breezeebites-blog

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For all the Dogs I’ve Loved

I have a distinct memory of being a little girl, lying in bed at my grandparent’s house and petting their German Shepherd mix named Brandy. While my memories of Brandy are spotty, I can still recall her beautiful coat and gentle, senior disposition - the first family dog I can truly remember. 

Years later, my grandparents brought home a puppy - a German Shorthaired Pointer with a chocolate brown and white spotted coat, long floppy ears and soulful eyes. Her name was Cocoa.

Cocoa quickly grew from chubby puppy to full-grown hunting dog - big, sleek and full of energy. I’d attend training classes with my grandfather, watching from the side as he tried getting Cocoa to walk properly on a leash, sit and stay. Most of those things never happened and we’d come home from the classes laughing, but frustrated. The instructor did give Cocoa a diploma, but I believe it was more for “good try” than “good dog”. Still, she was a sweet, albeit spirited dog and I still think of her to this day. 

Almost a decade after that came the first true love of my life - a 6 week-old Boston Terrier who fit in the palm of my hand. My family named her Zoe - she and I quickly became inseparable. 

I was a year into college when Zoe was a puppy, so we spent all of my free time together. She got herself into the usual puppy troubles - chewing, biting, chasing, running off. One time she got loose, bolted down a busy road and only stopped when a pinwheel stuck in someones lawn scared her. I was never so terrified in my entire life and, at the time, wasn’t exactly accustomed to running like my dogs life depended on it.

Zoe truly grew with me; she’d sit on my lap as I wrote papers and drank coffee, she sat on my head the night I got my heart broken for the first time and cried in my bed for hours, she sat by my bedroom door for months after I moved out, wondering where I went.

At almost 10 years old, Zoe is a distinguished girl whose feisty personality is a bit more reserved, but still unmistakably there. I love our visits and the time we get to spend together - she will always be my puppy, no matter how gray her coat gets. Zoe was the first creature I ever cared about outside of myself - she has a huge part of my heart forever.

This brings me to Bree - English Bulldog / Beagle mix (Beabull) - crooked toothed lover of belly rubs, with a fondness for planting dog kisses directly on my mouth. The first dog I’ve ever been entirely responsible for, she came into my life as a 6 1/2 year old with a past. She also came into my life during a time when I really needed it and we’ve truly helped each other. We both don’t ask for much, just walks, meals and cuddles - it’s the simplicity, but real joy of our little routines that make our friendship so special. Out of the hundreds of dogs that could have come home with my husband and I, Bree was the one that found us and our adventures are still being written. I come to know her more every day and find such happiness in experiencing the world the way she does - one leisurely lap around the park, one tasty cookie, one sniff of freshly cut grass at a time. 

Dogs come into our lives, are with us for a period of time, then leave us. For all the dogs I’ve loved, for all the many, different reasons and times in my life when I’ve loved them, I say thank you. Thank you Brandy, Cocoa, Zoe & Bree - thank you all for being a part of my life, for working your way into my heart and leaving something there forever. 

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Watch Bree eat “Shepherd’s Pie Unleashed”

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Shepherd’s Pie Unleashed

Shepherd’s Pie is a classic comfort casserole full of savory ground beef, sweet mixed vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes - the perfect dish to re-imagine for our second Breeeze Bites recipe. 

Cooking for your dog is an entirely different process than cooking for yourself. Every bit of the meal, from the raw ingredients to flavorings must be completely dog-friendly. In order to create the healthiest meals, I prefer to let natural food flavors speak for themselves - this means no added oils, spices or seasonings. What?! No seasonings? For humans, I say season away - but not all spices are dog friendly; some are downright poisonous. Bree is prone to allergies and a bit of a weight issue, so I keep my recipes as simple, natural and delicious as possible to avoid any potential dog dangers.

To adapt Shepherd’s Pie for Breezee Bites, I went with a lean, organic ground beef - 92% lean to be exact. I put a pound of the beef into a large saute pan, covered it with water, brought it to a boil, then turned the heat down and continued to simmer it until no pink remained. Bree posted herself by the stove the entire time it cooked. 

Next up were the veggies. I always have multiple bags of mixed vegetables in my freezer; they’re healthy, versatile and when steamed correctly, just as good as fresh. I used a blend of yellow corn, string beans, peas (all new to Bree) and diced carrots (a favorite). I steamed 3/4 cup of veggies in a small saucepan until tender. 

I swapped the traditional mashed potatoes for sweet, a more flavorful option that added vitamins and fiber to the meal. To make a quick “baked” potato, I used my Instant Pot Pressure Cooker; in 18 minutes, I had a potato that easily fell out of the skin, which I then mashed up and set aside to cool. 

With the ingredients in place, I was ready to plate it. Bree watched as I layered the vegetables, followed by the ground beef and topped with a layer of mashed sweet potato. In less than an hour, her Shepherd’s Pie was ready for eating. 

Bree went right for it! No hesitation with the new vegetables, just happiness as she worked her way through the layers. It made me smile to watch her enjoy a special Sunday meal lovingly prepared on a beautiful Spring day. Shepherd’s Pie Unleashed was a clear winner and a definite make-again Breezee Bites recipe.

“Shepherd’s Pie Unleashed” Nutritional Info*

4 oz. lean ground beef (boiled) 

3/4 cup frozen mixed vegetables (steamed)

3 tbs. baked sweet potato (skins removed & mashed)

340 calories per 1 1/2 cup serving 

*Meals are based on Bree’s daily caloric needs. Please refer to our post on calculating your dog’s nutritional needs here and always check with your veterinarian before beginning a new diet. 

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#dogmom - The Breezee Bear Song

I I have a special song I sing to Bree every day. I don’t know where it came from, but it goes:

“Breezee Bear, Breezee Bear, she’s a Beabull and she don’t care.”

My husband thinks I’m a little crazy - but I also believe he finds it endearing. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

I’m a dog mom. I have no shame. 

There’s roughly 23,000 variations to this song. 

“Breezee Boo, Breezee Boo, you’re a Beabull and I love you.”

“Breezee Girl, Breezee Girl, you’re the best girl in the world.”

“Breezee Bear, Breezee Bear, you get dog hair everywhere.”

You get the picture.

I fix her breakfast and I sing it.

I rub her tummy and I sing it.

I lint roll the couch and I sing it.

I’m a dog mom. 

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The Breegle & The Breebull

Bree is a Beabull. Yes, it’s a real breed.

She’s part Beagle, part English-Bulldog and wholly adorable. 

Her long, Beagle nose rules her existence. A walk is not just a walk - it’s a leisurely, leaf-sniffing stroll coupled with moments of full-on, leash-jerking lunges towards fluffy bunnies, innocent squirrels and tiny birds. There is no in-between.

In the past week alone, Bree’s sniffed out licorice, wheat bread and worms at the park, all of which she’s quickly tried to consume while I yell “NOOOOOOO” in what feels like slow motion. I’ve gone into superhero dog-mom mode more times than I can count because of that nose. Last week, a trail of half-eaten Easter chocolates were on our usual route. Gloveless, but uncaring, I picked them up in a fury, keeping Bree on a tight leash while I exclaimed “IS SOMEONE TRYING TO KILL YOU!?” I carried the whole pile home in a huff, realizing it looked like I was carrying a pile of dog poop in my hands. SO BE IT - Bree was safe. 

My husband and I resigned ourselves to the fact that there will always be a Beagle nose near our plate. Bree HAS to smell what we’re eating - she’ll stand on her hind legs and stretch as far as she can go for a little sniff. If you leave a plate unattended, it will be grazed by a wet dog nose. And cleaning up from dinner? You better keep an eye on that garbage can, because you can bet she’s intrigued by the party of smells going on in there.

But Bree isn’t always so interested in what’s going on around her. She’s half English Bulldog and lives up to the lazy, drooling, stubborn breed disposition. She wakes up exhausted, lays down when I try to put her harness on and doesn’t like moving after 9:30 p.m. Every night, my husband drags her bed, which contains her almost 40 pound body, from the living room into the bedroom. She gives me a look at she passes by on her ride, as if to say “this is totally normal Mom.”

Bree has a hearty, chesty, deep Bulldog growl. She spends a lot of the day pretending to guard the apartment and uses her bark, sparingly, to do so. This means she can sound scary, but not actually have to get up.

Although mostly ridiculously lazy, Bree is pretty high-energy on walks. She’s broad-chested and needs a solid harness to reign her in. It’s kind of like walking an Italian sausage, pepper and onion sandwich - you’re trying to keep it all together, but its just keeps sliding all over the place. 

Sometimes she’s the Breegle and sometimes she’s the Breebull - you never really know which one you’re going to get. The dueling characters make her all the more loveable, plus both sides enjoy cuddles equally, which is mostly what Bree is all about.

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The 10 Commandments of Dog Hair

1) Thou shalt not wear black. 

2) Thou shalt not sit on the furniture after getting dressed for work (just stand until you leave).

3) Thou shalt keep a lint roller in every room, in the car and in thy purse (yay travel size!).

4) Thou shalt accept the occasional dog hair on the breakfast plate.

5) Thou shalt cover couches, chairs and the backseat of the car in dog hair catching fleece blankets.

6) Thou shalt vacuum daily. Then vacuum again. And vacuum some more.

7) Thou shalt not pet the dog 15 minutes prior to guests arriving (didn’t we just lint roll the couch for half an hour?). 

8) Thou shalt brush the dog regularly, until the floor is covered in dog hair tumbleweeds (which you will then vacuum...again).

9) Thou shall carry the handheld vacuum around like a Ghostbuster for on-the-spot hair cleaning. 

10) Thou shalt pet the dog with wild abandon, send fur flying into every corner of the home and admit defeat. 

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Bree’s Adoption Story

I’ll admit I passed Bree up a few times. 

She was almost 7, had two previous owners and was a much bigger dog than my husband Matt and I planned for; the girl had history.

But her little face kept popping up on Petfinder. She was in the shelter just a few minutes from our apartment. As I left for work on a Saturday morning, I asked Matt if he would stop by and see if he thought she’d be a good fit.

Matt went into the shelter not knowing which kennel was Bree’s. Barks came from everywhere, everywhere but one. He went up to the kennel and saw her - timid, but friendly, there was Bree.

                                                 Bree at the Shelter

Matt met with volunteers who let him play outside with Bree. I got tons of videos, photos and “you’re gonna love her” messages. They would hold her for us for 24 hours until I could meet her.

I could barely sleep the next night. We were finally getting a dog of our own. What would it be like? What would she be like? Would she like us? Would she like it here?

We sat in the parking lot a few minutes before the shelter officially opened. I couldn’t wait anymore - the door was open, so we went in. The volunteers led us to Bree’s kennel and told us to wait for a staff member who could help us.

I knelt down and she walked up towards the front of the kennel, sniffing me, wondering what was going on. “Do you want to come home with us today?” I asked.

A few moments later, we were greeted by a friendly staff member who took us all outside. We played with Bree and learned a little about her history. She was a Beagle / English Bulldog mix (Beabull), with a sweet, lazy demeanor. She didn’t require tons of exercise, just a few short walks each day, lots of cuddle time and a house with no other animals.

We could do that - and so we did. A few minutes later, the paperwork was ready, we signed and headed home.

                           Bree officially becomes a member of the family

                                          Mommy & Bree coming home

Nothing made my heart happier then bringing Bree home. She explored the apartment, figuring out where her food and water bowls were, finding her bed and new toys. After about an hour, she decided this was a good, safe place and laid in her bed.

Our story together was just beginning - but first, a nap. 

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A post shared by Bree the Beabull (@breethebeabull)

How does Bree react to “The Breebowl”? Check out the video here. #dogs #dog #dogfood #doghealth #homemade #food #healthy #cooking #beabulls #beabullsofinstagram #dogmom #dogsofinstagram #doggy #canine #furbaby #bark #breethebeabull #doggie

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The Breebowl

Inspired by classic brown-rice bowls, Bree’s first homemade dish contains a few favorite foods while introducing new flavors and textures. While not an exceptionally picky dog, Bree has been known to turn her nose up at or completely ignore certain fare (here’s looking at you, bananas). Moist boiled chicken breast and freshly streamed carrots would go over well, but how about the granular texture of brown rice and smell of broccoli?

For this recipe, I boiled two, 6 oz. pieces of lean, boneless, skinless chicken breast. While hot, I shredded the chicken by hand and reserved the cooking liquid for added flavor. 

Next, I peeled four large carrots, cut them in half and sliced them into bite-sized pieces. After, I cut one bunch of broccoli, making sure to keep the heads large enough for steaming but small enough for eating. I steamed both veggies until soft and set aside to cool.

Finally, I cooked a 32 oz bag of bag brown rice and let it cool while I began calculating both the calorie count and composition of the meal. 

In order to meet Bree’s daily nutritional needs, the meal would need to contain about 350 calories. Following my previously established ratio, this translated to 1/4 cup of brown rice, 6 oz. of chicken and 1 cup of veggies. 

I filled the bottom of the bowl with brown rice, poured the cup of veggies in the middle and filled the space around with chicken. I topped the meal with some cooking liquid from the chicken. The result was a colorful, hearty, balanced bowl that was lovely to look at - but would Bree like it?

She spent most of meal-prep time periodically pacing the kitchen, sniffing and waiting. When the bowl finally hit the floor, she threw her toy to the side and dove in.

Bree dove in! She dove into the brown rice, into the broccoli, into the carrots and chicken without hesitation (see Bree eat “The Breebowl” on Instagram @breezeebites). In two minutes time, every bit was gone - our first homemade meal a success.

There were plenty of leftovers in the fridge, enough for Bree to have two more “special dinners” later in the week, both of which she enjoyed with the same delight.

And with that, we’re already dreaming up our next Breezy Bites - “Shepherd's Pie Unleashed”. 

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Getting it Right

Note: Meeting your dogs nutritional needs depends on a multitude of factors, including age, activity level and overall health. Please check with your veterinarian and do your research before deciding on a healthy meal plan. While this is the diet that works for us, every dog is different. 

Bree joined our family after a month stay at a county shelter. She was roughly ten pounds overweight and could barely make it up the steps to our apartment. My husband and I were told she had a luxating patella, meaning her kneecap would frequently dislocate, causing pain and issues walking. The extra weight lent itself to this condition. 

                                                Bree on Adoption Day

We were advised by our veterinarian to feed Bree two cups of food per day, with limited treats. Using the nutritional calculator at Pet Nutrition Alliance (find it here) it was estimated that her daily caloric intake should be 846 calories. In general, treats should make up no more than 10% of a dogs diet (AKC has a great article here) - that means, 90% of Bree’s nutritional needs would need to be met through two well-balanced meals per day. 

When you’re feeding kibble, this is easy. Simply check the calorie count on the bag and feed accordingly. For Bree, it was 3/4 cup of kibble, plus 1/4 cup boneless, skinless chicken breast on top for added flavor. We followed this diet for four months, supplementing her food with a dog-safe probiotic as well as glucosamine and chondroitin for her knee issue. A healthier diet, combined with two daily walks and plenty of playtime, brought her weight down, managing the luxating patella. 

                                             A happier, healthier Bree 

Which brings us to the present; making the switch to homemade meals is a challenge that requires quite a bit of calculating. While Bree’s daily caloric needs will remain the same, I need to figure out how to properly portion a meal full of lean meat, fresh vegetables and grain. Most of my research leads to the same refrain - 50% vegetable, 40% protein, 10% grain. While each individual recipe will require further calculating, this is the standard composition I plan to follow. 

With that, I’ve begun planning her first meal - The Breebowl

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Breezee Bites

It's been almost five months since Bree’s adoption; in that time, I've become accustomed to eating meals in the company of her adorable, 39 pound, sad-eyed, crooked-toothed, stubby-legged self. Her permanent pig snort grows louder as she stares longingly at each and every bite I take. Without fail, Bree’s underfoot waiting for a crumb, or at my side with an unwavering stare, hoping to convey the fact that she too loves food. 

Sure, all dogs love to eat - she’s been a good girl, eating her kibble with a sprinkle of chicken on top - the same meal she’s eaten approximately 150 times in a row. Just the sound of the pantry door opening is enough to get her in the kitchen; the crunch of the scoop in the bag followed by the clink-clank of kibble hitting stainless steel sends her into a full-on, nubby-tail-wagging dinner dance. She’s consistently overjoyed and amazed by mealtime. 

The sheer joy she feels when it’s time to eat is one I can certainly understand. There’s nothing I love more than shopping for fresh ingredients, preparing meals and sitting down to enjoy them. Food is art to me - each meal a daily dose of true happiness, a moment to relish something I’ve created. So what’s up with all the kibble?

Yes, Bree is a dog - but she is also a best friend, confidant, walking buddy and cuddle queen. For a creature who is all of those things, processed dog food seems inadequate. Her Beagle nose and English Bulldog tummy deserve so much more - and that brings me to this adventure - an experiment to create healthy, homemade bark bites on a budget.

This is my journey to create well-balanced, colorful, creative meals that not only nourish, but truly nurture my dog. I’m excited to share recipes, reactions, hits, misses and more as I work towards a more inspired mealtime for my pet and yours.