Rudy's Birthday Cheesy Dog Treats Recipe | Tasty Tuesday

 Rudy celebrated his 5th birthday last week and had a pretty good party!  Birthday treats included Grandma Lucy's Organic Pumpkin dog treats, a special solo walk, lots of new dog toys (including a West Paw Zogoflex frisbee) and his favorite homemade dog cookies.

Since he'd just plain had it with this wearing-of-birthday-hats thing... 

 We let everybody party hat-less. Without a doubt, these cheesy dog bone cookies were a hit at the party!

Jeffie loves cheese, so he's drooling at the sight of the first cookie.

Rosie helped make these cookies and she's ready to taste test.

The birthday boy can hardly wait!

Rudy's Favorite Cheesy Dog Treats Recipe

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/2 stick of butter

1 clove garlic, crushed

Pinch of salt

Milk

Grate the cheese and let stand until it reaches room temperature. Cream the cheese with the softened butter, garlic, salt and flour. Add enough milk to form into a ball.  Chill for at least 1/2 hour. Roll onto floured board. Cut into shapes and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly brown and firm. 

Makes 2 to 3 dozen depending on size.

A note about these dog treats:  

None of my dogs are bothered by whole grains or dairy products. However, please know that dairy is not a daily treat for my dogs.

 

We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.  

Grandma Lucys Organic Pumpkin Dog Treats from @Chewy | Product Review

As you can tell, Rudy likes the looks of these dog treats! We let the Birthday Boy choose our review products from Chewy this month. Rudy chose very well and our pals at Chewy sent a 14 oz package of Grandma Lucy's Organic Pumpkin Oven Baked Dog Treats

Of course the first step of any taste test is the smell of the dog treats. Grandma Lucy's Organic Dog Treats passed Rudy's careful sniff test.

Rudy gave serious consideration to his taste testing choice since he planned to serve them at his birthday party.  What a good choice!  These dog treats are the cutest thing ever out of the package. They're little teddy bear cookies!

According to Chewy.com, since 1999, Grandma Lucy's has maintained a reputation for making only the best pet treats and are constantly developing new products packed with leading edge nutrition and innovative design.  

Rosie is longing for a Grandma Lucy's dog treat.

Grandma Lucy’s organic dog treats are not made in a factory but baked in a bakery by people who love their pets. Since 1999, Grandma Lucy’s has taken great pride in making wholesome, natural and delicious pet treats. Your dog will love the great taste of these Organic Oven Baked Dog Treats, but what you will love most is the fact that they are made with organic, human-quality ingredients for dogs. The treats are so tasty, your dog will beg for more. Grandma Lucy’s Organic Oven Baked Dog Treats ~ an organic treat you will feel good about giving your pet. 

Key Benefits

• Suitable for all life stages
• 100% USDA Organic, USA originated ingredients
• Oven baked
• Human-grade ingredients
• No by-products, artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors
• Certified kosher
• Made in the USA! 87% of ingredients sourced in the USA; 0% sourced from China

Ingredients:
Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Dehydrated Cane Juice, Organic Canola Oil, Organic Brown Sugar, Organic Cane Juice Syrup, Organic Rice Starch, Organic Pumpkin Powder, Organic Mace, Organic Cinnamon, Soy Lecithin

Guaranteed Analysis:

• Crude Protein (min): 6%
• Crude Fat (min): 16%
• Crude Fiber (max): 0.36%
• Moisture (max): 8%
• No calorie information available

Grandma Lucy's notes:  Pumpkins are loaded with vitamins C, K and E, beta carotene, fiber, and several other antioxidants which aid in the treatment andmaintenance of digestive health of our pets.

Retail price $10.79 for a 14 oz bag. Now on sale at Chewy for $8.09

Jeffie may have ditched his party hat, but he knows good dog cookies when he sees them!

Grandma Lucy's not only offer Organic treats, but also have freeze-dried treats that contain no artificial preservatives, colors or sweeteners.  This family owned company is focused on delivering the best for your pet.

Grandma Lucy's oven baked organic dog treats come in several flavors:  pumpkin, blueberry,  cranberry, peach, banana and sweet potato, and apple.

Reasons we love these dog treats:

• No question, the dogs love these treats. 
• Organic, human grade ingredients
• No preservatives, artificial colors, flavors or sweetners
• No hydrogenated oils or trans fats.
• Small size is perfect for training 
• Super cute and perfect for dog parties

 There are lots of reasons we love Chewy.com

• Fast shipping to our front door (free if our order is over $49)
• Over 300 brands to choose from in pet food, treats, and supplies
• Great prices and frequent sales
• Easy to navigate web site and terrific customer service
• Chewy.com gives back via their Shelter and Rescue Network

* We received one package of Grandma Lucy's dog treats from Chewy.com in exchange for our honest review of the product and service.  We received no other compensation. 
 
We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.  

Halloween @BlueBuffalo Boo Bars from @Chewy.com

Blue Buffalo Boo Bars Dog Treats from Chewy.com

It's always a great day when the dogs get a box from Chewy!  This time Chewy sent some barking good dog treats for Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie to taste test.

Blue Buffalo Halloween Boo Bars with Pumpkin and Cinnamon dog treats.

According to Chewy, while they might not be too big on dressing up like bumblebees, dogs love Halloween, and that’s why Blue Buffalo created Boo Bars. With Boo Bars, the furry kids can enjoy a healthy treat while the other kids eat candy. Boo Bars are oven-baked for a crunch that would startle a vampire. Made from an original recipe, Boo Bars feature some of nature’s most delicious and nutritious ingredients including pumpkin, carrots, barley, oatmeal, flaxseed and cinnamon.

Key Benefits

• Oven-baked holiday biscuits
• Natural treats with added vitamins and minerals
• Made with wholesome whole grains, fruits and vegetables
• No chicken/poultry by-product meals
• No corn, wheat or soy
• Made in the USA

Ingredients:
Oatmeal, barley, oat flour, pumpkin, flaxseed, cane molasses, carrots, salt, canola oil, cinnamon, calcium carbonate, L-Ascorbyl-2 Polyphosphate, preserved with mixed tocopherols and Oil of rosemary, vitamin E supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein  12% minimum
Crude fat  5% minimum
Crude fiber  6.5% maximum
Moisture  11% maximum
Omega 3 Fatty Acids  0.3% minimum

Calorie Content:  3,363 Kcals/kg.  One biscuit = 30 Kcals 

An 8 oz package retails for about $8.29.  On sale now at Chewy for $4.49

Jeffie happily waits for a taste of Blue Buffalo Boo Bars from Chewy.

Rosie just couldn't wait to get her first taste of Boo Bars from Chewy.

Blue Buffalo Boo Bars are a huge hit at our house.   Jeffie, who always sniffs and examines any food offering, didn't hesitate to try a Boo Bar!  That's high praise for these tasty dog treats.

Rudy thinks taste testing new dog treats is very serious business.

The minute I opened the bag I was pretty sure my dogs would think this little dog cookies were a true treat.  They smell delicious and my dog agree. The cute little pumpkins impressed in each cookie make them Halloween pawty worthy!

I love the healthy ingredients, but do wish they were not so high in calorie.  Fine for Rudy, but they'll need to be rationed carefully for Jeffie and Rosie. 

Look at that cute little pumpkin!  (The dog treat, not Rosie.)

We love these new Blue Buffalo Boo Bars dog treats and we love ordering from Chewy!

Here's why:

• Blue Buffalo is made in the US.  Their dog treats do not contain any meat from China (or anywhere else in Asia).  All meat is sourced from US meat suppliers.
• These Blue Buffalo treats are all natural.
• Chewy.com has super fast home delivery service
• Chewy.com has an easy to navigate web site with responsive customer service
• Chewy.com offers over 400 brands of pet food and treats with free shipping on any order over $49
• Chewy.com supports animal shelters and rescue groups with an easy way to raise funds with their Shelter and Rescue Network.
• The dogs LOVE them!

We're pleased to recommend both Blue Buffalo Boo Bars dog treats and Chewy.com!


* We received one package of Blue Buffalo Boo Bars dog treats from Chewy.com in exchange for our honest review of the product and service.

We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.

Merrick Jerky Chip Dog Treats from @Chewy.com Product Review

Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie are always ready to try new dog products. So they were enthusiastic when Chewy.com asked if they'd like to give some Merrick Jerky Chip dog treats a taste test.  With Chewy's super fast shipping, in just a couple of days Jeffie got a chance to scare the FedEx man and take delivery of their package.

Merrick Jerky Chip Treats are oven-baked, all-natural dog cookie treats filled with protein-packed jerky chips as the first ingredient, made from real deboned chicken, beef, lamb, or salmon. Unlike many dog treats, Merrick Jerky Chip Treats are grain-free and gluten-free with no corn, soy or wheat. And, like all Merrick food and treats, Merrick Jerky Chip Treats are made in the USA with no ingredients from China. 

They come in four flavors: Real Beef, Real Chicken, Real Lamb + Potato, Real Salmon + Potato.  We received a 10 oz bag of Real Chicken Recipe treats.

Rudy was thrilled to get the first taste.

Ingredients:

Deboned Chicken, Dried Potatoes, Peas, Garbanzo Beans, Tapioca Starch, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Dried Carrots, Brown Sugar, Dried Egg Product, Dried Apples, Caramel Color, Gelatin, Yogurt Powder, Salt, Cultured Skim Milk Powder, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Rosemary, Sage, Thyme.

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (min.)	14%
Crude Fat (min.)	10%
Crude Fiber (max.)	9%
Moisture (max.)	10%

31 kcal per treat 

Rosie demonstrates excellent treat begging focus.

The dogs really do love these dog treats!  They're generous in size (about 2" in diameter) and a bit high in calorie per treat, so I've been rationing them.  However, that's the only cautionary note.  I like that there are good healthy ingredients and that they're made in the US.

Merrick pet food and treat recipes use USDA inspected deboned meat and fresh produce for industry-leading levels of protein, glucosamine and chondroitin.  Merrick never imports ingredients from China.  All their food is handcrafted in their Hereford, Texas kitchen with ingredients from farmers they know and trust. In 2012 Merrick earned organic certification under the USDA National Organic Program for all of their Texas based manufacturing facilities.

We first reviewed Chewy.com online pet products over 3 years ago. We loved them then and we still do.  With over 300 brands of pet food and other pet products ready to ship with their super fast front door service, what's not to love.  Living in a rural area, I especially appreciate that I can purchase brands and products I can't find locally.

There are lots of reasons to like Chewy.com

• Fast shipping to our front door (free if our order is over $49)
• Over 200 brands to choose from in pet food, treats, and supplies
• Great prices and frequent sales
• Easy to navigate web site and terrific customer service
• Chewy.com gives back via their Shelter and Rescue Network

Final verdict:  Lip smacking good!

* We received one package of Merrick Jerky Chip Treats Oven-baked Cookies for Dogs from Chewy.com in exchange for our honest review of the product and service.
 
Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.

We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.  

Evanger's Super Premium Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner from @Chewy Review

We love Evanger's pet food and treats at our house. In fact, we included their Organic Turkey Dinner for dogs in our Holiday Gift guide and we've reviewed Evanger's products, too.  Last year Jeffie began eating their senior dog food.  So when Chewy offered us a chance to try their Super Premium canned food, Rudy and Rosie were thrilled.

Chewy sent us a case of Evanger's Super Premium Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner canned dog food.  Each can is 13 oz. A case of 12 cans regularly costs $23.89, but is on sale at Chewy right now for $20.79

According to Chewy, Evanger's Super Premium Dinners are completely balanced, highly nutritious, great tasting innovative meals. This Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner features duck meat and golden sweet potatoes that are a wonderful source of fiber.

Key Benefits

• Cooked in small batches
• Easy digestibility for optimal health
• No corn, wheat or soy
• Suitable for al life stages
• Made in the US 

Evanger's Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages. Puppies, pregnant and nursing dogs may require 2-3 times above amounts, and reduced for less active or older dogs. Amount of food your dog requires depends on activity, age, environment and breed. Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner is certified Kosher cRc

Ingredients:
Duck, Chicken Broth, Sweet Potatoes, Liver, Guar Gum, Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Proteinate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacinamide, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement)

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein, not less than 10%
Crude Fiber, not more than 1.5%
Moisture, not more than 78%
Crude Fat, not less than 8%
Calcium, not less than .30%
Phosphorus, not less than .28%

Jeffie's enjoys Evangers Classic Recipes Senior and Weight Management Dinner canned dog food as a topper on his kibble.  This Evanger's Classic Recipe is the original formula developed by Dr. Fred Evanger and contains no corn, wheat or soy. It is a simple meat-based formula for obligate carnivores.

My dogs love Evanger's canned dog food.  I love Evanger's pet food products, too and here's why:

• Made in the United States by a family owned and operated company since 1935.
• Free of harmful additives and preservatives
• No soy, corn, wheat or by-products
• Human grade ingredients
• Every single product smelled good and looked good to the humans. (However, we did have to watch out for bones in the chicken thighs; cans do contain an appropriate warning)
• Competitively priced for premium organic pet food
• A VERY wide selection of food and treats: beef, chicken, fish, lamb and more.  Many recipes for pets with special needs.

I also love the story behind Evanger's.  Back in 1935, Fred Evanger bred, exhibited, and championed his Great Danes in international kennel clubs.  He believed that the key to his success in the show ring, as well as his dogs' health and the health of their offspring was due to nutritious food.  

In fact, he felt so strongly about it that he built a canning factory on his family farm so he could make a quality pet food. Even back then, Evanger's dog food was free of additives and preservatives.  In fact, he used crops and livestock raised on the family farm. 

In 2003, Evanger's was the first pet food company to create pet food packed by hand instead of machine by putting whole pieces of fresh meat and vegetables into the cans.  You read that right.  Open a can of Evanger's and you'll probably recognize the ingredients.  Yes, that's real shredded, pulled (organic) chicken.  OMD!  those are chicken drumsticks, alright!

In addition, many of their recipes are created especially for dogs with special diet needs:  food allergies, low fat diet, gluten free,  sensitive stomach, irritable bowel syndrome and more.  They also have a large line of Kosher Kosher pet food products, as well as healthy selections for cats.

I should note that I found no evidence of any recalls for Evanger's pet food products, however, there were some issues with the USFDA in early 2011 regarding  misbranding of ingredients, none of which constituted a health or safety issue.

We also give Chewy.com our highest recommendation.  With over 300 brands of pet food and other pet products ready to ship with their speedy front door service, what's not to love? Living in a rural area, I love that I can purchase brands and products that I can't find locally.  Chewy.com has great prices and there's always a sale going on some of our favorite products.  Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Chewy.com has warehouses located throughout the country to guarantee orders are delivered quickly.  Their website is super simply to navigate and their customer service is terrific.

* We received one case of Evanger's Super Premium Canned Dog Food from Chewy.com in exchange for our honest review of the product and service.

We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today. This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.

Dog Treats and Toys from @Chewy

Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie especially love Chewy this month because they were sent a dog toy and a bag of dog treats to review.  That's twice as much fun!

They were more than happy to taste test some Orijen Free Run Duck Singles Freeze-Dried Dog Treats.

Made with a single meat ingredient, Orijen Singles provide a simple and pure way to reward and nourish your dog with natural tastes he will love. Made from cage-free duck raised on natural grains and well water in Ontario, Cananda, these unique treats are loaded with goodness and natural flavor. They're gently freeze-dried to keep your cherished dog healthy, happy and strong, and are made without cooking or preservatives so you can feel good about treating him!

Key Benefits

• Single-source treats
• Made from 100% meat and nothing else!
• Freeze-dried to lock in flavor and nutrition
• Guaranteed analysis to mirror mother nature
• Low calorie and carbohydrate free
• Approximately 55 treats per 2-oz bag and 95 treats per 3.5-oz bag

Ingredients:
 Duck liver, boneless duck

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.)50%
Crude Fat (min.)30%
Crude Fiber (max.)1%
Moisture (max.)2%

 

Jeffie loves the smell of Orijen Free Run Duck dog treats.

All three of my dogs have enjoyed Orijen dog treats and freeze dried dog food, so I was confident they'd like these treats.  I love that they contain just one real ingredient: duck.   Jeffie and Rosie loved them.  In the interest of full disclosure I have to tell you that Rudy spit his out.  Guess he's not into duck.

Quack, quack! Jeffie and Rosie want more!

The good folks at Chewy also sent us a KONG Squeezz Ball with Handle Dog Toy

KONG Squeezz Ball with Handle is the perfect interactive toy for you and your dog. Designed for durability with a recessed, protected squeaker, KONG Squeezz Ball with Handle is great for indoor and outdoor use.

Rosie got the hang of the KONG Squeezz Ball with Handle right away.

Key Benefits

• Perfect for tossing, tugging and retrieving
• Recessed/protected squeaker induces play
• Available in two sizes: M and L
• Colors vary (Ruby, Amethyst, Emerald or Sapphire) - You choose the size, color ships at random!

We received a ruby KONG Squeezz Ball for large dogs and it was a big hit with my dog pack.

You want me to tug it?  How about you throw it instead.

The squeaker is just loud enough to be interesting to my dogs - without getting on our nerves.  Though Rosie really wanted to chew on the handle and Rudy preferred playing fetch instead of tug of war, I'd say the KONG Sqeezz Ball is a winner.

Umm, Rosie, you're not supposed to chew the handle.

Rudy says:  Throw it!

We've been giving our dogs KONG toys for years.  We've found them to be safe, soft in their mouths, very durable, and they keep our dogs engaged for both inside and outside play.   The KONG Squeezz Ball with Handle is a barking good addition to the KONG dog toy offerings.

Rudy and Rosie love this new KONG toy for their tandom retrieving.

We first became aware of Chewy online pet products over three years ago.  We loved them then and we still do.  Living in a rural area, we can purchase brands and products that we can't find locally.  Plus, Chewy has great prices and there's always a sale going on some of our favorite dog products.

There are lots of reasons to like Chewy.com

• Fast shipping to our front door (free if our order is over $49)
• Over 200 brands to choose from in pet food, treats, and supplies
• Great prices and frequent sales
• Easy to navigate web site and terrific customer service
• Chewy.com gives back via their Shelter and Rescue Network 

 * We received a KONG Squeezz Squeezz Ball with Handle dog toy and one 2 oz package of Orijen Free-Run Duck dog treats from Chewy.com in exchange for our honest review of the product and service.  We received no other compensation - financial or otherwise.

Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.

We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.