Grain Free "Satin Balls"

As an owner of show dogs, not much weighs on my mind regarding my dogs more than their weight. Ironically, the more I think about it the skinnier they get! While I am an EXPERT at teaching spoiled-rotten-picky show dogs to eat, sometimes they need a calorie boost to bulk them up a bit before a show.

While I'm a huge fan of using Satin Balls, I am also a raw feeder (or worst case grain free kibble feeder) so I hate the standard satin ball recipes that have SO MUCH grain in them! Most recipes call for Wheat Germ, Total Cereal or Oatmeal, and I would rather avoid those if I can!

Is there a way to make Satin Balls that doesn't use grain but also isn't satin ball soup?

I made it happen! Here is my recipe for Grain Free Satin Balls!

Ingredients:
10 pounds of Fatty Ground Meat (Hamburger, Pork, or a mixture! Anything 20% fat or more)
1 pound of Cheddar Cheese
4 cans of Tuna Fish - drained (any fish will do really, this is more for flavor than calories)
1 (18 oz) jar of peanut butter
1 (12-16 oz) bottle of Molasses
1 block of Cream Cheese
1 box of Knox Gelatin
1 can of Pumpkin (not the pie filling! PLAIN Pumpkin)
1 (24 oz) tub of Cottage Cheese
8 oz of Dehydrated Potato Flakes (If you can't find these, try PLAIN Instant Mashed Potatoes)

Directions:
Mix all of your ingredients together in a LARGE bowl (I used a GIANT pot!). It's best to mix 2-3 ingredients at a time as it blends a little easier I think. After mixing together well, put into the fridge or freezer (wherever you have the most room - I drop my whole pot into the deep freezer) and chill for 30-40 minutes. Chilling makes them less "sticky" when you're prepping them to store.

Meat in the pot (60% Beef, 40% Pork)

 Meat mixed with Cream Cheese and Cottage Cheese

There are 3 methods to storing these:
1) Roll into Balls. This is my favorite method. I take a heaping handful and roll them up. Obviously, they are Great Dane sized - about 3" or the size of a tennis ball. I love this method because I can grab some throughout the day and just toss it like a ball to them. Super easy!
2) Make into "hamburger patties". These seem to be the easier to store than the balls, but slightly more difficult to serve.
3) Put it in a container as is. This is the method to use if you would like to just scoop some out and plop it on their food.

Choose the method that you think would work best for you and go for it! If you're making Balls or Patties, put them onto a baking pan and then stick them in the freezer for a while to make them solid, then store them in plastic containers or bags. This keeps them from turning into a bag of mush!

This recipe made 53 Great Dane sized Satin Balls

If you use all 80/20 beef as your meat each Great Dane sized Satin Ball will be about 432 calories each!

My dogs LOVE these! Try them out and let me know if your guys love them too! Try some variations on the recipe as well and share what you come up with! The first time I did 40% pork and 60% beef. Next time I will probably add more cream cheese and PB!

DISCLAIMER: Satin Balls are not intended for use on puppies. If your dog has allergies to any of the ingredients listed, do not use them. Please consult your veterinarian or canine nutrition consultant if you have questions about wether or not these are appropriate for your pet. This post is not intended to be a discussion about wether or not to use satin balls, it is simply a recipe if you do choose to use them.

Dog Show Tips

If you haven't seen these "Dog Show Tips" videos, check them out! Super helpful!

The videos are done by Will Alexander - a professional handler from Canada. Be sure to subscribe to his youtube channel for new videos!


Tip #1 - The No Fuss Stack



Tip #2 - The Free Stack



Tip #3 - The Lead



Tip #4 - Movement Patterns



Enjoy and Practice, Practice, Practice!

Photographing the "Stack" - a How To Guide

I see it on forums every where. Novice and experienced showman alike posting the "Stacked Shot" of their dog for critique, brag, whatever. Unfortunately for the novice (and sometimes the experienced!), the pictures are taken terribly, terribly wrong and an honest critique can not be given! Knowing how to take photos of your dog will save everyone some time and frustration. Heed a few simple tips and you'll be posting fabulous photos of your dog in no time!

1. It's about more than just your dog, because YOU are in the picture too!
Consider yourself when you take stacked shots. I'm not suggesting you go get your hair done and put on your Sunday best, but do take yourself into consideration. What you wear is one of the biggest factors in the outcome of the picture. Wearing black while stacking a black dog or one with a dark mask is not a good idea! Wearing heavy prints on a patterned animal (Brindle, Harlequin, etc) is also a bad idea. Dress in a fairly subtle but contrasting color so that nothing distracts from the dog or creates an illusion.

2. Make time.
Don't rush your shots. Set aside time to do photos and take LOTS OF THEM. On an average session I take about 150 photos and usually post only about 10% of those. The key (especially with wiggle butt puppies) is in taking as many pictures as you can. The more pictures you take, the better your odds are of the perfect one!

3. Make Space.
I don't know about you, but my Great Dane barely fits in some rooms... much less with 2 people, a camera, and enough extra space for a good shot!! Outside shots are the best for the best lighting and the most room to spread out and get a good shot.

4. Consider your background.
A busy brick wall may not be the best backdrop for your brindle and a white wall might not be the best for your lightly marked harlequin. Find a background that is simple with enough contrasting color to get a good view of the dog.

5. Let there be LIGHT!
Outdoor pictures really are the best for lighting. Be sure to angle yourself so that no shadow is casted on any part of the dog.

6. Make your photographer knowledgable.
If you're like me, you probably have a friend, relative, or hubby who knows nothing about dogs or dog showing helping you take the picture. Inform them of the best place to stand to take the best picture!

Use this guide to help you!

What you get: Mistake #1 - The "Top Shot"

Why you get it: Notice the photographer standing and located too close. The camera lens is pointed down at the top of the dog.

What you get: Mistake #2 - The Giant

Why you get it: You can see here the photographer is too close and the camera lens is pointed up at the dog. Amazing how this little puppy looks like Goliath simply because of camera angle.

What you get: Mistake #3 - The Shoulder Shot

Why you get it: The photographer is not aligned with the center of the dog, but is moved toward the front.

What you get: Mistake #4 - The Butt Shot

Why you get it: The photographer is not aligned with the center of the dog, but is moved toward the rear.

What you get: THE CORRECT Shot!

Why you get it: The photographer is a good distance away from the dog, is crouching to make the camera lens level with the dogs back, and is centered with the dog's body.

Before you know it you will be serving up the perfect stacked shots for all of your best dog friends to admire... and critique because you KNOW they will! :)

And Some parting shots of Mayer because I LOVE my boy and he did such a great job helping me today...