With four children, three dogs, two cats and a tarantula named Charlotte, it’s safe to say Laura Lloyd’s life is always in motion. And it’s especially so these days as she, along with her children, run The Howling Dogs Bakery out of their home in Mound.
It began back in 2007 when the Lloyds’ oldest dog, Grizzley Bear, had a number of health issues which lead him to become gluten intolerant. They quickly found new dog chow for him but had a hard time locating gluten-free treats. “What good is that?” asks Lloyd. “You’ve got to have treats to go along with your food!”
Owner of a cookie company in Idaho at the time, she developed a gluten-free dog treat with the help of their veterinarian. Once Lloyd and her husband, John, relocated to Mound, word began to spread. Soon, there was enough demand to officially open The Howling Dogs Bakery and sell a slew of homemade treats, broth and birthday cakes from their kitchen. While the business is home-based, Lloyd is quick to point out that she works closely with the State of Minnesota to ensure their kitchen and equipment follows every food safety guideline.
Lloyd—along with Catie, 19, Tom, 14, and 7-year-old twins Derek and Ken—create and name all of the products themselves. One of their best sellers, the Bow Wow Bulldog Daisy (8 oz., $5.50), is chicken or beef flavored, and named for the flower-shaped design they first used to cut the treats. The also sell a lot of Snappy Spaniel Snacks, a pot roast flavored delight (8 oz., $5.50).
Their newest product is Bob, a bottle of broth—chicken, beef or pumpkin flavored—in a beer bottle ($3.50). They’ve been popular at Super Bowl parties as well as restaurants with dog-friendly patios in the warmer months.
But it doesn’t stop there. Throughout the year, you can find gingerbread and candy canes at the holidays, Easter eggs in the spring, and witches and cat cut-outs each Halloween. And whenever your dog is turning another year older, they sell bone-shaped birthday cakes made of beef, salmon or chicken loafs. Lloyd often calls daughter Catie home from St. Kate’s to help decorate orders with mashed potato “frosting” and the dog’s name written in molasses. Birthday cakes range in price from $15–$35.
Despite the constant craziness, Lloyd loves that her business allows for additional time spent with her children. “As a family bakery, we can sit down and have bonding time,” she says. Even four-legged members Grizzley, Shelley and Callie help out. “When I open up some salmon, the dogs come and lay at the stove knowing I’ll always drop a few pieces.”
All of the Lloyds’ treats and cakes are available through their website, thehowlingdogsbakery.com, and at select groomers, trainers and kennels in the area. For orders within the Twin Cities metro area, Lloyd uses a delivery service at no additional cost to customers. You can also find Howling Dogs products at Finding Joy in Excelsior (findingjoyboutique.com).
Ginger Chicken Dog Treats
INGREDIENTS
1½ cups rice flour
1½ cups oats
2 cups chicken broth
2 tsp. ginger, grated
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. If dough is too sticky, add more rice flour; if too dry, add more broth. Form treats into small patties. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Store cooled treated in a resealable bag in the fridge.
OTHER
According to Lloyd, they get asked by several people about recipes for dogs that have tummy aches. They recommend:
1 cup cooked rice
1 lb. cooked hamburger
Mix ingredients together and feed your dog a half-cup of the mixture twice a day for two days, then reintroduce their standard dog chow. Note: Always consult your veterinarian if your pet is sick and follow instructions as given.
