GUESTS, GARBAGE, GOOD TIMES

November 28, 2009 12:35 am

Before you take your holiday-celebrating canine companion for an after-luncheon digestive stroll, be sure he is wearing a close-fitting collar and an identification tag with with current information. Robbie Billingsley-Mills of Spotsylvania County (above) suggests adding a purple hat for shade and style.

DOES THE song "Who let the dogs out?" stir the wind of terror in the dog parent part of your brain? Have you sat in the reception area of the all-night veterinary hospital wishing your dog, Esmerelda, had not found your big underwire bra on the bedroom floor and eaten it while you were reading in the bathtub? Have you considered inflicting physical harm on your significant other, who cannot remember to secure the lid to the trash can after putting aluminum foil dripping with pastrami juices in that dog-tempting trash can?

When a warning voice in your head whispers "Aunt Tilly is dog-ignorant and may feed Rover a handful of turkey skin" or "Uncle Jack just plain doesn't like dogs. He might not be too sorry to see Spot slip out the front door!" or "Youthful nephew Nathaniel pays no heed to 'Don't crawl into his crate with Jojo when he's sleeping!'"--listen to your dog protective voice. Safeguard your dog before the guests invade your happy dog family.

The Dangers

Dogs should not eat many holiday foods. Turkey, fatty meats, meat skins, fatty pan drippings, onions, bones from cooked meats, many nuts, raisins, chocolate and foods that might produce lots of gas, such as broccoli, cabbage or dried beans, should not be shared with your canine friend.

Vigilantly dispose of wrappings, coverings and containers that sing the siren song of "eat me, lick me, hide me under the sofa for later" to most dogs. The cotton net you carefully peeled off the turkey breast, the wax paper bag that hid the giblets in the inner regions of the turkey, the oodles of plastic wrap and tinfoil laden with yummy juices and bits of delicious holiday food will not be recognized as dangers to an always-hungry, no-food-judgment dog.

Does your garbage can have a tight-fitting, dog-proof lid? Make it your dog safety promise to go out and buy one today. Even if the dog-proof waste bin is pricey, it will not cost what an abdominal surgery to remove a blockage or dangerous object from your innocent dog is going to cost once the canine trash marauder needs emergency veterinary care. Do you keep your trash can in a pantry or inside a kitchen cabinet? If so, add a child- (and dog-) proof latch to that door.

Consider your dog's temperament and training skills. Is Bongo going to jump on guests and knock them down? Put him away and vow to teach him not to jump and how to hold a sit-stay by the door. Are children that you cannot (or the parents will not) control coming to your house? Protect your dog. Let him rest, away from visitors in a bedroom. Stuff a Kong toy (kongcompany.com) with frozen cookie bits and a little peanut butter and leave your nice dog safe in the bedroom.

If you doubt children's capacity to obey your instructions to leave the dog alone, install a latch, or hook-and-eye closure near the top of the door to ensure that only adult-size humans can enter your nice dog's safe room.

Is your dog wearing identification collar and tags? Consider using your cell phone number on the collar and tag to find you quickly if your dog is lost. Does your dog have a microchip? That would be a fabulous holiday gift.

By all means, send out invitations to your dog's friends and relatives. Make up a batch of my own easy-to-make, something-to-bark-about cookies.

Share Your Dog-Joy and Good Fortune

To your safe trash can, add a safety hook to the bedroom door and plan a dog-friendly holiday party to-do list, add take a gift for an unadopted good dog. Visit the Fredericksburg Regional SPCA (fburgspca.org) to add your gift of love to its Holiday Angel Tree. Give a thought for dogs who will not be sitting on the laps of adoring friends and will not have a forever mom or dad who bakes them cookies this year. Acknowledge the SPCA's plea for your help: Choose an "angel" you would like to sponsor and make a homeless animals Christmas a little brighter.

The best part about giving of your heart to area needy pets is that your own heart gets bigger, and warmer. Our reward for giving love and care is love and care comes back to us. Your dog who loves you is your reward for the love you give.

Sarah A. Ferrell of Spotsylvania County, author of "Devoted to Dogs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Owner" (available at abrohamneal.com or amazon.com), runs Dog Manners and Obedience. E-mail her in care of
Email: gwoolf@freelancestar.com.

HOLIDAYS WITH THE MELCHERSES TOURS: Dec. 1-31, Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont, 224 Washington St., Falmouth. Adults $10, ages 5 and older $5. Runs daily except Wednesdays. 540/654-1844; garimelchers.org.

GOOD 'N STINKY BRAUNSCHWEIGER BROWNIES

Add to food processor or mix by hand:

1 egg 2 tablespoons of olive oil rounded teaspoon turmeric rounded teaspoon rosemary 1 rounded teaspoon garlic powder

Add and mix:

4 oz. braunschweiger (usually found in an 8-oz. tube with refrigerated lunch meats.) 1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix cup oatmeal

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Remove and cut into 1-inch squares, using rolling pizza cutter. Immediately return cookies to oven that is turned off but still hot. Let cookies harden in cooling oven for one hour. Cool, on cookie rack, out of reach of inquisitive noses. Serve one per dog and stand back!

Store in a paper-towel-lined cookie tin. Since there are no preservatives and they contain meat, store these in the refrigerator, or share immediately with all your doggy friends and neighbors.

GINGER CINNAMON SMASHED CRESCENT BARS

Mix in a small bowl:

2 teaspoons powdered ginger 2 teaspoons powdered cinnamon Three tablespoons olive oil

Pour half of the oil/spice mixture onto a large 11- by 16-inch cookie sheet. Spread oil with a rubber spatula (or your hands) until all surfaces and edges of pan are oiled.

Carefully unroll one can of refrigerated low-fat crescent rolls (Pillsbury or store brand). Lay the whole package of rolls on the oiled pan. If the crescents come apart, that's OK. Once all the dough is laid onto the oiled pan, pour the remaining half of the ginger-cinnamon oil onto the dough. With clean hands, press out the dough to cover the pan to the edges. Rub on the spicy oil.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Bake an additional 20 minutes at 200 degrees. Remove from oven and cool.

Break the dough triangles apart. Store as triangles and break into small squares as needed. These cookies will be crispy and may crumble too much if you cut them with a knife or pizza roller.