By Kymythy R. Schultze

If you have children, then you know they’re a magnet for hovering hounds and mooching mousers. Living in a busy home that includes kids, pets, and adults, the line between who eats what can sometimes become blurry! Picking up dog or cat treats at the store can seem pointless if your furry family member is gobbling up whatever the kids are eating. And it can be frustrating to constantly guard the toddler from eating the pet’s treats!

But hey, you’re in good company; humans have been sharing food with their animal companions since the beginning of our relationship with them. The practice dates back to the time when early human first invited their primitive pet into the sanctity of their home and, much to the animal’s delight, their kitchen. Perhaps it was a child that first earned the affection of a wild kitten or pup by sharing her lunch with them. Sharing food with our animal friends is a time-honored tradition that has helped bond our species together. Plus, it’s fun! It brings out the nurturer, the companion, and the guardian in us; even in young children. It feels good to share a special treat with a furry friend, and millions of animal-lovers do it on a regular basis.

Before you allow the kids to share their snacks, you should determine if it will help or harm your child and your pet’s health. Many of today’s processed foods are not good for any body; human, canine or feline as they contain rancid fats, sugar, and questionable chemicals. They offer little nutritional value when compared to fresh natural foods. Also many dogs and cats, like many children and adults, have negative reactions to ingredients they may be sensitive to such as dairy, wheat, yeast, and others.

Home-made treats are a healthy and delicious option to processed products. Nutritious treats and snacks can easily be made at home and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing exactly what you’re giving all of the members of your family. And children learn so much from the example set by adults, so preparing and enjoying healthy and delicious food is an invaluable habit to instill in them.

The following recipe is super-easy to make and so delicious that everyone in your house will want some. And that’s okay; it’s good for everyone…the kids, you, and your pets!

You’ll notice that the recipe calls for carob (a powder you’ll find in health food stores and many regular grocery stores) instead of chocolate. There’s good reason for the substitution: Cocoa and chocolate contain theobromine, an alkaloid that can be lethal for some animals, including dogs and cats. Plus, it contains caffeine, which most kids and pets definitely don’t need. So, hooray for carob, the chocolate alternative! Not only is it safe and delicious, but it’s nutritious as well, and contains 60 percent fewer calories than chocolate. Carob is a great source of calcium, vitamins, and essential amino acids. Plus, carob’s high pectin content makes it useful for digestive disorders, especially children’s diarrhea.

To get the most flavor and nutrients from your food, you’ll want to purchase organically-grown food whenever possible. Organically grown food is the fastest-growing sector of agriculture today, and for good reason: It has higher levels of nutrients, including cancer-fighting compounds, than most conventionally grown food. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency warns that 60 percent of the herbicides, 90 percent of the fungicides, and 30 percent of the insecticides that may be used on non-organic crops are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Children and pets are especially affected by these toxins.

If you cannot get organically-grown food, don’t let it deter you from enjoying the great taste and nutrition of fresh whole foods. Fresh food is much healthier than processed food products. Just buy the best quality that you can and be sure to wash all produce before using.

The following recipe is a great alternative to unhealthy sweets. This simple recipe will allow you to make delicious treats for you, your children and pets, and also treat yourself to peace of mind, knowing that it is actually good for all the members of your family!

Almond Fudge Logs

1 cup raw almond butter
1/2 cup raw shelled almonds, chopped
1/4 cup raw carob powder
1/4 cup raw honey

Combine almond butter, carob, and honey until well blended. Form into “log” shapes (if they’re too sticky, add more carob) or roll into 1″ balls. Roll in chopped nuts, chill until firm, and slice logs into pieces. Keep refrigerated. Makes about 1 1/2 cups, or three 7″ logs. Children love helping roll the fudge into balls and coating them in nuts (or try shredded coconut). If you have a baby less than one year of age, it is recommended to avoid honey, so use pure maple syrup instead.

Kymythy R. Schultze is a clinical nutritionist and has been a trailblazer in the field of nutrition for almost two decades. The recipe above is from her new book “The Natural Nutrition No-Cook Book: Delicious Food for You…and Your Pets!” She is also author of the best-selling book “Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet.” Both books are published by Hay House, Inc. For more information go to www.kymythy.com

by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC

Each year nearly 2.8 million children are bitten by a dog. Half of these dog bites come from the family’s own dog, and another 40 percent come from a friend or neighbor’s dog.

As a dog trainer and a mother of three boys, I want families to love having a dog, but I am frustrated by the lack of knowledge most parents have about basic dog safety.

Every day misunderstandings occur because the parents don’t know how to set everyone up for success. We parents can do much more to prevent our children from being bitten by dogs. But it takes some knowledge about basic dog body language.

The first and best barrier against aggression is a strong social drive. When choosing a dog for your family, look for one that adores people, especially children. A dog that really enjoys kids will give your kids the benefit of the doubt when they step on his tail or fall over him. Even with the best supervision, there will be times when a child hurts a dog.

Here are some basic tips to help you create harmony between dogs and kids in your home:

Dogs don’t like hugs! Oh, I know, your dog loves when your kids hug him. While I believe that dogs can be taught to accept and, in a few cases, even welcome hugs, I also know that hugging is not a normal dog behavior. Think about the last time you saw one dog “hug” another. It wasn’t a gesture of affection, was it? No, it was either mating or a dominance display. Do you really want your dog thinking your child is attempting either of those behaviors?

Children, especially preschoolers, rarely understand the concept of personal space. We parents need to be sure that our dogs get some downtime away from the kids. It’s wearing to have someone following you around all day, even if he means well.

There is a set of behaviors called calming signals dogs display when they are stressed. These serve two purposes: they are an attempt at self-soothing, akin to thumb sucking, as well as a message to others that the dog would like the situation to defuse. Watchful parents can step in when they see their dog exhibiting these behaviors.

Lip licking
When a dog is a little anxious, he will often quickly stick out his tongue and lick his lips. It’s usually just a fast, little flick. Watch your dog; this is one of the most common signals I see.
Yawning—This is often mistaken for contentment. The dog is surrounded by kids, and he lets out a big yawn. Isn’t that sweet? Nope, it’s a sign that he’s in a little over his head and would appreciate your help.
Shaking off
We’ve all seen dogs shake off when they are wet, but this happens at other times too. I liken it to a reset button on a video game. Time to shake off and start over. It will happen right after something makes the dog uncomfortable, usually as he’s walking away.
Freezing
Watch out! Freezing is one step beyond a calming signal; it’s often a last-ditch attempt to tell you to back off. Dogs typically freeze right before they snap or bite. That may sound obvious, but one of the scariest things I ever saw was when an owner told me, “Lucy loves to have kids hug her. Look how still she is.” It was a heart-stopping moment for me. Lucy, thank goodness, did not bite, but she was definitely not enjoying the experience.

Spaying and neutering our pets helps too. Nearly 80 percent of dog bites come from intact males.

It’s important not to blame kids for being kids or dogs for being dogs. Let’s be realistic; it’s impossible to control someone else’s behavior 100 percent, be it dog or child. We parents can, however, teach dogs and kids to enjoy each other’s company more by building an understanding of each other’s behavior—and in doing so, we will decrease that scary number of annual dog bites and help ensure that our children are not bitten.

Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC, author of Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind, is America’s Kids and Canines Coach. Colleen has more than 15 years’ experience as the go-to person for parents trying to navigate kid-and-dog issues. Because every interaction between a child and a dog can be improved by a knowledgeable adult, Colleen is committed to educating parents, children, and dog owners on kid-and-dog relationships. For more information visit www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com