cat & dog sliders. there's a difference!

In the past months since launching our sliders, we've received a good amount of phone calls and emails in regards to these lil' one ounce-ers.

Now answering these popular concerns in the following Q & A format:

Q: I accidentally bought dog sliders instead of cat sliders(or vice versa)...how can I tell the difference between these two?

A. Ah, such a good question! Well, first off the dog image from our logo is located on the top left of the slider bag and although the image is animated it is indeed a dog (and same goes for the cat sliders). The other tell-tale sign is that right below the dog or cat image you'll see smallbatch and either the word 'cat' or 'dog' next to it.

Q: So I bought the wrong sliders. Can my dog eat cat sliders(um, and vice versa)?

A: The answer is, yes. Cat sliders are higher in protein, which means they contain a whole lot less veggies. And by a whole lot we mean a WHOLE lot. Cat sliders are about 1% produce(dandelion greens, cranberries, kelp) they do contain salmon oil, apple cider vinegar and grapefruit seed extract just like dog batches. Your dog would be getting a higher percentage of protein and a little variety in the dandelion and cranberry that they would normally not get from the dog sliders or patties. With that being said, dog sliders being fed to a cat is no cause for alarm. In this instance a cat would be receiving more veggies than necessary but as long as it is temporary it's actually a good thing. Your cat would be getting a little variety and benefiting from it. Now finish off the bag and pay closer attention next time!

Q: I counted each slider in the bag and did not find 48 one ounce sliders. What the heck?

A: Easy there, we're certainly not trying to cheat you out of a slider or two. Our slider bags read 'contains 48, 1oz. sliders (3lbs.)' in hindsight, the bag should read 'approximately, 48...' due to the variation in weight per slider...Ok, wait just know that you're definitely getting 3lbs. in every bag but unfortunately at times, 47 sliders tips the scale at 3lbs, sometimes 46 sliders do the same so we have to stop at that number. We apologize for that error and will definitely make changes as soon as we are ready to print more bags. Now please put the bag down, warm your frozen fingers and go have some fun.

Q: Are you going to launch other slider proteins? And if so, when?!

A: Patience my fellow raw food feeder. We are soon launching some more flavors, but please note that since we are a local company with an emphasis on using local proteins(from california), we are limited to the kind of exotics you might me thinking of(venison, buffalo, unicorn etc.) As soon as we are ready to bust out more slider flavors you will be the first one to know, we'll let everyone and their grandma know.

Ah, feels good to let it all out. Sure hope this helps sort out the slider mysteries.

Good Readin'

"All dogs are brilliant at perceiving the slightest movement that we make, and they assume each tiny movement has meaning."

At my wits end trying to find out what my dog really thinks and what I'm doing wrong with communicating, a friend of mine highly recommended this book to me. Although I'm not finished reading it I cannot put it down. It's amazing to find out what we as humans do to confuse and disorient our dogs and how their behavior differs from ours. We are so connected and share so much (humans and canines) yet our instincts are polar opposites. This book is amazing at explaining human behavior and dog behavior as well, and offers stories so similar to the one's we experience with our dogs that really makes me feel like we all stumble onto the same problems. No one is alone! Only very few humans are naturals at understanding and communicating flawlessly with canines, for the rest of us there's hope...it starts here, with this fine piece of work! A must read for any dog loving, dog hugging, leash holder out there! 

More wonderful readin' and information...here!

Sunday in the park.

This sunday after some early morning work and then some delicious brunch at Slow Club, we made our way to the top of Bernal Heights otherwise known as Bernal Hill. It was such a gorgeous day and Tuula very much enjoyed running around and meeting new friends. We did however run into some old friends, a four legged type named Elliott and his lovely owner Jan, it was quite a reunion! After some overdue chatting about everyone's happenings, and some romping about between Tuula and Elliott we took off to run some more errands and finish off the day in Half Moon Bay. Apple Jacks and Duarte's if how we ended our afternoon... much deserved too since it's back to work today.

Hooray, for herding dogs!

*photos by fourinchesofego


Just felt like sharing this photo of a beautiful herding dog and the sheep being herded. Even though we have a herder in our gang (miss Tuula) she doesn't get to exercise her awesome herding abilities. Instead we have to find things (jobs) for her to do, keep her busy with long walks, romps at the beach and park. Roaming on beautiful grasslands and being part of a farming or ranching lifestyle would really be ideal for her. She does have the opportunity, whenever smallbatch heads out to collect ingredients (produce and meat) to come along and experience country life even for a bit. As most of you know, our ingredients come from all over the bay area. We of course bring along our third wheel, instantly you see how this setting makes her feel right at home. Fresh air, beautiful land to roam and trot on. In the meantime she's stuck in the city herding the house cat, dogs, and us of course. Perhaps someday my little crazy herder. Here's to you and all the hardworking herders out there.

Devotion.

*photo by TamaraL


"be the kind of person your dog thinks you are"

Going through flickr I found some incredible photos out there. So many truly inspire me to photograph everything around me, mostly my beloved pets. This photograph in particular gave me the "ooh" and "ahh" it really shows the dynamic we (pet and owner) share. Our pets look up to us to protect them, love them and to feed them! Yes, you can say that we are their "meal ticket" but i like to think that I mean much more to my critters than just that. They do however, depend on us to make the right choices for them. They can't speak (our dog tries), they can't drive (we bet our cat could!) , they can't make vet or dog walker/pet sitter choices and they certainly cannot shop for themselves! Just imagine is they could...scary. But in all seriousness, they do depend on us to give them all the right things and i'm not talking about cute collars and toys (which a lot of us obsess about... specially the cute kind!) but mostly in regards to nutrition. Pets can't read labels, and they can't ask questions like "where does this meat come from", or "where is this made" but we their owners can, and we should for them. Having an animal companion is so much more than just acquiring a cute fur ball to tote around or parade about, it's a serious relationship that involves so much more to consider and act on. They provide all the goofiness, love, devotion and warmth. We should stand up and take the responsibility they most certainly can't take. Imagine that, you being your best friend's hero.

The terrible ones.

Fleas. It's a never ending itchy and scratchy show when they're around. Besides being the ultimate pests, they are also very threatening to your pets health. Getting rid of them can be very tricky, specially if you are using a natural approach and not giving in to harmful pesticides as the only alternative to deal with them. Here are some ways to remedy and help with these pesky invaders:

-A healthy diet. Fleas really like poor defenseless creatures such as kittens and puppies or malnourished ones because of their weak immune systems. Feeding your pet a healthy fresh diet is incredibly important for helping them stay strong. A raw diet is ideal and staying away from foods with chemical preservatives, food coloring, and by-products is a must. Nutritional yeast and garlic added to or in their diet is also essential to help fight fleas. Adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your pets water bowl can also help. This makes your pets skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks.

-Groom your pet regularly. Baths are great for warding off pesky fleas. Try using an natural herbal shampoo specially one with eucalyptus and neem oil(you can also add a few drops to your regular shampoo) yet stay away from essential oils on cats since they are toxic to them. Using a flea comb is essential when you have an infestation the fine teeth trap fleas, which then die when you dip them in soapy water. After rinsing very well, you can also use a rosemary rinse/mixture to repel fleas. To make this you steep two cups of fresh rosemary in two pints of boiling water for 30 minutes you then strain the liquid discard the leaves and make it up to one gallon (8 pints) with warm water. Pour this mixture over your pet until it's saturated. Do not rinse off and allow to dry naturally.

-Use a natural way to repel and kill fleas. Staying away from "on spot" flea treatments is essential for your pet's overall health. These contain harmful toxins which can not only harm your pets but can be very bad for you and the environment. Use diatomaceous earth instead, you apply a little on your pet's body, bedding and around your house. Fleas eat this powder and dehydrate, shrink and are gone! A lemon repellent has been known to be very efficient as well(not to be used on cats), it's easy, natural and inexpensive. You finely slice a whole lemon, cover it with a pint of boiling water and let it steep overnight. You can put the solution in a spray bottle and spray behind ears avoiding eyes and sensitive areas but covering the rest of the body. You can also try a homeopathic approach. Products by Dr. Goodpet offer some flea aid. Flea relief is one product and it is all natural with no side effects it helps relieve itching, scratching, biting caused by fleas and it contains pulex irritants(flea extract) so it fights flea with flea!

-Clean your house. They lurk in cracks and crevices, your bed, your pet's bedding, rugs, and carpets. Vacuuming, sweeping, and washing all help eliminate flea infestation. Keeping a clean routine around your house will help maintain a low or obsolete flea population.

Throughout this flea ordeal give your dog or cat some love, comfort and keep them entertained assuring them and yourself that fleas don't have to be part of your lives.

For the love of bones.

*Blue(cat) and Daisy(dog) enjoying and sharing a meaty beef bone.

Give a dog a bone and watch as this simple treat becomes an indulgence. Dogs love to gnaw and chew on bones from meaty bones, to marrow bones, to just plain bones. They also keep them entertained for hours depending on the size of the bone, jaw strength, and the kind practice your dog has.

Cats love bones too, yet most owners rarely think of these as treat options for their cats perhaps because many cats are finicky. Cats love chicken necks and usually can eat a whole one without having to break it in pieces. The tiny bones crumble easily and the meat on them helps cats exercise their jaw muscles. The safest kind of bones are the raw kind, some people don't know this but cooked bones splinter and can cause some serious damage. Following that rule of thumb you can try all sorts of bones to treat your pets and keep their teeth clean and help their breath stay fresh. In the long run feeding bones is essential for your pet's oral care and eliminates the need for professional teeth cleaning which can cost a lot of money and in most cases requires anesthesia. So go ahead, give them bones and enjoy the show.