Dog treats designed to be shared
Dog owners are forking out big money on baked goods designed for both dog and human consumption.
Auckland company Snoop Inspired creates gourmet dog treats such as maple and bacon cupcakes, carob (similar to chocolate) and peanut butter cake and yoghurt cheese cake.
Founder Deborah Godfrey, 24, with help from her taste tester Snoop the beagle, bakes the treats from scratch in her Pt Chevalier kitchen.
The cupcakes mostly consist of honey, whole wheat flower, carob, eggs, milk, vanilla extract and coconut oil.
Godfrey said it all started when she was celebrating Snoop’s first birthday.
‘‘I decided to get all his friends together at the park and have a whole bunch of treats together. The cake we got for him looked amazing but it was just for pets.’’
Godfrey, who was pregnant at the time, said she wanted to make a cake for dogs that was also safe for babies.
With no veterinary or nutritional training, Godfrey consulted with vets and doctors.
Since launching in January the Snoop Inspired kitchen has been busy with orders coming in from around Auckland.
‘‘We talk to the owner a lot before an order because owners generally know their dog’s allergies and stuff like that. We haven’t had any issues with sick dogs or people,’’ she said.
Doctor Shay Hill, of LWT Animal Nutrition, who has a doctorate in companion animal nutrition, said she was concerned with a lack of meat in the Snoop Inspired treats.
Hill fears they could contribute to a growing obesity problem among pets.
‘‘In order to be suited to the dog’s physiology these treats would need to be largely meat based and from what I can see initially on the website, they contain little-to-none,’’ Hill said.
‘‘Additionally, treats in general for dogs and cats are a real concern today as they are adding to the growing issue of canine and feline obesity and the health conditions associated with this. Owners are feeding their pets their normal diet at the recommended quantities plus then also feeding treats, leading to over feeding and subsequent weight gain.’’
A box of four maple bacon cupcakes, Snoop’s favourite, cost $30.