San Diego Golden Retriever Meet-Up Group Halloween Event

The staff at Dugan's Barkery would like to say a big thank you to Sue, who is the organizer for the San Diego Golden Retriever Meetup Group, for inviting Dugan's Barkery to their annual Halloween event. A fun time was had by all and it was such a pleasure to be surrounded by so many friendly and sweet canines and their two legged family members.

The San Diego Golden Retriever Meetup Group meets once a month at various dog parks or dog friendly beaches in San Diego County. It's a great and fun way for you and your Golden to socialize with other Golden's and their human companions and share stories, tips and ideas. They also have several fun events through out the year. For more information on the San Diego Golden Retriever Meetup Group, be sure to stop by their web site at http://goldens.meetup.com/33/ .

Here are a few pictures from this event:

Foods that are Dangerous for Dogs to Eat

Does your dog like people food? Most dogs do. But many of the foods that are safe for humans are down right dangerous for dogs. With the holidays fast approaching, we at Dugan's Barkery (http://www.dugansbarkery.com/) thought that this might be a good time to provide some information that can help keep your canine family members safe.

This is a list of the top people foods that are toxic to dogs. There may be other "people" foods that are harmful to you dogs that not are on this list. We recommend that you consult with your vet prior to giving your pet a new food. Also, some of the harmful effects can be a result of a cumulative effect. In other words, just because your pooch may have eaten one of these items without a negative outcome, that does NOT mean that the food is safe. The toxic effect can build up over time. If you suspect that your dog has eaten something that is toxic or harmful, note the amount ingested and quickly contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. You can find more detailed information on substances that are toxic to pets at www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.html and http://www.humanesociety.org/. This particular list is from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. They also have lists of plants and other things that are poisonous to pets.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine
These contain substances called methylxanthines. Methylxanthines can also be found in some sodas. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. These substances can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.

Alcohol
Beverages and foods containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado
Pets should not be allowed to eat the leaves, fruit, seeds or bark of avocados because they contain Persin. Persin can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. For birds and rodents, Persin can cause congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. In some cases, ingestion of avocado can be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts, whether eaten plain or in cookies or candy can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Symptoms usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.

Yeast Dough
Yeast Dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet's digestive system. This can be painful and can cause rupture of the stomach or intestines. The danger diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, but still, can cause problems if large amounts are ingested. Small bits are OK, but should make up no more than 5 to 10 percent of your dog's daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Raw meats and eggs can bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can make your pet sick. Raw eggs also contain avidin. Avidin decreases the absorption of biotin. This can cause skin and coat problems. Domestic pets should not be given bones because they can cause a choking hazard, become lodged or puncture your pet's digestive tract or splinter and cause grave injury.

Xylitol
Used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste, Xylitol can cause insulin release leading to hypoglycemia (lowered blood sugar levels) and liver failure. Early symptoms include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to a downed animal and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives
These can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Small amounts found in some pet foods may not be harmful, but the ASPCA recommends that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these items.

Milk
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Salt
Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death.

As an added note: Corn on the cob is extremely dangerous to give to your pet. Pieces of the cob can break off, the corn will digest and the cob can become impacted in the pet's digestive system or act like a scouring pad in there.

We hope this helps in your efforts to keep your pet safe. It's a dog's life, let's make it a good one.

"Barkimonials" come to Dugan's Barkery

As we continue to iron out the various parts of our web site, Dugan's Barkery, we noticed that we were starting to get "barkimonials" from some of our four-legged customers. We thought it would be a great way to share their experiences, likes and dislikes of our various treats, so we've added a page to our web site for their voice.

Next we'll be working on a page dedicated to the guardians and keepers of our customers so that you, too, can leave comments on our site.

We also sent off our first shipment of treats to the Best Western Inn, Blakeslee PA (Pocono Mountains, and very pet-friendly) this past week, and got word late yesterday that within the first hour of our product being put out, a few bags had already sold!

All-in-all, we've had a great week for the Barkery and look forward to starting at the local Farmer's Market later this month!

Stay tuned....

We're Up for a Trial Run

We are happy to announce that the web site for our internet store is up and running for a trial run. We would love for you to visit us at http://www.dugansbarkery.com/ , have a look around and email us your thoughts and comments to info@dugansbarkery.com .

Coming Soon!

We are just thrilled with the anticipation of bringing handmade, all natural, allergen free dog treats to our customers via Internet shopping. We are dedicated to creating wholesome, healthy treats for our canine customers. As we prepare for our mid September Internet grand opening, we hope that you enjoy reading our blog.

About Our Ingredients

You won’t find any wheat, gluten, soy, corn, dairy, eggs, meats, yeast, added salt, sugar, artificial coloring or preservatives in Dugan’s Barkery treats. What you will find in Dugans Barkery treats are ingredients selected for their wholesomeness and the value they will bring to your canine family member. That being said, please keep in mind that Dugan’s Barkery Treats are designed solely to give your deserving canine yummy treats and not meant for vitamin supplements or medicinal purposes. Here we present a list of those ingredients and why we chose them:

Organic Pumpkin: A great source of beta-carotene and other beneficial antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins C, E and K. Pumpkin is said to helpful in relieving diarrhea or constipation and is useful in digestive health maintenance.

Organic Sweet Potato: Also loaded with beta-carotene and other beneficial antioxidants, plus, vitamins C and b-complex and iron. Sweet potatoes also contain bone and teeth strengthening calcium. They are a good source of fiber and are easy to digest.

Organic Blueberries: A good source of Vitamin C and E, these little berries are also high in anti-oxidants and can aid in lowering levels of cholesterol and preventing urinary tract infections.

Organic Flax seed Meal: Provides plenty of omega 3 fatty acids and cholesterol lowering fiber. It is said that diabetic dogs could benefit from flax seed meal’s ability to help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Organic Unsulphured Molasses: Not only is Molasses a tasty sweetener for our dog treats, but it is a great source of calcium, usable iron and several trace minerals.

Organic Agave Nectar: Not only does this nectar have the lowest glycemic value of any sweetener, but it may also aid in the absorption of isoflavones, calcium and magnesium. It is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Organic Garbanzo Bean Flour: A great non-meat source of protein, garbanzo beans are low-fat and provide several minerals. Because garbanzo beans are a good source of fiber, they may help with lowering cholesterol levels and are said to of help with blood sugar levels.

Organic Quinoa Flour: Called “chesiya mama” (the mother grain), by the ancient Inca Indians, quinoa flour contains 8 essential amino acids and is a complete protein.

Organic Brown Rice Flour: Brown Rice flour is high in protein, but with a lower glycemic index than white rice, brown rice can help keep the blood sugar levels stable. Additionally, because of the bran remaining with the brown rice, this flour has a higher level of iron, fiber and B vitamins.

Tapioca Flour: This flour is made from starch extracted from the root of Cassava and is also totally gluten free. Because our recipes do not use eggs or dairy, tapioca flour helps hold the other ingredients together.

Ground Ginger: Besides tasting great, Ginger aids digestion and helps relieve indigestion, gas pains, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramping. It is also said to help as a natural pest repellent.

Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon is said to aid in the normalization of blood sugar and increase the availability of insulin in the body. Cinnamon is also used by herbalists for treating urinary tract infections, combating intestinal gas and even the common cold.

Ground Cloves: This little spice contains many anti-oxidant properties and is said to aid in the elimination of intestinal parasites.

A Little History on Dugan's Barkery

Our Barkery is named after Dugan, our loyal and loving family member for 15 years. She was a cute terrier puppy when she joined our family in 1991. We loved her little personality and always knew where we stood with her. If she was happy about something (usually going for a walk or getting a treat), Dugan would do a little “hoppy dog” dance. If she was mad at us for some reason, she would lay down with her back to us, give us “the look” then turn her head away and snort. When Dugan went over the Rainbow Bridge in May 2006, we vowed that, when we were ready to follow our dream of owning a dog related business, we would name it after her.

Since Dugan’s journey, 3 more dogs joined our family. We adopted Digby, a border terrier, from a rescue center in 2006; Prinnie an American Eskimo, from our local shelter in at the end of 2007 and Duncan, a terrier mix, also from our local shelter, in April 2009. Each, with their own unique personality, has enriched our lives in countless ways.

Duncan is our reason for choosing to hand make all natural treats with organic ingredients. He came to us itching and scratching and we thought that maybe it was from dirt and bug bites from the shelter, nothing a good bath wouldn't fix. Well, he continued to itch and scratch and a few days later he broke out with sores all around his mouth along with other nasty symptoms. We took him to the vet and learned that he had food allergies. Though there was dog food specifically for allergic dogs, we had a horrible time finding any treats he could safely eat. There was a whole host of foods that Duncan couldn't’t eat without starting the vicious itching and scratching cycle all over again. We discovered that there are many treats currently on the market that claim to be allergen free, but in reading the labels, we realized that they all had one or more items that our little dog couldn't eat. So we researched ingredients from which we could make dog treats that he and our other 2 dogs could enjoy and came up with some recipes that really worked. Now, when the mixer and cookie sheets come out, Prinnie, our Eskie, does little happy circles and our two terriers sit by the kitchen door licking their chops. All three of our canine family members can enjoy the same treats once again without Duncan having an allergic reaction. After talking with our vet and several friends and family, we were shocked to learn that dogs can suffer from food allergies just as do people and many of their human family members were experiencing the same frustrations as us in finding treats for these dogs. Thus, the idea for Dugan's Barkery.

Thank you for visiting our blog and please be sure to check back from time to time as we add more tidbits.