Primal Freeze-Dried Treats Review

I'm always in the market for tasty treats for the dogs. I received the chance to review Primal Treats for dogs from Chewy.com. With dogs as different and diverse as the five that I have, I knew this would be a great opportunity.

At First Glance

What makes freeze-dried treats stand out is that the flavor is saved through this preservation technique but does not need any additives. As a result, the beef liver treats that I gave the dogs had only one ingredient — Beef Liver. Looking at them, you can see small rectangular cubes (pictured right). They were firm but with a little give, so you could break them apart if need be. However, with the way the dogs could smell them, making them smaller was not required.

All About The Taste Of It

No matter how simple a treat can be, the true test of success is how much the dogs like it. It's safe to say, when the

dogs saw me removing these from the bag, I had their complete attention. They would stay motionless in anticipation. And when the time came, boy, did they down it. Their wasn't one dissatisfied dog in the house.

The Final Verdict

Primal Treats are an excellent choice for your dog. Although, it's a small-size package, it's good to know that you are giving your dog a healthy treat that can last awhile if you give it as an occasional treat. Like organic treats, quality is to be considered before price when deciding on this treat. However, if you're seeking a treat that is tasty and healthy at the same time, this is the way to go. A special thanks to the folks from Chewy.com for making this review possible.

Let's Discuss!

What do you love most when you give your dogs freeze-dried treats?

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Primal Chicken Shredders Review
Orijen Lamb Freeze-Dried Treats Review

The Dogs Were Rescued...A Book Review

Recently released on October 7th, The Dogs Were Rescued (and so was I) isn't your typical rescue story. Why, because there's so much more to it. The writer Teresa J. Rhyne, has a voice that is very honest. You learn about her love for her beloved Seamus, wine and longtime love Chris.

At first, one thinks they are going to read about dog rescue. However, this book is more about discovering oneself through your dog's eyes. It shows how going the extra mile for your dog, can trickle over into their human's life. It shows how passion for a lifestyle grows from one incident.

If there's one thing that separates this book from others in it's class, it's the unvarnished truth the author presents about fighting cancer, how the Beagle Freedom Project has saved so many dogs, finding oneself and making choices that define your life without losing yourself in the process.

It's a book about discovery and really opens one's eyes to many topics we tend to ignore because they can be uncomfortable. Reading this sheds light on the effects of animal testing on dogs, how vegans don't fall into one stereotype and that as messy as life can get, one always finds a way to navigate through it.

This book is highly recommended for those love non-fiction with an unusual twist.

Solid Gold Jerky Treats Review

It's not everyday I get to review a product like this. When Chewy.com sent these to me, I was thrilled. My dogs have always loved beef jerky and these treats from Solid Gold got all of them excited.

Normally, I will give the pros and cons. So here goes. There are a whole lot of pros including the fact, the dogs loved the taste, the treats come in cute little squares, and they have unusual ingredients like rosemary, cinnamon and tapioca. Every single one of my dogs loved it and the only proof I have of that is the lack of pictures you see here. As you can see, there aren't many because it lasted about two days between the five pooches. The only downside I can see is that these treats, like all jerky treats cost a little more. However, they are on sale at Chewy.com so it balances out.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a tasty treat for your dogs that has a more healthy bend to it, these treats are not to be missed.

Let's Discuss!

What treat have you given your dogs over the years that has been a sure thing?

Primal Chicken Shredders Review

One thing my dogs live for is treats. Whenever they see that bag opening, they bark with excitement. This month's review is a product called Primal Chicken Shredders. I received them courtesy of the folks from Chewy.com. The fact that these were organic and limited ingredient was very appealing since my dogs can be fussy about their treats.

At First Glance

When I first opened the bag, the chicken pieces came in a generous size. Because of their lined texture, they are easy to break into smaller pieces. There also were little shreds left in the bad which can be used a topper for your dog's food after all of the treats were gone. It has a natural brown color from slow roasting and then being freeze-dried. As you can see, two of my dogs--Gigi and Fancy--couldn't wait to have theirs.

The Test

Well, considering I have five dogs and the bag was just four ounces, these went very quickly. The dogs absolutely loved them. They ate them fast and there was no turning of the head. Other processed treats will render that result with my dogs, especially Gigi, who can be particularly discriminating in her taste.

The Final Verdict

I highly recommend these treats. They are sure to please even the most finicky dogs. They have grain-free and gluten-free and limited ingredients which is gentler on your dog's stomach. Hopefully, down the road, they'll have larger sizes available for people like me who have five dogs.The only downside I saw was the price. At $12.39 USD, that can be high for a four ounce bag like this. However, Chewy.com has them on sale for $7.99 USD, which is quite reasonable for high-quality organic treats.

Let's Discuss!

What is your favorite treat to give your dog? How do you feel about organic treats?

It's All Related!

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Orijen Lamb Freeze-Dried Treats Review

Honest Kitchen Nuzzles Review

I always embrace the opportunity to review treats. When I received the chance from Chewy.com, to review Honest Kitchen Nuzzles, I jumped at the chance.

At First Glance

I was really excited when I received these treats. The duck and cherry combo wasn't one I was familiar with, but I knew my dogs would always be up for trying new things. The heart shapes were adorable. They were small enough for my dogs like Gigi and Harry and big enough to satisfy a dog like Fancy.

This is a product that's environmentally-friendly and sturdy enough to keep the treats from breaking.I also was impressed that they have very few ingredients in it. Most of it is natural. Which is good for dogs because you don't have to worry about preservatives. Being a biscuit, it's good for the dogs to chomp away and keeps the tartar on their teeth to a minimum.

All About The Taste

Taste is important in a treat. It's what keeps dogs going back for more and brings loyalty. Meet my friendly treat-tester Gigi. She's my little Shi-Poo who has a discriminating palette that has her barking for joy when she loves something and turns her head away when she's not interested. When I gave them to her, she first took them in and observed (as you can see pictured right). It took awhile but she warmed up to them. The other dogs ate them as well, but not with as much enthusiasm as they do for treats like jerky treats.

The Final Analysis

I recommend these treats. They don't have the flash of a soft treat but it's something to consider when you want to give your dog a healthier biscuit than your typical commercial variety. The low ingredients is going to be more easy on a dog's stomach, especially if they're sensitive. And, you will feel better about it. Thank you again to Chewy.com for making this review possible.

Let's Discuss!

Have you tried the Honest Kitchen Variety? What healthy treats do you love giving your dogs?

It's All Related!

A Treat for Gigi

Natural Balance Dental Chews Review

A Chew For All Dogs

Dental chews are always a challenge for me to review. When you have a dog like Harry, our Chinese Crested dog, who

has has very few teeth. My dog Homer doesn't like a toothbrush anywhere near his teeth. When Chewy.com gave me the chance to review these Natural Balance Dental Chews, I jumped at the chance.

At First Glance

In the past, I've usually given my dogs Greenies, which they absolutely love. Opening these out of the bag, I learned that these were more brownish in color. They also weren't as soft and flexible as the other dental treats I had given my dogs. I also thought the ridges on top were unique. The size of the treats were medium which were good for the smaller dogs like Cookie, Gigi and Harry and the larger dogs like Homer and Fancy. The one thing that couldn't be done was trying to break them in half. It was something you couldn't do with your hands

All About The Taste

So, really when you're thinking about it, it's all about how dogs like things. When I gave these to them, the dogs didn't lift their heads and tore right into them. They are grain-free so they are easier on your dog's stomach. Even Harry didn't have difficulty chewing them. Although they didn't pass Gigi's taste specifications, the other dogs really enjoyed them.

The Final Analysis

I'd recommend these treats for dogs considering that my dogs who liked them at them with enthusiasm. If your dog is finicky, you may want to tread with caution. They are a nice alternative to Greenies and cost a little bit less so those qualities balance each other out.

Let's Discuss!

Do you give your dogs dental chews?What kind of dental chews do your dog love?

Simple Solution Stain + Odor Remover

Hi Everyone. I know it has been eons since I've last written a post. A lot has happened to me in recent months. One of the things is I am engaged and planning to get married before the end of the year. Even though it's going to be a hectic time, I will still try to get out more posts in a more consistent fashion than before.

When I received the opportunity from my friends at Chewy.com to review pet stain remover, I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. Living in a house with multiple dogs, means major stains find their way to our carpet and fabrics easily.

So I decided to try this on two types of fabric. The first was a carpet stain and the second was an upholstery stain. What I liked about it was that it's easy to use. It's also made with a more natural solution which won't wear out the fabrics as much. You just have to saturate the stain and there's no rinsing needed. All you have to do is soak it up with a clean cloth to finish removing the stain.

What I didn't like about this when the stain is really soaked in, when it dried, there was still remnants of the odor left over. You can see the results from the pictures below.

Stain 1 Before

Stain 1 After

Stain 2 Before

The Final Verdict

While this formula of cleaner isn't as strong as some others on the market, I still give it 3 out of 5 stars. Also, the price is very reasonable for the size of product you're getting. I like the fresh scent and think it's ideal for lighter stains, however, I'd recommend the extreme version for the tougher ones. Again, a special thank you to Chewy.com for making this review possible.

Let's Discuss!

What do you like best when it comes to getting the pet stains out? Do you use anything special?

Newman's Own Organic Snack Sticks

Newman's Own Chicken and Sweet Potato Snack Sticks

Having five dogs in one household has its advantages and drawbacks. One of the advantages is that when you give them a new treat, you'll get different types of feedback. One of the drawbacks is that an average size bag of treats never lasts long. That's why I was really excited for the pooches to try the Newman's Own Chicken and Sweet Potato Snack Sticks. A bag was provided to me to review courtesy of Chewy.com.

Newman's Own Snack Sticks At First Glance

Looking at these when I took them out of the bag, I liked that they were soft, but still had some structure. I also noticed that the treats had grooves which made them easier to measure and break in half for our smaller dogs. They also had a grainy texture which made me think of organic treats versus natural treats.

The Taste

Sometimes, my dogs are iffy with treats that have sweet potatoes in them but in this case, that couldn't be further

from the truth. Fancy (pictured right) ate her treat with relish. She really chomped away in paradise. What I liked even better is that not one dog had a bad reaction on their digestive system. Finally the true indicator of how good these treats were was the fact that they lasted in our house for only two days.

Summing It All Up!

I would highly recommend these treats as an alternative to beef or chicken jerky. Chicken is the first ingredient listed on the bag, which is a nice change to having treats that feature chicken by-products as their main ingredient. Because they are made organically, there's only 11 ingredients that go into each snack stick. It's a good option to also consider if your dog is prone to allergies or has a sensitive stomach. They also are free of corn and wheat by using barley flour instead.

Sold for about $4USD, you can find the Newman's Own Organic Snack Sticks at many brick and mortar stores as well as online. A special thank you to Chewy.com for making this review possible.

Let's Discuss!

What's your favorite organic treat you give your dog?

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The Skier And The Billionaire

The Stray Dog Epidemic In Sochi

I always get excited when I hear about the olympics. I love to see the ice skating, skiing and snowboarding. I'm also simply blown away by the aerials. But imagine my surprise when I heard that the Russian officials in Sochi found that by killing off all the stray dogs, it would help alleviate the nuisance. How were they doing this? By poisoning these innocent animals that nobody wanted. Killing dogs in that way is very inhumane as it causes a long, painful death.

Unlike wild dogs, many of these strays were given up by families who didn't want them anymore. They are not mean and fierce but rather gentle and sweet. The one good thing about this story is that it's raised the world's awareness about the stray dog epidemic.

Gus Kenworthy

Who is Gus Kenworthy (pictured above)? He's an American silver medalist of the slope style event. Slope style is one of the newest events this year and is very exciting to watch. It's a cross between skiing and skateboarding, since it requires riding over metal rails, a trick that many skateboarders have done for years.

If many of you haven't heard, Gus came across this adorable family of strays. The mother was fiercely protective of her pups so instead of bringing one dog home with him, he's bringing home the mother and her four pups. At a young age of 22 years old, he is a lifelong dog lover who has made a very admirable decision to bring them home.

He's not just talking the talk but walking the walk. He has stayed behind to help fill out the paperwork and arrange their travel itineraries to get them home to Denver, while he's finishing up press tours this week in New York. He's also being assisted by Oleg Deripaska, a russian billionaire to help facilitate the paperwork.He's inspired other Olympians as well, including fellow snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis and a few of the players from the US Hockey team.He plans on giving the extra pups to family and friends once he comes back to Denver.

Oleg Deripaska

More people will know this billionaire from the pages of Forbes as opposed to the Olympics. He's a billionaire who made his fortune in the aluminum industry and is now CEO for the United Company RUSAL, Russia's largest aluminum company. He decided to build an animal shelter to help combat the stray problem in Sochi.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Both of these men have gone the extra mile to help these dogs. In a world where so many dogs can't be saved, it's nice to know that this bunch will have that chance.

Let's Discuss!

How do you feel about the stray problem in Sochi