For most of my life I’ve had a dog and I can’t imagine my life without one! Yet I was amazed when I read through the ingredients of some of the dog treats that I had regularly bought – many included sugars and a whole concoction of chemical additives and flavourings. So I decided to try make some treats where I could control the ingredients that were used and avoid things like sugar and chemical preservatives. I spent some time researching and reading up on canine nutrition so I would better understand exactly what was considered ‘good’ and ‘bad’ for  the doggie digestive system. Then the experimenting started... there were some disastrous attempts and some not-so-bad – but I had a few canine taste testers who guided my efforts. I’ve developed a few different recipes which all use human-grade food ingredients and pass the canine taste test. Like many humans, dogs can suffer from gluten intolerance, for most dogs this may be seen as a persistent itchiness in their skin causing them to scratch a lot, or suffer from general digestive problems. I use organic spelt flour (which contains less gluten than regular flour and is easier to digest) and gluten-free flour in my recipes to ensure that the treats are not only tasty but don't cause any discomfort to dogs with sensitive digestive systems. I also add Vitamin C which is regarded as one of the most important vitamins for dogs as it helps boost their immune system and can help prevent joint problems associated with ageing.  

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Meet the Moochy pooch 'barkery' official taste testers...