This is a guest post by Amy Fiala, founder and owner of Game Time Dog Services LLC. “Treat” the universal word that makes most dogs pay attention to you immediately whether they know you or not. I’ve even known owners that use the command “treat” to get their dog come to them instead of using the command “come”. “Treat” is obviously more enticing and exciting.
In today’s day and age there are more options than ever when it comes to dog treats. Pet businesses are prospering and the pet food industry is expected to grow an estimated 60.59% alone in 2015!! Whoa, wait a hot minute – maybe I’m in the wrong pet business!! As a dog fitness enthusiast and owner of a dog walking service I am always leery of dog treats.
Most people don’t realize they are giving their dogs five Snicker candy bars to their dog in a matter of five minutes. That’s the truth of it dog lovers! How would anybody look and feel after eating five Snicker candy bars every day? Healthy choices are important for all of us and when it comes to a healthy dog treat – Tanker Tots hit the bulls eye.
The first ingredient of the treat is millet. Need to look up what that is – don’t worry I already have. Millet is a tiny gluten-free seed that is packed with vitamins and minerals. Many consider it a nutritious “grain” because it is used often to make bread, couscous, and cereal.You are likely familiar with the other ingredients in Tanker Tots because you use them in your own kitchen and can READ them without sounding out fifteen syllables.
Let me introduce you to their flavors and ingredients:
Peanut Butter & Banana: Millet, Sweet Potato, Peanut Butter, Banana, Egg, Vitamin E
Protein 9%, Fat 7%, Fiber 6%, Moisture 32%
Cheddar Cheese: Millet, Sweet Potato, Egg, Dehydrated Cheddar Cheese, Vitamin E
Protein 7%, Fat 4%, Fiber 5%, Moisture 32%
Sweet Potato Pie: Millet, Sweet Potato, Egg, Cinnamon, Vitamin E
Protein 7%, Fat 3%, Fiber 6%, Moisture 36%
So, I know what you are thinking – can anything so healthy actually taste good? I took the treats to the dogs to answer that question. (Though, no lie, I did taste one myself and it wasn’t so bad. I mean, it said ‘human grade’ on the website!). Oliver, BiG, Magnito, Amelia, and Buddy said they were quite tasty and devoured them. Wallace could take ‘em or leave ‘em. I wouldn’t categorize these as a training treat. They are more of a regular treat to give on the occasion. Though, I suppose they could be used as training treat with the right dog if broken in half.
I also liked these treats because they had a decent size of 3/4 by 3/4 of an inch. I could break them into smaller pieces easily if I wanted to, but they wouldn’t crumble in my pocket. They weren’t greasy either which I liked because it didn’t leave stinky grease on my fingers or pockets.
Another positive – this is a mom and pop business out of Lynchburg Virginia that has a cute story, humble beginnings, and a super CUTE mascot named Tanker. To me that is much better than a ‘big box’ business that outsources to a factory in who knows where.
