The book Peanut Butter Dogs, Photographs by Greg Murray, is the best thing to cross my desk in ages. We now know that the ingredients for a giggling, smiling, heart-warming laugh fest are: 1. Dogs (80% of the dogs in the book were adopted from shelters or rescues). 2. Peanut butter. 3. A great photographer.
The inspiration for this book came from Greg’s dog Bailey, a Mastiff rescued from a tough life, underweight and frightened of the world. But Greg gave her love and care, and she lived a life of “joy and adventure” until her untimely death at two and a half years of age. While Bailey was alive, Greg happened to take an amusing photo of Bailey slurping peanut butter off of her face. An enlarged photograph of that image greets visitors to the house, each of whom begins smiling when they see it. Their reactions led Greg to photograph 150 dogs, all dealing with peanut butter as best they can, with nothing but tongues for napkins. Besides hoping to make us all smile, if not break into delighted laughter, he is also committed to inspiring more people to give homeless dogs a chance. No wonder I love this book so much. (I would add that there are lots of ways to help dogs find forever homes besides adopting one yourself. See here for more information about assisting shelters and rescues in their quest to find families for homeless dogs.)
After paging through Peanut Butter Dogs it’s just about impossible not to turn and look at your own dogs. As it happens, Willie is in the office while I’m writing this, and so is some almond butter . . . How could I resist? (Lessons learned: 1) Almond butter is really gooey. Willie will be getting a bath tonight. 2) Trying to get your own photograph is yet another way to laugh so hard you get tears in your eyes.)
CAUTION: Some peanut butters now contain Xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Very toxic. So don’t give your dog any before carefully checking the ingredients. Thank you alert readers who reminded me of this important cautionary note.
What about you? What can your dog do that is a guaranteed laugh for you? Are you inspired to take peanut butter photos? (If so, be cautious, some dogs might be allergic, and be sure they don’t get too much.)
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Is it possible to have had a more perfect spring weekend? Sunday’s weather was manna from the gods–mid 60’s and sunny, with the daffodils waving in a light breeze. Jim and I took the BCs on a beautiful walk in a county park full of blooming spring prairie plants. Here’s one of my favorites, Pasque flower.
Best of all, Maggie got to be off leash for five entire minutes. Be still my heart. I’d give a body part to have a video of her face when she realized that she was really free. Her joyful expression, as she began leaping and bounding toward us, makes my heart swell as I write this. Even better, there was no sign of any lameness afterward. Now we can begin to slowly bring her back up into shape, all the while watching to be sure that her knee is truly healed.
On Sunday we continued a long tradition of dyeing eggs with dear friends D & J, and then going on an Easter egg hunt. Two of us hid the 16 dyed eggs for the other two to find, and then we reversed and the hiders became the hunters. The perfect weather begged for us to have our hunt outside, and so we spent a wonderful hour in the sun and the breeze, listening to the calls of courting Chickadees and Tufted Titmice while hunting and hiding colorful eggs. That night, the dogs feasted on hard-boiled eggs added to their dinners. A perfect weekend all around. I hope yours was good too.
Kitti says
Trish: Some peanut butter now contains xylitol instead of sugar. Xylitol is toxic to dogs. Please take care…
Wren Ingram says
Thank you-so funny! I live with rescued mastiffs and a pit bull (a lot of work and a TON of love) and I used to use peanut butter to hide the meds they needed after surgery. My Presa Canario ate it enthusiastically until he discovered the pills hidden in it and 6 years later still refuses to even look at the peanut butter! The other two still lick it up happily and talk about messy…mastiff drool mixed with PB and an energetic head shake sends strings and gobs of gooey stuff around the house that sticks everything. It’s totally worth the clean-up as the entertainment value is beyond compare 🙂 Thank you again for your posts- I enjoy reading you and the photographs of everything are wonderful. Please keep up the good work!
Minnesota Mary says
Some peanut butter contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is toxic and potentially deadly to dogs. I buy peanut butter with one ingredient for my dogs: Peanuts.
Maryann says
Some peanut butter has Xylitol in it which is toxic to dogs, so check your list of ingredients before dishing out. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in gum, toothpaste and lots of “low sugar” goodies including unfortunately some peanut butters.
Katie Traxel says
I’m currently dog-less but I never get to the end of a jar of peanut butter without smiling at the memory of my last retired greyhound, Squirrel. Her greatest joy in life was to gently take that empty peanut butter jar from my hand to her dog bed and assiduously lick the contents with her pointy nose inserted and long tongue working until it was clean enough for the recycle bin. Thanks for the smile today.
Anne says
I have to admit that I sometimes amuse myself by putting a blog of peanut butter on top of my dogs’ muzzles. It’s hilarious. Good thing they are good sports about being my entertainment.
Another guaranteed laugh: Pepper has a trick called paddle paws. She rolls over on her back and I hold up my hand and tell her “Paddle paws” and she bats my hand with her feet in an upside down high five. It’s adorable.
Trisha says
Thanks so much for the reminders about Xylitol. Argh, I wish it was banned completely. I know several people whose dogs have gotten into gum with it as a sweetener, and had to be given charcoal, etc.
Barbara Cook says
So , why can they have peanut butter but not peanuts ??
Christina Hargrove says
What a coincidence! Just last weekend our Boxer, Diesel, was pestering me in the kitchen while I made a peanut-butter sandwich, so I put a glob on his snout and had a good 10 minutes of peace while he stood there concentrating on making his tongue go where he wanted it to, to get it all! The book looks great.
Trisha says
I’m not sure who says dogs can’t have peanuts. Here’s what petmed says:
Dogs can have some nuts, preferably unsalted, while others should be avoided. Nuts that are okay for dogs to eat include peanuts, almonds and cashews. As with any new foods, caution should be exercised: according to the ASPCA, the high fat content in nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
In other words, as Greg advises, peanuts are okay, if no Xylitol and small quantities only.
em says
How adorable. Oddly enough, my dogs are not the biggest fans of peanut butter, though my dog growing up would practically do cartwheels for it. The closest analogue I know, and my go-to difficult pill delivery system for peanut-averse mutts is cream cheese. It’s not as sticky, so not as many hilarious faces get made, but they will swallow a nub of it without chewing, so it’s perfect for pills. Cream cheese is bit fatty, and it’s dairy, so small quantities only to avoid tummy upset, but Otis would walk across hot coals for it, so I call it a win!
Melanie Hawkes says
I read in a book (I think it was Last Dog on the Hill by Steve Duno) about teaching a dog to heal by letting them eat peanut butter off the end of a stick as you walk along. It keeps them in a good position beside you. I sometimes go one step further and dip my peanut butter stick in his kibble (as a few biscuits stick) as we walk along! I never thought of using it to make interesting photos so thanks, I’ll pass it on to my photographer.
Diane M says
Many years ago, my cousin tried to keep her collie from pestering her. Gave him a big glob of peanut butter, and he expertly gulped it down in one swipe! It was so funny seeing that plan backfire!
Jenny H says
I’ve never understood ‘dogs and peanut butter’. All my dogs have told me that it is not edible.
Butter, yes please. But not peanut paste 🙁
Nicki Hughes says
Barbara, small dogs can choke if given whole nuts like peanuts. Some do not chew but swallow them whole. I suspect that is the reason for the warning.
Nut butters can be used to smear inside KONG toys etc to keep a dog interested too!
JMM says
My dog will lick peanut butter if offered but then she licks her legs to get the offending goo off her tongue.
A blob of it in a basket muzzle or on the wall will keep a dog occupied during unpleasantness such as doing nails.
Arnette Small says
A little dab of safe peanut butter on the roof of the mouth can make a great distraction when nail trimming
Olivia says
Peanut butter!
3 bum swings! 3 more!
Love it!
Wooftastic news! Way to go Maggie!
Nose nudges,
CEO Olivia