March 2015 – Give a Dog a Bone

Small dog owners may have realized that dry foods and dry biscuit treats just don’t cut it for their pups. As the pet parent of a Yorkie Shih Tzu, I’ve noticed that dry foods just don’t captivate my dog, Bachaesh’s, attention like meaty, moist foods do.

Waggers, the creators of TenderMoist, have tackled this dilemma head-on with their Soft & Moist dog foods. Their three flavours- Chicken, Chicken & Duck, and Turkey & Salmon- are targeted towards small breed dogs up to 22 pounds (and have some of the cutest packaging in the industry!)

Waggers created TenderMoist food to provide an alternative to wet/raw dog foods with the ease of a kibble, and without the mess. The Soft & Moist dog food is free of grain and starch. This is important because some dogs have food intolerances or sensitivities associated with gluten, and starches are often used to “glue” highly-processed ingredients together and convert quickly to sugar in your dog’s digestive system–contributing to obesity and tooth decay.

Waggers kindly sent us a 3 pound bag of the Chicken & Duck Recipe to try out.

The Experience

Each kibble piece is about the size of a pea and is moist–appealing to the discerning tastes of small breed dogs. I let two of our taste testers (Pepper and Muffin) have first try of the moist food (while we were at its launch at Global Pet Expo), and had positive feedback when we returned. Once home, we tried the food out on Bachaesh, our nearly 3 year old Yorkie Shih-Tzu, who is a bit of a picky eater.

As I mentioned earlier, Bachaesh is not a fan of most dry treats. When the ladies at the pet store offer him traditional dog biscuits he turns his nose up and walks away. He’s definitely food motivated, but the quality of the food and the flavour matters immensely.

I was pleased to see that Bachaesh enjoyed TenderMoist, especially when we put it in a treat-dispensing ball for him to play with. I loved that the kibbles were small so that we could use them as regular food, or even as a reward for training.

TenderMoist dog food contains over 90% animal protein ingredients and less than 12% carbohydrates (Great for pups watching their waistlines!) Because the pieces are moist, they don’t crumble if you want to carry a few with you in your pocket for training purposes. Also, since they contain 30% moisture (3 times the amount found in dry kibble) I’ve noticed that he is less thirsty throughout the day. (This is not to say, however, that water should be any less available while feeding this food.) They’ll stay moist in your pup’s bowl for about 10 hours. Awesome.

Tender Moist Dog Food Fits Perfectly in a Treat Ball

While looking at the ingredient list, the first thought that came to mind was “That’s a long list.” So, I looked up every ingredient in TenderMoist dog food so that I could be an informed consumer. I would encourage all pet owners to do the same with ANY pet food you’re considering because it is important to know what you’re feeding your dog.

After doing some research, I discovered that all of the ingredients are considered all-natural, with 95% being sourced from Canada or the US, and nothing coming from China. I’m generally of the opinion that less is more. However, I also realize that some dogs may have mineral or vitamin deficiencies and the addition of these ingredients could contribute to better health. And we ALL want healthy fur-kids, right?

The Verdict

Overall, I was satisfied with this food, and my dogs enjoyed it. I’ve spoken to some owners of small dogs who say it’s a struggle to get their dog to eat, or that their dog has food allergies. I think TenderMoist may be an option for those pet owners.

Additionally, I think this food is a healthier alternative to some moist training treats on the market. The convenient size of the kibble makes them a low-cal treat for dogs of any size or age.

Expert tip: Consider mixing TenderMoist food with natural peanut butter and stuffing into a Kong for those days where you just need five minutes of quiet.

Wagger’s TenderMoist food comes in 3lb ($27.99-$30.99) and 6lb bags ($49.99-$59.99) and is available online and in stores. The brand also carries treats for larger dogs, cats, and soft & moist food for cats. So be sure to check out the rest of their product line. There’s something for everybody!

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for our upcoming reviews and a couple giveaways too!

Emily & Bachaesh

We were away at Global Pet Expo last week, scouring the aisles to bring you, and your dog, treats with natural, wholesome ingredients. Full Moon was one of our tasty discoveries! We asked them to send us some of their chicken treats for us to rigorously inspect. Read on for our thoughts.

Full Moon’s “kitchen-crafted natural dog treats” tick all the boxes of pet parents when it comes to selecting a natural, gluten-free treat for their dogs. There have been a lot of worries lately about where our pets’ treats come from, and confusion when packaging says they are a North American product, but their meat ingredients are sourced elsewhere. In fact, this frustration was the whole reason the Perdue family-owned and operated business started.

I am proud to report that Full Moon’s meats are raised in the USA on family farms. Their chickens and turkeys are cage free, fed a natural diet free of steroids and hormones. Their beef is raised on a free-range ranch in the USA, and their pork is also raised on family farms, nourished without steroids and hormones.

When we first received the Chicken Jerky treats and the Chicken Strips, the first thing I did was read the ingredients. While their ingredients consist of more than just chicken, they are ingredients you still feel good about feeding your pup–and the list is short and simple.

The Chicken Strips are a nice light treat, containing Chicken, Brown Rice Syrup, Vinegar and Green Tea Extract. The strips appear to be a blended mixture of the above ingredients, reformed into a rectangular strip, with score marks for easy portioning. What I really liked about this treat is how easily it breaks apart into small pieces. Because the strip in made from blended Human-grade cuts of chicken, I found that the pieces that I broke off were not jagged, unlike some chicken strips that are purely dried chicken. I’m always concerned when I leave treats for my dog that he may choke, or that he may get a sharp piece stuck in his throat. While this could still be a potential hazard with any treat, I actually feel a lot better leaving the Full Moon Chicken Strips for him.

The Chicken Jerky treats, in comparison, were a much denser treat- similar to traditional jerky- and were also scored for easy breakage. These treats are marketed as a Hip & Joint Health treat because of their added Glucosamine and USA sourced Chondroitin–used to treat Osteoarthritis. The other four ingredients are, quite simply, Chicken Breast, Dried Cane Molasses, Vinegar and Turmeric. Molasses and Turmeric, of course, have been used for quite some time as natural remedies for various ailments. It is no surprise that they’re appearing in pet treats these days. These treats were also gluten-free, corn and soy free, as well as USA made.

My dog, Bachaesh, absolutely loved these treats. In fact, he kept begging for more. I love that these treats have high quality, simple ingredients and are quite affordable. You can break them apart and use them as training treats, in a treat ball or even as a food topper for picky eaters. I’d definitely buy these treats for my dog, and recommend them to other dog owners. Your dogs are what they eat, so feed them well!

You can compare Full Moon’s treats to competitors on their website.

The treats are available online through Amazon and Walmart- priced at approximately $14 for a 12 ounce bag. Or, you can find USA stores that carry the treats here.

Stay tuned for more great treats and remember to subscribe!

Emily & Bachaesh