Wipe your mouth and go to bed!

I'm a firm believer in good quality nutrition for dogs.  For many years, I prepared all of my pack's food from scratch.  Home-cooking is a wonderful yet time-consuming undertaking when it comes to balancing nutrients and rotating proteins and vegetables.

I spent every other weekend grocery shopping on Saturday then spent Sunday slicing, dicing, and grinding my creations.  I calculated every calorie and kept all of my dogs in good health until ripe old ages.  When I get on the scale every so often, I'm glaringly reminded I should be counting every calorie for myself. But I digress...

Like many of you, my free time is limited.  However, I have found a simple way to fulfill my maternal instincts and watch the joy on my dogs' faces when they realize "it's soupie time".  I can almost promise that your dog will lap it up, head outside to pottie, go straight to bed and sleep through the night.  I have given a bowl of soup at bedtime to every dog who has come through our home and never had one turn up its nose.  They may think it's odd at first but they'll devour it!

I sometimes use the same pot of soup for the humans so that we have food for a couple of days.  Think soup and sandwich for the next day or two and it simplifies your life.  Remember to omit onion as it's toxic to dogs.  

This week's creation is for the dogs only--

Add one duck to a large soup pot with enough water to cover the duck.  Generally, a 4- or 5-quart pot is a good size.  Scrub 4 carrots and cut off the ends.  Leave the skin on for added nutrients.  Add 4 washed stalks of celery with leaves.  Bring the pot to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Let it simmer for a couple of hours making sure the water doesn't cook away.  Add more water if needed.  I'm a believer in adding garlic in small amounts.  Throw a clove or two in the pot if you're inclined to do so.  Garlic keeps fleas away!

When the duck is cooked thoroughly, remove it from the pot and let it cool.  Remove all of the meat and return the meat to the pot. Add a hearty sprinkling of turmeric as it acts as a wonderful anti-inflammatory.  

I use a hand blender to puree the soup but a traditional blender will work, too.  It's just a little more work and takes a little longer. Be sure to tightly bag up the bones.  Dogs can choke on cooked bones and they'll be sniffing around the kitchen at this point!  

In addition to feeding a bowl of soupie at bedtime, I use dog soup as a gravy over kibble to soften it for the senior dogs.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear your feedback.

Happy cooking!  Remember - tell them to wipes their mouths and go to bed!

Di

When the duck is cooked thoroughly, remove it from the pot and let it cool.  Remove all of the meat and return the meat to the pot. Add a hearty sprinkling of turmeric as it acts as a wonderful anti-inflammatory.  

I use a hand blender to puree the soup but a traditional blender will work, too.  It's just a little more work and takes a little longer. Be sure to tightly bag up the bones.  Dogs can choke on cooked bones and they'll be sniffing around the kitchen at this point!  

In addition to feeding a bowl of soupie at bedtime, I use dog soup as a gravy over kibble to soften it for the senior dogs.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear your feedback.

Happy cooking!  Remember - tell them to wipes their mouths and go to bed!

Di