When we started making treats for our dog Andrea — or Buddy, as we always call him — we didn't set out to start a business. We just wanted to know exactly what was going into his mouth.
If you've ever flipped over a bag of store-bought dog treats and tried to read the ingredient list, you know the feeling. Preservatives, artificial flavours, fillers, and words you can't pronounce. For a dog who gives you everything, it didn't feel right.
So we started baking our own.
What's Actually in Most Commercial Dog Treats?
Many mass-produced dog treats contain:
- Artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT, linked to health concerns in long-term studies
- Fillers like corn syrup and wheat gluten that offer little nutritional value
- Artificial colours and flavours that exist purely for appearance — not for your dog's benefit
- By-products — vague ingredients that can mean almost anything
Dogs can't read labels. They trust us to choose for them.
Why All-Natural Ingredients Make a Difference
All-natural treats use real, whole ingredients — the kind you'd actually find in your kitchen. At Buddy's Bones, every treat is made with ingredients you can recognize:
- Real peanut butter — a protein-rich, flavour-packed ingredient dogs go absolutely wild for (and ours is always xylitol-free)
- Pumpkin — a natural digestive powerhouse that helps keep tummies happy and regular
- Simple pantry staples — nothing hidden, nothing artificial
When you know what's in the treat, you can feel good about giving it. Every single time.
Small Batch Means Fresher, Better Treats
Mass production means long shelf lives, which often means more preservatives. When treats are hand-baked in small batches like ours, they're made fresh — and they don't need a chemistry lab to stay that way.
Your Dog Deserves the Same Care You'd Give Yourself
We wouldn't eat food full of ingredients we can't identify. Why should Buddy?
All-natural treats aren't just a trend — they're a return to something simple: real food, made with care, for a dog who deserves it.
Buddy's Bones are hand-baked in small batches in Pembroke, Ontario using simple, wholesome ingredients. Made in Canada 🇨🇦 with love — for your Buddy, whatever their name is.