What is Burns Night?
Burns Night is a Scottish celebration of the life and creativity of poet Robert Burns, held on his birthday on the 25th of January each year. The tradition started in 1801 and has continued up until today. A traditional Burns night includes a supper of haggis, neeps and tatties, a toast to the poet, poem recitals, and perhaps all enjoyed with a whisky! It is a fun night that all can enjoy; with a few adaptions to the main meal, your dogs can join in, too!
Can My Dog Eat Haggis?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat haggis. It can contain ingredients that could cause digestive problems, such as spices and onions. It can also be high in fat, which can contribute to a serious condition called pancreatitis. The good news is that making a safe alternative is quick and easy, so they won’t give you expectant eyes while you enjoy your food!
Meatloaf is a great option to swap as it contains meat, oats, eggs, and your dog’s favourite veggies. It can be paired with the traditional neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).
Dog-Friendly Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients:
400g mince beef (we used 5%)
150g oats
2 eggs
100g diced carrots
50g frozen peas
We used carrots and peas for this recipe, but you can swap these for any other dog-safe vegetable, such as pumpkin or broccoli.
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and stir until combined. The mix will be slightly sticky. The mixture can then be poured into either one loaf tin or smaller individual tins. If using one tin, then cook in the oven at 190 degrees for about 45 minutes; the time will need to be altered for individual tins.
Once it’s cooked and cooled, slice the loaf into portions and freeze the leftovers for another day.
For the neeps and tatties, cook even amounts of turnips (or swedes) and potatoes and mash them together.
Your dog will undoubtedly love the home-cooked meal!
Twa dogs – Robert Burns
Twa Dogs is a poem by Robert Burns and is said to have been written about his much-loved border collie. If you include a recital in your Burns evening celebrations, this would be the perfect poem to use. The full poem can be found here.
Slainte Mhath – Good health!
Want to know more about feeding your hound? We’ve got lots of useful information and tips here.