Peninsula News Review Article about Want A Cookie.
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009PENNISULA NEWS REVIEW ( March 12, 2008)
Troy Hawboldt knows that the dog cookies they created are both healthy and tasty, and not just because of the enthusiastic reaction their dog, Diesel, has when they ask Want a cookie?
That’s a good sign, and so are the increasing number of dog-owners bringing pets into their shop (aptly named Want a Cookie), along with the fact that other retail outlets, from Buddies Natural Pet Food to Thrifty Foods, are carrying the treats, which come in three flavours (beef, cheese, and peanut butter).
No, the Hawboldts have shown their dedication to their product the old-fashioned way: they’ve tasted all those dog biscuits, cupcakes, and cakes themselves. Everything is human-grade ingredients, said troy, as the couple laughingly admit that they had to do taste tests when they first began making the cookies. Of course, these are no ordinary dog treats; the cupcakes, which have a yogurt-and-coconut icing, smell just like something you’d find in a regular bakery, not in a barkery, the dog equivalent.
It was in a search for healthy, natural treats for Diesel that they decided to start the company. There were no dog cookies without wheat, corn and sugar, Wheat gives many dogs skin reactions and allergies, and corn is a filler.
And you don’t want to give them sugar, said Troy. They began to do research on the Internet and was soon trying various recipes in their home kitchen. It was trial and error, Troy said. Some things just don’t bake together. The concoctions they eventually came up with are oven-baked and contain, besides the main ingredient, flax, omega-3, and garlic, which are healthy and dog-friendly, as well as parsley, which improves dog breath.
The response from the community has been great, they say, with quick adoption by local retailers and customers. They originally kept baking the treats in the kitchen, but soon needed to expand to the garage, and then, to keep up with demand, found a local baker who could make the treats.
The shop in Brentwood Bay doesn’t just sell the treats, but also sells unique and high-end dog products (everything from a pet loo that dogs can use to go to the bathroom inside to decorated collars). It’s also teamed up with a dog spa/groomer. It’s a one-stop dog shop, said Troy.
The Want a Cookie barkery is at 110-7088 West Saanich Road in Brentwood Bay, and open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
