Grandma Lucys Organic Dog Treats from Chewy.com | Product Review

Jeffie believes the first step is the sniff test.

When I opened the latest bag of dog treats Chewy.com sent us to review, I wished I'd waited for Rudy's birthday.  These treats are seriously cute!  They look like little sugar cookies shaped like teddy bears.  Adorable!

Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie really didn't care what they looked like.  They were ready for some serious taste testing.
 

Rosie gives these organic cranberry dog treats a taste sniffing.

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.  Grandma Lucy's Organic treats are:

• Suitable for all life stages
• 100% USDA Organic, USA originated ingredients
• Human-grade ingredients
• Made in the USA

They 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.

We received one 14 oz package of Grandma Lucy's Organic Cranberry Oven Baked Dog Treats. 
 

Rudy is ready for a taste test.

Ingredients: Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Dehydrated Cane Sugar, Organic Palm Oil, Organic Cane Juice Syrup, Organic Cranberry Powder, Organic Cranberry Flavor, Soy Lecithin

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein minimum  6.4%
Crude Fat minimum  17%
Crude Fiber maximum  0.7%
Moisture maximum  9% 

No kcal information available.

Priced $6.99 at Chewy.com, but are only sale now for only $4.99.
 

Jeffie is eager for a second taste test.

Pros:

• 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 would be perfect for dog parties

 Con:  Though the dogs could care less, I found these treats to be very crumbly.

 

Rosie loves these cute teddy bear shaped dog treats.

Final Verdict:  Paws Up!

 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 one package of Newman's Own Organics New Zealand Lamb and Barley 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.  

Wordless Wednesday: Taste Testing Dog Products

Hmmm.... sniff, sniff... these look good...

Jeffie and Rudy love taste testing!

Our Talking Dogs review of Evanger's dog food and treats is coming soon!

Product Review: Rachael Ray's Nutrish Naturally Delish Wet Dog Food

 We love Nutrish Naturally Delish wet dog food!  And by "we" I mean both the canine and human members of our family.

Rachael Ray's Nutrish Naturally Delish is an all natural wet food for dogs inspired by the recipes from Rachael's kitchen.  You won't find any corn, wheat, soy or any nasty artificial junk in these wholesome doggie stews.  Using only tender chunks of real meat, veggies, essential vitamins and minerals, Nutrish Naturally Delish provides a nutritious and tasty food that we bet your dog will love.

Rachael Ray Nutrish Naturally Delish wet dog food stews.

Jeffie and Rudy were eager to give Naturally Delish a try, but first had to select from the four varieties sent to us for review:

• Chicken Muttballs with Pasta
• Savory Lamb Stew
• Hearty Beef Stew
• Chicken Paw Pie

Choosing took a bit of thought and sniffing.

Given Jeffie's Border Collie heritage, I thought for sure he'd pick the lamb, but he immediately chose the Hearty Beef Stew.  

Nutrish Naturally Delish Hearty Beef Stew - chunks of beef plus garden vegetables like peas, carrots and potatoes, all simmered in a yummy homestyle beef gravy

Jeffie thought it was... delish!

Rudy's a southern boy, so it was no surprise he wanted to begin his taste test with the Chicken Paw Pie.

Nutrish Naturally Delish Chicken Paw Pie - juicy bites of chicken with a medley of green beans and sweet potatoes in a savory chicken gravy.

Taste testing is extremely serious work for Rudy.

The boys loved Nutrish Naturally Delish and even ventured a bit of tandem testing.

There was no doubt that Nutrish Naturally Delish passed Jeffie and Rudy's taste test with all paws up.

We like this wet dog food for many reasons:

• All natural ingredients; no by-products, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives
• Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition.
• The packaging is convenient - plastic tubs come with resealable lids. However, it is not a good thing that these plastic containers are not BPA free.
• Made in the USA.  Produced by Ainsworth Pet Nutrition - a US family owned company for over 75 years.
• 100% of the proceeds from sales of all Nutrish go to help animals in need via Rachael's Rescue.  So far, sales of Nutrish have raised over $4 million.

Fetch a coupon and let your own dogs try Rachael Ray's Nutrish Naturally Delish wet food for dogs.  

Better yet, enter below to win a sample of all four varieties of Nutrish Naturally Delish.  One lucky winner will receive a press kit just like we received.  

The winner will be announced here on August 10.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Talking Dogs blog is being compensated for this review and did receive free sample products as a part of the Blog Paws team.  However, our opinion remains our own honest review of Nutrish Naturally Delish wet food for dogs.  And yes, that is one of the For Love of a Dog elevated feeding stations!

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Product Review: Sweet Little Butterpup Dog Treats

  When the good folks at Lincoln Bark offered us some dog treats to taste test and review, we were happy to oblige.  

We were allowed to choose our samples from their three lines of all natural, healthy treats:

1. Sweet Little Butterpups - their original peanut butter based hard treats powered by the superfood, Chia seeds.
2. Treat Smart - a soft nutraceutical treat that is great for the skin and coat, and also powered by Chia seeds.
3. Doggie and kitty Sprinkles - a protein supplement and flavor enhancer that is springkled on food to entice finicky eaters to enjoy every bit.

We chose Sweet Little Butterpup dog treats in Lincoln Bark's oatmeal peanut butter recipe.  8 ounce packages are $9.99 on the Lincoln Bark web site.  Super fast shipping brought not only our sample package in just a couple of days, but also little 2-treat sample packs of Sweet Little Butterpup's in chicken liver flavor, salmon flavor, and pumpkin flavor. 

Jeffie's cautious first taste.

You might as well know up front that these dog treats are now among Jeffie and Rudy's favorite snacks!  In fact, the boys were so enthusiastic about this taste testing session that it was hard to snap some photos that were not blurry.  Neither could hold a "sit" for long after they'd had their first taste.

Rudy could not help wiggling with anticipation after the first bite.

I understand why.  These dog treats smell delicious!  Seriously. Delicious.

Jeffie is longing for his next turn in this yummy testing.

Made in the USA, these dog treats contain gluten free rice flour and potato flour, soy free peanut butter, rolled oats, honey, canola oil, Chia seed and water.  They do NOT contain preservatives, additives, artificial colors or flavors.

• Crude Protein - minimum 17%
• Crude Fat - minimum 15%
• Crude Fiber - maximum 1%
• Moisture- maximum 9% 

We'd heard of Chia Seed and this motivated us to learn more.  Often called a superfood, Chia Seed promotes health with more antioxidants that blueberries and eight times more Omega-3 Fatty Acids than wild salmon.  

Chia Seed benefits:

• Promotes cardiovascular health
• Assists joint function and mobility
• Improves digestion and natural detoxification
• Supports healthy weight loss
• Antioxidants in Chia seeds and oil help prevent cancer
• Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) reduces fatal cardiac episodes

Sophie - the dog that inspired Lincoln Bark

Lincoln Bark evolved after the owners dog was diagnosed with Addison's disease when she was two years old.  Needing to boost her food intake, they began researching canine nutrition and baking their own dog treats.  Today, Sweet Little Butterpup dog treats still are baked by hand in small batches with 100% natural, human grade ingredients.

We highly recommend Lincoln Bark's Sweet Little Butterpup dog treats.

• Made in the USA
• Wheat, soy and corn free
• No preservatives
• 100% human grade ingredients
• Attractive appearance - like minature crunchy muffins
• Reasonably priced
• Attractive packaging
• Fast shipping
• 100% money-back guarantee
• A portion of Lincoln Bark's profits donated to animal welfare organizations
• The dogs LOVE them! 

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It's so hard to take turns!

Learn more about Lincoln Bark and order their products at their web site www.lincolnbark.com and follow Lincoln Bark on Facebook.  Your dogs will thank you!

More Diamond Dog Food Recalled

Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb and Rice Formula dry dog food manufactured August 26, 2011 is being recalled.  This recall applies to samples, 6 pound bags, and 18 pound bags of Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb and Rice Formula.

The product was distributed in Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Production codes for the latest recall cover the following production codes and best-before dates:

• DSL0801, 26-Aug-2012 
• DSL0801, 27-Sept-2012
• DSL0801, 18-Oct-2012 
• DSL0801 (samples)

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling these products because of potential exposure to salmonella, according to The Associated Press. 

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. 

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 6pm EST.

Missouri based Diamond Pet Foods has issued a massive recall of dog food made at its Gaston, SC plant, after salmonella was found at that facility.  

Other brands that have been recalled include:

• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
• Country Value
• Diamond
• Diamond Naturals
• Premium Edge
• Professional
• 4Health
• Kirkland Signature products
• Costco's private label
• Taste of the Wild
• Natural Balance Pet Foods
• Candide Pet Foods
• Solid Gold Health Products for Pets
• WellPet LLC

Mr. Chewy Online Pet Food Retailer: Product Review

We love Mr. Chewy!  Mr. Chewy is an online pet food retailer offering over 70 brands and subscription based ordering for hassle free delivery.  They ship throughout the continental US and offer free shipping for any order over $49.

A couple of weeks ago Mr. Chewy offered us a special $50 promotional code to use on their website in exchange for an honest review of their services.  We were happy to agree.

Living in a very rural area, we have limited resources for pet food.  When we switched to natural, human grade ingredient dog kibble a few years ago our options were extremely limited.  In fact, there were only a couple brands available locally.  Our situation is very similar in terms of dog treats.  Most online sources we checked had shipping fees that made our wallet cringe.

Not only did Mr. Chewy have our usual brand of dog food available, once we added a package of dog treats to the cart, the shipping really was free.  Well, the truth is that we were so excited by the selection available, we added more than one package of treats to our shopping cart!

We loved how easy it was to shop at Mr. Chewy.  Products are categorized logically and it's super easy to find your usual brand.  When shopping dog treats, we found we could narrow products by pet, brand,  life stage (age), and/or specialty.

In addition to dog food and dog treats, Mr. Chewy offers potty pads, cat food and cat treats, cat litter, and popular flea and tick treatments.  Their website has live chat to answer questions.  If you're uncomfortable ordering online you can call the Mr. Chewy toll number during business hours.

We placed our online order for a 40 pound bag of our usual dog food, plus several packages of treats, on March 4.  We received a prompt email confirmation of our order and, on March 5, a notice our order had shipped.  Our order arrived on March 8 via FedEx delivery.  Super fast service!  This was a big, heavy carton, but even with that hunky bag of dog food, the contents were so well packed that our dog treats arrived in great shape.

Here's why we love Mr. Chewy:

• Convenience - Quick and easy online ordering with super fast delivery to our front door.
• Selection - access to a wide variety of brands and products (Especially important for we of the rural persuasion.)
• Competitive Prices
• Free Shipping with orders over $49 (and it is very easy to achieve that price point in the cart)  Orders under $49 ship for a flat shipping fee of only $4.95.

And, finally, we love Mr. Chewy's Refer Your Friends Program.  We signed up to see how it worked.  We received a referral code that will allow any friends using it to receive 10% off their first order.  PLUS, Mr. Chewy will donate $10 for each friend that orders from my code.  Donations go to the North Shore Animal League, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and Bideawee.

We highly recommend Mr. Chewy!  If you'd like to save 10% off your first order, use our referral code at checkout:  SUE5251    Shop in the convenience of your home, have your pet food delivered to your front door, and support organizations that help animals!

Today is Tasty Tuesday - a blog hop celebrating good food, so fetch some new dog treat recipes, great giveaways and more from these blogs!

Pedigree Foundation: Write a Post, Help a Dog #dogsrule

More than 4 million dogs become homeless each year.  At PEDIGREE Brand, they believe every dog deserves a loving home.  That's why they're committed to the cause of adoption.  For each blog post mentioning the PEDIGREE Foundation throughout the BlogPaws conference, they'll donate 20 pounds of their new dry PEDIGREE recipe food for dogs to a shelter.  You can learn more about the PEDIGREE Foundation at www.PedigreeFoundation.org.

Write a Post, Help a Dog runs until midnight ET on Saturday, September 3.  Your animal shelter can apply for grants at that same web address, plus you can shop Dogs Rule Gear and use the promo code BlogPaws10 to receive a 10% discount now through September 30.  All proceeds go toward the PEDIGREE Foundation to help shelter dogs find loving homes. 

Review: Barksters Holistic Dog Treats

There's a whole lot of crunching going on at For Love of a Dog.  The good folks at Loving Pets Corporation sent us some of their new Barksters to sample.

Barksters are a 100% natural dog treat manufactured by Loving Pets Corporation in Cranbury, NJ.   Established in 2005, Loving Pets Corporation focuses on its own brand of high quality all natural pet treats.

According to the packaging, Barksters are healthy, all natural treats that are made in the United States.  They combine simple, all-natural ingredients for a crunch and taste your dog just can't resist.  Barksters are air-puffed, low in fat and only 12 calories per treat.  They contain no additives or preservatives.  The result:  a flavorful, guilt-free treat that is sure to keep your dog fit, healthy and satisfied.

Varieties we tried:

Brown Rice and Beef Krisps - Wheat and gluten free with no additives and no preservatives.  Ingredients: brown rice, rice flour, beef, rice bran oil.

Sweet Potato and Chicken Krisps - Ingredients:  sweet potato, rice flour, chicken, rice bran oil.

Alfalfa and Liver Krisps - Ingredients:  alfalfa, rice flour, beef liver, and rice bran oil.

The first flavor we tested was the Sweet Potato and Chicken Krisps. 

 

Jeffie, Rudy and Lucy were definitely intrigued and all three dogs crunched them with great enthusiasm.


Next we tried the Alfalfa and Liver treats.

After giving it a good sniff, Jeffie munched with delight.

Jeffie patiently waited for another turn while Rudy tried out the Alfafa Liver Krisp.


Finally we broke open the Rice and Beef package.

Note the dog slobber on Gary's leg.  Though everyone waited for his or her turn, all three canines were pretty thrilled with these treats.

Tucker decided not to join the others for the taste testing.  Age has its advantages.  We delivered some samples to him and he definitely enjoyed his private tasting.

Our Review:

• Our Barksters were shipped directly from Loving Pets Corporation and arrived with each package individually wrapped in bubble wrap.  Though they cannot be ordered directly from Loving Pets, consumers can check their web site to find out where to purchase their products locally.  Their handy zipcode store locater is easy to find on the site.
• Barksters packaging is certainly attractive.  Cute lightweight cardboard boxes with plastic wrapped treats.  Plenty of information is given including why each combination of flavors was selected.
• These crisp treats were fresh, light weight, and a nice size for treats (approx 1 x 1.5 inches).  There was a bit of breakage (think: potato chips), but nothing excessive.
• All four dogs loved them. Tucker and Jeffie are much more picky eaters.  Tucker tends to carefully smell and examine any food item.  He liked all three varieties, but clearly preferred the Sweet Potato treats.
• All three treat varieties has a distinctive smell.  The Alfalfa treats had the strongest smell.  I thought they all smelled good, especially the Alfalfa treat.  In fact, I suspect our horses would enjoy the Alfalfa Krisps.
• We especially appreciate the all natural, no additives or preservatives, recipe.  In fact, Gary even gave them a try.  His verdict:  a bit bland and reminded him of rice cakes.  Then he had another of the Sweet Potato treats and I told him to quit eating the dog cookies!
• Low calories is also a real plus in our opinion.

And finally...

• We lived in the rural Missouri Ozarks and I'm used to shopping online because our choices are often pretty limited.  However, I was pleased to find that Loving Pet Corporation treats are offered at a nearby farm supply store where we already purchase our (natural, organic) dog kibble.  Barksters are not listed as available there.  Yet.  I'll be watching for them.

In conclusion, we give Barksters Dog Krisps an enthusiastic four dog recommendation.

While you're thinking about dog treats, scroll down and check out the dog blogs below for some more great ideas from the participants of today's Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop.

What About the Pets of the Homeless

"Homelessness is the number one risk factor for companion animals in the United States. These animals die for no other reason than the mere fact that they, for whatever reason, lack a home," says ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres in an April 2010 statement
 It is estimated by the National Coalition for the Homeless that 3.5 million people are homeless. Between 5% to 10% of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. In some areas of the country the rate is as high as 24%. Most people who experience homelessness are homeless for a short period of time, and usually need help finding housing or a rent subsidy. But unfortunately for those with pets it becomes more difficult. Many are forced to choose between their pet or a roof over their head. Surprisingly, most choose to stay on the streets with their pets for longer periods of time
 In 2006, while visiting New York City, Pets of the Homeless founder, Genevieve Frederick, saw a homeless man begging while his pathetic dog lay beside him. Unable to get this vision from her head, she began researching the homeless with pets. A persistent thought whirled around in her head, "Why would these people, who can barely feed themselves, have a pet?" The answer became apparent with the realization of how nonjudgmental pets are, they provide comfort, give love and an emotional bond of loyalty without complaint. It was also clear, in some cases, how pets provide protection and warmth. The staggering, countless number of pets of the homeless touched Frederick to the extent she felt compelled to do something. Thus Pets of the Homeless was born. Since 2008, 53.7 tons of pet food has been donated and distributed.


Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit all volunteer organization that provides pet food and veterinary care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada. Their member collection sites accept donated pet food from people like you and me. They then deliver it to distributing organizations (food banks, homeless shelter and/or soups kitchens) which have agreed to distribute the pet food to the homeless and poor. They also award grants to veterinarians who go where the homeless congregate to provide veterinary care and have a pet sleeping crate program

Want to help? It can be as easy as repackaging donated pet food into quart sized baggies and deliver to a distribution site. Most homeless with pets are transit and move around daily seeking shelter, food, water and bathrooms. Distribution centers (Food Banks/Soup Kitchens) need to have repackaged pet food in smaller quantities to give away. Larger bags of food are impossible for the homeless to manage. Can you imagine carrying 25 pounds of pet food? You can help to recruit distribution sites, volunteer at a soup kitchen and spread the word. Take to the streets and distribute pet food to the homeless. Talk to your local vets and help them become a collection site for donated pet food. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

The dog and cat companions of the homeless need food, medical care, spay/neutering, and kindness. Pets of the Homeless is a voice for them. Join them.

Carob Dog Treats Recipe from For Love of a Dog Jewelry

I confess.  I'm a chocolaholic.  And yes, I do feel bad when I enjoy a chocolate treat in front of my canine companions.  They feel bad, too, and are exellent beggers.  So now they have their own version of chocolate yumminess in these Carob Dog Treats:

3 cups whole wheat flower
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/8 cup peanut oil
1/8 cup corn oil margarine
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 oz carob chips, melted
1/4 cup molasses
1 cup water
1/2 cup powdered milk

Mix all the dry ingredients in your bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients and stir until blended well.  This dough will be stiff.  Chill for at least 1/2 hour.  Roll dough and cut with cookie cutters or however you please.  I usually just cut the dough into squares 1/2 inch thick.  Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour.  Makes 2 to 3 dozen depending on the size treats you cut.

Bone Appetite from For Love of a Dog Jewelry!