Who would've thought forced quality time with you, yourself and your dogs would ever be a thing?
(@willow_theboerboel, @beingbasti, @withdogs.co.za, @mytitantherottie, @benjithepuggo, @dog_lovesa, @goldengirlcalibear, @max_and_willow, @harvey_and_hugo)
We're a third of the way through the 21-day nation-wide lock-down in South Africa, as a fight against the COVID-19 outbreak across the world. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't need to be told twice by the government (let alone anyone else) to rather stay at home with my dogs than socialize with... people. It's really satisfied the woof out of my introverted soul.
For us, this lock-down is just a normal weekend routine. Albeit, we are truly blessed to have a large property with a huge garden and pool for my dogs to run and swim in to their heart's content. Once again, this dog community reminds me to take a step back and humble myself. There are so many dogs and families out there who do not have the same privilege as we do. Some don't even have space for their dogs to go potty. If I could open up my garden for all of those in need during this crisis, I would do it without a nanosecond of hesitation. But alas! Cyril's orders must be followed.
So, instead I sit here, writing this blog post for you. I have gathered valuable tips and tricks from the amazing people in our Insta-dog community to share with you, just in case you need some sort of inspiration for the next 13 days. If something does catch your eye and you give it a try (a poet who didn't even know it!), share it with us! I have purposefully linked everyone's Instagram accounts with the tip so you know who to give a shout out to! After all, not even social distancing can stop the love in our community. Oh and remember, spread kindness, not Corona (unless it's the beer, but even then, maybe keep that to yourself for now...).
Food, glorious food (for humans)
This delicious salty crispy bread recipe is from the lovely @wonderland_._adventures. I don't know about you, but salty carbs are literally my weakness.
Start with some discarded sourdough starter (about 200 - 400 grams). Add in 1tsp of honey, 2tsp olive oil, pinch of salt and 1 cup of flour. Combine it till it's a springy doughy texture. Give it a good knead. Then let it rise (30 minutes - 2 hours, however long you have patience for). Roll it out and place on a floured baking tray. Add on some yummy toppings like pepper, thyme, rosemary and salt (make this a lot of salt, it makes it extra good!). Bake at 200°C until nice and crispy.
For those bunches of bananas you stacked up on in preparation for lock-down, that are currently looking a bit... black, here is my easy peasy banana bread recipe that also has a vegan option!
½ cup oil (coconut or vegetable)
¾ cup sugar
1 egg (vegan: 1 tbsp flaxseed to 3 tbsp water)
1 ½ cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
Dash of vanilla
Pinch of salt
3 - 4 mashed bananas
Cinnamon and/or nutmeg to taste
Pecan nuts or flaked almonds (a few)
Honey (or golden syrup)
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Mix the oil, sugar & egg. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Add in vanilla, bananas and spices and mix. Make sure you taste it for the right flavour. Pour into a greased tin. Sprinkle nuts on top and give a good drizzle of honey or syrup. Bake for ± 30 minutes. Best enjoyed warm, or toasted with butter and a slice of mozzarella on top.
For your dogs, create yummy stuffed treats that will keep your dogs busy for hours. Do this with peanut butter, kibble, carrots, etc. Check out some more delicious stuffed toy recipes over at @thetwoebs's profile.
If you need to order some yummy homemade treats and peanut butter for your dogs, a little reminder that our favourite @mimiandmunch are still open and doing deliveries during lock-down. They've been registered as an essential dog treat service provider, how amazing!
It's all fun and games
In need of some super fun and stimulating activities for your dogs? How about something to exert their energy? We've just the things for you.
Scavenger Hunt: (inside or outside) take a few yummy treats and hide them under or behind blankets and objects of different textures and sizes, then send your pup out to sniff and find all the delicious treasures. (@barking.at.the.moon)
The Cup Brain Teaser: (inside or outside) place three cups in front of your dog. Show them a treat and place it under one of the cups. Move the cups around and see if your dog can find the treat. This game can go from extra easy to super difficult! (@sushi_and_panda_the_frenchies)
Feeding time challenge: (inside or outside) a.k.a. DIY snuffle mat. This activity slows down eating and is stimulating at the same time! Simply, spread your kibble across a flat towel, then slowly scrunch it up into layers (the more the better). Give it to your dogs at feeding time and watch them sniff out their food with a wagging tail. (@max_and_willow) P.S. you can also order your very own snuffle mat for delivery after the lock-down from @pretapawterza.
DIY Agility Course: (inside but preferably outside for a bigger course) many pups have been exercising this lock-down using random obstacles set up by their humans. From jumping to crawling, using brooms to stacked up chairs. To be inspired, check out these super fun versions done by our furiends over in their "lock-down" highlight: @max_and_willow & @ibrokemydog_.
Toilet Roll Tidbits: (best for inside rainy days) using an empty toilet roll, simply push one end inwards, making two folded flaps. Then fill with many delicious treats and repeat on the other side to close it up. Watch your dogs as they try to figure out how to get to their treats and make sure they don't eat the material. (@diegos_diary_za)
NB Tip: if you are doing tricks and activities using treats or food, be mindful about how much you are feeding them. It may be necessary to only give your dogs half their normal amount of food at feeding time, otherwise weight pick-up will definitely become a thing (take this tip for you, the 24-7 snacking human, too!).
All dogs can learn new tricks
Because we have so much time to spend with our babies and because we need a way to mentally stimulate them before we all go crazy, training is a must! Here are some cool new tricks that our Insta-fam has been teaching their furbabies:
Sit pretty: from a sitting position, hold a treat above your dog's nose. Move your hand upwards, luring him until he starts raising his paws. When he starts figuring out what you want, give him a cue. Check out this video on YouTube for more! (@roughcollie_ollie)
Leave it: a personal favourite that can expand into many more tricks! Start with your dog on leash, keep it tight! Place a treat a few feet in front of you, give the command "leave it" and hold on to your leash, not letting your dog get to the treat. As soon as your dog looks away (or even better, at you) from the treat, give lots of praise and a different treat from your pocket. This trick is best learnt with clicker-training. To expand this trick, you can take your dog off-leash, place the treats on their paws or use it in DIY agility courses where they have to run through a pathway of treats that need to be ignored - talk about advanced obedience! (@beingbasti)
Bow: this can be confused with a lie down so make sure you're very clear with what you want your doggie to do. Using a yummy treat, drag it down your dog's chest until their elbows touch the ground, then bring them back up again before their whole body lies down. (@gellie_withag)
Bang: you may or may not have seen Basti and my girls doing this trick too. Little @coco_thedaschund started figuring out this trick each time he rolled on his back for fun and his daddy would say "bang". To teach your dog from scratch, check out this video on YouTube.
Human "interaction"
If you're tired of hearing the voices in your head (or that of your family's) all day everyday, then you have to check out Lauren's Daily Pawcast. She's uploaded short little entertaining and useful snippets of her experience of Lock-down. And frankly, just her voice will make you smile (@dog_lovesa).
Something also worth the watch and for your own entertainment and inspiration, is @dogmeetsgirl. Shannon makes the cutest videos on her IGTV of treats, activities and just general lock-down fun. Plus, you can indulge yourself in Jesse's branch collection pretty much everyday!
Check out @withdogs.co.za as well for some events, like a cute little coffee date, to do with your dogs in the comfort of your own home.
Other things for human boredom busters (that I am currently using to procrastinate my Masters research) are:
Finally doing the things you've pinned on your Pinterest boards.
Create cute little ring holders or jewelry out of air-drying clay.
Paint your doggos or view from your window with watercolours (if you aren't arty, try doing it abstract! Unleash your inner Paw-casso)
Write a short story, journal entry or poem.
For kids: make a time-capsule of your lock-down experience to open 20 years from now!
Netflix and (literally) chill: I highly recommend these binge-worthy shows. The People vs. OJ Simpson, Safe & Love is Blind on Netflix, Dickinson & See on AppleTV, and Prodigal Son & Why Women Kill on DSTV.
Exercise at home, with or without weights. I highly recommend the Down Dog app for yoga, the Nike Training Club app for a range of really brilliant exercises and Kayla Itsine's BBG for intense feel-the-burn workouts (if you need the guides for free, slide into my DM's. I may know a guy who knows a guy...).
Stay home, stay safe, stay happy.
Love and kindness
xx
