Small Business Saturday Dog Treats: A Maker's Shopping Guide

Small Business Saturday dog treats are the ones where you can ask the person who made the bag what is in it. For ours the answer is short: one ingredient, freeze-dried in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Small Business Saturday is November 28, and our Black Friday pricing is still running that day.

This page is a few plain tips for shopping small for a dog, whoever you buy from. It also covers what our three treats are like and how the weekend pricing works. We are a two-person kitchen with one dog on the payroll, Ella, and we would rather explain the bag than sell it hard.

Small Business Saturday dog treats from a small kitchen

Small batch is a phrase that gets used loosely, so here is what we mean by it. We freeze-dry in small batches, one ingredient at a time, and the bag says what that ingredient is. Beef liver is beef liver. Cheddar is cheddar. Nothing is added to it.

That is the whole claim. We do not dress it up, and we do not say more about the kitchen than we can show you on a label. If you have a question about a bag, ask it. A small shop should be able to answer in a sentence.

Why the sale is on the treats

From Friday, November 27 through Monday night, every treat Sniff and Shift makes is 33% off. We put the sale on the treats because we would rather more dogs try them. A dog that has tried a treat and ignored it tells you more than any description does, ours included.

Saturday is part of that run, so you do not have to pick between Friday and Small Business Saturday. You do not need a code. The price you see on the page is the sale price. It applies to one-time purchases only, so subscriptions, gift cards and bundles are not included. The treats are gathered on our Black Friday page and in the Black Friday collection.

Sale ends Monday night, Nov 30.

If you want to compare before you buy, our Black Friday dog treat guide goes through the same weekend in more detail.

How to shop small for a dog

These work at any small shop, not just ours.

• Ask the maker what is in the bag. A good answer is a list you can read in one breath. If a treat has one ingredient, the maker should say so without a pause.
• Read the label. Look for the ingredient line first. Then find the guaranteed analysis and the feeding statement. Ours say to feed as a treat or reward, and that the treat is not a complete diet.
• Buy the small size first. Dogs have opinions. A small bag lets the dog vote before you commit to a big one.
• Check the label for dairy. If a bag contains dairy, the label should say so. Ours does.

Asking is part of the point of buying from a small business. There is a person on the other end, and our about page says who we are.

Our three treats

These are the three we make that are on the sale, each with one ingredient and nothing added.

Cheddar. Freeze-Dried Cheddar Cheese Dog Treats are freeze-dried cheddar and nothing else. The pieces are small, with a crunch we rate 4 of 5, and freeze-drying leaves them crunchy and non-greasy instead of soft. They need no refrigeration, so they travel clean in a treat pouch or a car. The bag is one size, 8 ounces, regularly $15. It contains dairy, so it is not suited to dogs with dairy sensitivities. The label lists about 153.7 kcal per ounce, which is a reason to keep the pieces small.

Beef liver. Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats come in 1.5, 3 and 6 ounce bags, regularly $15, $20 and $25. The pieces are medium sized and break easily, so one piece becomes several rewards. They are lightweight and non-greasy. The label lists about 81.6 kcal per ounce.

Beef heart. Freeze-Dried Beef Heart Dog Treats come in the same three sizes at the same regular prices. The texture is firm and snaps into small pieces, and it is milder than liver. The label lists about 75.3 kcal per ounce.

The first time with a new treat

Give one small piece and wait. Add nothing else new that day, so you know which treat the dog is reacting to. If a dog is on a special diet, or you are unsure about a new treat, ask your veterinarian first.

Treat amounts are small ones. Break each piece down, more so for a small dog, and keep the bag sealed between uses. Liver is lightweight and non-greasy, which makes it easy to pack for car trips.

Partner items

Some items in our shop come from other small makers through Shopify Collective. For the same days they are priced at our cost plus the card fee, and the percentage differs by partner. They are sold and shipped by their makers and ship separately from our treats.

Small Business Saturday questions

Is the Black Friday pricing on during Small Business Saturday?

Yes. The treat pricing runs from Friday, November 27 through Monday night, November 30, so Saturday, November 28 is inside it.

Do I need a code?

No. The 33% comes off at checkout, and it is for one-time purchases only. Subscriptions, gift cards and bundles are not included.

Which treat should a dog try first?

Start with the smallest bag you can. Liver and heart both come in a 1.5 ounce size, which is the easiest way to test one. Cheddar comes only in an 8 ounce bag and contains dairy, so skip it for a dog with dairy sensitivities.

Where do the treats ship from?

They ship from our kitchen in Malvern, Pennsylvania, within one business day, and partner items ship separately from their makers.

How do I store a bag after opening it?

Reseal it and keep it cool and dry. For liver, use the bag within 30 days of opening, and the best by date is printed on the bag.

Why are only the treats on sale?

Because treats are what we make, and we would rather more dogs try them. Partner items follow their own terms, set out above.