As a neighbour walks by with their dog they are greeted with the robust smells of home cooking wafting through my kitchen window. "What are you cooking in there? It always smells so good?", someone enquired. On this particular day I described the slow cooked lamb soaked in a gravy of natural juices, along with farm fresh vegetables, quinoa, and chia. As I continued to describe this delectable dish, I told them that I make these whole food stews for dogs, and this was one of the orders I was cooking up. "For a dog? That sounds good enough for me to eat!", she said with a guffaw. Well, it IS good enough for us to eat – and I would like to suggest that it is time we started thinking that this is exactly how our pets should be eating too.
My name is Anne, and I have a small dog named Sophii. Together we have started a small business called Sophii's Choice Field to Bowl Barkery. We offer slow cooked whole food stews, MUTTloaves, and gravies, as well as an assortment of all natural dog and cat treats. All of our foods and treats use local produce and meats (wherever possible), and are made in small batches which allows for freshness and the ability to cater to special needs.
When I brought Sophii home nearly six years ago, I had already planned on feeding her raw diet, and making my own treats for her. In the aftermath of a large dog food recall and scare, and as a natural health practitioner and advocate of whole food and plant based cooking myself, this seemed like a real and exciting option for us. As Sophii started to grow, the raw diet was not sitting well with her anymore, as it unfortunately does for many dogs. I looked at how to continue feeding her 'real' whole foods, and researched many experts in the natural dog food movement and found that slow cooking was a wonderful alternative to raw. Well, she loved it, and still does. Nearly six years later she is a healthy, balanced, and happy little pup with no skin issues, all her teeth (which are very white!), no dog smell, and the energy of a one-year-old.
As I stated earlier, I also made her treats using all natural ingredients, local and organic wherever possible. I tried many recipes, and had the chance to share an abundance of treats with the neighbourhood's dogs. When my boys left for school, and I became a new empty nester, it was suggested to me to start selling these dog treats, and maybe start a little side business. So I did. Last May I began selling a selection of dog treats at the Owen Sound Farmers' Market under the name Sophii's Choice, because after all, these are the ones that Sophii loves the most! I never imaged that they would have been received so well. Over the summer we gained some regular customers, and the treats were bought as gifts for people in far off places such as Scotland, Australia and Alaska! Our assortment of dehydrated treats come in gluten free, grain free, meat, vegetarian and vegan options, and use wonderful ingredients such as kefir, kombucha and sourdough! Many cat lovers were disappointed last summer since I didn't offer anything for cats. I started bringing in organic cat nip (which I grow), and just recently introduced a new line of "Kitii Krisps", fish jerkies for cats. They are made with local fish, are gluten and grain free, and come in a variety of flavours. We are getting great feedback from our cat-pals that these are a favourite in their household!
Most recently, aside from the cat treats, we have begun to offer the whole food dog meals to the community as well. There are a variety of stews to choose from, as well as small
"MUTTloaves", gravies and calcium supplement. These are sold on an order-basis (either at the Market or via email/website), and come prepackaged and frozen to order. The website lists the ingredients of each meal, most of which are from local producers and growers, and gives an overview of the amount of food you need and how to use it if using all home-cooked vs. supplementing the home-cooked with kibble. Adding these meals is a wonderful way to bring nourishment and natural foods to your dog's diet. The stories I am hearing back from early pet-parent customers are that their dog's have renewed energy, now look forward to eating their kibble with 'real food' added, one says that their dog's coat is shiny and the skin itch has gone, and another stated that they were happy that their dog has all but stopped expelling 'air biscuits' - which is worth more than she can say!
I am excited to be offering these wonderful meals and treats to our community's pets, and speaking to interested pet-parents at the Farmers' Market each Saturday. If you have questions, or are interested in customizing your dog's diet with whole foods, please come out to see me, perhaps pick up some treats, shampoo soap or paw balm - and enjoy a wonderful time at our thriving farmers' market. I hope to meet you soon.
Sophii's Choice Field to Bowl Barkery www.sophiischoice.ca
Living life like someone left the gate open!
Anne Kaarid and Sophii, Sophii's Choice Field to Bowl Barkery
