Dog treat business spotlight

Thinking about starting a dog treat business?

Want to expand on your hobby of making homemade dog treats?

Can't decide on a good name?

Would you like to see how others are packaging dog treats? 

Just need a little inspiration or motivation?

Dog treat business spotlight

Follow the link to MarketingDogTreats.com where we post interviews with independent dog treat business owners from our dog bakery community.

As of this date, you can read about:

• The Gourmet Greyhound
• Baron & Henry's Homemade Dog Treats
• The Pawtastic Barkery

We have many more exciting stories coming!

Who knows? Maybe you will be next.

Gluten Free Dog Treats

Gluten free dog treats are necessary for those pets that are gluten intolerant or have a gluten allergy. 

In dog breeds, the Irish Setter is known to have a genetic predisposition to developing celiac disease - a condition causing damage to the small intestine so that certain nutrients cannot be absorbed. 

Gluten free dog treats may be what your dog needs

Sufferers of celiac sprue, as it is called, cannot eat wheat, rye or barley, foods containing gluten. It is the body's reaction to gluten that leads to the intestinal dysfunction. 

If your dog is gluten intolerant, we have a nice dog treat recipe to share with you so that you can make your own dog treats if you desire. 

Easy recipe for gluten free treats for dogs - click here:

Gluten Free Tropical Doggie Treats courtesy Tami's Bow Wow Treats
in Daytona Beach, FL.

If you would like to order some gluten free treats already made by a dog bakery, so that you do not have to worry about the ingredients and whether or not you can include them, we would be happy to help you locate a trustworthy dog treat business.

Click here to learn more about what gluten is and the purpose it serves: gluten free dog treats.

P.S. Fido's Frosting dog treat icing is gluten free.

Making Dog Treats

Want to learn about making dog treats? You are invited for dog treat recipes, business tips, networking, making new friends who share your interests, and more! Click "Homemade Dog Treats Facebook Group" now to become a member! It's free and carries no obligations.

Making homemade dog treats is always a fun activity! Plus...you are guaranteed that someone will enjoy everything you bake!

Making dog treats

The "Homemade Dog Treats Facebook Group" was started in August, 2012, as a networking and gathering place for those who share the passion or the interest of baking for dogs. As of this post we have over 200 members from around the world, and more join every day. 

The group is moderated by Frosting Fran from K9Cakery.com, and an expert crafter, Theresa The Scrapbooking Queen. But don't let the group name dissuade you. You do not have to make dog treats at home to join! We also share craft making ideas and how to make cat treats too! 

We share dog treat recipes, information about dog nutrition, craft ideas, dog treat business tips for beginners and those already in the business, strategy for marketing dog treats, pricing, selling and more. The group is comprised of those starting out in business, veteran business people, expert cake decorators, people who have never decorated before, and others who are just curious. 

If you need motivation, you will definitely find it here. If you need interesting recipe ideas, you will definitely find them here. If you want to "meet" like-minded people who do not think that baking dog treats and cakes for dogs is strange behavior, this is the right place to be.

All you have to do is request an invite by clicking the red link above. We hope you will join us!

If you would prefer to stay in touch but not be in a group, simply sign up to follow this blog. I regularly post easy dog treat recipes, photos, and other interesting information that comes from the group with due credit given. 

Dog Snack Recipe For "Pup"tato Chips

We bring you this easy dog snack recipe courtesy of GZ Pet Treats.

Popular dog snacks currently popping up on dog treat menus is what dog treat businesses lovingly call "pup"tato chips, which is a play on potato chips for dogs. This dog treat is easy to make and your dog will love it. It makes a chewy dog snack, and is much healthier and safer than rawhide.

Potato chips for dogs

Make them by the bagful and share with your dog lover friends.

What you need:

• White sweet potatoes - you can use white potatoes, orange sweet potatoes, or yams in the same recipe. This post is written at Thanksgiving time and white sweet potatoes are in abundance in the grocery stores.

Directions:

• Cut the potatoes into round slices
• Coat in bacon grease - this helps to preserve them
• Dehydrate for 4 hours

If you do not have a dehydrator, all you have to do is set your oven to 200 degrees F - and simply bake at this low heat setting for 4 hours or more, depending on how dry you want them. A dehydrator will take out all of the moisture and  make them crispy. If you leave a little moisture in, they will be crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. 

See Sweet Potato Chews For Dogs for another easy dog treat recipe using potatoes. Dogs love the chewiness!

Dog Treat Business Ideas For Finding Customers

Looking for new dog treat business ideas of where to sell your treats for dogs? Best place for small dog bakeries to start is in your own neighborhood.

More and more small businesses that cater to dog owners are coming onto the scene. There are two main factors for this: the pet business has proven itself to be recession proof, and over half of U.S. families own dogs. 

Dog cupcakes decorated with
Fido's Frosting

As a small dog treat baker, you have a product that these businesses don't have time to make: homemade dog treats! Fresh treats always smell delicious. 

Some examples of local dog businesses to partner with include:

• Dog groomers
• Dog trainers
• Pet hotels and spas
• Dog daycare facilities
• Boarding facilities
• Veterinarians
• Pet stores
• Dog rescue organizations 
• Petsitters

What to do:

• Make up a batch of your most amazing dog treats and arrange them as a gorgeous display on a tray, plate, box, etc. You are going to show these off!
• Place more treats in a box or bag tied up with a nice ribbon - make sure you have a label with your contact information on it. You are going to leave these as a gift.
• Make a list of all the dog businesses close by that you can visit. You want to concentrate on those that you can easily access. Walk down down the busiest street in town and you will probably come across quite a few.
• Find out when the owner or someone in charge will be available. You can happen to be walking by with your treats (when customers are present so they can see your treats too!)
• You want to build a relationship with the business. Think of how their business would be a more amazing place if they featured your treats. How can they show off their services better than their competitors? For example, a retail store, a daycare or boarding facility, a vet - could feature you and your fresh treats. Ask if you can set up a table. Offer to advertise your presence while advertising their business to help bring in traffic.  
• Find pet sitters and groomers who want to offer treats as a thank you gift. Offer to make up treats in nice packages. You would then put your business name along with theirs on the package. 
• Offer to bake a dog birthday cake for loyal customers. (The business would pay you for the cake of course.)

For this type of marketing, you want to find small businesses that make their own decisions. As a small business, you can be creative with your efforts and try new ideas. Corporations do not have this flexibility. 

The idea is to help these small businesses stand out in the minds of their customers. Help them to offer a service that the big stores cannot. This is your mission, should you decide to accept it!

For more ideas for small business marketing for your pet business, join us in the Facebook group Homemade Dog Treats.