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Buster's Biscuits

Last winter, I began making treats for our dogs Emma and Buster using the odds and ends of cheese from our case here at the shop. It was a good way to make use of little bits of cheese that were no longer saleable and to assuage my guilty conscience toward our poor, sad, neglected pooches. (Well, they think they’re poor, sad and neglected, but let me tell you, their lives are just fine!) They loved the treats and quickly associated the aroma of baking cheese with true doggy happiness.

Tim suggested I make treats to sell at the shop. Somehow the idea of spending my time away from the shop making large batches of dog treats didn’t quite work for me. So Tim did a really smart thing: he contacted the good folks at Magic Snacks, a small company here in Portland that makes organic, healthy treats for dogs.

Here's our Buster.

Magic Snacks was started in 2003 by Richard and Nicole Crommelin. They had a new puppy and were disappointed by the lack of healthy, organic dog treats available. After researching canine nutrition needs, talking with veterinarians, testing a lot of recipes, and conducting taste tests with lucky dog park pals, they came up with a product that is wheat and corn free, organic, plaque reducing, and best of all, yummy for the hounds. Magic Snacks was born, and they quickly started selling to pet shops and veterinarians around the country.

For us, Richard developed a recipe that uses Foster & Dobbs cheese, potato flour, amaranth, organic egg, organic olive oil, and organic garlic powder. Buster’s Biscuits are Magic Snack’s first totally grain-free treat (which is particularly good since dogs aren’t actually built to digest grain products). They are very slowly cooked at a low temperature so that they develop a good strong crunchiness, which helps control tartar and plaque build up. The assortment of cheeses that go into the biscuits varies from batch to batch, so each batch will have a unique flavor profile.

Magic Snack’s philosophy is that if it’s not good enough for you to eat, you shouldn’t feed it to your four legged pals either. I’ve personally tried Buster’s Biscuits and they taste a bit like Goldfish (those little cheddar flavored crackers). Though I’d rather just eat the cheese, I’m happy say that they’re a lot tastier than any other dog biscuits I’ve ever eaten. (Not that I’ve actually tried the full range of available dog treats…) I know for a fact that Emma and Buster are very quick to do as I tell them when they see the biscuits in my hand.

Buster’s Biscuits are $4 for a 5 ounce bag. For mail order, we package up two bags for $8.00.