Bone appetit: Sikeston business is going to the dogs

SIKESTON - Chazie Blu has a favorite place when Regina Guthrie is at work - right between her feet. The West Highland white terrier knows just a bit of a bump by him or a slip of the fingers by her will yield a tasty morsel as Guthrie bakes up her specialty treats.

Now that Guthrie is developing her own business, creating speciality gourmet treats for dogs, Chazie Blu isn't the only one begging for a bite.

A Sikeston resident, Guthrie began Bones 4 You in August offering gourmet, all-natural dog treats.

Guthrie said she has baked cookies since childhood. In the past 20 years, however, she has added dog treats to her recipe collection.

"I enjoy cooking and after 20 years of bone baking for my own furry friends I decided to share my treats with other tailwaggers," said Guthrie. "It is such a joy for me to create fun treats for my dogs that are healthy and all natural."

Currently Bones 4 You offers six selections. There are the Tailwaggers, a recipe Guthrie first created. Pets can also sink their teeth into Rollovers, a blend of two doughs cut into small bites, or PB Paws, which feature all natural peanut butter and are paw shaped.

Since learning many dogs have allergies then discovering her own pet has them, too, Guthrie has worked up recipes which are allergy free, including Barksalot Biscuits, Apple Cinnamon Sticks and Orange Ginger Sticks.

Guthrie emphasizes the healthy aspect of the gourmet treats, pointing out there are no preservatives, salt or sugar used. "It is so important to know the ingredients you are feeding your dogs - a lot of treats aren't free of preservatives and additives," said Guthrie, who has a list of the ingredients on each label as well as available at her Web site, www.bones4you.com.

All the treats begin with what Guthrie describes as "human-made" ingredients found in her kitchen such as flour, eggs, molasses, oatmeal, cinnamon and carob. Following the recipes she has developed over the years, Guthrie blends the dough, then rolls it out, handcutting the designs - which range from paw or bone-shaped to holiday designs.

The baking time varies depending on the crunch factor Guthrie is after. Sometimes the treats stay in the oven for up to two hours, curing them and ensuring the treats are crunchy enough for her customer's tastes.

Another advantage touted by Guthrie is the freshness of the Bones 4 You products. "People know these are fresh. They haven't been sitting in a box for a year in a warehouse," she said.

Also she said the treats are low in fat and, in some cases, fat free. "But just like any snack or treat, you want them eaten in moderation," she cautioned. "If you have a chunky little one, you may not want to give a treat everyday or break off part so there isn't a weight gain."

Sikeston veterinarian Stephen Williams said cookies like those made by Guthrie, with all-natural ingredients make for cleaner, healthier treats.

"In the past 10 years I have seen an increase in the number of food-related problems, such as allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and food hypersensitivity," said Williams. With more pets on hyperallergenic diets, the allergy-free cookies are a safe alternative, he added.

While Chazie Blu is one of her main tastetesters today, Guthrie said all of her animals have loved the recipes as she perfected for them over the years, both the dough and the finally cooked product.

"Honestly, I know there are a lot of finicky dogs out there but I have never had one turn down a bone," she said. And she is starting a gallery of photos of satisfied pups on her Web page.

There are a number of satisfied pet owners as well. Guthrie has three outlets for her Bones 4 You product. They can be purchased at Susie's Bake Shop, the Flower Patch and Animal Health Center in Sikeston. Also she has offered them at special events and sells them from her home, providing free delivery in Sikeston.

She said the cost is comparable to gourmet treats offered by other companies. Bones 4 You products include individually wrapped treats for 75 cents, 8-ounce packages for $4.75 and 16 ounces for $8.75.

Eventually, said Guthrie, who teaches at the Sikeston Kindergarten Center, she would like to be able to open her own dog gourmet treat store.

"But that is on down the road," she added. "Right now I'm just enjoying trying to perfect that perfect treat."