When setting up PetBuddy I really wanted to be as ethical as possible and one of the ways to do this is to make sure that our treats are ethically sourced and that our suppliers only work with farmers who treat their animals well in line with regulations and good standards of care. 

Another way we can be as ethical as possible is to ensure that as little of the animal is being wasted as needed. Did you know that dogs can eat almost all parts of an animal?  Take a buffalo for example, as well as the meat, dogs can eat the tendon, the gullet, skin and even the horns!  

Each part of an animal has various health benefits from being great for teeth, bones, brain and heart development and helping to build a stronger immune system.  We all want to make sure that our pups are as healthy as they can be and live a long and happy life, and if we can make sure that parts of the animal that can help are used, then it's win win! 

Even more obscure parts of the animal like the penis, Pizzle as it's more commonly known, make an amazing long lasting chew! Mila and Enzo absolutely love Pizzle, it lasts ages and it's high in protein which aids muscle and tissue repair as well as being a natural source of Taurine which is perfect for heart health. 

What about the bladder? Yep, you guessed it, it makes a delicious treat for dogs, it's naturally high in vitamins and minerals as well as being great for dental hygiene for teeth and gums! 

The ears? Yep, perfect for dogs!  Rabbit Ears with hair are widely believed to be a great natural dewormer. Pig Snouts? You got it, amazing for dogs, full of natural vitamins and minerals! 

There really is very little of the animal that can't be used to make a perfect treat or chew for your pup, so why not check out what else we have, you'll be surprised I'm sure! 

You know the saying, "A well trained dog is a happy dog", well it's true, but it goes way beyond this.  A well trained dog is a great family member, a brilliant play mate for other dogs and a trusted companion. 

A well trained dog can be trusted to listen, play well with other dogs, be off the lead, and be an obedient friend.  What's not to like about that?! 

Training my own dogs was all new to me, I had trained dogs in the past but Mila was my first own dog and training her with the emotions that go with the dog being my own was a challenge.  Mila was a typical puppy, bitey, a little naughty, totally not aware of what a lead was and how to walk on one.  She was oblivious to the difference between going to the loo inside versus outside (am sure sometimes she would hold it in outside and empty her bowels as soon as we got back in on purpose) and my little baby Mila chewed through not one, but two, mac cables.  

The good news is that training is possible and here are a few top tips to make it that bit easier.

Consistency - It's key folks, keep it up!  Repeat, repeat and repeat again. consistently reward the behaviour too when your dog gets it right. 

Praise - Praise is a big one, Mila absolutely thrived off the praise, she loved when she knew she got something right, kisses, fur ruffles, good boy/girl, cuddles, ALL THE PRAISE!! Positive reinforcement is a must. Your dog will pick up on your frustrations if you focus on their negative behaviours rather than rewarding the positive, and this will only create stress which makes learning harder.

Treats - Having the right treats to hand is a must! Sadly some high street treats are full of additives, preservatives and derivatives, take a moment and read the ingredients of some treats and you'll be shocked at the poor quality and how little meat or fish is in them. 

High value treats like our Pate Sausages work amazingly well, they are 100%  pure, natural, trainer recommended and delicious. They contain absolutely nothing else but meat or fish so no nasties at all! 

Our Pate Sausages are so versatile.  You can slice it and dice it and it makes the perfect on the go training treat and it's perfect for pups from 4 weeks old! 

Fun - Make learning fun too, training is brilliant for building relationships and bonding. Training as part of a walk or play session is perfect! 

Remember that training is an ongoing process and it is important to keep the training up. It can be easily forgotten so use it or lose it! keeping up with even the most basic tricks and commands will help them stay fresh in your dog's mind! 

Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo

Dem teeth.... ouch!!  I remember when my babies, Mila and Enzo were pups. These beautiful little floofs had nothing less than mini machetes in their mouths.  Mila's bite place of choice was the bingo wing and Enzo's was the ear lobe, both not nice and super painful. 

While it’s totally normal behaviour in a pupper, there are ways to get through this stage with our "cutting-edge" advice, see what I did there..

There are plenty of reasons why puppies love to bite and chew. Teething is a big one. Your puppy teethes like a baby and they often choose to relieve their discomfort by chomping down on something, whether that’s a chew, toy, a chair leg or indeed, an ear lobe. Dogs also explore the world with their mouths and noses and this is especially true for little pups. They learn by investigating various textures and objects. 

Biting can also happen when puppies get over-excited when playing and get a little mouthy. Enzo would bite to get my attention and to stop me touching his bum which he hated.  Every time I tried to wash his bum, out his little razor teeth came.  

There is good news though and here at PetBuddy we can help! I found with my babies that re-direction really helped to teach them how to satisfy their need to bite and chew in more appropriate way. 

We supple a whole host of tasty and satisfying natural treats to chew on which are far more appropriate things to put in their mouths than your fave slipper, or in Enzo's case, the corner of my laptop screen.  RIP Mac.. 

Our very popular Braided Lamb Skin is the perfect chew for a teething pupper.  It's odourless, braided for extra toughness and 100% natural! It's the best chew for dogs over 12 weeks! 

If your dog's chew of choice is the chair leg, try our amazing Olivewood chew. Made from olive trees and soaked in olive oil, it's a great calorie free chew that is sure to save your poor chairs.

Yelping out when your fur baby bites sadly won't help, it's more likely to excite them as they respond to high pitched noises. It’s best to stay as calm as possible and redirect them to an appropriate alternative such as tasty chew by making that much more interesting than your bingo wings! 

What's better than a really good play session with our dogs? If your dogs are anything like mine, they adore a ball, live for a good old game of tug, go crazy for a squeaker and absolutely love a run in and out of the sea at the beach.  

Playing with our dogs is so fun and so important to their overall well-being. It provides cognitive, physical and social benefits for dogs – and it’s a great way to relieve stress.  Playtime at home is a brilliant way to give that all important physical and mental exercise.

Games like tug and fetch are really tiring for dogs and by adding in a few quick play sessions each day you’ll create a routine that provides your dog with plenty of exercise as well as strengthening the bond you have together. 

Mentally stimulating games enrich our dogs lives by giving them something meaningful to do, plus games like this activities alleviate boredom. Our Snuffle Mats and Snuffle Balls are perfect for this. They’re easy to play with, and best of all they’re a simple way to keep your dog focused, active and entertained.             

Remember too, playtime is one of the ways puppies start learning basic manners right from the beginning and we can continue doing this into adulthood.  Our Stick Man Eco Toy is brilliant for a game of tug of war, it’s a fun game by itself, but Stick Man also helps teach your dog how to be control their impulses, and he's so damn cute too!!!  

One of the biggest benefits of play for dogs is that it relieves boredom and keeps them busy. By playing with your dog a few times a day you can decrease the likelihood of them developing cheeky habits. Essentially, you’re giving them something meaningful to do, and preventing them from having to come up with ways to entertain themselves that might involve chewing up your chair legs! 

Having a dog is one of the best things on earth, it's like having the ultimate best friend around all the time.  So happy to see you, loves to play, is by your side through thick and thin.  In return we give them so much love, epic walkies and those all important treatos.

Here at PetBuddy, we believe in feeding as natural as possible, and that includes with treats.  

Alongside your dogs regular diet, treats can have many health benefits such as helping with joints, brain health, heart health and building a far stronger immune system, all meaning our best pals are with us for longer. 

Sadly, many of the more commercial brands of treats are packed with low quality ingredients, additives, preservatives and derivatives, all of which can do damage to your dog's body.  

Natural feeding is exactly that, feeding as natural as possible. As close to nature as we can be.  All of our treats are all totally natural which are for more digestible than commercial low quality treats, meaning that your dog's body can absorb more of the nutrients, leading to a stronger immune system.  

Take our newest item in stock, our Ostrich Foot.  Simply air-dried with no additives or preservatives, absolutely nothing else! No nasties to make your dog poorly or compromise their health, just as natural as it comes. 

All of our treats have multiple benefits too!  These Pressed Tendons are the perfect natural dental chew as the fibrous texture has super flossing action, keeping teeth nice and clean, breath nice and fresh and those pearly whites, well.. white!

Or what about our Chicken Feet?!  

Why not check out all of our natural treats now and start your dog on the road to a healthier lifestyle!