Korie was an extra special good girl this year and really racked up with Christmas gifts! On top of the antler chewies she also received some stuffed toys and a humongous rawhide chewie that lasted approximately 40 minutes before chewing the end off of it. She loved every second of those 40 minutes. 

Back in the summer, I posted a recipe for homemade dog food. 

This morning I modified it using none other than the leftover turkey carcass from Thanksgiving, fresh broccoli from the garden, brown rice and a can of black beans.

Take your leftover turkey carcass, leg bones, etc. and boil down until meat is tender enough to pull easily from the bones.  Giblets are ok here too. 20-25 minutes medium boil (don't go outside and feed geese at this time or your pot will boil over resulting in nasty mess on your cooktop.)

Let it cool (I cooled overnight but couple of hours should do fine) and separate meat from bones, discarding bones. Feed a little meat to the dogs all sitting in a row at your feet in the kitchen.

Add fresh broccoli (2 heads) and 1 bag brown rice to your turkey broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for about 20-25 minutes until rice is reaching correct consistency and broth mostly evaporated. Add in 1 can black beans (rinsed thoroughly--no farting please) and the turkey meat.

Let cool and treat your dogs! Heck treat the chickens too. They loved the homemade food and extra protein does them good this time of year especially. Who knew chickens enjoyed turkey so much *lol*

This is a great way to use up some of your leftovers and smelled good enough to have for dinner. Enjoy!

Miss Korie our English Shepherd pup will be one year old on January 1st. 
Wow! She's almost a dog. And she's a very active chewer. She chews like it's her day job and can unroll a rawhide chew in about 20 minutes. Nylabones last a little longer, but even they succumb to her strong jaws and teeth and become rough and jagged on the ends. 

So what's to be done? Butchershop beef knuckle bones are great, but for sure not to be enjoyed on the rug in the house. And now I learn that rawhide is actually not good for dogs that can consume it like candy--especially if its the cheap poor quality "made in China" variety where they have very little quality control. Some hounds actually experience impaction from the stuff, and surgery is required.

As it turns out, I found what could be a great alternative--100% natural deer and elk antlers all products of the USA. At first glance, they seem pricey, but if they last like the reviews say they will, they are a value in the long term. They come in different sizes, and at 40 lbs., Korie is a borderline "medium" elk antler size. However, I know she has a "large dog" mentality when it comes to chewing, so I'll be ordering up for her to make sure she can't break the smaller one or damage her molars trying to.

Amazon.com with their free shipping on orders $25 and up, no tax and delivery to my door in a timely manner with a smile on the box is my "go to" source for almost anything not in the grocery store. They continue delight with their "Chasing Our Tails" brand elk antler chewies. I'm ordering these today in the large size. I hope they are all they are supposed to be. I'll have Korie post a review. 

Now off to Amazon to shop for Christmas! Bandit told me she needs a heated bed.