We are excited to announce a new flavor of dog treats for Autumn –
Happy Harvest Superfoods! – Bite-Size Drops!
Back when I opened my online shop last winter, another company had contacted me about trying and reviewing their dog treats. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to review other treats while selling my own, but I was intrigued because their treats were superfood-based, that was their “thing”. As it turned out, I never heard from them again, but I had it in my mind then that I’d like to do a similar thing. When I started to do more research on superfoods for dogs, I realized I was already using a lot of those ingredients in not just Luke’s homemade meals, but in my dog cookie recipes as well.
But I still wanted to do something special with those, and even wrote a whole post on the subject: “Our 10 Favorite Superfoods for Dogs“. Since I grow a lot of these fruits and veggies in our own garden, harvest time seemed like the perfect time to do it. I knew I wanted kale to be at least one of the ingredients, since it is one of our crops that has done quite well! Hubby and I don’t eat a lot of kale ourselves, I have just a couple favorite recipes with it, so I mostly grow it for Luke and for the farm birds. I chose other ingredients that we grow: carrots, blueberries, apples. While not all the ingredients come from our own garden (our crops are small), right now I am using our own kale and carrots. That’s why I decided to make it a seasonal recipe for autumn.
It’s my opinion that anything we make is only as good as the ingredients we put into it, so I’m constantly on the lookout for better and fresher ingredients to put in our cookies if I don’t grow it here. Therefore, I want to source as many ingredients as I can either on our own farm or locally wherever possible. We only have a few blueberry bushes as well, but those are now gone by. That’s why I went to a local organic blueberry farm and picked almost 7 pounds of blueberries back in July! They freeze well and I can use them all winter in our other flavor of dog treats, Blueberry & Banana.
We do have our own apple trees, but the apples are pretty small! It would be too labor intensive to make my own applesauce, so I buy my applesauce from a company in Vermont called Vermont Village. It is made in small batches, USDA organic and Non-GMO Project verified. I use oat flour as a base for all our recipes; I get the oats from Maine via amazon.com and grind them into flour myself. Coconut oil – also a superfood, would be tough to source locally! But I found one on amazon that I like, and it is virgin, cold-pressed, and also USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. I use Ceylon cinnamon, which is said to be the only true cinnamon, unlike what we normally buy in the stores (called Cassia). I buy that in bulk, also from amazon, made by a company in Iowa. It is USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified. I hope to source my ginger from them as well in the future.
Of course, one thing that always comes from our own farm is eggs, which by the way, are also considered a superfood! I’m particular about what I make for Luke, and I’m particular about what I make for other people’s dogs as well!
It’s all well and good, of course, but in the end, Barking Dog Farm dog Luke has to approve anything new around here!
Thank goodness he does! Along with our new recipe, we will also have our Pumpkin Spice and Apple ‘n Spice cookies available from now through Thanksgiving! We offer free shipping to the contiguous USA states for all orders over $10, so we hope that you will visit our online shop soon!
We are joining our friends at Comedy Plus for the Awww Mondays blog hop. Please visit them and other blogs through the links below!
Wow, that is an incredible amount of research you do to get the perfect organic, USA made, and certified safe if not your own ingredients, etc Jan!! The new flavor sounds so tasty! I just love Luke’s expressions, what a doll!
Thank you, Lynn! Luke does his best posing and expressions when there is a treat in front of him. LOL
Those look ‘wagnificent.’ Well done!
Thank you!
Those sound yummy! I hate that Pierre can only eat his prescription treats. It makes it so hard not to give them special treats like yours!
Aw, we wish he could try them too!
You are the luckiest dog, Luke. What a job, being a taste-tester for your mom’s wonderful creations! I wish that we could partake but R has a serious issue with metabolizing grains so we’ll hold off for now. I am sad about that… those sound so healthy and good!
We’re sad about that too, thank you. I’ve been thinking about trying some grain free recipes, so I’d better get on that. I’ll let you know!
Luke, how did you get the job of a taste tester? Inquiring cat minds want to know.
I was just in the right place at the right time!! 🙂
I'[m pretty sure woofies like all wood. MOL!
Luke, you have a great job being the treat tester!
The pay is great!!
That looks good enough for me to eat! I think with that sweet face and your soft brown eyes, you could sell me on anything Luke!
Aw, you are so sweet!
You could actually eat these cookies, since I use all human-grade ingredients. However, they are a little dry, and not very sweet. LOL
Maybe I should start doing cookies for people too! Like I need something else to do right now….LOL!
You did a fabulous job! Luke approved can’t get much better than that!
Thank you! It’s good to have him for quality control. 🙂
Please keep us updated on those Apple and Pumpkin cookies, they sound just right for my pack!
Both the apple and pumpkin cookies are available in the shop now!
Luke is awdorable!
Thank you!!
YUM!! Those look super delicious! Lucky Luke!
He sure is!!
Your mom rocks, Luke. You’re such a huge Awww too. I’m very partial to you, but you already know that.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. My best to your hard working mom. ♥
Thank you!!!!
You are such a lucky boy Luke to have such a wonderful taste tester job!
He says “it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it”. LOL!
As a regular customer of your shop, I’m confident Ducky will love the new flavors! Just as she does the others! I’ll have to order some!!
I love the pix of Luke! The expressions on his face are priceless!!
Holding a treat right in front of him is the only way to keep him from closing his eyes when I’m taking photos. LOL
Thanks for being such a great customer! ♥
Congratulations on your very own shop, Janet! I just went ahead and placed an order for a lip balm for me and for the minty fresh treats with mint & parsley for Mr. Wally! Both sound amazing, and I love seeing homemade products. Can’t wait to get my hands/Wally’s paws on them 🙂
Thank you so much for your order, Barbara! We will get it on its way to you very soon! 🙂
oh they are not too small… and we love the look… pawfect to welcome fall !!!
Just the right size for a snack!
My mom says she should order them for her because they sound super tasty and perfect for cooler weather.
I did try these, and they weren’t too bad! However, your Mom would definitely need a cup of coffee or a big glass of milk, because they are pretty dry! 🙂
They sound so yummy! You are so lucky that you have a mom who bakes for you, Luke!
Don’t I know it!!
Love, Luke