Did you know harsh detergents, synthetic perfumes, and artificial colors can cause skin irritations, hair loss and allergic reactions? Three Dog Bakery offers an exclusive line of all-natural spa products tested on humans first!

Conditioning Shampoo – The coconut shampoo base is all-natural. It does not contain harsh detergents, synthetic perfumes or artificial colors, which can dry out the coat and cause allergic reactions, eye irritations, skin rashes and hair loss. Our formula is hypoallergenic and safe for puppies; safe to use with spot-on flea and tick products; and available in lavender and peppermint.

Benefits of Lavender Formula – Helps relax and de-stress with its healing properties and helps to soothe irritations and brighten the coat. The Eucalyptus revitalizes with its disinfectant and antiseptic properties, while the citronella oil acts as an all-natural insect repellent.

Benefits of Peppermint Formula– Helps stimulate the lymphatic system and acts as a cooling agent to help relieve itching and calm irritated skin.

Conditioner – Shampoo opens up the hair shaft, allowing beneficial shampoo ingredients to do their job. If the hair shaft is left open, natural oils and moisture will escape. Without the use of conditioner, your dog’s coat/hair can become dull and brittle, which can lead to itching and scratching. Conditioner is a great way to smooth the coat and moisturize the hair follicles.

Benefits of using a Conditioner – Conditioner is s great treatment for irritated skin and has antiseptic and antibiotic properties. The Sea Butter in the formula helps to moisturize and sooth the skin and the Vitamin-E helps to reinforce the skin’s natural moisturizing agents.

Between Bath Spritz – This all-natural spritz is a combination of cologne and insect repellent in one. Essential oils such as Citronella, Lavender, and Eucalyptus naturally repel bugs and fleas. Use between baths to keep your dog smelling fresh and safe from insects!

Paw Rub – The paw rub helps protect, heal, and moisturize. It is great for cracked paws, irritated skin, sun-burnt noses and chapped lips – for dogs and their humans! Great after walks on the hot pavement or harsh road salts. Our formula helps soften and sooth while containing anti-inflammatory properties. Also helps improve elasticity in the skin!

Shop our Fur Di Vine Collection Today at http://www.tdbstore.com/items/fur-di-vine-doggie-spa-collection/list.htm

Several of our bakeries are doing photos with the Easter Bunny this weekend! The Kansas City Three Dog Bakery is hosting theirs this Sunday, March 21st from 11am-5pm at the bakery on the Country Club Plaza. Sniff out a store near you! http://www.threedog.com/store-locator.php

Here at Three Dog Bakery we love all things chocolate. We think in a perfect world our dogs would too. That is why we use carob, a healthy chocolate substitute suitable for dogs, in half of our products.

Carob is an eastern Mediterranean evergreen tree of the pea family. Carob has increased in overall popularity because it is a low-fat, low-calorie, and no-caffeine alternative to chocolate. While chocolate is harmful for dogs, carob is not. Unlike chocolate, carob does not contain theobromine or caffeine, which are the key ingredients not suitable for dogs. Theobromine is a stimulant found in chocolate which acts as an energy booster. Dogs metabolize theobromine much more slowly than humans and therefore chocolate can be fatal. However, carob is a healthy alternative that looks and tastes just like chocolate. So, spoil them with carob, your dogs will love you for it!

Kansas City, MO— Kate Quigley, also known as the Dog Lady or Miss Kate is busy working six days a week, driving into high-poverty neighborhoods to find abused and abandoned animals. Going door-to-door speaking with owners, leaving supplies to better their dog’s lives and borrowing their pets to be spayed and neutered. Her truck is filled with dog food and treats, bowls, hay for insulation, squeaky toys and ready-to-assemble doghouses. “Donations go in the door and then right back out,” says Kate.

Quigley has worked for both Spay & Neuter Kansas City and No More Homeless Pets KC. Last year she brought in 1,000 pets, 238 cats and 562 dogs to be spayed and neutered. She also gave away 95 dog houses and 14,700 pounds of dog food. She spoke with nearly 3,030 households.

After working for other organizations Quigley has recently started her own nonprofit, Chain of Hope. Its mission is to break the chain of ignorance for pet owners who neglect their outside dogs. Dogs around the world-rover appreciate Kate’s dedication and determination, this world needs more people like her!

If you would like to make a donation to Kate and her organization please see  http://chainofhopekc.org/ or write her at:

Kate Quigley
258 West 3^rd St. 1^st Floor
Kansas City, MO 64105

Although dogs are a man’s best friend, we are lucky that they don’t have thumbs. Imagine the dog that is able to open a box of Woofers or open the refrigerator door! Although we like to think a dog with opposable thumbs would hitchhike to Three Dog Bakery, what do you think your dog would do? Tell us by commenting on this blog post for a chance to win all-natural yummy treats for your furry friend.

 How to Participate:

• Comment on this blog post by telling us what you think your dog would do if they had opposable thumbs? Include your pets name, your name and your Twitter name (Twitter name optional).
• Follow us on Twitter or become a fan of ours on Facebook.
• Spread the word about the contest by RTweeting us or posting links on Facebook!

Judging:

Entries will be judged on the most creative comment or answer to “what would your dog do if they had opposable thumbs?” The founding dogs and office staff/dogs will pick the winners.

 Prizes:

• 1^st Place – “Ulti”mutt” Gift Basket
• 2^nd Place – Pooch Paradise Picks treats
• 3^rd Place – Dottie’s Dipped Delights treats

Rules & Regulations:

One entry per person and dog. Contest runs 3/3 – 3/12 11:59 p.m. (CST). The founding dogs and office staff/dogs will pick the winner. Winner will be announced no later than 3/19/10. All participants must be a follower on Twitter of @ThreeDogNews or a Fan of Three Dog Bakery Headquarters on Facebook. 

Terms & Conditions:

Must reside in the US and be 18 years or older. No cash value and non transferable. We will contact winner by blog post and twitter name – if provided. If winner does not acknowledge within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. Management, employees and families of Three Dog Bakery are prohibited from winning any prizes (that includes you Jenny – insert smiley joking face here). Three Dog Bakery reserves the right to alter any rules of the contest at anytime. Standard ground shipping and taxes are included. Please email contest@threedog.com with any questions or to claim your prize.

You want to provide the best for your pups. They’re family (your babies) and you want them to be healthy and happy.  However, let’s face it, trying to figure out the best dog food to feed them is confusing and somewhat scary. 

 Have you ever read a dog food label and thought what is this stuff and what does it mean for my dog’s health?   Does dog food really need all those chemicals? Should my dog eat that much corn?  What are meal and meat by-products?

 In this article, we answer several of the most common asked questions about dog food ingredients and dog food labels.  If you don’t see your questions answered, bark back  and we’ll “dig up” some answers.

What are meat by-products?

They are the left over stuff from the human food industry. The items you don’t want to eat such as beaks, heads, feet, undeveloped eggs, feathers or intestines.  GROSS! You wouldn’t feed these to your dogs in raw form, so why would you feed it to them as a dried up pellet?

There are all types of “meal” on dog food labels, what does “meal” mean?

Meal means coarsely ground. For example, corn meal is just coarsely ground corn. There isn’t anything wrong with meal. However, you want to see Chicken or Lamb listed before Meal.  You never want to see Meat or Meat Meal listed. It could be anything, including dying, diseased or dead animals.

Remember to look for chicken meal or lamb meal.

Why is there so much corn and corn filler in dog food?

Corn is a cheap protein source used to keep down the cost of the dog food. As with humans, corn is known to be hard on dog’s digestive system.

Are chemical dyes and preservatives necessary?

The simple answer is no. In general, foods will spoil without some form of preservative, however there are many all natural food coloring dyes and preservatives available. Beet, tomato and spinach powders make great coloring dyes and citric acid (vitamin 0C) and tocopherols –a natural antioxidant that slows the oxidation process of fats and oils—are perfect for preserving yummy-for-the-tummy dog food and treats.

Does my dog need a full balance diet?

Yes, your dogs should eat a well balance diet (just like yours). It should consist of healthy protein, vegetables, fruit, and wholesome grains. 

Why is oven-baked dog food so important to the quality of my dog’s food?

Many pet foods are mostly made from grain fragments mixed with meat by-products, (both left over from the human food industry). It is then cooked quickly at an extremely high temperature until it is tasteless. To make it palatable they then coat it with fats. YUCK!    

Three Dog Bakery uses only premium, wholesome ingredients, like you would for your family.  We slow bake our premium dog food and treats to seal the natural flavors, aromas and nutrients into our all natural ingredients.  The slow baking process creates highly nutritious and palatable healthy dog food that works naturally with your dog’s digestive system.

There is a lot of contradictory information about dog diets. Just like humans no two dogs are alike. You have to find what works for you and your dogs.

We at Three Dogs Bakery, believe our premium quality dog food and treats are something you can feel good about feeding to your family–the four legged ones. Remember, Three Dog Bakery dog food and treats are made in the USA.

Get Three Dog Bakery premium dog food today at http://www.threedog.com

In honor of National Peanut  Butter Lovers Month Three Dog Bakery decided to share with you and your pooch our favorite easy treat recipe – dogs love all things peanut butter!

 Peanut Butter Cups

• 1/2 cup carob chips, unsweetened
• 6 teaspoons peanut butter
• 12 confection candy cups or cup cake cups

Place cups on tray that will fit in your refrigerator. In a small pan, on medium heat, melt carob chips. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of melted carob into each cup. Chill 10 minutes. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter on top of chilled carob. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of melted carob on top of peanut butter. Chill 10 minutes. Peel and treat!