Fisherman Jake's Best Friend
... Fred, the Basset Hound

As told on Jake's first page, he has a best friend in his dog, Fred. Fred is a Basset Hound, and on this page, Jake is going to share with everyone just how GREAT a dog they are!

Basset Hounds are sweet, gentle, devoted, peaceful and naturally well-behaved. They fit into family life well. Their temperament is friendly. They are very affectionate with its family and they love children. A Basset is incapable of biting, but it may be a bit stubborn. They like to do tricks for food, and has a deep musical bark.

Fred is a typical Basset Hound! He adores Jake, and sleeps right up on his pillow each night. He's lazy when indoors, but once he's taken out, he likes to explore and check EVERYTHING out! What Jake likes best is his long ears and his big feet!

Basset Hounds often have problems with their ears. They need to be kept clean and dry. If not, they can get infections that can be a big problem. So Jake is learning to do everything he can to make sure that Fred gets the best care and stays well and happy. A great tip is to clean your basset's ears at least once a week with Listerine® brand mouthwash. Soak a clean cotton ball with the solution, and swab out the ears. Listerine's antiseptic ingredients help kill germs, and the alcohol will help dry the ears.

Fred was a gift from Jake's Daddy ... bought on a trucking haul to British Columbia, Canada. It was love at first look! Fred enjoys riding in the truck, going for walks, playing with his chew toys and just hanging out with Jake.

And now for some recipes that a Basset (OR ANY OTHER DOG) will love!

PEANUT BUTTER BASSET BISCUITS

4 c. whole wheat flour
2 c. oatmeal
1/2 to 3/4 c. chunky peanut butter
2-1/2 c. hot water

Mix all ingredients, adding more hot water if dough is too sticky. Knead well. Roll out to 1/4" and cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350° for 40 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool in oven overnight.

BASSET OATMEAL COOKIES

1 c. uncooked oatmeal
1/3 c. margarine
1 tsp. canola oil
1-1/2 c. hot water
3/4 c. ppwdered milk
3/4 c. cornmeal
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp. grated apple
1 T. brown sugar
3 c. wheat (or rice) flour

Mix hot water, oatmeal, margarine, & oil. Let stand 5 minutes.

Add milk, cornmeal, egg, apple and brown sugar. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well each time.

Knead 3-4 minutes, adding more flour if necessary for a stiff dough.

Roll to 1/4-inch thick & cut with cookie cutter.

Put on greased sheet and bake at 325° for 50 minutes. Let dry until hard.

BEEFY BACON BISCUITS

1 (10 oz) can beef consumme
3 T. bacon fat
4 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. powdered milk
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 egg beaten

Combine dry ingredients. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and knead. Roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutter. Place on greased cookie sheet. Prick with fork. Bake for 40 minutes at 375°. Leave in oven at lowest temperature to harden (at least 2 hours).

DOGGIE APPETIZERS

1/4 c. cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 c. swiss cheese, grated
2 T. vegetable shortening
1/2 tsp. brewer's yeast
1/2 c. oatmeal, toasted

Combine cheeses, brewer's yeast and shortening. Using plastic wrap, shape mixture into a log about 1-inch in diameter and 8-inches long. Roll log in toasted oatmeal. Refrigerate. Slice into half-inch rounds and serve.

CHEEZY BITES

1 c. uncooked oatmeal
1/4 c. margarine
1-1/2 c. hot water or meat juices
1/2 c. powdered milk
1 c. grated cheddar or other hard cheese
1/4 tsp. grated parmesan
1 egg beaten
1 c. cornmeal
1 c. wheat germ
3 c. whole wheat flour

Mix hot water, oatmeal, margarine. Let stand 5 minutes. Add milk, cheeses, egg, salt. Add cornmeal and wheatgerm. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing andkneading between additions. Bake at 300° for an hour; turn off oven and leave in oven overnight.

CAROB TREATS

3 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. wheat germ
2-1/2 c. oatmeal
1/8 c. peanut oil
1/8 c. corn oil margarine
1 T. brown sugar
2 oz carob chips (at health food stores), melted
1 c. water
1/4 c. molasses
1/2 c. powdered milk

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix until blended. Dough will be stiff. Chill. Roll dough on a greased cookie pan and cut into shapes 1/2-inch thick. Bake at 300° for 1 hour. Makes 2 to 3 dozen.

CHEESE & GARLIC DOG COOKIES

1-1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1-1/4 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/4 lb. corn oil margarine
1 clove garlic, crushed
Pinch of salt

Grate the cheese and let stand until it reaches room temperature. Cream the cheese with the softened margarine, garlic, salt and flour. Add enough milk to form inta a ball. Chill for 1/2 hour. Roll onto floured board. Cut into shapes and bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until slightly brown, and firm. Makes 2 to 3 dozen, depending on size.

LIVER BAITS

1 lb. finely ground raw liver
1 c. flour
1/2 c. cornmeal
1 to 3 T. garlic salt

Optional things to add: eggs, cottage cheese, grated cheddar cheese or parmesan, oatmeal, grated carrots or apple, several cloves of garlic run through the grinder in place of the garlic salt.

Spread on a lightly greased piece of tin foil on a cookie sheet. It is very THICK -- like wet concrete! Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. When it is done, peel off the tin foil, break the liver into pieces, and then freeze in packages to use when needed.

This bait will keep without refrigeration for at least a week if it isn't in the sun or extreme heat; it easily breaks into tiny pieces; it doesn't go mushy; and dogs will do just about ANYTHING for just a crumb of it! It will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator; it can be FROZEN AND REFROZEN numerous times, and it thaws in less than 5 minutes! To make a crunchy bait, bake until it looks like a biscuit. Freeze unused portions in sealed bags.

CHICKEN & RICE DELIGHT

1 whole chicken, cooked
1/2 bag wild brown rice (cooked in with the chicken)
1 . Quick Oats
Small can of sweet peas or cooked fresh peas

Oats are added when chicken is done. Pour oats in and remove from heat. Serve as is or over 1/3 c. of dry kibble.

MUTTZOH BALLS

1 c. any natural dry dog food
2 eggs, beaten lightly
1 tsp. Polyunsaturated oil
1/3 c. Cold water
Sprinkle of garlic powder
1/2 c. chicken soup OR 2 chicken bouillon cubes

Grind dry dog food smooth in a food processor or blender. Lightly beat egg and add oil.

Mix all moist ingredients together except soup. Add to dry ingredients.

Form into 1/2-inch balls. In large pan, bring 1 quart water to boiling to which you have added 1/2 c. chicken soup or the 2 bouillon cubes. Drop balls into boiling water. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from water, drain and cool. Refrigerate.

DOGGIE GRAVY FOR DRY FOOD

1 Boneless/skinless Chicken Breast
4 c. Water
1 c. Flour
2 Whole Eggs

Boil chicken breast for about 1/2 an hour, remove to cool. Add flour to chicken water. Beat out lumps. Add pre-beaten eggs. Cook on low heat until it's done thickening. Pulverise chicken in food processor. Add to flour/egg gravy. May need to add more water. Unfortunately it won't freeze. But using a few tablespoons daily, it should be used up before it goes bad.

HOMEMADE FROSTY PAWS

32 oz. vanilla yogurt
1 mashed banana or one large jar of baby fruit
2 T. peanut butter
2 T. honey

Blend all together and freeze in either 3 oz paper cups or ice cube trays. Microwave just a few seconds before serving.

Can also be made with baby-food meat instead of the fruit and peanut butter and the dogs REALLY like this version.

FROSTY PAWS #2

1 ripe banana
4 oz fat free yogurt--vanilla or banana
2 oz water

Put all ingredients in blender and puree...pour into ice cube trays or cut down dixie cups...freeze

SNICKERPOODLES

1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. honey
2 eggs
3-3/4 c. white flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. cornmeal
2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix vegetable oil, shortening, honey with eggs. Beat well. Add flour, soda and cream of tarter. Knead dough until mixed well. Shape dough into balls. Mix the cornmeal and cinnamon together in a bowl and roll balls into mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Press balls down with fork. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400°. Cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

YUM-YUMS

2 slices of lunch meat
Handful of small dry dog food
Peanut butter (smooth or chunky)

Lay 1 piece of lunch meat on your cooking station. Cover the top side of your lunch meat with a layer of peanut butter. Then put the small dry dog food in rows with about an inch in beetween them. Cover your 2nd piece of lunch meat with peanut butter. Lay the 2nd piece of lunch meat on the first piece. Cut them into little squares.

Click below to Email either Jake or Fred!