It's good your pooch can't read this, or he'd wonder why you're still feeding him Milkbone dog biscuits. North Ridgeville resident Lori Aldrich's Just Dogs Gourmet store at Crocker Park in Westlake has raised the bar for elaborate dog treats. "The problem is, they look so good sometimes people want to eat them," she says. One of the store's not-so-secret weapons is carob, a sugarless concoction that's similar to chocolate but safe for dogs. That's just the start. With 15 standard treat flavors and a rotating bakery case of even more elaborate tastes, you won't know where to start (or stop). Here are a few of our favorite finds.
Tailhouse Cookie
$9.99 per pound
Looks Like:
a slightly shrunken Chips Ahoy cookie
How They Do It: It's a decent impersonation, but a whiff of cinnamon gives away these treats' dog-friendly nature. "Most people don't put cinnamon in their chocolate chip cookies," Aldrich explains. "We have to make them a little more nutritious."
Pizza
$1.99 a slice
Looks Like:
a very odd Christmas cookie
How They Do It: One of the store's more elaborate creations, the slice is built out of shortbread, and the sprinkling that looks like Parmesan cheese is actually coconut — one of the best fake outs on the menu.
Truffle
$.50 each
Looks Like:
it was plucked out of a box of Godiva chocolates
How They Do It: It's not chocolate, not even dog-friendly carob. These seasonal truffles are a mixture of wheat germ, peanut butter and pumpkin covered in yogurt. "High in vitamins, minerals, other nutrients, • it's healthy, but it's still a treat," Aldrich says.
