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

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?

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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?

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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Natural Balance Holiday Pack Review

I've always been a big believer in variety packs. They give you a lot for your dog, and there will be at least something they'll enjoy. That's why I jumped at the chance to review the Natural Balance Holiday Pack. This is a great gift for the dog lover in your life. I received my holiday pack courtesy ofChewy.com.

This package gives your dog the ultimate variety with the Natural Balance dog food roll. I've had my dogs try this a few times. Sometimes, I give it alone and other times, I mix it in with their food. No matter which way they eat. Then, there's the canned food. Most dogs just love having their daily dose of canned food with their dry food. They tried the Natural Balance Canned food and surely goobled it up. Then there's the treats. The dogs enjoyed them but they weren't jumping for joy every time I brought them out. I would say they are better than average and especially ideal for dogs who fare best with limited ingredient products.

Summing It All Up

I think this is a great gift idea. It's ideal for a friend or relative's pooch. It's also a smart way to introduce your dog to new foods without having a long-term commitment. It's relatively inexpensive costing $5.99 for dogs and $3.99 for cats. To learn more about these packs, you can find them at the Chewy.com website. It's nice to know that with the hecticness of the season, that some gift ideas aren't that hard.

Let's Discuss!

What kind of pet gifts are you going to look for this holiday season?

Organix Organic Dog Cookie Review And Giveaway

I'm always up for having a new treat to try out on my dogs. This month, Chewy.com was

generous enough to give me these treats by Organix to try on the pooches. When I first received the package in the mail, I realized that there was a substantial amount of cookies in the 12 ounce package (340 grams). They were made to be slightly larger than a quarter and looked like itty bitty vanilla wafers. When I compared them to the size of a quarter, they were slightly larger (pictured right). I also liked that the smaller size would mean that they would last longer with the five dogs that live here.

The Taste Test

One thing that's great about having such different dogs is that they have equally diverse taste. All the dogs, especially Gigi, have been partial to cheese products so I thought to choose the cheddar cheese flavor. The first time, all of the dogs seemed to like it. Yet, after subsequent tastings, Fancy would turn her snout at them. As much as Fancy loves bread and cheese, these didn't float her boat for some reason. It could be the size of the treat since Fancy is so large, and the treats for her were the equivalent of eating a tic tac.

Even though these were a no go with Fancy, I still would like to recommend them. For one, I like that these treats are organic. It's good to know that they use the purest ingredients for them and not commercial grade. My true taste barometers are Cookie and Homer. Since both of them are notorious for loving anything and everything about food, if they don't like it, then the dog treat falls into the lost cause department. The fact that Gigi loved them, knowing how finicky her taste buds can be, is what puts these treats into recommendation territory.

Summing It Up

I recommend these as a healthy alternative. They are certified organic. Another good thing about them is the fact that they're made in the US, which will keep the treats fresher longer. They are ideal for most dogs but are not for every dog, especially if your dog has a choosy pallet.

The Organix Giveaway

Here's a way to win some for your doggies. Fill out the giveaway form below for your dog(s) to indulge in an organic treat from Chewy.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let's Discuss!

What kind of organic treats do you love giving your dog?

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Merrick Jerky Strips Review
Orijen Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Halo Healthsome Review

Merrick Jerky Strips Review

Dogs just to seem love jerky. Anytime, I have jerky, my dogs get so excited. It does have a strong scent and is easy to digest. They had no rawhide in them, which is better for the dogs' digestive systems.

Jerky strips in general don't have the coloring added to them that you find in other dog treats. These by Merrick are grain-free. That's why I had no problem when I was asked by Chewy.com to review their Merrick Jerky Strips in Natural Beef. I'd like to thank Chewy.com for providing the complimentary treats for review.

At First Glance

When I first opened the package, the biggest difference I noticed was the texture. Instead of being soft and flexible,

these were hard. It made them easy to break into even pieces to give to the smaller dogs, but in truth, I was perplexed by this. But in the end, as long as the dogs loved it, that's all that really mattered.

The Real Test

It was time to give the Jerky Strips to the ones who really knew what worked and what didn't--my dogs. Gigi, as always couldn't contain her excitement enough. She loved it. So did Cookie and Homer. Fancy is such a big girl, she'll eat anything. So the true test was Harry, our Chinese Crested dog who is pretty much toothless.

All of the dogs loved it. Even our big girl Fancy, who can down a treat in milliseconds took her time to enjoy this treat. She held it between her paws and chomped away.

Final Recommendation

Even though these treats are a little on the pricey side ($5.99 for 2.5 ounces), I think they are good to give your dogs when you want an alternative to rawhide treats. They also make a smart choice for dogs who have sensitive stomachs. Do I think they are good enough replace the soft jerky treats? Not really. I think they don't beat the original soft treats but are nice to give once in a while when you are looking for a little variety or change of pace from the usual.

Let's Discuss!

What are your thoughts about this treat? Do you like giving beef jerky to your dogs?

Orijen Freeze-Dried Dog Food Review

Many dog owners these days have switched over to freeze-dried food from commercial food. It's healthier and the ingredients are pure. Dog food that has been freeze-dried is first vaporized and then frozen at a low temperature to keep a bit of moisture in to make the food easy to prepare.

Freeze-dried is preferred over dehydrated food to keep the ultimate amount of nutrition in the food. Today's dog food I'll be talking about is Orijen Adult Freeze-Dried Food in the Adult Dog variety. I chose the Adult Dog variety since it had the best mix of foods which included meat, fish, fresh fruits, berries and grasses. It's a good choice for dogs who are diabetic too. A six-ounce bag was provided to me courtesy of Chewy.com.

Orijen Freeze-Dried Food - Adult Dog

Since I have five dogs, instead of giving the patties as a meal, I used it as a food topper. Using the patties in this method is similar to giving them a nutrition supplement. Instead of mixing their dry food with their usual Mighty dog, I used the patties instead. Because my dogs are different sizes, I gave patties to them as follows:

• Cookie - 2 patties
• Gigi = 1 patty
• Homer - 2 patties
• Harry - 1 patty
• Fancy - 4 patties

With there being 12 patties in a bag, this had two left over. The dogs loved the food. I'm always hesitant to try

new foods because Gigi (pictured with me left) is still battling bladder stones and is sensitive to certain foods. Also Harry is limited with what he can chew.

The Results

It was prepared as directed on the package. I mixed each patty with 1/4 cup of water. I then broke down the patties into small pieces and added both the broken-up patty and its water on top of their food. All of the dogs loved it. Not one wound up lifting their head from their bowl. The only problem I ran into was with Harry. Since Harry doesn't have many teeth, the food once was liquified tended to stick together. So, in order to make it easier for Harry, I mixed it up a little more to make it easier.

Another alternative would have been to give Harry the patty dry. That way, it would still be soft enough to chew without it needing to stick together. All in all, this is a good alternative to those dog owners who don't mind the extra cost that comes with this type of feeding. The dogs all loved it and it didn't last long in my house. It's also nice to give to your dogs when you need a break from the usual routine

Let's Discuss!

Please share below your thoughts on freeze-dried food. What's your favorite brand? How does it work for your dog?

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Halo Healthsome Review

Halo Healthsome Review

Earlier this month, I received a bag of Halo Healthsome dog treats in Beef and Liver from Chewy.com. I am lucky to have the best doggie taste tester in Gigi. She's a girl with a sensitive stomach and is very selective about what she chooses. Also, having five dogs makes it easy to see if a treat will please them all, since they all are very different from each other.

What's Good About This

One thing that stood out on the package was the fact that the biscuits were oven baked. Many biscuits are processed and contain fillers. Healthsome do not. This makes a difference with dogs like my Gigi, who's naturally sensitive to certain treats. They were also easy to break in half for our smaller dogs.

Upon giving this to Gigi, she did her routine sniffing of the biscuits and then proceeded to eat it like usual. It didn't upset her stomach. As for the other dogs, Harry, our Chinese Crested loved it too. Chinese Crested dogs are notorious for having bad teeth. We have to be careful of what we give Harry for treats because of this. He can eat most treats, but not ones similar to bones.

The Final Result

These treats turned out to be very popular with all the dogs. They loved them. I recommend these to dog owners who are looking for a more healthy biscuit than your average commercial fare.

Let's Discuss!

How does your dog like Halo Healthsome?

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Natural Balance Jerky Bark Review
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Natural Balance Jerky Bark Review

When I first heard about Jerky Bark I first thought I was getting a type of jerky that's flavored in sweet potato and fish from Chewy.com that's similar to beef jerky. In actuality, when looking at them up close up and I realized that it was anything but a beef jerky replica.

It's much thicker than a regular jerky treat, roughly 1/4 inch. It comes in four flavor varieties which include: fish & sweet potato, chicken & sweet potato, duck & potato and lamb & brown rice. It's also a harder texture than regular jerky. It resembles the bark of a tree. It's easy to break into smaller pieces and having five dogs around, that's not an easy task.

So How Does It Taste?

The dog I was most worried most about was Gigi. With her sensitive stomach, she will turn her head to certain treats. That's why I was happy to see that this was a limited ingredient treat (L.I.T.). With only 10 ingredients, I knew exactly what was in the treat. Sure enough, Gigi loved eating the dog treat.

I was also worried about our Chinese Crested, Harry. Harry is a dog that has very few teeth. It's a common thing in the Chinese Crested breed that those dogs tend to lose their teeth easily. Happily, Harry ate the treat with no difficulty.

As for the other three, they will eat just about anything. Cookie, Homer and Fancy loved it as well. Anytime I pulled them out, all of them sat with excitement in anticipation.

Final Recommendation

I recommend this treat as an alternative to a regular jerky treat. This treat is ideal for helping to keep tartar down and dogs simply love it. Again, I'd like to send a huge thank you to the folks at Chewy.com, for making this review possible.

Let's Discuss!

Have your dogs tried these treats? What limited ingredient treats do you like making for your dogs?

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The Blender

I bet you think this is about a dog who can operate a blender. While it may be a great guess, this is actually about the news.

I was looking at the news on the net and came across not one but three stories that really stood out. Being Friday, I like my stories to be light. However, sometimes the news just can't wait till the weekend's up. Anyhow, I found a mix of all kinds to share with you before the weekend starts.

THE GOOD

Photo by the Daily Mail

Sabi, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever who worked with the Australian Military, was thought to have been gone for good. 14 months ago, she was lost in the Afghanistan desert while in the midst of a battle. It's very rare for a dog to survive by itself but Sabi not only survived but came back in excellent health. So good in fact, it's believed that she was cared for by a human during that time.

She was initially found by an American soldier who could tell she was a military dog. It was an amazing stroke of luck that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had made a surprise visit the same day the dog's announcement was to be made. After she passes veterinary tests, Sabi will be sent back to her Australian homeland to live and enjoy life as a retired military dog. For more on the story, find it here.

THE SAD

Some of you may remember Oreo. She was the dog who was thrown of a Brooklyn roof last June. After surviving two broken legs and a broken rib, the incident had affected her in the worst possible way. It turns out that she is too aggressive to be adopted. She was given the best care, had therapy for two months and seen by a specialist. None of that was enough to keep her from growling and snapping at her handler.

Photo by Hiroko Masuike

With all the inquiries about adoption, it's a shame that this dog was too traumatized to trust people ever again. The ASPCA did everything they could to rehabilitate her, but it just was not enough. The only silver lining I can find is that the person responsible pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on December 1st.
Read the Associated Press article.

THE TRIUMPHANT

Another story in the news that caught my eye was the story of Kaleb Drew. He was the 6-year-old boy who could not have his service dog for autism at his school. Today, the Illinois Court allowed him to have Chewy accompany him to his school.

Personally, I think this is a good thing. Service dogs are taught to serve and they are taught to protect. This will teach kids that dogs aren't just a pet, and that they do special jobs just as some human beings do.

Photo by Robin Scholz for the St. Louis Dispatch

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I hope you found these as worthwhile as I did. What are your thoughts on any of these stories? Thanks for stopping in and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.