dogs than they do themselves. Think about it- we spoil our pets, we buy them toys, we feed them healthy food, give them treats to make them happy/healthy. But, do we do that for ourselves? I know for a long time, this was true of me- I treated my dog better than I treated myself. However, since restarting the healthy lifestyle, I've noticed a few health related things changing in the both of us:

• We've both started eating healthier. My focus with Weight Watchers has been more fruits and veggies and less carb and fatty filled foods. She's been switched from Iams to Science Diet- some people disagree with the switch, saying Iams is just as healthy or that Science Diet isn't that good for dogs, but I've noticed a difference in Daisy's coat and her activity level (it went UP, impossibly so) shortly after the switch and the vet recommended it, so we're sticking with it.

• I've been eating healthier snacks- again, more fruits and veggies, but more eggs, more fiber bars, and less processed foods. Daisy's snacks are handmade by me and are "healthy" for dogs. She loves all kinds of treats (like me), but the treats I was buying-Milk Bone- were making her stink up the house. Plus, making her the treats are WAY cheaper than buying a box off of the shelf. The treats I make her prevent that, are smaller, and I feel less guilty giving them to her. Once a day, she gets  1 1/2 treats in her Kong with 1 tb of (frozen) peanut butter.

• When I don't work out on a regular basis, it's extremely easy to pack on the pounds. Working out, for me, included Daisy's 2-a-day walks, with each walk being just shy of a mile. With our cold Michigan winter, the walks slowed down until they just stopped. Daisy packed on a few pounds because of my aversion to walking in the cold and because I refused to stand outside in the cold at the dog park while she ran through snow drifts. Now that we're back to walking at least once a day, she- and I- are starting to slim down. Michigan State University released a study showing that those who own pets are 34% more likely to get the exercise they (the human) need, which aids in achieving an overall healthier lifestyle.

• My entire attitude shifts when I work out and eat well. My attention span is better. I can stay more alert, finish more tasks, and have less mistakes. I'm calmer. I'm just generally happy with a workout and a healthy meal plan under my belt. Same for Daisy. If she gets her walk and her dog park trips 2-3x a week, she is an entirely different dog. She will still jump on you when you walk in the door, but she will calm down faster. She's more reserved, listens better, and doesn't destroy things. She's a much better dog when she's well-fed and exercised.

I always laughed at those pictures with owners and their dogs, looking exactly alike. Now, I look absolutely nothing like Daisy- except the brown hair/fur. But our personalities match - and apparently, now our health habits do, too. Generally speaking of course. 

Daisy's Peanut Butter Biscuits (taken from "The Daily Drool" - yes, I tried it because the name matched my dog's name)

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup quick oats - uncooked
1 cups hot water
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 eggs- lightly beaten
3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter- smooth
2 to 3 tablespoons of your favorite nutritional supplement (I use Flax Seed oil- helps the coat!)

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine peanut butter, hot water, oil, and eggs in a bowl. Mix until smooth. Set aside. Combine flour, cornmeal, and oats in a separate bowl. Mix well. Pour the bowl of the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix well with hand mixer until dough forms.

Knead dough on a floured board until no longer sticky (I let the dough sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes to add extra firmness. Makes it easier to roll out). Add flour as needed. Roll out dough to inch thickness. Cut into shape with a floured bone shape cookie cutter (I use a heart shaped one because it's a lot smaller). 

Place on a lightly greased or non-stick cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool until hard. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (dough can be frozen for later use)