INTERVIEW :: Dina, our doggie muffin lady! :)

Dina Correale is the owner and founder of Victoria-based Endless Pawsibilities - and the baker behind bow wow haus' ever-popular doggie muffins! The muffins are an easy way to feed a complete, balanced, unprocessed diet - and is loved by even the pickiest dogs. We also have a loyal following of doggie customers with sensitive tummies who do very well on the doggie muffins. If you haven't heard about the Westcoast Canine Life muffins before, ask us for a free sample next time.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your company. How did you get started?

Endless Pawsibilities is a labour of love for me. I started the company 5 years ago when I got my golden retriever, Annie. I wanted the very best for her and was concerned about what was going into commercial dog food and treats. I met the owner of West Coast Canine Life, who had Annie’s sister, and very soon after, I started distributing her amazing product. At the same time, I started working with a wonderful woman who has helped me develop my line of organic handmade treats and the new VaryBerry line of products.

The VaryBerry sprinkles smell so yummy! Can you tell us about them? How do I pick the one that would be best for my dog?

The VaryBery powders now come in 6 delicious flavours: Original, Banana Split, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Crisp, Tummy Rub and Mushroom Medley. They are so delicious and nutritious, you can eat them yourself! Sprinkle them on your yogurt or in a shake. I’d recommend you try them all for your dogs – mix them up! They are all extremely high in antioxidants, heart healthy, and blood sugar friendly.

Most of our clients feed a very healthful diet to their pets, and many already supplement with some kind of a multivitamin. Would they still benefit from adding VaryBerry? What kinds of benefits could they expect to see in their dog?

The great thing about the VaryBerry powders is that they are just pure fruits and vegetables. Some supplements contain added preservatives that aren’t necessarily beneficial to your dog’s health. By sprinkling VaryBerry on your pet’s food, you are adding a boost of completely natural antioxidants to each meal. Getting your nutrition from whole foods is always the best way to go. The best benefit of using all of the Endless Pawsibilities products is you will be making fewer trips to the vet!

What is your dog's favourite Endless Pawsibilities product?

Annie loves everything but I’d have to say that her favourite treat is the VaryBerry Bison Liver Brittle and her favourite VaryBerry powder is Banana Split! !

Do you have a simple doggie recipe or nutritional tip you can share with our readers?

Feed your dog whole foods as much as possible. Stay away from processed foods with additives and preservatives. Your dog is truly what s/he eats!

An Evening for Dog-Lovers!

On Thursday, November 25, we are pleased to be hosting a fundraising event for A Better Life Dog Rescue. Two dedicated volunteers from this organization have been hard at work for weeks to put together a great event for a great cause.

In the next little while, A Better Life Dog Rescue are rescuing 11 perfectly adoptable dogs from overpopulated animal shelters in California that were slated to be 'euthanized' simply because there is no room to house them. By bringing the dogs to Vancouver, these hardworking volunteers are giving these animals a second chance at the lives they deserve with loving families.

We invite you to join us for an evening of delicious bevvies + desserts, lovely silent auction items (perhaps you'll find the perfect x-mas present for someone in your life?), shopping & socializing with other dog lovers. bow wow haus will donate a percentage of all sales made during the event to A Better Life Dog Rescue.

WHAT: An evening of sweet treats + silent auction

WHEN: Thursday, November 25 @ 7 pm

WHERE: bow wow haus - west end (1340 Davie)

Tickets to the event are just $10 - and 100% of the ticket price goes to the cause. I hope that you will join us for this event (doggies are welcome to attend, of course). If you can make it, please e-mail us at info@bowwowhaus.ca - and we will reserve a ticket for you at the door. Tickets are also available at our stores.

A little chihuahua boy is coming to Vancouver!

So many perfectly lovely doggies are "euthanized" in California - and in response, several rescue groups and individuals bring dogs to Canada to give them a better chance of being adopted and finding the loving home they deserve.

This little boy - Joshua - is one lucky guy. He's expected to be flown to Vancouver later this week. He is a really sweet, neutered 3-year old boy who comes with all of his shots, and is microchipped.

If you have room in your life, heart & home for a loving little chihuahua, please e-mail info@bowwowhaus.ca and we'll connect you to Joshua's rescuer!

Baking for your pooch (and a great cookie recipe too!)

I love to bake - and have always baked goodies for friends, family and - since Lucie, my golden retriever, came into my life five years ago - for doggies. Lately though, since I've sworn off sugar, gluten & dairy products for the foreseeable future on the advice of a naturopath, I've been channeling all my baking urges into experimenting with recipes for great doggie snacks.

Of course, this has made for some extra-happy pooches in our household who gamely (and encouragingly??) eat the results of recipes that clearly still need lots of work! However, I could tell from the moment that these coco-loco biscuits went in the oven that these were going to be a huge hit. I think these are my dogs' fave ones to date, so I wanted to share the recipe:

1 cup brown rice flour

1.5 cup oat flour

1 cup unsweetened shredded dehydrated coconut

1 egg

3/4 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup canned pumpkin

3 T Cocotherapy coconut oil (or olive oil)

3 T coconut flour (optional)

1 T baking powder

1 t baking soda

1 t powdered ginger (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients together and mix well.

In 10 second spurts, melt coconut oil in microwave until just a few small lumps remain, then stir until all lumps are completely melted. Stir in coconut milk, then beat in the egg.

Add coconut milk mixture to dry ingredients and mix well. Should be a bit drier than the consistency of regular cookie dough. If it's too dry to roll out, then add a bit more coconut milk or water.

On a lightly oat-floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/4" thick. Cut shapes out with a small cookie cutter and lay on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. These won't expand in size as they bake, so you can put them very close together.

Bake for 2o minutes, then without opening the oven door, shut the oven off and leave in until cooled completely. I just leave them overnight - this dries the cookies out so you can store them at room temp for a long time. Super-delish smelling!

If you try this recipe, let me know how it turns out for you - and of any tweaks you made!