Welcome to the Week’s Review of Canine Social Media
Welcome to this Special Feature on the DoggieU K9 Blog for an update on this week’s dog-related social media from around the world. There are so many stories. Here we will share some of the best stories this week.
Enjoy & share them.
Build your own palm-sized robot dog with this construction kit
With summer just around the corner, your kids (of all ages) are about to have a lot of extra time on their hands. And if they’re around 14 or 15 years old, getting them to do anything but scroll through social media or play video games is like pulling teeth. But how can you respect their summertime fun while still giving their brains a little exercise?
- Engaging in problem-solving is a great way to keep your brain sharp, especially with developing minds. That’s why building this Petoi Bittle, a palm-sized robot dog is a great way to pass
time with your older kids. A 3D puzzle of sorts, this little robot kit comes with everything you need to build its frame, code and program its movements, and so much more. And right now it’s 9% off its regular price. - Even if you’ve never built a robot before, learning to put this little doggo together, whether it be with your eager-to-learn teens or on your own, is perfectly challenging and even more rewarding. The robot dog comes with a base kit that lets you put together the puzzle-like frame and download demo codes on GitHub, along with its STEM & robotics kit, allowing you to bring your dog to life through code. With your own hands, you’ll develop the dog’s walking gait, locomotion, and kinematics behaviors.
- The Petoi Bittle found success on Kickstarter, earning over $567,218 in funding from 2,052 backers, the mini-robot is proving to be a fantastic learning tool, helping ignite an interest in coding and engineering. That’s because it’s full of advanced functions, including a customized Arduino board that lets you control complex movements, allowing the dog to do tricks, and more. It also comes with a Li-ion battery pack that gives the robot dog a whole hour of walking time, allowing you to play without worrying about running out of juice.
- Currently priced at around $300 or a few dollars more for the preassembled version.
[Link] [YouTube Video]
Amazing Frozen Dog Treats for Summer Fun
Suggestions and recipes for home-made frozen dog treats
Many dogs love to eat ice cubes on a hot summer day, but there are much better alternatives to help your pup cool down and stay hydrated on those hot days.
Thanks to the folks at the Canine Journal, there are some great ideas and recipes for creating special summer frozen treats.
To freeze ingredients you can use an ice cube tray but there are also numerous silicon bone or paw shaped molds that can jazz up things a bit. (They can also be used for baking)
Ingredients
First choose the healthiest and safest options for your pup, some of the ingredients in the recipes include:
- Peanut Butter: All-natural plain peanut butter is best for dogs. Steer clear of any product with additives, preservatives, sugars, or added salt. At a minimum, make sure your peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s extremely toxic in dogs.
- Yogurt:Â Plain, Greek-styled yogurt is the ideal choice for dogs. It contains less sugar and carbohydrates than regular yogurt. But keep in mind, while small amounts of yogurt in these treats are likely okay, many dogs are lactose intolerant, so too much can cause digestive issues.
- Pumpkin Puree: Plain canned pumpkin without added sugars, fillers, spices, or other ingredients is the way to go here. Don’t give your dog a canned pumpkin pie mixture or sugar-free canned pumpkin. Plain fresh pumpkin is also safe.
Recipe ideas include:
- Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
- Chicken & Apple Pupsicles
- Frozen Banana, Blueberry & Yogurt Bites
- Strawberry Banana “Smoothies”
- Watermelon Ice Cream For Dogs
- Prince & Coco’s Frozen Veggie Cubes
The article also recommends Cooper’s Treats pre-made pupsicle powder mixes make DIY frozen dog treats even easier. All you have to do is add water, pour it into a mold, and 
freeze. The starter kit comes with a cute paw-and-bone-shaped silicone mold and two jars of their pupsicle mix, beef & cheddar, and turkey & cinnamon. Or you can purchase their mixes separately (regular or grain-free). Each jar makes about 25 treats (20 calories per treat). [Link]
Thank you Canine Journal for the wonderful ideas and recipes. [Link]
Other cool summer treats that your dog will love was suggested by the magazine Dogtopia
FROZEN FRUITS & VEGGIESÂ
Pups love snacks with a crunch. Switch up your dog’s favorite fresh treat by freezing it before serving it to them. Not only will it taste chilled and delicious, but your pup will also take extra time enjoying it as they lick the treat while it softens. A few personal pup favorites are frozen chunks of banana, strawberries, peaches, carrots, and green beans.
ICY BROTH TREATSÂ
Perhaps try dog treats with a savory flavor? Try these frozen broth treats. Chicken, beef, vegetable, and bone broth can all be frozen in cubes for pups without a sweet tooth. Simply pop the broth into an ice tray and freeze! Looking to level up your frozen broth treats? Here are our two favorite ways to get creative with broth treats:
- Mix any broth with peanut butter and parsley. Freeze and serve!
- Freeze different broth flavors in layers! With every lick, your furry best friend will experience a different flavor which will keep them occupied until the very last bit is enjoyed!
PUP-APPROVED SWEET TREATSÂ
Swap frozen veggies with frozen fruit for a sweet treat your dog will love! Dice or puree fruit (remove the rind, seeds, or other hazards which may be hard on a dog’s stomach to break down). Mix the fruit with plain yogurt and freeze. The fruit dogs seem to enjoy the most are cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pineapple, and apple. We all love chilled summer sweets and now your pup can enjoy a special treat, too!
FROZEN KONGÂ
Another way to keep your dog occupied during the hot summer months? Grab a KONG and fill it with any of the treats listed above or a spoonful or two of peanut butter. Once filled, pop the filled KONG in the freezer and wait for all contents to firm. This treat will cool your pup down while keeping their brain stimulated!
As with any treat, please be mindful of your dog and their specific dietary needs and restrictions. If you have any questions about what your pup can and cannot enjoy, do not hesitate to reach out to your local veterinarian. As a reminder, treats are meant to be enjoyed in moderation, so make it a special event and only allow your pup to enjoy a bit at a time!
[Link]
Some wonderful dog situations from Social Media
Click to enlarge pics and for slide show view
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