WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW: Dog Show Mysteries, Canine Treats & Valentine's Day

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, now in its 144th year, started yesterday with over 2879 dogs competing across 203 breeds and varieties. The real show began last night and can be seen on TV and live streaming. In honor of the Dog Show and Valentine's Day, and keeping in mind how important dogs can be to mysteries and in our lives, I am posting a recipe for Valentine's Day Dog Treats that you can make for your 'special' friend.

And, to keep this post to a mystery theme, here's a link to the Mystery Readers Journal Animals in Mysteries issue. Available as a PDF or hardcopy. Here's a link to an article by Spencer Quinn, author of the Chet the Dog series. 

And here are a few mysteries set at Westminster and other Dog Shows. As always, let me know if I should include any others.

MYSTERIES SET AT DOG SHOWS

Game of Dog Bones by Laurien Berenson
The Boxcar Children: The Mystery at the Dog Show by Gertrude Chandler
Fashion Goes to the Dogs by Peggy Gaffney
Final Entry and others (Murder at the Dog Show series) by Karen Harbert
Death and the Dog Show by Susan Harper 
Death by Dog Show by Arlene Kay
Nancy Drew Diaries by Carolyn Keene

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Valentine's Day is all about chocolate. If you want Chocolate People treats, here's a link to Walker's Shortbread Scottie Dogs with Muddy Boots. This is a HUMANS ONLY RECIPE. Be sure and keep the chocolate away from Champ. I posted an article at Halloween about Dogs, Chocolate and Halloween Treats: A Dangerous Combination, and the same warnings are in effect for Valentine's Day.

Finally a Valentine's Day Dog Treat Recipe for your four footed faithful friend. 

Cupid’s Canine Cookies 
From the Home Alone Website, recipe by Ariel Waters (my comments are in italics)
Warning: Don't overfeed

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 to 35 minutes
Yield: 2 pounds of heart-shaped dog treats

Ingredients
5 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup beef broth  (choose one with no or low salt or make your own)
1/2 cup corn oil
2 eggs
+ heart-shaped cookie cutter  (of course I've got plenty of these)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet using 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Combine remaining ingredients and mix well.
With clean hands, roll dough out to 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness and use heart-shaped cookie cutter in honor of the holiday. If you have a larger dog (or a piggy dog like Topper) use a larger heart-shaped cookie cutter, Perforate the cookies with a fork down the middle to break apart easily after baking. Instead of a cookie cutter, you can always roll the dough into 1/2 to 2-inch balls and place them one inch apart on the greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 25 - 35 minutes until they turn golden brown. Baking times will vary based on size of treats,  altitude, and your oven.
Cool cookies on wire racks, as far away from your dog as possible.

After treating your dog, store the rest in the refrigerator or freeze until the next visit from Cupid.

Reign

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stephen Huneck, Dog Mountain