Seattle, Washington (August 2005) - T'is the season to be a jolly pup.  154 million pet owners in the U.S. will spend $2.6 billion on pet gifts this holiday season, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey.  No doubt many of those spoiled doggies will be enjoying new Natural Peanut Butter Softies from Blue Dog Bakery.  These Premium Natural Soft Dog Treats are perfect stocking stuffers to reward pooches that have been nice, and to encourage better behavior from the pups that have been naughty.   Blue Dog Bakery’s new Natural Peanut Butter Softies capitalize on two of the hottest trends in pet food – premium and all-natural. 

Made with only the highest quality human–grade bakery ingredients, new Blue Dog Bakery’s “Peanut Butter Softies” are chewy dog treats that feature a filling of real peanut butter and black strap molasses.   Shaped like a fig bar, they are easy to digest, help maintain fresh breath and are free of animal by-products, preservatives, additives, artificial flavors or colors.  Perfect for all size dogs, Blue Dog Bakery’s new Premium Natural Soft Dog Treats are offered in a 10-ounce freshness-sealed bag for $2.49.  The package features a “tape reseal” to keep them fresh and chewy after opening.  Their soft texture is also nice for older dogs with dental challenges.

Natural dog food and treats are hot.  According to the 2005 Packaged Facts report Market Trends: Natural, Organic and “Eco-Friendly” Pet Products, retail sales of natural pet foods reached $375 million in 2004, with 500 new products introduced – almost double the product intros from the prior year.  Blue Dog Bakery is a veteran pioneer, not a “puppy-come-lately” to the natural scene.   Margot Kenly, the founder of the Seattle company, saw this kind of explosive growth coming in 1998 when she founded Blue Dog Bakery.  Spotting a void for healthy premium treats for beloved four legged critters, she literally was “going to the dogs” when she left a successful career baking gourmet desserts to start a treat baking company that caters to drooling four-legged critters.  “I was concerned about chemical additives and animal by-products in other dog biscuits - as well as the increase in dog obesity,” says Kenly.  

Premium dog food is another hot segment, capturing 33% of the overall market according to APPMA.   Blue Dog Bakery uses only premium human grade ingredients in their dog treats and receives letters from customers that enjoy eating the treats themselves.   “People love their pets just like they’re children in the family, and that means they want to give them foods  made with real high-quality and delicious ingredients that they would want to eat themselves – not animal by-products and artificial junk from a laboratory,” Kenly notes.    

The pedigree for Blue Dog Bakery’s biscuits is impressive, and therefore, drooling canine expectations are high.  Blue Dog Bakery’s other premium low-fat natural dog treat products include: award-winning Peanut Butter & Molasses, Natural Cheese and MORE Flavors (an assortment that includes Peanut Butter & Molasses, Natural Cheese, Bacon & Cheese and Grilled Chicken biscuits).  Blue Dog’s products can be fetched at thousands of grocery, pet and natural food stores throughout the U.S.  For more information, please visit www.bluedogbakery.com, or call toll-free at 1-888-749-7229.