Thanks to all who entered!!
The winners are:
Ann Marie Stelma-Graff
“am amasplace”
Laurie Bean
Sandra Moore
Mom will email you today
to get your addresses!
CONGRATULATIONS!
ENJOY YOUR PRIZES!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
From The Makers Of SmartBones!! SmartSticks and SmartChips! A Dakota’s Den Exclusive! And…A GIVE-AWAY!!
Ohhhh my doggy friends, I could barely keep my tongue in my mouth when I found out about this EXCITING SURPRISE that I have just for YOU!!
Many of you have read over and over about my undying love for my :
because of that love, I get to be the FIRST, see THAT?! THE FIRST to tell you about two new additions to the PetMatrix family of rawhide-free chew treats! This news is soooo hot off the press that I haven’t received my samples to test, but trust me, they are on their way!
One day our Vet, “Dr.Smiley”, told Mom that giving me treats that are made of rawhide can be unhealthy for me. Mom took that information quite seriously and that is when Mom and I made the switch to SmartBones. Doggies, am I ever glad that we did!
Now, due to HIGH customer demand, PetMatrix has added SmartSticks
This is a SmartStick! It looks like complete deliciousness! It’s all wrapped up waiting for us to enjoy it! I can’t wait to sink my teeth into one of these!!!
and SmartChips to their rawhide-free dog chew treat product line!
Don’t these look like tasty little appetizers that you would eat at a PAWTY?? Mom said I could invite my doggy friends and entertain with these they are so attractive and delicious-looking! I am sure they taste great too!
That news just makes me spin with excitement!
Similar to the original line of SmartBones, the new products are made with chicken, vegetables and other healthy ingredients!
Martin Glinsky, Ph.D.
Here is a message from my idol, PetMatrix Chief Science Officer Martin Glinsky, Ph.D.
“We’re excited to offer additional rawhide-free options to our customers who have responded so positively to our product line,”
“Chew treats are an important part of every healthy dog’s diet since eating kibble alone doesn’t thoroughly exercise a dog’s mouth and can cause teeth to become disused and plaque-ridden.”
And, since keeping pets healthy is paramount, SmartSticks and SmartChips contain a special vegetable layer that is fortified with vitamins and minerals to help supplement daily nutritional requirements. In fact, these treats offer more nutritional benefits than standard chew treats because rawhide treats offer very little nutritional value, Dr. Glinsky said.
“Even though rawhide is a form of protein, all proteins aren’t equal,” Dr. Glinsky said. “Rawhide is an extremely low-quality form of protein, not the type that animals need for nutrition.”
In addition to health benefits, SmartSticks and SmartChips are easier on a dog’s digestive system compared to rawhide treats. Both products are 99.2 percent digestible, which reduces the potential for intestinal blockages – a problem that can occur when dogs swallow large pieces of rawhide treats.
Thank you Dr. Glinsky, I’ll take it from here!!
Doggy pals I am so excited I can barely contain myself! I KNOW that you have to be excited too! Both SmartSticks and SmartChips are available in Chicken flavor, and, be still my heart, PEANUT BUTTER FLAVOR! They are available at fine pet stores throughout the country and at www.SmartBones.com (Mom is super familiar with that website cause when my “stash” runs low she is online in a flash!! ) I cannot be without my SmartBones and I can’t wait to try SmartSticks and SmartChips!!
Guess what doggy pals? YOU can enter for a chance to try them out too!!
GIVE-AWAY!! U.S. ONLY PLEASE….
Leave a comment WITH A WAY TO CONTACT YOU SHOULD YOU BE THE WINNER, if Mom doesn’t have a way to contact you, guess what? You are ______out of luck!! BOL!!
FOUR LUCKY WINNERS will EACH win one bag of SmartSticks and one bag of SmartChips.
DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MONDAY MAY 28TH AT 11PM EST…WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH.
Now go ahead and be SMART doggies and enter!!!
Good luck!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
Oh and I was not compensated in green papers for this post. Rest assured I WILL be compensated in SmartSticks and SmartChips so that I may try them out. Maybe, just maybe, if I am lucky, they will throw in a bag of SmartBones too!!! BOL!!!
Pet Food Marketing 101: What Consumers Should Know about Purchasing Pet Food
Martin J. Glinsky, Ph.D.
A Guest Blog By:
By Martin J. Glinsky, Ph.D.
Chief Science Officer of SmartBones (www.smartbones.com)
Pet food products have changed significantly over the last 30 years, as have our purchasing patterns. In the 1970s, almost all pet food was purchased at the grocery store and there was not very much real difference between various brands. Corn, meat and bone meal, animal fat and vitamin/mineral fortification were common ingredients of almost all dry pet foods. Today, a significant amount of pet food is bought at pet food stores, mass market retailers, farm and fleet locations and even on-line (although this is fairly limited at the moment).
Pet food formulas have also changed dramatically. Categories now include: natural, holistic, organic, grain-free, hypo-allergenic (the FDA does not allow this terminology any more) and others. Ingredient listings often contain a variety of unique ingredients, including rice, sweet potatoes, omega-3 fatty acids, bison, real chicken, salmon meal, etc. Commonly, this segment is often referred to as the “high-end market.”
Dakota enjoying his SmartBone
From a business perspective, pet stores needed high-end pet foods, not available in mass retailers, in order to increase their margins selling pet food and allow them to make a profit. Pet owners would not pay 15-25% more for the same food sold at the pet store. Thus, pet food marketers kept developing more unique foods for this burgeoning retail segment.
This proliferation of brands and formulas is an area of intense marketing differentiation. Every brand is looking for an identity that key their marketing efforts. “No corn,” “no soy,” “no wheat” have become important formula attributes in this segment. While there is absolutely no data to support the notion that these three excellent grains are somehow “bad” for pets, the high-end pet food segment, needing to differentiate it from “grocery-store brands,” have developed and proliferated this false theory.
There is no doubt that many of today’s high-end pet foods do indeed possess some “performance characteristics” that many pet owners recognize and are willing to pay more for at their pet store. These include higher palatability, lower stool volume, and sometimes, “functional advantages” such as the association of increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids and a healthy immune system. On the other hand, using false and inflammatory statements to try and debase other products is an unscrupulous way to increase sales.
Dakota and his SmartBone
It is important to differentiate between sound nutritional concepts and marketing hype. Beware of those products that make claims or allude to concepts that seem overvalued. Contact these companies and ask them if they have scientific data to support their claims. The answer may surprise you, but it shouldn’t. Use common sense when choosing the best food for your pet. Pets, just like humans, require specific nutrients, not necessarily special ingredients, to obtain the nutrition necessary for a healthy life.
Birthday Give-Away Winners! Wordy Wednesday!
Hi everyone and I want to thank ALL of you again for the wonderful birthday wishes and for all of the entries in my Birthday Give-Away!
This was as much fun for me as I hope it was for you!
Now…I’m not going to make you wait any longer….here is the list of winners as chosen by www.random.org
The winner of the:
$100 PetAg Gift certificate
(by the way PetAg won Best Bird Product at
Global Pet Expo last week)
PetAg was awarded that honor by BlogPaws
is:
(check out their blog by clicking on the above link)
Roxy
We are sure that Roxy and Torrey
should be able to find
something great that they would like!
Torrey
THE WINNERS OF
5 BAGS OF SmartBones ARE:
Bailey & Katie of
(check out their blog by clicking the above link)
I hope you both enjoy your SmartBones
as much as I do!
Bailey & Katie
THE WINNER OF
the $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO
Mami2jcn
Congratulations! I know you are going to
find something FANTASTIC on their website!
THE WINNER OF A $25 GIFT CARD TO:
PETSMART IS:
(Check out their blog by clicking the above link)
I am sure you will be able to find
something great for each of you!
CHANCY AND CREW
Last but DEFINITELY
NOT LEAST!
THE WINNERS OF
FIVE BAGS OF PEANUT BUTTER TREATS
FROM THE BARKERS DOZEN are:
BOB
CINNAMON
(who were entered by their LUCKY kitty-sister Nellie)
FROM
(Check out their blog by clicking the above link)
I am sure you are going to LOVE your treats!
Whew!! Now I am tired!
My Mom said to tell you that
she will be in touch with all of you!
You should hear from her in the next day or so!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY WISHES
AND FOR PARTICIPATING!
IF YOU DIDN’T WIN
NO WORRIES!
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHEN ANOTHER GIVE-AWAY
WILL TURN UP!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
Dakota’s Birthday Give-Away!!!
Mom was so wiped out from a cold that she got when she visited Florida that she hasn’t updated my blog since last Wednesday! I thought she would forget about my birthday but nope! She didn’t!
Today is my birthday and guess what?
Since I am now 5 years old I am a big boy and it shouldn’t be all about ME getting presents, we should GIVE some back too! So Mom and I decided to have a HUGE give-away for my readers!
There will be FIVE WINNERS (one winner per prize).
Wait til you see what prizes we are giving away!
Mom and I sat down and figured out what some of my favorite things are, kinda like Oprah but we don’t have any cars to give away, so we brainstormed and came up with what we think are some pretty fabulous prizes!
1) A $100 gift certificate to www.petag.com
From their website
“Celebrating its 25th anniversary, PetAg, Inc. is a leading pet product development and manufacturing company, delivering innovative health and wellness products to pet owners and veterinarians that enrich and prolong the lives of companion pets, animals, birds and reptiles.”
Back in October 2011 Mom had entered me in a contest for National Pet Obesity Awareness, and so many people liked my photo on Facebook that I won!! I was also interviewed and if you missed that you can read the interview here
Mom and I decided that it would be a nice thing to give my gift certificate to one lucky person!
2) FIVE BAGS OF SmartBones!
Yep! One of my most favorite things in this entire world are SmartBones! One person is going to win FIVE BAGS of SmartBones! You know that I feature SmartBones on my blog a lot and the give-aways are always super popular! Well, now you can enter again to try to win FIVE BAGS for yourself!
3) A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE to FOR LOVE OF A DOG!! (it’s really a gift CODE but it will function like a gift certificate) At check out you will enter the code that you will be given and it will pay for $50 of your order.
Mom featured them on my blog a few weeks ago and this is one of her favorite websites for all things doggy (and cats too!) You can buy something super nice with a $50 gift certificate!
4) A $25 PETSMART GIFT CARD!
You can sure get some cool stuff with THAT!
5) Last but not least, since peanut butter is my favorite flavor in the world…one lucky person will win FIVE BAGS OF ORGANIC PEANUT BUTTER TREATS from Barker’s Dozen!!!
I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER and they make some really great treats!
Whew!!! This is a darned good give-away!!! After all a doggy only turns 5 ONCE, right?
TO ENTER: EASY PEASY! Just wish me a Happy Birthday!
ALSO PLEASE LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT WE MAY CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN.
If you aren’t comfortable typing it out you can use the words “at” and “dot” instead of the symbols.
We apologize but due to some of these prizes being food related, this give-away is for the U.S. ONLY.
WANT AN EXTRA ENTRY?
“LIKE” my Facebook Page and let me know here that you did! (If you comment directly on Facebook that will NOT count as an entry) Oh and if you “unlike” us after the give-away (as some of you did after the last SmartBone give-away) …we have special ways of hunting you down BOL!!! Trust me you do NOT want me BARKING outside of your door!! BOL!
THE CONTEST STARTS NOW AND WILL CLOSE AT 8PM EST ON TUESDAY MARCH 6TH, 2012….WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS BLOG WEDNESDAY MARCH 7th!!
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
Now…I gotta go and blow out some candles and Mom said there is a SPECIAL TREAT for me for dinner tonight! HAMBURGERS!!!
Barks and licks and BIRTHDAY LOVE, Dakota
Win A THREE MONTH Supply Of SmartBones!!
You know how they say that “the third time is the charm?” Well, this is the THIRD time that I have featured SmartBones on my blog and I will tell you the reason! Ever since the first time I tasted them they are my FAVORITE BONES! I can’t control myself when they are in the same vicinity that I am. When I see a SmartBone I want ONE NOW! Check out the videos below that show me in Sheltie SmartBone Bliss!
Mom loved the “crinkly” packaging sound in the above video! Who cares about the sound? I just care about getting at those SmartBones!
What Are SmartBones?
SmartBones by PetMatrix, are chew treats made with chicken, vegetables and other healthy ingredients. These raw-hide free treats are perfect for the four-t0-five out of 10 consumers who prefer not to feed their doggies rawhide.
Who came up with this genius idea?
Martin Glinsky, Ph.D., that’s who! Dr. Glinsky is considered one of the premier pet nutritionists in the country and is currently the Chief Science Officer at PetMatrix, creators of SmartBones and DreamBone chews. He received his undergraduate education at Cornell University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois, specializing in Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry.
He has lectured extensively around the world on pet nutrition and dietary formulation and started his own pet food manufacturing company in 1980, specializing in holistic and organic pet foods. His expertise in formulating, manufacturing, analyzing and testing of nutritional products for pets is well known and respected.
Dr. Glinsky formulated, engineered and produced the first dry pet foods to incorporate fresh ingredients, the standard of the holistic pet food category today. He has been intimately involved with many of the best-selling holistic foods brands being marketed around the world.
Wanna know more?
SmartBones are 99.2% digestible, which is higher than the digestibility of premium dog foods (85% digestibility).
Chicken, vegetables and other healthy ingredients dogs will love are used in making SmartBones.
SmartBones are the first treats of their kind to be enhanced with vitamins and minerals.
SmartBones are safer for dogs than regular rawhide treats, which may cause intestinal blockages.
SmartBones are environmentally friendly, whereas a toxic chemical process is needed to create consumable rawhide for treats.
SmartBones are available in Peanut Butter (which is what I was eating in the video) and Chicken Flavors. There is also a Dental variety with additional teeth health benefits. (Mom PAWTICULARLY LOVES THESE!)
Four different sizes of SmartBones are available, based on a dog’s weight:
| Small Dog (5-10 lbs) | Mini SmartBones |
| Small – Medium Dogs (11-25 lbs) | Small SmartBones |
| Medium Dogs (26-50 lbs) | Medium SmartBones |
| Large Dogs (over 50 lbs) | Large SmartBones |
SmartBones are available nationwide and at www.SmartBones.com.
WAIT THERE’S MORE!!
I nearly forgot the GIVE-AWAY!!!
ONE LUCKY DOG (U.S. ONLY PLEASE) WILL WIN A THREE MONTH SUPPLY (that’s SIX BAGS) of SmartBones of their own!
How can you win?
Just complete THESE EASY AND MANDATORY STEPS!
1) Like my Facebook Page and give us a BARK OUT! (If you do not have Facebook you MUST state that in your comment)
2) Like SmartBones on Facebook and tell them that Dakota’s Den sent you! (If you do not have Facebook you MUST state that in your comment)
2) Leave a comment telling me and my Mom the WEIGHT of your dog (so that we know what size bones to send you!!) AND why YOUR dog is a SMART DOG!!!
IMPAWTANT: IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE BLOG ANSWERING THE ABOVE QUESTION YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED.
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT (EST) JANUARY 30TH, 2012
The WINNER will be announced Wednesday, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012
So what are you waiting for!?
Start jumping, barking, and if you are a Sheltie (SPINNING!) and ENTER NOW!
Good luck!!!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
I was not compensated for this review. I was sent SmartBones months ago when I did my first review and because I love them so much and the readers were so excited about the contest, SmartBones wanted to do another give-away! I WAS given more SmartBones for me to enjoy and I can’t wait for YOU to enjoy them TOO!
2011 in review for Dakota’s Den
Hi All!!
WordPress does something that Mom and I thought was pretty interesting! They send you an email with stats about your blog!
Considering I just started this blog in April (and only posted once a week if I was lucky) cause of how much Mom & Cody were posting for Cat Chat and not letting me use the computer, I don’t think this was half bad!!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,100 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
Mom thinks that Blogger should get with the program and offer the same thing!!
Special thanks to SmartBones and Following Atticus for being the subjects of two of our top posts!
If you missed the above posts, you may read the SmartBones post by clicking here and my Mom’s review of Following Atticus by clicking here!
Also THANK YOU to everyone who takes the time to read and subscribe to my blog!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
Winners Of SmartBone Give-Away!
Happy Wednesday EveryBody!!
Today is a special day!
Today I am announcing the WINNERS of the
THE TWO LUCKY WINNERS
(as chosen by http://www.random.org)
will receive
FOUR SMARTBONES EACH!!
THOSE WINNERS ARE:
SANDRA MOORE
AND
LORI RICHARDSON
Please email my Mom at:
cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com
with your complete names
and mailing addresses
and let her know which size SmartBones you would like.
Four different sizes of SmartBones are available, based on a dog’s weight:
| Small Dog (5-10 lbs) | MiniSmartBones |
| Small – Medium Dogs (11-25 lbs) | SmallSmartBones |
| Medium Dogs (26-50 lbs) | MediumSmartBones |
| Large Dogs (over 50 lbs) | LargeSmartBones |
Mom and I hope you enjoy your SmartBones
as much as I did!
Thanks to all who entered!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
I Love My SmartBone! You Will Too! Give-Away!!
Hi Everyone!
Did you know that I am a “chewing machine?”
Oh yeah! If it’s chewable, (or not) I’m all over it!
This is the SmartBone that I had!
I’ve been known to chew wood, cell phones, metal door stops, you name it. It’s not all my fault, I come from a long line of “chewers!”
Did you know that it is important for dogs to chew?
When doggies lived in the wild, they used to tear through the skin of wild beasts to get at the meat! We doggies that don’t have to hunt for our food don’t get to do that. It isn’t good for our teeth not to be able to chew things! We get a build up of tartar which can lead to periodontal issues and disease.
Some doggies chew out of boredom (like me!) These pet chews are the perfect answer to that problem! YAY! You gooo Mom! Mom also likes that SmartBones offer nutrition and health benefits as well!.
You have no idea how excited I was yesterday when my Mom gave me a brand new product to try!
Mom gave me a SmartBone!
Wow was I ever excited!
What is a SmartBone you ask? Well, sit back, relax and I’ll tell ya!
SmartBones by PetMatrix, are chew treats made with chicken, vegetables and other healthy ingredients. These raw-hide free treats are perfect for the four-t0-five out of 10 consumers who prefer not to feed their doggies rawhide.
Who came up with this genius idea?
Martin Glinsky, Ph.D., that’s who! Dr. Glinsky is considered one of the premier pet nutritionists in the country and is currently the Chief Science Officer at PetMatrix, creators of SmartBones and DreamBone chews. He received his undergraduate education at Cornell University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois, specializing in Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry.
He has lectured extensively around the world on pet nutrition and dietary formulation and started his own pet food manufacturing company in 1980, specializing in holistic and organic pet foods. His expertise in formulating, manufacturing, analyzing and testing of nutritional products for pets is well known and respected.
Dr. Glinsky formulated, engineered and produced the first dry pet foods to incorporate fresh ingredients, the standard of the holistic pet food category today. He has been intimately involved with many of the best-selling holistic foods brands being marketed around the world.
Wanna know more?
SmartBones are 99.2% digestible, which is higher than the digestibility of premium dog foods (85% digestibility).
Chicken, vegetables and other healthy ingredients dogs will love are used in making SmartBones.
SmartBones are the first treats of their kind to be enhanced with vitamins and minerals.
SmartBones are safer for dogs than regular rawhide treats, which may cause intestinal blockages.
SmartBones are environmentally friendly, whereas a toxic chemical process is needed to create consumable rawhide for treats.
SmartBones are available in Peanut Butter and Chicken Flavors. There is also a Dental variety with additional teeth health benefits.
Four different sizes of SmartBones are available, based on a dog’s weight:
| Small Dog (5-10 lbs) | Mini SmartBones |
| Small – Medium Dogs (11-25 lbs) | Small SmartBones |
| Medium Dogs (26-50 lbs) | Medium SmartBones |
| Large Dogs (over 50 lbs) | Large SmartBones |
Here is a video of me lovin’ on my SmartBone!
I have to get my Mom to order me more SmartBones, I didn’t even bother my Dad during football when I had this!
SmartBones are available nationwide and at www.SmartBones.com.
Guess what? The SUPER NICE people at SmartBones have offered to have a:
GIVE-AWAY!!! (U.S. ONLY PLEASE)
Two lucky winners will win FOUR (count ’em FOUR SmartBones!!)
How can you win?
Just complete THREE EASY STEPS!
1) Like my Facebook Page and give us a BARK OUT!
2) Subscribe to Dakota’s Den-you MUST be a subscriber of Dakota’s Den to enter. There are many great give-aways coming up just around the fire-hydrant that you WON’T want to miss out on!
3) Leave a comment telling me and my Mom why YOUR dog is a SMART DOG!!!
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT (EST) SEPTEMBER 19th
The WINNERS will be announced Wednesday, September 21st!
So what are you waiting for!?
Start jumping, barking, and if you are a Sheltie (SPINNING!) and ENTER NOW!
Good luck!!!
Barks and licks and love, Dakota
I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a SmartBone to test and review and boy am I ever happy that I got to test it! You will love them too!
Dakota's Den 