KONG Premium Treats Review & Giveaway

We were contacted a few weeks ago by JAKKS Pacific, Inc. who has partnered with KONG, a recognized brand in the pet industry for thirty-five years, to create their USA Made, All Natural Premium Treat Line. They wanted us to review some of their products and host a giveaway for three winners to receive those same products.  I consider KONG to be a reputable company who has been producing great products, both toys and treats, to satisfied pups everywhere so I happily said yes.

KONG treats never contain wheat, corn or soy, artificial colors or flavors, animal byproducts, and are naturally preserved so I feel comfortable feeding these to Kirby. There are quite a few treats to choose from so it was hard to narrow it down but we finally did.  I saw several Kirby already enjoys but I felt this mission should be to try the new ones.

A few days later a package was delivered that had Kirby’s full attention.  Opening the box we discovered full size packages of the Natural Beef Jerky, the Bacon Meaty Flavor Bites, the Crunchy Lamb Bars, and the Chew Buddies Variety Pack.  Every evening I would lay one of each treat on the small rug in the kitchen allowing Kirby to pick one for that night. The rest went back in their respective bags.

Natural Beef Jerky

The first three nights these soft chews were Kirby’s favorite every time so I stopped offering them so he would try the others.  What I like is that they are 92% US sourced beef.  The other ingredients are Chicory, Lecithin, Salt, Cultured Whey, Mixed Tocopherols, and Garlic.  Kirby very much appreciated the beefy aroma and taste.

Bacon Meaty Flavor Bites 

Kirby took turns choosing between these and the Crunchy Lamb Bars. These soft, chewy treats are shaped like little Kongs which can easily be broken into smaller pieces. They have a pleasant aroma and contain Beef, Oat Flour, Brown Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Maple Syrup, Vegetable Glycerine, Bacon, Gelatin, Salt, Natural Flavor, Natural Smoke Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols, and Rosemary.

Crunchy Lamb Bars

Kirby loves lamb so he enjoyed these. At first he ignored these probably because they don’t have any smell. As long as I broke them in half which is difficult considering how hard they are, he liked them very much.  The ingredients are Oat Flour, Green Pea Flour, Pea Starch, Lamb, Blueberries, Apples, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), and Ginger.

Chew Buddies Variety Pack

Kirby did not like these no matter what I tried.  However, a friend of mine took the bag to her home where her large dogs gobbled them up. The chew buddies are cute animal shapes in three flavors. These easily digestable chews are designed to fight plaque and tarter buildup while inhibiting bacterial growth to reduce chances of gum disease.

The Bacon Chews contain Potato flour, rice flour, gelatin, glycerin, water, ground peas, sunflower oil, rice starch, oat fiber, natural flavors, calcium carbonate, caramel, ground flax, zinc propionate, and iron oxide.  The Chicken Chews contain Potato flour, rice flour, gelatin, glycerin, water, ground peas, chicken, sunflower oil, rice starch, oat fiber, dried cranberry , natural flavor, ground flax, calcium carbonate, caramel, and zinc propionate.  The Fresh Breath Chews contain Potato flour, rice flour, gelatin, glycerin, water, ground peas, sunflower oil, rice starch, oat fiber, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, alfalfa, parsley, and zinc propionate.

Now about that giveaway!

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. wants to share the goodness so they will be sending full sized bags of these same treats to 3 of our readers.

We use the Rafflecopter Widget for FAST and EASY ENTRY! The only required entry is to leave a comment here on this post telling us which treat your dog wants the most and then enter that you did so in the widget. There are many OPTIONAL entry methods to give you additional chances to win so just choose the ones you want. All entry methods are subject to verification so please make sure you provide all required information or your entries won’t count!

Due to shipping restrictions this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only age 18+ and ends September 14, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: We received the Kong Premium Treats to review. We were not compensated in any other way. Our opinion is our own and we recommend these products.  JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is supplying the three Prizes valued at $40.00 each.

Marsh Dog Nutria Treats

Surfing the web I came across this new dog treat called Marsh Dog which is made from the nutria rat. What? Wait a minute!  Seriously, a rat?  Squeamishly I read more. Intrigued I contacted the company for a sample. I just heard you gasp but please don't stop reading because you still might want to check out these dog treats.

According to their website,

While Nutria share the same taxonomic order “Rodentia” (as do about 40% of all mammals, including squirrels, rabbits, beaver, and guinea pigs) they are not rats. Because of the shape of their tail, some people call Nutria “swamp rats” but they are most closely related to porcupines or South American capybaras.

Nutria, an invasive species, are one of the biggest culprits of wetland loss in Louisiana and other US wetlands. These semi-aquatic, otter-like mammals are responsible for the destruction of approximately 100,000 acres of critical marsh habitat between 1993 to 2001. Like most invasive species, Nutria not only destroy habitat but they impact multiple native species such as otter, muskrat, beaver, birds, crustaceans, and fish—all of whom rely on a healthy wetland habitat.

Unfortunately, only a small percentage of harvested Nutria are utilized in any manner—leaving this otherwise high-quality protein resource to go to waste. In response, Marsh Dog developed a dog biscuit made with wild Nutria. Utilizing an invasive species that is already being harvested to control its impact on wetlands is about as sustainable as it gets. Marsh Dog is proud to be a grant recipient of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, one of only 28 national estuaries in the country.

Who is Marsh Dog?

Marsh Dog, a small family company, is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and are the very first pet food company to offer all-natural dog treats made with wild Nutria. "They believe in producing responsible foods that are healthy and nutritious for dogs as well as environmentally responsible. Creating a market for the invasive species Nutria is not only smart, it adheres to an eco-sustainability ethic that promotes good stewardship of natural resources".

The Product Line

The Barataria Bites, all-natural wild nutria biscuits, is $8.50 for a resealable 8 oz bag while the “Bark”, all-natural, dry-roasted wild nutria jerky, is $9.00 for a 4 oz resealable bag.

The company is working on “Bars,” freeze-dried wild Nutria and “Sticks” tube-shaped jerky treats which are expected to be available soon.

What are the ingredients?

Nutria, Whole Brown Rice, Oats, Sweet Potatoes, Eggs, Blackstrap Molasses, Garden Parsley, and Cayenne Pepper. (Nutria meat has less fat and cholesterol than chicken or turkey).

Even better is what’s not included - No soybeans. No corn. No wheat. No added animal fat. No added sugar. No artificial preservatives. No added salt. No artificial colorings. No added flavoring. No sunflower oil. No added hormones. No ingredients from outside the USA.

All ingredients are prepared in their Baton Rouge, Louisiana commercial kitchen which means they grind the sweet potatoes, blend the ingredients, and cut the biscuits by hand.

What did Kirby think?

Kirby is a voracious meat lover with kangaroo being the only meat so far he has turned down, so I did wonder how he would react to the nutria.  I offered him a biscuit which is roughly 2 inches wide and about ½ inch thick.  He took it into his mouth but then dropped it and looked at me. So next I broke it into four smaller pieces and laid them on the floor in front of him.  He sniffed each piece, looked at me, and then picked one up.  The loud crunching noise told me they are very hard.  I’ve found that if I break them into smaller pieces he eats them.  If I don’t, he simply waits for me to do so.   

We shared one bag of the biscuits with other pet parents who have large dogs with great results.  None turned one down and they all found eating the whole biscuit to be an easy task.

Most of the time Kirby is great about participating in videos, sometimes not so much. Today was one of those not so much times but I thought this was too cute not to share so here's Kirby's take on the Marsh Dog Nutria treats:  

Final Word

We give the Marsh Dog treats four paws for taste and healthy ingredients.  For now they are only available in Louisiana.  Check HERE for locations or if you live outside the state you can place an order using Paypal by emailing the company at [email protected] with your name, shipping address, and phone number.

Did you know if you do a google search you can find several recipes for human consumption using nutria?  I think I'm gonna have to leave the nutria consumption to the dogs for the moment. Now about that Bark...  

Disclosure:  We received this product to review and were not compensated in any other way.  Our opinions are solely based on our experience with the product which we approve. 

True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts

This month we are reviewing the True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts for Chewy.com. who carries fourteen different True Chews treats for dogs.

Who is True Chews?

An American based company under the umbrella of Tyson Pet Products located in Independence, Iowa, who are dedicated to providing your dog with only 100% natural chews which are rawhide-free and without any artificial flavors or fillers. These treats are made from American sourced chicken, beef and pork.

They are the Official Treat Sponsor of the United States War Dogs Association – a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and providing assistance to military service dogs and their handlers.

What I like about the Premium Jerky Cuts

I like the short list of ingredients which are  Chicken, Vegetable Glycerin, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavor, Paprika Extract Color, Garlic Powder, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract.  

I also very much appreciate the re-sealable bags and the fresh aroma.  Considering how much comes in a bag I find $4.99 for the 4 oz bag or $12.99  for the 12 oz bag is quite reasonable. 

What Kirby likes about the Premium Jerky Cuts

When I opened the bag the aroma of chicken got his attention right away.  I know they make a smaller size for small dogs but he appreciated this size.  Being a voracious chewer it lasts a little longer than just a bite. 

They aren't as dried out as my homemade jerky but they have a really chewy texture he seems to crave. So good aroma + good flavor + chewy texture = 4 paws and a wag!

I so wish I had a picture to share! I had several and the cutest video of Kirby doing everything he could to get one of these treats.  Sadly, when I realized I couldn't find them, he had already eaten every piece of jerky.  

If you can't find these treats at your local pet store, then be sure to visit chewy.com for the top brands in dog food and treats. 

Disclosure:  Kirby the Dorkie is a member of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Network. We receive the products to review each month and are not compensated in any other way.  Our opinions are solely based on our experience with the product which we approve.