Stewart Pro-Treat Raw Naturals Real Beef Freeze-Dried Dog Treats - chewy.com Product Review

This month we tried Stewart Pro-Treat Raw Naturals Freeze-Dried Dog Treats from chewy.com. I like that they are:

• made in the USA
• made with healthy, human-grade ingredients
• made with real meat, veggies, and fruits
• grain-free
• freeze-dried to lock in flavor and nutrients

The treats look like typical freeze-dried nuggets, shaped in what I interpret to be a heart. Or perhaps it is a steak. I would consider them to be bite-sized, unless you have a teeny tiny dog.

Chewy is a big fan of these treats. He thinks they smell and taste amazing, and will sit very nicely to get one (or two...or three). Here he is performing his disappearing treat trick: 

He hoovers them right up! Each shot was taken within milliseconds from each other. That's how much he loves them!

Disclaimer: We received a free bag of Stewart Pro-Treat Raw Naturals Real Beef Freeze-Dried Dog Treats in Real Beef Recipe from chewy.com for review purposes as part of the chewy.com Blogger Program. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post, and all opinions shared above are our own.

Chewy's Rules of Dog Etiquette, Part 1

Chewy lives by his own particular set of rules. Some of his behaviors evolved from things we taught him to do, while others he just decided were proper for a pup!

Rule #1: Sit and you shall receive.

When Chewy was a puppy, we taught him to sit for food and pats. Now, he sits and stares at you to signal that he wants something, such as a treat from the treat jar, a toy from his toy bin (that he's too afraid to dig through on his own), or a bite of what you're eating.

I am sitting. Please share!

Rule #2: Counter surfing is prohibited, but sniffing is allowed.

Chewy has stolen 2 things off the kitchen counter in his lifetime, both when he was a young pup. The first was a single cooked chicken tenderloin from a whole plate that was meant for him, and the other was a ginger root freshly dug from the garden, which he chewed up and hid behind various pieces of furniture. He wasn't reprimanded for stealing from the counter because we didn't discover the thefts until later, but we did train him to stop standing up to check things out. Since then, he has reformed his pilfering ways and now sticks to only sniffing. He'll get his nose as close as possible while keeping all 4 paws on the floor, and if he smells something he thinks is for him, he'll apply Rule #1 and sit and wait.

I smell yum yums!

Rule #3: Don't overstay your welcome.

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Marrow Roasts - chewy.com Product Review

It's [Chewy] time for another chewy.com product review! 😄

We received Wellness CORE Grain-Free Marrow Roasts Dog Treats in Savory Turkey Recipe to try out. They are biscuits with a meaty marrow center, made with all-natural ingredients, without wheat, corn or soy.

Wellness CORE Grain-free Marrow Roasts

As always, the first test in our house is always administered by Chewy's nose, and Chewy thought it smelled DELICIOUS!

This smells good!

The Marrow Roasts are supposed to be "crunchy" biscuits with meaty marrow centers, but the ones we received had an outside that seemed more like a soft, chewy biscuit. My reasoning is that the marrow center was just too moist to keep the outer biscuits crunchy. Chewy doesn't mind, though, because they're still treats!

The treats in the bag were not cut all the way, so they were in strips of 2 or 3, and I had to snap them to produce individual treats. I would have preferred if they were already individually separated to avoid that extra step when treating, but it's not TOO big of a hassle. I'm sure Chewy would prefer to just be given a whole roll!

1 strip --> 2 treats!

It took Chewy a lot of self-control not to immediately eat these treats. You can see the longing in his eyes!

Notice the drool spots under Chewy's mouth as he eyes the treats!

Chewy hoovered up those treats and ate both in one mouthful. I assume he thought they tasted great! Now, whenever I reach for the bag, he immediately is on his best behavior, sitting up nice and tall and waiting patiently. That's a good sign of a high value treat!

Yummy!

P.S. For every Wellness product purchased at chewy.com until December 19, 2016, a Wellness meal will be donated to feed a pet in need!


Disclaimer: We received a free bag of Wellness CORE Grain-Free Marrow Roasts Dog Treats in Savory Turkey Recipe from chewy.com for review purposes as part of the chewy.com Blogger Program. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post, and all opinions shared above are our own.

Chewy's Tips for Being a Good Dog Host

The holiday season is a time for gathering with friends and family, and sometimes that includes dog guests, too! If your dog is comfortable welcoming other dogs into your home (some are not!), Chewy has some tips to ensure a merry celebration with furry, 4-legged friends.

Tip #1: Decorate with shatterproof ornaments, especially in areas within reach of dogs (and young children).

Hmm...are sparkly balls NOT for playing fetch?

Tip #2: Prepare a feast of healthy, dog-friendly delights for happy and content bellies.

Unseasoned, roasted turkey breast and veggies, and pies for dessert!

Tip #3: Have clean-up supplies on hand in case of accidents or territorial claims of the pee variety.

Please don't pee on my bed...

Tip #4: Show gratitude for any host gifts your guests bring.

Thanks for the Santa!

Tip #5: Share your belongings.

Including your toys,

your bed,

and your water bowl.

Tip #6: Plan activities to entertain your furry friends, such as preparing treat-dispensing toys.

Tip #7: Eat from your designated dinner bowl. No stealing food, no matter how slowly your guests eat!
 

 Tip #8: Take some time to snuggle with the human guests so they don't feel left out.

 Tip #9: Don't forget to have fun!

I'm gonna catch you!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! - chewy.com Product Review

Pumpkin season is here! This month we received Weruva's  Pumpkin Patch Up! food supplement from chewy.com.

The product is just pumpkin puree in convenient, shelf-stable packets. There are only two ingredients: pumpkin and water (for processing). The simplicity of this product is refreshing, since so many dog foods and supplements contain a multitude of mysterious ingredients.

The benefits of feeding pumpkin

Each box of Pumpkin Patch Up! has 12 packets inside, and there are two sizes of packets available: 1.05 oz and 2.80 oz. Each packet is meant to be a single serving, and can be fed daily and even with each meal. When your pup has a mild case of tummy trouble, it is so convenient to open a packet of Pumpkin Patch Up! for each meal instead of opening a big can of pumpkin puree and then having to refrigerate or figure out what to do with any leftovers.

I think the pumpkin puree in the packet looks a little bit brownish, unlike the pretty, bright orange I get when I puree fresh pumpkins at home. However, there is a great variety of pumpkin flesh colors, so that could be a contributing factor.

Of course, Chewy thought it was delicious and did not care at all about aesthetics.

I like the convenience and simplicity of the product, but I do wish that it was made in the US. Our box says it is a product of Thailand. Chewy is happy to eat pumpkin (or anything) at any time!

Disclaimer: We received free boxes of Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! from chewy.com for review purposes as part of the chewy.com Blogger Program. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post, and all opinions shared above are our own.

Happy Halloween!

ZiwiPeak Good-Dog Treats: Lamb Recipe - chewy.com Product Review

What's this? A package for Chewy? Hooray! [[All packages left at our door are for Chewy, unless proven otherwise]]

A chewy.com delivery!

This month we received ZiwiPeak 'Good-Dog' Treats Lamb Recipe from chewy.com. Made in New Zealand, the meat is air-dried into jerky to preserve the nutrition in the raw meat. In addition to natural preservatives, there is added parsley for freshening dog breath. The jerky contains NO artificial preservatives, colors, salt, sugar, fillers or grain. Yay!
 

ZiwiPeak Good-Dog Treats Lamb Recipe

I thought it was funky that on the back of the package, every time it says the word "Treats," it is in quotations. They are 'treats?' Maybe it's a New Zealand thing.  

The treats come in a little 3 oz. package, but there are plenty of treats in there.

Lots of little treats

The treats are small, thin jerky strips. They are easily breakable into even smaller pieces, and with their meatiness they make a great training treat.

Such concentration! Chewy is almost cross-eyed here

Chewy really likes these treats and will sit very nicely whenever I am near the bag in hopes of getting one (or two, or three). I like that they are natural and healthy. As for the breath freshening aspect, I can't say that I've noticed a difference, but who knows!

Do you see the drool droplets on the floor?

Disclaimer: We received a free bag of ZiwiPeak Good-Dog Treats - Lamb Recipe from chewy.com for review purposes as part of the chewy.com Blogger Program. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post, and all opinions shared above are our own.

Stuffie Naps

Sometimes when Chewy is playing with his toys, he tires himself out so much that he needs to take a nap. I suppose pretending to kill stuffies can be hard work -- there's all that shaking, strutting, chewing, and squeaking involved. Other times, he just gets bored of the toy(s) he's got in his paws/jaws and settles down for some shut-eye. Whatever the cause, it often leads to some pretty adorable sleepy stuffie hugging!

Cow as pillow

Cow huggies

Dreaming of being Air Bud

The puppy pillow

Did you spot Chewy among all the stuffies?

Chewy definitely believes you can never have enough stuffies. Or naps!

Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends: Beef Recipe - chewy.com Product Review

This month we received Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends from chewy.com to test out. The Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends are freeze-dried, raw complete diets. We chose the Beef Recipe for some variety, since so many dog food products are made with chicken (the other option).

Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends, Beef Recipe

I like that the packaging actually has a picture of what the food looks like. Most dog foods just have a photo of a dog frolicking in a field or some generic drawing, so it can be nice to know what to expect when you open up a new food. 

The meal blend consists of freeze-dried veggies, fruits, and little meaty nuggets. I like that the fruits and veggies are minimally processed and actually identifiable! The freeze-drying process locks in nutrition and flavor, which is a plus.

Inside the bag

Chewy thought the food smelled delightful and couldn't wait to try it.

Smells yummy!

Chewy looked on in anticipation while I attempted to rehydrate the food.

Food!!!

The serving suggestion says "Crush pieces and wait 10 minutes if full rehydration is desired." I didn't crush the pieces because it seemed counterintuitive - they made them into little nuggets, and now I have to un-nugget them? 

After soaking the uncrushed freeze-dried food for 10 minutes, there was still quite a bit of water left in the dish. I even flipped the nuggets over halfway through so that both sides could get soaked. 

+ 0 minutes                                                                                        + 10 minutes

Chewy didn't mind that there was extra water - he probably likes the fruity/meaty/vegetable-y taste. He happily lapped up everything in his dish every time I gave him some of the Meal Blends.

Hoovering at full speed

The suggested feeding amounts chart on the bag only lists up to a 40 lb dog, which is not so helpful when your dog is much larger than that. Chewy only got to eat it as an addition to his regular meals. If I was to feed Chewy the Meal Blends for entire meals, he'd probably go through an entire 1 lb. bag in a day or less! Considering that, I find the Meal Blends to be NOT cost effective, but of course you often pay a premium for healthier foods!

Overall, Chewy and I were pleased with the Raw Market Meal Blends because of the nutrition, visible whole foods, and taste, but I do not think it is an economical diet for a large dog. For us, it would be more of a treat than an actual meal.

Disclaimer: We received a free bag of Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Market Meal Blends Beef Recipe from chewy.com for review purposes as part of the chewy.com Blogger Program. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post, and all opinions shared above are our own.

Can We Go Swimming???

Chewy, like most Golden Retrievers, LOVES water. If we are walking along a shoreline, he starts pulling towards the water in hopes of a foot soak, a refreshing dip, or perhaps a game of fetch. When we get close enough to the water, he looks back with that dopey smile, as if to ask, "Can we go swimming?"

Can we go swimming?

How about here?

Can we go down there?

Sometimes he takes matters into his own hands, and just goes for it:

Oooohh, water...

Success!

He always looks super pleased with himself when he manages to get in the water, whether with permission or not!

I smell now, and it's GREAT!

To keep his fur/skin clean and healthy, Chewy usually gets a dreaded bath after swimming, but I think he would say it's still worth it!

I am displeased by this bath.