Blue Dog Bakery Announces New Small Dog Treats

October 2005 -- A growing legion of Americans consider their pets as family members. Now that people are becoming more aware of how nutrition plays an integral role in their health, they want to share this better quality of life with their canine "kids." This phenomenon is demonstrated by the fact that premium, natural and diet-conscious foods are among the hottest trends in the pet marketplace. Blue Dog Bakery has been leading the pack by making a variety of premium, natural low fat dog biscuits for several years - even before these trends emerged. Their latest creation, Doggie Paws - Premium Natural Low Fat Small Dog Treats, is a shining example of why healthy dog foods and treats are hot.

Blue Dog Bakery’s low-fat Doggie Paws treats are crunchy peanut butter flavored medallions that feature premium, human-grade bakery ingredients. Each all-natural treat is the size of a quarter and displays a cute dog paw imprint. They are easy to digest, help maintain strong teeth and fresh breath and are offered in a 10-ounce freshness-sealed bag for a very competitive price of $2.39. The colorful package features a "tape reseal" to keep them fresh and crunchy after opening.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), 39% of U.S. households have at least one dog and those pet companions spend an average of $68 per year on dog treats. Since the National Academy of Sciences estimates that 25 percent of dogs in the U.S. are overweight, it is more important than ever for treats to be low-fat, natural and made with premium ingredients so that they can be easily digested and keep dog obesity in check. According to data from ASW Roper, the diet pet food market has grown 25 percent, making it the fastest growing segment in the pet food industry.

"In addition to adequate exercise, one way to address dog obesity is to switch to low-fat natural treats," says Margot Kenly, President of Blue Dog Bakery, who’s company researched dog nutrition with industry experts to create several varieties of premium low-fat biscuits that are tasty, but do not contribute to obesity "On the theme of weight control, our Small Dog Treats are ideal for all size dogs that need smaller portion sizes," notes Kenly. "Since treats serve valuable functions such as behavior control, our new small dog treats are also perfect tidbits for puppy training," she adds.

Premium dog food is another hot trend, capturing 33% of the marketplace according to APPMA. Blue Dog Bakery uses only the highest quality premium human- grade ingredients in their treats. "People love pets just like they’re children in the family, which means they want to give them foods made with delicious high-quality ingredients that they would want to eat themselves," notes Kenly. Seeing a void for healthy premium pet treats, Kenly was "going to the dogs" in 1998 when she left a successful career baking gourmet desserts to start a baking company that caters to drooling four-legged friends.

Blue Dog Bakery is a grizzled veteran of the natural pet marketplace, another hot segment of the huge pet industry. A new study by Packaged Facts reported that retail sales of natural pet foods reached $375 million in 2004 with a whopping 500 new products introduced. Since 1998, Blue Dog Bakery has been committed to making healthy natural treats that are free of animal by-products, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavors and colors.

The pedigree for Blue Dog Bakery’s biscuits is impressive. Blue Dog Bakery’s other premium low-fat natural dog treat products include: award-winning Peanut Butter & Molasses, Natural Cheese and MORE Flavors (an assortment that includes Peanut Butter & Molasses, Natural Cheese, Bacon & Cheese and Grilled Chicken biscuits). Blue Dog Bakery also recently introduced Premium Natural Soft Dog Treats. Blue Dog Bakery products can be fetched at thousands of grocery, pet and natural food stores throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.bluedogbakery.com, or call toll-free at 1-888-749-7229.

TIPS FOR ADDRESSING DOG OBESITY
Identifying Pet Obesity - When the body weight of a dog exceeds the optimal norm by 15% or more the animal is considered obese. A practical way to determine obesity is to examine a dog’s ribcage. This is done by placing hands on the ribcage with the thumbs on the dog’s back. If the ribs are easily felt, the dog is not obese. If fat can be felt between the skin and ribs or the ribs are difficult to feel, the dog is overweight – if the ribs cannot be felt at all, the dog is obese. Another identification tool for obesity is visual. A dog should have a sloping hourglass transition from the chest to the stomach and then out again at the hips. This can be observed from both a side profile and a top-down perspective. A belly that hangs down or protrudes to the side is an indicator of obesity. Although these general techniques may be helpful, a vet should make an official diagnosis as to a dog’s obesity status.

Discuss the Problem with Your Veterinarian – A professional that knows you and your dog can help set up the right program for you and your pet. Factors that may affect dog obesity include breed type, age, heredity, whether the pet is fixed and the sex of the dog.

Increase Exercise, Gradually. Just like humans, dogs require a gradual increase in activity coupled with adequate water to get on the track to better fitness. As the program ramps up, keep an eye out for breathing difficulty. Start with walking an obese dog and then work up to running. Swimming is the best exercise for a dog as it is gentle on the joints, spine and hips.

Feed Low-Fat and Low-Calorie Meals and Snacks. Cut back on calorie intake gradually to approximately 25% less than the existing rations. Substitute low-fat and low-calorie foods. An ounce of fat supplies approximately two times as many calories as does an ounce of either carbohydrates or proteins. Therefore, reducing fat in the diet is an easy way to cut calories. Snacks should be factored into the dog’s overall caloric intake goals. A dog should be fed twice a day, rather than having food left out all day or one big meal.

Family Teamwork – Kids and dogs are a beautiful sight together, but little ones tend to be more inclined to slip a few scraps here and there to their four-legged friend. Be sure to discuss the doggie diet goals with children and maintain their compliance with the new program.

SOURCE Blue Dog Bakery

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