Bubba's Tail-Wagging Treats are made in Richmond, and loved by dogs. rdt View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Gourmet dog treats cater to your canines

Richmond-based company makes gourmet treats for the pampered dog in your family.

BY ADELE UPHAUS

Date published: 8/11/2003

By ADELE UPHAUS Richmond company makes three flavors of Fido's favorites

Barbara Doane continues to be amazed by how much people love to pamper their dogs.

"I never knew people spent money like they do on their dogs," she said. "I've had people tell me 'I'm grandma to a dog.' It's unreal!"

Unreal, but lucky for Doane, who is co-owner of Bubba's Tail-Wagging Treats with her husband, Pete. The Richmond-based company, operated by the couple and their son and daughter-in-law, produces gourmet dog treats that are perfect for the pampered pooches of dog lovers.

Bubba's makes treats in three chop-licking flavors: original, peanut butter, and chicken and rice.

The Doanes bought the company in 2000 from a friend. All the recipes come from him, and Barbara said they don't plan to change anything about the business.

"We haven't made any more flavors," she said. "I've seen places trying to sell pretzel this and pizza this, but the three flavors we have do well for us."

Gourmet food for dogs is a business that has taken off recently. Numerous Web sites such as indulgeyourpet.com and doggie connection.com offer such products as dog bagels, biscotti, burritos, brownies, quiche and even pasta.

Bubba's is doing just fine with the three flavors it offers. The treats are sold in Fredericksburg at Feast-O-Rama on Sophia Street, where co-owner Lynda McDaniel said they quickly disappear from the shelves. She discovered Bubba's Tail-Wagging Treats on the Internet while researching local food artisans to feature in the store.

"They sell very well," McDaniel said. "The peanut-butter flavor is the most popular."

The treats sound good enough to be a tasty snack for humans.

"We use Peter Pan peanut butter and real Perdue chicken," Doane said. "Other companies use chicken broth in their treats. No. Not us."

With only five people employed by the company, the entire baking process is hands-on.

"We start the dough in a 40- quart mixer, roll it through a sheeter, cut it into small pieces with a bone-shaped cutter, butter them with egg gloss for extra protein, and bake them for 40 minutes," Doane explained.

She estimated they go through about 300 to 500 pounds of dough mix and fill up 20 to 30 baking trays on an average day.

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Date published: 8/11/2003