A Glance at 2011::Best Pet Products

If you're like me, you are always on the lookout for the best pet products for your pet. Good products can be expensive, but well worth it for our four-legged friends. Every year 100 top vets from various cities Nationwide come together and nominate their favorite new pet products. So, without further ado, below are the Top 8 Pet Products for 2011. Enjoy!

1. The myChase-It Toy for Dogs - www.mychaseit.com
The myChase-It is an interactive toy for dogs. It utilizes a flexible rod, ergonomic handle and bungee squirrel with squeakers inside for indoor and outdoor play, exercise and training with your four-legged friend. Cost: $24.95-$29.95

2. The Lickety Stik Treat for Dogs - www.petsafe.net
The Lickerty Stik is a lickable pet treat for dogs. They are specially designed roller-ball dispenses all natural liquid treats for dogs to enjoy without the sticky mess. The tidy roller-ball is designed makes it great for rewarding your dogs while on-the-go. Cost: $8.99

3. The Hear Doggy Ultrasonic Plush Toys for Dogs - www.quakerpetgroup.com
The Hear Doggy is the only ultrasonic toy that your dog can hear, but you can't. Each toy is tuned to the ultrasonic frequency of your dogs hearing range which makes it out of the human hearing range, but your pup is sure to go wild for this toy! Cost: $12.99

4. The Catit Design Fresh and Clear Drinking Fountain - www.hagen.com
This product provides a continuous supply of fresh and clean drinking water for your pet. Its large surface areas adds oxygen to the water for a fresher taste. It's also replaceable purifying filter collects food, hair and debris to help reduce bad taste, odor and impurities that is present in tap water. Cost: $50.00

5. The Hidden Hollow Fantasy Forest for Cats - www.athiddenhollow.com
The Fantasy Forest is the ultimate extravagance for spoiled cats. Each life-like, lixure tree is handcrafter in the USA with a 100 % wood frame created to blend in with your decor. The personality customized trees are great for cats to climb, hide, lounge, play and sleep on. Cost: $399-$1,629.

6. The Tagg Pet Tracker - www.tagg.com
The Tagg pet tracking system uses advanced GPS tracking technology to allow you to see where your dog is and receive a notification if he or she wanders off. The lightweight tracker attaches to your dog's existing collar and is designed to be worn at all times, even while swimming. The starter kit is $99.95 and comes with everything you need. The starter kit also includes one month of free service. After 30 days, you will be charged $7.95 per month. You can cancel at any time.

7. The Vivid Illuminated Pet Collar - www.companyofanimals.com
Vivid is an illuminating safety collar designed to keep your dog safe and visible at night. The super bright white LEDs have four light settings and the collar's padded, water-resistant design means it can be worn all the time. Cost: $15.99

8. The Aikiou Stimulo Cat Feeding Station - www.aikiou.com
The Stimulo bowl was developed to allow cats to use their natural hunting and foraging skills indoors when eating. Food is hidden inside the bowl's many tubes, which cats can access by using their paws and exercising problem-solving instincts. Cost: $24.95

Have any of these products? Plan to purchase one? Share on our wall so others can hear!

Divine Dog Treats wishes you a Happy New Year! Thank you for your support in 2011, we look forward to providing many more wonderful treats for your K9 in 2012!

Pets in Bed:: Not a Huge Risk

With winter here, nothing sounds better than beating the cold by snuggling with our furry pets in our warm beds. As a dog owner, I’m not alone; recent surveys reveal that a majority of pet owners admit that their dogs and cats sleep with them in their beds. 

But a recent study reported in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases and conducted by Bruno B. Chomel, DVM, PhD, of the University of California, Davis, and Ben Sun, DVM, of the California Department of Health suggested that sleeping with pets can put folks at risk for a myriad of diseases, including bubonic plague and MRSA, a drug resistant staph infection.

Now that my husband and I have been sleeping with Dexter in bed for some time now, this study or the risk of disease still didn’t make me kick the dog out of bed.

“I believe 99 percent of people who sleep with their pets would not kick their pets out based on the news of this study,” said Dr. Mike Cavanaugh, DVM and executive director of the American Animal Hospital Association in Lakewood, Colorado. “The human-animal bond is very strong and I wouldn’t expect that they would change their routine based on the results of one research paper.”

Just how great is the risk? Will you become infected by your pet sleeping in bed with you?

Most likely not, say the experts. To be precise, the risk of your pet transmitting a disease to you is low if he is properly cared for and if the person’s immune system is not compromised. 

Dr. Randall Bock, an M.D. in Revere, Massachusetts with 25 years of practice under his belt, said that his family’s dogs slept with his sons during their childhood for at least 10 years. Now, he said, they have a Corgi that doesn’t care to sleep in bed with him.

Bock said that his family never contracted any illness from the dogs, nor has he ever seen a patient that did. “I think that everyone slept better, including the dogs,” said Bock. 

The two most important things to consider, said Dr. Saundra E. Willis, DVM, DACVIM, and small animal internist in Phoenix Central Laboratory, is to make sure your immune system isn’t compromised and to make sure your pet is receiving regular exams by a vet.

“Special precautions should be made when pet owners are immunocompromised or there are very young children in the family, particularly when a pet has been diagnosed with a condition that may be zoonotic,” said Willis. “Regular fecal examinations and deworming are important.”

Additionally, common sense should rule when weighing the risk and reward of sleeping with your pets. Willis said pets should never be allowed to lick an open wound on their owners. (YUCK!) “Pets should not lick owners excessively anyway. Creams, particularly those containing estrogens, can be mildly irritating to outright dangerous to pets,” said Willis.

“Take care of the litter pan properly and clean up the yard and wash your hands,” he says. “Let common sense prevail and I don’t see a problem with letting your pets in the bed.”

Holidays + Guests

Christmas is almost here and we all know what that means... having guests over. As much as your dog is cute, obedient and funny, not all your guests will appreciate your dog's attention. If you are having guests not very fond of dogs over, you must prepare yourself and your dog. Nothing is worse than forcing your guests to meet your canine companion, no matter how lovable you think your dog can be. It is a fact of life that not all people in this world are dog lovers and it is a fact off life that forcing them to change their mind can only make things worse. Although some guests to your home will say they don't mind your dog jumping up at them or licking them, that is often not true. When you arrive at someone's home, you like to be greeted warmly -- but not so warmly you are knocked over backwards from an onslaught of bouncing, happy, slobbering dog. That is why it is important to teach your dog to greet guests politely. A dog can still be happy to meet a potential new friend without being overbearing and annoying.
The following are some tips to help make their visit a pleasant one.

• Crate Your Dog

If your guests fear your dog the best and most polite thing to do is to crate the dog. Minutes prior to their arrival therefore place your dog in a crate and keep him in a room far from your guests. Tell your guests they can relax because your dog is safely crated in another room. Keep the crate in a room you are sure your guests will not get close to away from the kitchen, living room and bath room. Fill up a Kong and place it in the crate to help your dog kill time.

• Place a Baby Gate

If you have a dog that is trust worthy, you can put up a baby gate so your dog can be kept away from your guests. This way your dog can have some room to move about if you are concerned about keeping your dog crated for long. Make sure your guest knows where the barrier is placed so they know to avoid that area.

• Keep Your Dog in the Yard

If you have a yard away from your entrance, you can keep your dog in the yard (given it isn't too cold). Make sure all your doors are closed up to prevent unwanted surprises. Leave toys around to make sure your dog has something to play with while your guests are over. Let your guests know your dog is safely in the yard.

• Leash your Dog

Some guests are not really afraid of seeing dogs but are afraid of interacting with them. If your guest is interesting in seeing your dog but does not want to be sniffed, jumped up at or licked, keep your dog leashed if he is well behaved and you are 100% sure he will not pull to go say hi.. A good tool to have good control is a head halter or a sensible harness. Once your guests get to admire your dog put your dog away and take care of your guests.

Having a well behaved dog can work wonders in helping people overcome their fear of dogs. Often, what people fear the most is a dog's exuberance, the whole jumping around, licking hands and sniffing routine may be just too much for some people, especially those who have never lived with dogs before. Those who have been bit by a dog, on the other hand, may have a much harder time to adjust and trust dogs again. 

Arthritis and Winter

The cold weather months have a tendency to make any dog, cat or pet suffering from arthritis a little extra stiff in the joints. The good news is that there are a lot of great supplements and meds available today to help ease your pet's winter aches and pains.

The term "dog arthritis" is a broad term used to describe a number of medical conditions, each resulting in joint pain. Some terms commonly used to describe arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in dogs, is a condition often resulting from wear and tear on the joint, usually from aging or injury. Related symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and enlarged joints.

Hip Dysplasia is a malformation of the hop sockets, and is a good example of arthritis in dogs where normal activity on abnormal joints results in destruction of cartilage. It is important to note that canine cartilage has few to no nerves, so degeneration can occur "unfelt" for quite a while, even years, before outward signs of joint disease are visible. Consequently it is wise to watch arthritis prone dog breeds that may have a predisposition to the condition, breeds like St. Bernards German Shepards, Rottweilers, and Goldens.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of inflammatory joint disease that is normally rare in dogs. However, it does occur in canines so it is important to know about it. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the body's own immune system  mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation that damages the joints.

Proper diagnosis is crucial in treating arthritis in dogs. Go see your vet if you have concerns.

Here are some cold weather tips for you and your dog this winter:

• Do not leave your dog outside unsupervised without a heated shelter. Just because your dog has fur, it does not mean he can withstand the cold. Even though some dog breeds such as Huskies, Malamutes, etc are better suited to cold weather, all dogs should have access to a warm shelter at all times. 
• Small dogs or those with little to no hair should have sweaters or jackets for protection against the cold. 
• Watch your pups feet! If your dog will tolerate it, consider foot protection booties. This can keep your dog's feet safe from harm such as dangerous objects hidden by the snow or salt on roads and walk ways. Additionally, booties can help give your dog a better trip and prevent slipping on ice. 
• Avoid letting your dog eat snow or anything else on the ground. Easier said than done right?! Well, dangerous chemicals may be hidden in the snow. 
• Beware of antifreeze! this is highly toxic! Antifreeze tastes good to pets, but even a small amount can kill your dog. Through exposure to antifreeze is a risk all year, the risk is especially high during the colder moths. 

Enjoy winter, but remember to keep your K9 safe and warm!

Tis' the season for fall. It's all about pumpkin! Pumpkin is a well known source of fiber and can be very useful in the treatment and maintenance of digestive health of our pups. Just a small portion in their daily diets can make the difference between a case of chronic diarrhea or constipation and a normal daily bowel movement. Many veterinarians often prescribe pumpkin as part of the treatment for either intestinal malady or simply as a healthful dietary supplement. 

Most dogs love pumpkin, which makes giving them added fiber not only convenient but even enjoyable! Divine offers pumpkin treats, Doggie Lax. Go to our treat menu (to the right of this post) and place your order today! 

Food Talk 101

What is okay to feed your K9? Well, I'm going to share 8 great foods to share with your 4-legged friend!

1. Eggs - Eggs are easy to digest and are an excellent source of protein, containing all of the essential amino acids. Raw eggs should not be given to dogs, since bacterial contamination is a possibility. Raw eggs also contain a chemical that interferes with absorption and use of the B vitamin, biotin. Biotin deficient will affect a dog's skin and coat health. If your dog has never eaten eggs before, give only small pieces at first to prevent digestive upset.

2. Peanut Butter - A dog's favorite! Peanuts don't appear to cause allergies in dogs like they do in people and dogs LOVE the taste.

3. Berries (fresh and frozen) - Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, huckleberries or raspberries all are good for your furry friend for the same reason they're good for humans (see prior post below). Free-radical , fighting antioxidants are an added bonus.

4. Cooked Chicken - Whether boiled, baked, served rotisserie style or grilled, this food is a healthy substitute. Make sure to avoid adding spices or sauces, this will upset their stomach.

5. Tuna Fish - An excellent source of protein, and is now being used as the base for many commercially available dog foods. Canned fish is a good alternative to fresh, but avoid fish with tiny bones since they can get stuck in your dog's throat. Avoid serving fish canned in oil as excel oil may cause diarrhea.

6. Bananas - All fruits have phytonutrients and dogs can't seem to get enough of bananas! With a little added peanut butter, your furry friend is sure to obey any command!

7. Olive Oil - Is often used as a nutritional supplement. Olive oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, good for skin and coat health and as a treatment for constipation. The amount of oil added depends upon the size of your dog, with maximum amounts given between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon daily (ask your veterinarian for specific amounts for your pup). The addition of any oil will increase the number of calories your dog is eating. Too much oil can cause diarrhea.

8. Salmon - Another great source of protein for your dog is salmon. Make sure you cook the salmon completely! Raw salmon may have parasites, in the form of flukes, an organism which can cause severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and is usually fatal if untreated. Canned salmon is a good choice and it is safe for dogs to eat the bones in canned salmon.

Enjoy!

Homemade Dog Pops!

It's July and temps are reaching the 90's! It is so important to keep your pups cool during these high temps. The average temp for a healthy dog is between 99-102.5 degrees. Imagine their body temp rising even higher on these hot days!

When I was growing up my mom always had Otter Pops, remember those?! I started to think, I wonder if there are dog pops? I went to PetSmart and PETCO and they said they've either never heard of them or don't carry them anymore. Then I thought, I make dog treats, why can't I make dog pops?! With that, I want to share two two recipes that Dexter LOVES... (these recipes can also be substituted with other fruit too!)

1 large container of organic, low-fat plan or vanilla yogurt
3 handfuls of organic blueberries
1 organic banana
2 TBSP of all natural peanut butter

Smash fruit and then mix all ingredients together. Then pour into your ice tray and freeze.

4 cups of organic, low-fat plain or vanilla flavored yogurt
1 jar of fruit flavored baby food (sugar free)
2 TBSP of honey
2 TBSP of all natural peanut butter

Mix ingredients, pour into your ice tray and freeze.

If you want to make your dog pops official, go to www.dogtoys.com and buy bone or paw ice trays! On sale now for $3.99.

Want to gain some pawsome health benefits too!?!

Yogurt - Did you know that organic healthy yogurt is high in Calcium and Vitamin D (good for bones)? It also contains probiotics, or the 'good' bacteria which helps keep the digestive tract 'flowing' nicely. :)



Blueberries - This blue fruit ranks with one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are important for your dog's health to help them cope with environmental toxins.


Peanut Butter - A pawsome food, rich in protein and high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (that's the good fat) and vitamins for keeping muscles strong and active.

Bananas - High in potassium, bananas are great to keep your dog alert and thinking clearly. Bananas also help with muscle strength and tone. Great for agility dogs who can always use more energy, but also great for all dogs.

Apples (peeled) -"An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." These powerful fruits are packed full of flavonoids, a class of antioxidant that can help your dog be heart healthy.

Oranges - High in Vitamin C, oranges contain an important water-soluble antioxidant for disarming free radicals and preventing damage. And they add a nice little tang to dog pops!

Blackberries - These black yums are loaded with soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Like blueberries, they are rich in anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that protect against cancer and chronic diseases.

ENJOY! WOOF!

Can I trust doggie day care?

Just like a child care center, a doggie day care center allows you to drop your dog off while you work! The concept of doggie day care was started essentially for dog owners who didn’t have anyone to take care of their pets while they were away. Such home owners almost always came home to a depressed or stressed dog. Dogs act up in resentment when their owners leave them locked alone at home. They often misbehave by destroying things around the house (not all, but especially puppies). All this can be prevented by dropping your dog off at a day care center where it can meet and socialize with other dogs. Just like with your children, choosing a day care center for your dog should also be done carefully. Make sure that the place you are leaving your dog is dog friendly. Your dog may have a good time at the day care; however, when you bring your dog back, make sure you spend some quality time with it. Otherwise, your dog will soon begin to feel neglected.

Below are a list of questions to ask when considering a day care for your K9. It's important that it is a safe, reputable place for your pup!

1. How are the dogs grouped? By size, activity level, or age?
2. What type of training does the staff have? (CPR, first aid, behavioral)
3. What is the staff to dog ratio?
4. What happens if my dog is misbehaving?
5. Is there a schedule of what the dogs do each day?
6. What are your vaccination/health requirement?
7. Will my dog have indoor/outdoor access?
8. How long have you been in business?

Your dog may not do well in large group situations. Some feel more secure in their own home, prefer a small group of dogs, or do better in a one on one relationship with a dog walker/sitter. Others do better in a more controlled environment such as a kennel. There are day care programs for every need.

• In home pet sitters who offer flexible schedules, dog walks and short play time.
• On-call dog walkers who provide on demand services that include exercise, play and feeding.
• Kennels where the environment is very controlled and the dog is confined for most of the stay.
• Indoor day care a somewhat controlled environment with outdoor group leash walks.
• Indoor/outdoor day care that offers the most freedom.

If you have any doggie day care feedback or advice, please share! I've also enclosed a list of doggie day care facilities in the Spokane area.

Jeanne's Doggie Daycare - 509.534.1675 or 509.924.2817
http://www.jeannesdoggiedaycare.com/

Play n' Stay- 509.325.0581
http://playnstay.com/

Alpha Dogs, LLC - 509.509.624.1166
http://www.alphadogsllc.com/

Last, but not least, a Divine special for you! Place a 16oz. order and get the second 1/2 off!

It's May already!

I’ll admit, the last month has been crazy! My husband and I purchased a home and as all of you know, moving is so much fun (no sarcasm in that statement at all)! Chris got to take a trip to Munich, Germany for a week through work and left the day after we moved in. So between getting settled and working it’s been hectic. A good hectic though!

The good thing about our new home is we have a fenced back yard for Dexter. No more dog littler box! YAY! Side note: for those of you that aren’t aware, we lived in a condo and although we loved being downtown in a cool place, it was tough at times with a dog. Dexter has a new routine and it seems to be working or at least I think so…

We’ve lived in our new home for over a week now and we’ve done quite a few projects to give our home the TLC it needs. We’ve repainting the inside, redone the hardwood floors, and currently are scrapping the exposed wood to repaint the edging. I knew being a home owner would be work, but WOW! For the last 4+ days I’ve been coming home and Dexter has made a “mess” per say. It’s bad and it’s everywhere. I’ll just leave it at that. J I finally took him to the vet last night to see what was going on. On our way to the vet all these questions were running threw my head - Is it because of the move to a new home? Did he eat something in the yard? Could it be his food? I had no clue. The vet said it could be two things… one, an intestinal infection (treatable with antibiotics); or two, Addison’s Disease. Dexter’s heart beat was slower than normal which can be a symptom with many other things. Lab work will be done on Dexter earlier next week, but in the meantime we are going to finish his antibiotics. Don’t know what Addison’s Disease is? Well either did I…

Addisons disease in dogs is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. This is reduced function of adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are glands that are bean shaped, seen just near the kidneys. These glands may be small, but the dog can't live without this glands. These glands produce a hormone called cortisol. The hormone cortisone increases the fat production, decreases inflammatory reactions, decreases the white blood cells number and suppresses the protective immune system. Basically, with Addisons you don’t produce cortisol to have your kidney function normal and correctly.

Cause of Addisons Disease Dog

Canine Addisons tends to occur in younger to middle aged dogs with a bias towards females. The disease is more common in certain dog breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles and Portuguese Water Dogs where it seems to be inherited.

Symptoms of Canine Addisons

Addisons disease dog symptoms cause a dog to appear weak and lethargic. Vomiting and diarrhea are common. Other symptoms include reduced appetite, tremors, shaking, muscle weakness and pain in the hind quarters. If your dog collapses for no apparent reason, Addisons disease dog is one of the prime considerations.

*Information sourced from www.dog-health-guide.org

Dexter does and doesn’t fit all of this criteria, so I’m hopeful that his lab results will come back negative, but time will tell. So keep our little Dexter in your thoughts! On another note, I’ve been dog proofing our back yard in hopes Dexter just ate something bad and wanted to share a list of toxic plants to steer clear of having in your yard. Check it out - www.entirelypets.com/toxicplants

On a positive note I’m saving the best for last, DIVINE NEWS! We are looking to register for a couple Farmer’s Market’s this summer so stay tuned on where you can find us! Starting in June/July we will start constructing our web page so you can place orders quickly, easily and directly. We also are finalizing a site and date for the launch party of Divine Dog Treats. As always, thank you for your continued business and being a fan of Divine!

MAY SPECIAL: Place an order for a 16oz. treat and get an ounce FREE! To place an order, email us at dextersdevine@gmail.com.

A Day in Divine's World.

Finally, an updated post! I've been meaning to update the blog, but life has been hectic (in a good way). With that, there is some updated news I'd like to share...

1. Divine is super excited about the response of our Facebook page. We have over 50 likes on Facebook, YAY! Once we hit 100 we will be doing a drawing for a prize. I have to say it's pretty cool too, so continue to spread the word!

2. We also announced our winners for the funny dog photo contest a couple weeks ago. There was a great turn out and thank you to all who participated! If you haven't seen the winners, you have to go to our Facebook page and check 'em out. Too cute!

3. Divine is currently expanding our treat menu. By the end of the month we will have treats for doggies with bad breath. We also have also ordered our new packaging and labels and are super excited to show you!

4. Dexter, the Boston Terrier who inspired me to start Divine told me he would like to have a Divine Dog Party. If only our dogs could talk. :) With that, Divine will be hosting a roof top party at our condo here in downtown Spokane. There will be prizes, samples of all the treats we offer, and of course you can bring your doggie! I'm also toying with the idea of having a photo booth there so you can get a snap with your pup! Stay tuned...

Lastly, a huge thank you for all of you who have help spread the word about Divine! This has been such a fun journey and I look forward to continuing to provide you with the best all natural and organic treats around!

Oh, and most importantly, your dog! To order treats please email dextersdevine@gmail.com. Our menu and prices are listed on our first post (scroll down). If you are interested in wholesale prices, we offer those too! :)

It's Official...

I'm excited to share with you Divine Dog Treats logo! Whoever would have thought one, I'd start making dog treats (when I can't even cook for myself); and two, I'd start a business with just a simple idea?! Well, there it is. 

With that I'd like to tell you about two exciting deals I've got going on:

1. For every purchase made with Divine Dog Treats I will be donating 10% to The Spokane Humane Society for the month of February!

2. I'm currently doing a contest - email your funnest K9 photo to dextersdevine@gmail.com! Deadline is Friday, March 18th at 5:00pm. 1st place wins a doggie gift basket (valued at $49) and runner up gets a $20 Starbucks gift card!

Lastly, if you'd like to place an order, scroll down to my first post. New recipes have been posted!

Q: Why Divine Dog Treats?

A: Most treats on the market are filled with chemicals, questionable meats and poor quality ingredients. If you wouldn't eat food of this quality, why would you feed it to your dog? Dogs who regularly eat a chemical laden diet can potentially experience many illnesses, allergies, skin problems, etc. This can also shorten your 4-legged family members life span. Switching to an organic diet can greatly improve the health of you and your dog.

Think about it...there are pesticides, agribusiness and conventional food producers that spray their crops. In return making your dogs food/treats a highly processed product. In theory, that is a lot of the nutritional value in conventional food that is lost in the process of the product! To ensure that your dog gets the nutritional vitamins and minerals s/he needs, fresh organic and natural foods added to your dogs daily diet can greatly benefit them. Thus, treats not only being a reward for your pet, but additional nutrients for your dog!

On another note, I volunteer at The Spokane Humane Society (http://www.spokanehumanesociety.org/). I haven't been able to lately with the starting of Divine Dog Treats and focusing on our new puppy Dexter, but SHS has a wish list of items they need. If you have old, even slighly expired dog food they will take it! Anything helps!

Dry pet food, for all animals and special diet

Non-clumping kitty litter

Towels and washcloths

Kong® dog toys

Large jars of peanut butter

Cat toys

Blankets (no electric blankets or down comforters)

KMR & Esbilac puppy & kitten powdered milk replacer

Pet nursing bottles

Heating pads

Pet shampoos & conditioners

Dog and cat brushes and grooming equipment

Dog crates and cat carriers

Cat beds (fleece or knitted blankets, 18" x 24")

Video baby monitor (for behavior assessments)

Baby scale

Frontline flea control

A Happy Dog is a Happy Life.

For those of you that don't know, Chris and I purchased a Boston Terrier in December and named him Dexter. And yes, Dexter on Showtime inspired us. :) He is the most adorable dog ever! When we picked Dexter up the breeder gave us food to get us by until we decided if we wanted to continue with what he was on or change his diet. When I asked what food he was on she replied with, "Kirkland Adult." Being a new owner and doing a ton of research on puppies, I knew that he needed to be on a puppy food for the nutrients. After talking to numerous trainers, our veterinary, and doing my research I finally decided to put him on a great organic puppy food. With that, I couldn't resist buying treats, toys and all the fun stuff that comes along with getting a new puppy. Knowing I wanted the best for Dexter I started to read the labels on the back of treats and I couldn't believe what the ingredients consisted of. So many of the treats have filters, additives, preservatives, sugar, trans fat, corn, etc. All of which are ingredients that aren't healthy for your dog(s) to be consuming, let alone humans.

So with that, it inspired me to start a dog treat business called...drum roll...Divine Dog Treats! My first goal is to expand the flavors I offer, possibly make doggie birthday cakes, and I'm toying with the dog food idea... we shall see! In the meantime I'm starting to take orders. If you are interested just email me at dextersdevine@gmail.com. Once I've received your order I will send you an invoice via PayPal. I currently have the following treats available:

Dexter's Favorite (peanut butter biscuits) - dry oats, unbleached whole wheat flour, all natural peanut butter, bottled water, egg.

Doggie Lax (soft pumpkin treats to help with sensitive stomachs) - mashed pure pumpkin, rice cereal, dry powered milk.

Dexie's Molasses Cookies - all natural peanut butter, blackstrap molasses, bottled water, rolled oats, unbleached whole wheat flour

They are offered in three sizes - 4oz for $5.00, 8oz. for $10 and 16oz. for $14.00. Right now I'm offering a couple specials to spread the word and get some orders out! Free shipping for orders over $15 (will ship your order out 2 days after I've received payment) and if you place an order with me by February 1st you get an additional ounce per bag of treats ordered for free!

Lastly, please follow my blog! I will have weekly specials, drawings to win goodies and I will be offering more treat options weekly. We can't forget the launch of my logo and Facebook page too. So stay tuned!