Look Who's Happy! Happy Wraps - Product Review

Today we've got another Look Who's Happy! treat review for you- this time of their new Happy Wraps.

Image courtesy of Look Who's Happy!

Happy Wraps are slices of sweet potato or carrot
hand-wrapped in thin chicken or turkey strips. The veggie is dry-roasted and the meat has a jerky consistency.

Happy Wraps, like the other products in the Look Who's Happy! line are:

- made in the USA
- free of by-products, added hormones, and artificial

   preservatives, flavors or colors
- grain and gluten free
- made with USDA-inspected, cage-free whole      

   muscle meat

We tried the sweet potato with turkey and sweet potato with chicken recipes.

In one pouch, all of the treats had big, flat sweet potato slices, and in the other pouch, they were all shaped like sweet potato fries. I think it's just the luck of the draw. They are packaged by weight, so pouches with larger slices will contain fewer individual treats. When given the option, Chewy reached for the bigger slices first because he LOVES to eat, and bigger is always better in his book.

Happily going in for the chomp

They smell pretty great to the doggie (and human) nose:

Sniiiiiiff

And are chops-lickin' good, too!

Yummy!

Chewy is very pleased with these Happy Wraps. I'm sure he appreciates the two-for-one taste in each bite, as well as the crunch factor from the jerky and the chewiness of the sweet potato. After all, Chewy loves to chew!

Happy face of treat anticipation

I don't even care that I'm being burrito-d by this picnic blanket cuz I've got my treats! 

While these are great for those, "You're so cute! Let me give you a treat!" moments (they happen pretty often at our house), they would not be my go-to treat for training Chewy or for bringing on walkies. They are not the most portable treats because of their large-ish size, though you could certainly fit one or two in your pocket. Also, they are not very easy to break into smaller pieces because the veggie portion tends to be pliable and the meat portion is really caked on there and hard.


We give Look Who's Happy! Happy Wraps 3 1/2 paws up.

Disclaimer: We were provided with one bag each of Look Who's Happy! Happy Wraps sweet potato with turkey, and sweet potato with chicken, for review purposes. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed above are our own.

Tasty Tuesday blog hop:

Tasty Tuesday: Baked Oatmeal for Dogs

I often make a dog version of my meals to share with Chewy, so when I decided to make myself some baked oatmeal, I made him a pan, too. His version had peanut butter and applesauce and no added sugar. It is very simple to make and has a little bit of a crunch factor as opposed to regular, gooey oatmeal.

This recipe is for a pretty small batch, so if you're already planning to bake something else, you can just mix it up and pop in the oven together.
[Recipe at the end]

All that's required: mix and pour into a (mini) pan

Chewy is pretty good at recognizing that I'm making treats for him and likes to keep watch over the oven. Peanut butter is usually a good indicator that there's food for doggies.

Always guarding the oven

Chewy got his baked oatmeal with peanut butter yogurt here. Sometimes he gets some fruit slices, too, like banana. I eat my brown sugar-y people version with milk.

Matching breakfasts!

Om nom nommm

They store well in the refrigerator for a few days. I think baked oatmeal leftovers tastes better if toasted before serving, but Chewy was equally excited about eating them cold. I usually pop his in the toaster oven along with my own serving. Just be sure to let it cool before offering to your dog.

I know you have more up there!

Baked Oatmeal for Dogs

Ingredients:
1 cup quick cook oats
1/4 cup sugar-free applesauce
2 tbsp unsalted peanut butter
1 egg (whisked)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients together and transfer to a foil-lined or well-greased baking pan (I used a mini loaf pan). Bake for 40-45 minutes until set and golden brown at the top. Let cool and cut into small squares. Refrigerate any uneaten portions in an airtight container.

Tasty Tuesday: Turkey Meatballs

Chewy loves meatballs, but store-bought doggy meatballs usually contain a whole bunch of additives, so I decided to make some healthier ones. These are super simple to make- the most difficult part is chopping the veggies. I used carrots, celery and pumpkin, but you can also substitute using other dog-friendly veggies if you wish. I also used ground flax seed, which contains omega-3's for healthy skin & coat. [Complete recipe at the end]

Chewy was really excited about the meatballs from the moment I took the turkey out of the fridge, because MEAT!

All you have to do is mix everything together,

make them into meatballs, and pop them in the oven. I used parchment paper so that I wouldn't need to add more oil by greasing the pan. You can make them a smaller size as well, just adjust the baking time.

Before and after baking

Then let them cool, and feed the pup(s)! I served them to Chewy on a bed of leftover pumpkin puree with unflavored sweet potato fries and cucumber slices.

...I am waiting...

He of course went for the meatballs first, because he does not understand the concept of saving the best for last.

*scarf scarf scarf* ... Can I perhaps have some more?

These are meant as a treat, not to replace your dog's regular, balanced meals.


Turkey Meatballs for Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1 medium sized carrot, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup plain pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup quick cook oats
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley or 1 tbsp. dried parsley
• 2 tbsp. ground flax seed

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix well. Form 1.5" diameter balls (makes ~16) and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until cooked through and lightly browned, about 20-30 min. Let cool completely before serving. Store uneaten meatballs in the fridge up to 1 week, or freeze for longer.

Product Review: Look Who's Happy! Treats

Chewy recently got his paws on some Look Who's Happy! dog treats, and he was very impressed!

Look Who's Happy dog treats are:

• Grain and gluten free
• Free of animal byproducts, hormones, artificial preservatives, colors and flavors
• Made in the USA (in their own plant in Gainesville, Georgia)
• Made with USDA-inspected meats sourced from the USA, Canada, or New Zealand
• Manufactured according to FDA food safety production guidelines
• Independently tested for safety
• Packaged in bags with a giant picture of a happy dog!

They currently have two lines of treats on the market. Tempt'n Tenders are chewy treats made from cage-free chicken and encrusted with carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato, or blueberry. Fetch'n Fillets are jerky treats made from whole muscle cuts of naturally raised beef, cage free chicken, grass fed bison, or grass fed venison.

We received Tempt'n Tenders Chicken with Sweet Potato Recipe and Fetch'n Fillets Chicken Jerky.

The Tempt'n Tenders (pictured above on the left) were in strips of various sizes, and were very easy to break into smaller pieces. The sweet potato crust left some particles on my fingers, but it was not sticky and rubbed off easily.

The Fetch'n Fillets (pictured above on the right) were also in a variety of sizes and shapes. They were a little bit more difficult to break into smaller portions, but it was doable.


Before I even cut open the treat bags, Chewy decided he needed to roll all over them like he does his favorite toys. It's his way of saying, "this is mine!"

I claim these in the name of Chewy!

He even ran off with the bag of chicken jerky once, and lied in the shade licking the bag. Licking soon turned to chewing, as he tried to open the bag for himself. The lack of thumbs made it rather difficult, but he managed to poke a couple holes in the packaging. This jerky must be super delicious, because Chewy does not typically try to chew open treat bags! His usual move is to lie there with a pouty face until I open it for him.

I'll take this to go, thanks!

Chewy loves both of these treats, and will behave very nicely to get them. They are rather aromatic and drool-inducing, and the meatiness must be extra motivating for him.

I tried to have him choose a favorite by placing both kinds in front of him and seeing which he picked first, but he seemed to value them equally. He would lick one first to claim it, and then move on to the other one. He does the same thing when I lay out a trail of all the same kind of treat: he licks each one, and then starts eating from the end. It's like how little kids lick the things they want so their siblings won't steal them!

How can I choose?

Chewy sure is happy about Look Who's Happy treats!

We give Look Who's Happy treats 4 paws up. They smell yummy, are made in the USA with natural ingredients, and even the tiniest piece gets Chewy in super obedient mode. Also, the packaging is sure to put a smile on your face!

4 paws up for Look Who's Happy dog treats!

Look Who's Happy dog treats are sold at independent pet supply stores. To find a retailer near you, visit their website. They are also available on Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: We received one bag each of Look Who's Happy Tempt'n Tenders Chicken with Sweet Potato Recipe and Fetch'n Fillets Chicken Jerky for review purposes. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed in this review are our own.

Tasty Tuesday: Pumpkin Applesauce Dog Treats

Fall is a season for pumpkins and apples, so I made Chewy some treats combining the two. They are pretty easy to make: just mix everything together, form cookies, and pop into the oven. My recipe:

Preheat oven to 350°. 

Mix together the following until combined into a dough:

  1 cup whole wheat flour

  1 egg

  1 tbsp coconut oil

  1 tbsp flax seed

  1/2 tsp cinnamon

  1/4 cup sugar-free applesauce

  1/4 cup pumpkin puree

  1/4 cup oats

Form 1 tbsp balls of dough, and flatten onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350° until the edges are lightly golden brown, about 12-15 min.

Watching over doggie cookies is a very important job.

Remove from oven and let cookies cool on a wire rack. Can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for no more than a couple days. Store in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness.

Makes 18 tbsp-sized chewy cookies, but you can adjust size + baking time to your liking.

Cookie? Don't mind if I do!

I always find it difficult to tell if whole wheat cookies are "golden brown" because the dough is brown to begin with, so after they have cooled a little bit, I lift them up to see if the bottom is a bit more brown than the top, or if they are firm to the touch.

Also, this dough is rather sticky, so I wouldn't recommend using cookie cutters.

Tasty Tuesday: Applesauce for Doggies

A few weeks ago, we went apple picking and brought home a whole lotta apples. To use up some more of our supply, I decided to make some applesauce for Chewy. It was pretty simple- the most intensive part was peeling all the apples.

I used 6 large assorted apples (I have no idea what varieties they were) and ended up with 4 pint-sized jars of applesauce. You might want to work on a much smaller scale. Also, keep in mind that sweeter apples yield sweeter applesauce.

First, wash, peel, core and slice your apples. Apple seeds are toxic for dogs, so be sure to remove all of them. Some people simply cut their apples into quarters or eighths, but I figured it would be easier to stir smaller chunks. You can also use one of those apple corer/slicer gadgets to lesson the labor.

My selection of apples- peeled, cored, and chunked

Throw your apple slices/chunks into a pot, and add about an inch of water and some lemon juice (optional- it keeps the apples from going brown). Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil, then simmer with the lid on until the apples get mushy, about 30 min. Add cinnamon to taste at any point during cooking. I chose to add it towards the end so I could see what it looked like mixed in.

Add cinnamon as desired

Once the apples are soft and cooked through, remove from heat. Use a potato masher/fork to work it into a chunky applesauce, or use a blender/food processor to puree it.

Applesauce post-blender

You can then choose the canning route so your applesauce keeps longer, or simply store it in a jar in the fridge.

Once the applesauce has cooled, you can give your doggy a taste! It can be used as a topping for kibble, in treats, or eaten plain. Remember to serve in moderation.

I'm here for a sample!

Tasty Tuesday: Bravo! Crunchy Delights Turkey Recipe Review

Bravo Pet Foods, primarily a fresh-frozen raw food company, recently launched a new line of oven-baked Crunchy Delights dog treats, and Chewy got a chance to try their Turkey Recipe. 

Bravo! Crunchy Delights Turkey Recipe:

• Made in the USA; family-owned company
• All natural ingredients (preserved by mixed tocopherols & non-toxic oxygen absorber packet)
• No added hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, flavors or colors
• Turkey as the first ingredient, with mixed vegetables and quinoa
• Oven baked

Smell:

I think they smell like vegetable cookies, but Chewy thinks they smell super delicious. He was definitely intrigued the moment I showed him the treat bag, and drooling soon commenced. When he was posing  for pictures with the bag in his mouth, he ran off to see if someone else would open them for him!

Hi, please feed me these treats!

Appearance:

The individual treats vary in size and shape and have an almost homemade look to them, which stands out from all the cookie-cutter bone-shaped treats available on the market. You can actually identify pieces of cranberry and oats in the treats.

Breakability:

These crunchy treats are easy to break into smaller portions, but doing so generates a lot of crumbs. It would be best not to break them over your floor unless your dog is a fine crumb vacuum.

I put 2 treats in my pocket for walkies, and the larger one had broken in half by the time we got home. My pocket did get a little crumby.

Taste:

Chewy makes a happy chewing face when he crunches away at these treats. On the downside, this often means a mess of crumbs on the floor. Sometimes he manages to clean up all the crumbs, but other times he misses one or two, especially in the grout lines of our floor. Nevertheless, he definitely thinks they are lip-smacking good.

Mmmm

Generating crumbs

Eyes on the treat!

Motivation:

These Crunchy Delights are pretty motivating for Chewy. He focuses intently on them, and will breeze through his repertoire of tricks to get one.

I'm waving, I'm waving! Treat now?

Overall rating:

I liked that these Bravo! Crunchy Delights Turkey Recipe treats are made in the US from natural ingredients, with meat as the first ingredient. Chewy loved the taste and smell, and was beyond willing to work for them. They are easy to break into smaller pieces, but I wish they did not get so crumbly. I would not shove the treat bag in my backpack for fear of them turning into bits, but I think they would be fine sitting in a car door, if you wanted to bring them on an outing. We give these treats 3 1/2 paws up.

3 1/2 paws up for Bravo! Crunchy Delights Turkey Recipe

Disclaimer: Matrix Partners provided us with a free bag of Bravo Crunchy Delights Turkey Recipe. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed in this review are our own.