Vote in the Dogington Post Awards: Best Dog Treat for 2012

As part of a larger initiative to educate dog owners on proper nutrition, effective training, and other ways to raise a happy and healthy dog, the Dogington Post is reviewing products, toys, foods, treats, and trainers in our first annual Dogington Post Awards Program!

Each week, we’ll present the nominees in a particular category. And, YOU, our readers, will have an opportunity to weigh-in on your favorites, to help us choose a winner! After reviewing our nominees, leave a comment with the name of your favorite choice as our winner!

Nominees from each category for the Dogington Post Award have been selected based on strict criteria including nutritional value, ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturer ethics.

This week, we’re presenting the nominees for Best Dog Treat for 2012!

An excellent dog treat will be made from the highest quality, most nutritional ingredients, sourced and made in the USA, and (of course) delicious!

Dogington Post’s Best Dog Treat nominees are:

1. Clear Conscience Pet — Lamb Airy Bites:

What a perfect name for the manufacturer of these deliciously nutritious dog treats! You can feed your dog Lamb Airy Bites with a perfectly clear conscience, knowing that these treats contain no grains or glutens; no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or synthetic supplements; they are GMO free; and very low in carbs. What’s more, Clear Conscience Pet only sources their ingredients from sustainable family farms in the United States. The livestock at these farms are not kept in pens or cages, but are free to roam and graze among others in their own species. And, they are raised naturally, without hormones, steroids, or antibiotics.

Lamb Airy Bites are delectable, bite-sized, melt-in-your-mouth treats made from slow-roasted, pasture-raised lamb lung — a natural source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, with a rich, meaty taste that dogs love. They also contain organic spinach, organic pumpkin, and organic carrots — and nothing else!

Of all the treats we’ve sampled and tested, Clear Conscience Pet’s Lamb Airy Bites are the ONLY one that not a single dog turned their nose up at. Every one of our four-legged taste-testers not only gobbled these down, but came back begging for more. Best of all, they’re healthy and nutritious enough that we could oblige! Airy Bites are also available in a beef formula.

You can purchase Lamb Airy Bites for your favorite dogs by clicking here. Make sure to get extras — your dog is going to LOVE these!

Clear Conscience Pet make an assortment of other dog treats and chews, all USA sourced and manufactured from top quality ingredients and the very best in health and nutrition for your pet in mind. (Pssst! The Bison & Beef Liver Bark was also a big hit with our furry taste-testers!) Visit ClearConsciencePet.com for more information.

2. Cloud Star — Wag More Bark Less Wheat-Free Treats:

When Jennifer Melton and Brennan Johnson adopted their German Shepherd mix, Samantha, their lives were forever changed. Like many other dogs around the country, the couple’s new pup suffered from food allergies and a sensitive stomach. Unable to find a treat that Samantha loved that was gentle on her sensitive stomach, the couple began baking their own wholesome, nutritious snacks for her at home. Cloud Star Corporation was born in the kitchen of a couple that wanted to provide the very best nutrition for their own dog, while filling a gap in the dog food industry for wholesome, healthy treats that even the most finicky, sensitive dogs could enjoy.

Wag More Bark Less treats are naturally flavored, free of wheat, corn, soy, dairy, and eggs; available in an oven-baked crunchy cookie, or a soft & chewy snack; and are available in a variety of homestyle favorites. Whether you dog loves sweet (try Peanut Butter Cookie or Pumpkin Pie recipes) or savory (like Apple Smoked Bacon or Chicken Pot Pie), there’s a Wag More Bark Less dog treat your four-legged family will love!

Whatever your dog craves, Wag More Bark Less has a recipe to make tails wag! To try a box of oven-baked crunchy, or a bag of soft & chewy, click here.

In addition to making the wholesome, natural treats dogs love, Cloud Star is committed to giving back. The company pledges to donate at least 10% of their net profits to organizations benefiting animals, women, children, and the environment. From rescue groups and service dog organizations, to cancer and Alzheimer’s research, Cloud Star has given back to hundreds of such recipients. To learn more, or to support Cloud Star’s commitment to giving back, visit CloudStar.com.

3. Jones Natural Chews Co. — Lambly Links:

The Jones family history of butchers and meat cutters traces back 16 generations to 1850, when Stephen Jones ran a butcher shop in Rome, New York. Over 162 years later, the family is still recognized for the top-quality cuts of meat used in their naturally baked dog treats and smoked meaty bones. Since 1970, when Robert Jones founded the Jones Natural Chews Company, the family have taken pride in the quality of their products and expanded the line to include a variety of chews and treats for dogs of all sizes, with all different tastes.

From smoked butcher bones, to bully sticks, and jerky, to sausages, picking a single product from Jones’ impressive product line was no easy task. But, we settled on a favorite among our taste-testers — the Lambly Links dry sausages! The links come packed in a pouch of 6, still linked together, fresh from the factory and reminiscent of the old-fashioned way that sausages were made. Also available in beef and chicken varieties, Lambly Links contain only natural, US sourced ingredients including lamb and lamb lung. The links are available in about a 4″ length, or an 8″ length for heartier appetites.

To give these family-made, delicious dry sausages a try, click here to buy.

In addition to providing our pets with top quality, natural treats and chews, Jones Natural Chews Company supports local animal and homeless shelters as well as local food banks. For more information about Jones, visit JonesNaturalChews.com

4. Zuke’s — Z-Filets:

Zuke’s began when founder Patrick Meiering was hiking with his dog, Zuke, in 1995. He noticed that the chocolate lab had become exhausted, so he broke off a piece of his energy bar for him and Zuke perked right up. It was then that Patrick realized pets need healthy, all-natural treats just as much as people do. Unlike a lot of treats that are packed with unrecognizable ingredients, Zuke’s includes only the finest meats, premium grains, fruits and veggies. You won’t find any BHA, nasty by-products or artificial flavors in these treats!

Zuke’s Z-Filets are a healthy and safe alternative to all those scary Chinese jerky treats. They are made from meats and veggies sourced only in the USA and New Zealand (whose livestock and meat packing facilities have the strictest guidelines in the world); made in the USA; grain-free; wheat, corn and soy free for dogs with allergies; and our panel of taste-testers found them insanely tasty.

For a SAFE and healthy alternative to Chinese-made chicken jerky treats that your dog will drool for, purchase Zuke’s Grilled Chicken Z-Filets by clicking here.

What’s more, Zuke’s is committed to making a difference for our pets and our planet. The company packages their treats with recycled materials and they pay their employees to ride their bikes to work and power their offices with 100% green power. Even better, a portion of Zuke’s annual profits are donated to The Dog and Cat Cancer Fund, to help families who cannot afford life-saving treatments for their pets. For more information, visit Zukes.com.

We want your opinions! Now that you’ve learned about our nominees for the Best Dog Treats in 2012, leave a comment below with the name of your pick for the winner!