There are four boys in my house whose entire lives revolve around treat time. No alarm clocks needed here, at 6:00 am, on the dot, the pack is up and ready to go. They know the first treat of the day is waiting downstairs as a reward for going outside with no accidents on the way. Not only can these guys tell time, they can also spell. Well maybe not a whole list of words, but they sure do know what T.R.E.A.T means.
Treats play a special role at the Horton homestead where our pack is made up of “last chance” rescue dogs. Dogs that have been deemed highly unadoptable due to behavior issues. They're guys like Vinny, our most recent adoption, who roamed the Baltimore area for three months before he could be caught by animal control. A small guy of about 10 pounds, he has scavenged many a trash can and learned that a proactive offense, aka biting, is the best way to survive. Or Rocky, a high energy Jack Russell Terrier, whose prior life has left him distrustful of being petted or picked up. Rehabilitating guys like this takes lots of patience and time with treats playing a central role in gaining their trust and attention. Zuke's treats definitely got their attention!
There was quite a bit of excitement when the Zuke’s package arrived. I have to be honest, I was a bit worried that the boys would snub their noses at the treats. Most shelter dogs come with backgrounds of eating cheap, poor quality food that is full of fat, sugar and fillers. So finding “good for them” treats to match their “bad for you” pallets is not easy.
The first treat package we opened was the Zuke’s Lil’ Links, grain-free sausage links made from real pork and apples. Like all Zuke’s treats, they contain no fillers, by-products or artificial colors or flavors. I was also thrilled to see there was no wheat, corn, soy or high fructose corn syrup listed on the ingredients. As soon as the boys saw the little sausages they assumed the seated position, one of the first items they are trained to do, and mandatory for getting a treat in this household. Well I didn’t have to worry long, the whole crew readily gulped down their sausage treats.
Next we tried the Zuke’s Pure*NZ Cords, jerky cords made with grass-fed beef from New Zealand. (Zukes’ makes all their products in New Zealand and the U.S.) That’s when Rocky decided to pull out all the stops and step it up a bit with a few fancy tricks.
But the next package I pulled out of the box, Zuke’s Calming, was definitely my favorite and thank goodness a favorite of the boys as well.
This pack is definitely high energy, sometimes a little too high energy. “Let’s Go” play ball gets repeated about a hundred times a day as we have to run the crazy out this pack. And while the ball playing helps some, it wouldn’t hurt if they came back inside with a little less energy. (Take a look at the video and you'll see what I mean.)
The Calming treats definitely did the trick. In fact, Rocky was so chill he even hit the mat for a little yoga.
The Zuke’s treats were definitely a hit with both the boys and their human parents. Like Zuke’s, I firmly believe that simple, wholesome ingredients are the key to healthy lives for all our pets. But as I’ve learned, you can’t sacrifice taste or all those awesome ingredients go to waste as the package sits on the shelf. It’s obvious that the 20+ years Zuke’s has been in business has definitely paid off with them creating treats that balance taste and nutrition.
Rocky, Vinny, Bear and Carlos would definitely recommend giving your furbabies a chance to try Zuke’s. You can learn more about Zuke’s here on their website where it provides details on all their treats and supplements which are available across the country at pet-supply chains, independent pet-product stores, and online. Find a store near you here. And before you head out to the store, be sure to print this coupon to take along.
**I have received compensation and complimentary Zuke's treats for the purpose of reviewing these products. All opinions are 100% mine and those of the Horton pack, (Rocky, Vinny, Carlos and Bear).
Karla Horton
Macaroni Kid Publisher – Queen Annes, Talbot and Caroline Counties
Macaroni Kid is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in the Queen Annes, Talbot and Caroline Counties of MD. We gather and publish local family events and activities each week as well as share useful information about classes, local businesses, product reviews, recipes, crafts, and more.
Be sure to check out our event calendar, like our Facebook page and if you haven’t already subscribe to our weekly newsletter where we’ll bring all the 411 right to your inbox. Have an event you would like for us to share? Submit it here.
