Category: dog food

M is for Milk-Bone. What would we do without Milk-Bones? Annie and my previous dogs have all trained on these bone-shaped cookies. I use Milk-Bones to lure Annie into going to bed, to distract her when I’m leaving, and to bribe her when she’s got something in her mouth that I don’t want her to eat—like my paycheck or a paper clip. The trick is to grab the unhealthy item before she finishes eating her cookie. But it works every time. You’d think she’d remember this is a trick, but no. She always goes for the Milk-Bone.

We use the small size cookies that come in various colors and flavors. When Annie gets a larger treat, she furrows her brows, wanders around the yard with it getting soggy in her mouth and ultimately buries it. Sometimes the mind of a dog is a mystery.

Did you know that Milk-Bones are made by Nabisco, which also makes Lorna Doones and Oreos for people? That might explain why I find them so appealing. But for the fear of breaking my teeth, I’d eat them, too.

I once did research on whether people could safely eat dog food. Some of the treats made for dogs look so tasty they’re hard to resist. Those little steaks and “Snausages,” yum. Lately I’ve been buying “Blue Dog” treats that are flavored with peanut butter, bacon, cheese, and chicken. They’re shaped like birds, cats, cows and other animals, and they smell so good. Again, my wimpy human teeth hold me back.

When I asked pet food manufacturers if people could eat their dog treats, they said they wouldn’t hurt us, but we wouldn’t enjoy them. They don’t have the salt, sugar and other flavorings that humans are used to finding in their foods.In other words, they’re too healthy for us.

Should we start eating dog treats? Annie thinks I should keep my paws off her cookies.

M is for Milk-Bones.