I Came, I Saw, I Conquered

I LOVE love love adventure. I am an adventurous PUG. This time, adventure came in the form of a TRIAL. It was, basically, the old hide and seek with cups and a treat.

And where there is a treat involved, I am THERE.

My cousin E tried it on all three of us. Sunshine could care less. Molly could not understand the appeal. Me? I was determined to keep trying until I conquered it. At first you could see the confusion on my face. I got it wrong A LOT. But then . . . 

Suddenly it was all clear

A Haiku by Noodles

There are a lot of TREATS

Waiting, calling, luring me

The Nose KNOWS what I want

THESE'RE So GOOD #chewyinfluencer

Noodles and Molly here. We recently had the opportunity to try a new dog BISCUIT. Chewy.com carries the product and since it is relatively new, they asked for some VOLUNTEERS to try them. Our PAWS went straight up as we are always up for a new EATABLE. As per usual, for Chewy.com, our parcel arrived in just a couple of days and BOY HOWDY were we ever surprised! Can you tell how big that box of treats is? It is nearly as TALL as the TWO of us!!!

Molly: "So Noodles, tell our readers about this particular biscuit - True Acre Foods Small Variety Baked Biscuits Dog Treats, 7-lb box. What drew you to this particular product?"


Noodles: "Well, Molly, the fact that this product is a treat is all the information I needed. Plus this particular box has many different flavors which is HEAVEN to me."

Noodles: "And look what the BISCUITS are made from:"     Ingredients Wheat Flour, Wheat Mill Run, Meat and Bone Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved with BHA and BHT), Poultry By-Product Meal, Dried Bacon Fat, Chicken Meal, Beef Meal, Turkey Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Malted Barley Flour, Natural Sausage Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Choline Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfite (Preservative), Titanium Dioxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, BHA (Preservative), BHT (Preservative), Yellow 6, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

"I'm not SUPER hyped about the MEALS part of the ingredients, but Malted Barley and Brewer's Yeast are kinda good for us. And since neither of us have WHEAT ALLERGIES, the wheat flour is fine. But for treats these DO have some good parts. AND since they are treats, they are only for a ONCE IN A WHILE thing"

Molly: "Look, Noodles! It says right here that they’re fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals. That's a good thing, right? That means they are good for our bones. . . good for our hearts . . . and good for our teeth (the crunch)."

Noodles: "You are so right, Molly. And from my initial SNIFF, I can tell there is chicken, beef, BACON, and turkey flavors. OH MY PUG the scent is absolutely INTOXICATING! I must try some right now!

Mommy! Mommy! Please may we try a True Acre Foods Small Variety Baked Biscuits Dog Treats RIGHT NOW? I don't care what color it is."

Noodles AND Molly:"We LIKE it! We LIKE it!"

Noodles: "I daresay, I could eat these ALL day but then I would be a pudgy PUG and that's not a good idea. But for that ONCE in a WHILE snack, I think these are ideal! And they are portable."

Caloric Content

3,135 kcal/kg or 22 kcal/biscuit

To SUM it UP, we think True Acre Foods Small Variety Baked Biscuits Dog Treats are a good crunchy yummy SNACK. We have not tired of them and we are even passing them out to our FURiends (for them to try). We wouldn't do that if we thought the product was bad.

**We received one box of this product from Chewy.com in exchange for our ALWAYS HONEST opinion. And since NO ONE tells me, Noodles the Pug, what to say, all of the opinions expressed in this review are MINE and MINE alone. Furthermore, we were not paid for this review.

Chew on That!!! #chewyinfluencer

I am NOODLES the PUG and I am a CHEWY.com INFLUENCER. I am proud to be a part of such a great family of influencers for such a GREAT company as Chewy.com. I am pretty sure most of you know about Chewy.com, especially since the company now has regular commercials running on television and radio. But for those of you who do NOT, and I am flummoxed as to how you would not know of them, follow any of the links in this post and you will go to the "Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory" of pet needs. And yes, it is a little like NIRVANA once onsite.

nir·va·na                          OR       

nərˈvänə,nirˈvänə/

noun

a state of perfect happiness; an ideal or idyllic place.

So OUR MAY NEWSLETTER came right on target and was filled with the most insanely wonderful snacks and foods imaginable. I seriously had a tough time narrowing down the choices. BUT since I had just finished a 30 Day Challenge with Rachel Ray Nutrish PEAK limited ingredient dog food, I was READY to sample some SNACK food for a change. But what to try . . . hmmmmm . . . uhhhhhh . . . . I finally spotted the PERFECT treat - GREENIES!

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "But Noodles,  I have had Greenies before; so surely you have too." In fact, I think I have posted about them something like THREE times. So why, you ask, is this time any different? Look closely at the photo. It clearly shows this month's choice was for a VARIETY PACK of three DIFFERENT Greenies flavors: Original, Fresh (Minty), and Blueberry.

I don't know about you, but BLUEBERRIES get me to jump every - single - time!

We had to do the required POSING with the product and I have to say (and my face says it quite clearly) I was most anxious to TRY THEM ALREADY!!!!

More posing to show the product in ALL OF IT'S GLORY, We tried the BLUEBERRY first because, well, why try the ORIGINAL which we have had many many many times?

And wouldn't you know it, Lulu showed up about that time and was over for the weekend. And SHE joined in the fun.

I gotta say, we all loved, Loved, LOVED them and there was no puggy who put the treat down and walked away. Mine was gone in 2 seconds FLAT despite them being for a larger dog. Lulu finished hers in 25 seconds, almost as fast as me. But Molly . . . dear, sweet, toothless Molly (she has a couple of molars and her canines) savored that GREENIE for 15 minutes or more.

 While I have you captive looking at photos of Molly DAINTILY eating her Blueberry Greenie, I am going to give you the NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION and so on for GREENIES Variety.

GOOD TO KNOW:

 1. Helps to keep clean teeth and to freshen breath 

 2. Unique shape and texture scrubs even hard to reach areas

 3. Three flavors (Original, Fresh, Blueberry) a PUP is sure to love

4. Natural ingredients and highly digestible - I tested this and it is true. A Greenie will completely break down in plain water over a 12 hour period.

 5. Made in the USA and accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council 

NEED TO KNOW:

Ingredients

Original: Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Glycerin, Gelatin, Oat Fiber, Water, Lecithin, Natural Poultry Flavor, Minerals (Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium, Potassium Iodide), Dried Apple Pomace, Choline Chloride, Fruit Juice Color, Vitamins ( Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source Of Vitamin E], Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate [Vitamin B5], Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B2], Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Folic Acid), Turmeric Color.

      

Fresh: Wheat Flour, Glycerin, Wheat Gluten, Gelatin, Oat Fiber, Water, Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Minerals (Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride,Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium, Potassium Iodide), Dried Spearmint, Dried Apple Pomace, Choline Chloride, Fruit Juice Color, Vitamins (Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source Of Vitamin E], Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate [Vitamin B5], Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B2], Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine                                    Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1],                            Folic Acid), Turmeric Color.

                                                           Blueberry: Wheat Flour, Glycerin, Wheat Gluten, Gelatin, Oat Fiber,                                                                                           Water,Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Minerals (Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium                                                                               Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid                                                                     Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese 

                                                                 Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium, Potassium Iodide), Dried Blueberries, Dried Apple                                                                   Pomace, Choline Chloride, Fruit Juice Color, Vitamins (Dl-Alpha Tocopherol                                                                            Acetate [Source Of Vitamin E], Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate                                                                     [Vitamin B5], Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement                                                                     [Vitamin B2], Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin                                                                    B6], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Folic Acid), Turmeric Color.

Needless to say, we loved the Greenies so very much. And we are gonna KEEP ON LOVING them for a while because with THREE flavors to choose from, we will not TIRE of the flavor. This is a Molly thing, not a NOODLES-who-will-eat-anything-all-the-time thing.

We give Greenies Variety Pack with Three Flavors the Casa de Noodles SEAL OF APPROVAL for being a tasty treat that is also GOOD for you.

** We received from Chewy.com free of charge a box of Greenies Variety for the sole purpose of trying the product and writing about it. We have received no form of payment for doing this post nor were we told what to say. All opinions expressed in A Bowl of Noodles belong to that little ball of fur known as Noodles the Pug.

Uh. . . Thank You, Sorta?

Noodles here on this chilly pre-rain morning in NorCal. Yes, the rainy season is supposed to start a little early here with THREE storms tracking in. Normally we get maybe 1-2 days of rain in November, but really February is our rainy month. IF we get rain, that is. I'm ready. I have my warm antler hat pictured above and I have a super cool rain coat. So IF I wanna brave the rain, I can.

That is all beside the point, though. I am here to discuss Chewy.com - who I LOVE. I know a lot of you are Chewy Influencers and you TOTALLY know what I am talking about. But I am gonna first talk about my intro to Chewy.com.

It all started when Mommy was looking for Yak Chews for me. As I was a teething puppy, I chewed EVERYTHING. My Mommys were going mad trying to find something to ease my itchy gums. A FURiend (Bellatrix, for you oldtimers) introduced me to Yak Chews and a love affair was born. But FINDING them was not easy. None of the pet food stores carried them and there were few online options then. Mommy STUMBLED upon this online supply spot called Mr. Chewy. They didn't have the Yak Chews (she ended up on Amazon) but they had Bully Sticks and she tried those. They worked very well and were reasonably priced. She bought them and that was that. She was so impressed with the ease of using the site and of the reasonable prices. She made a (forgotten) mental note to revisit them some time down the road.

She forgot.

Fast forward a year or so forward and Mommy gets an email from someone named Andrew at Mr. Chewy. Ah ha! It triggered that mental note and Mommy immediately went back to the website to check it out. It had grown and she was so impressed with the great variety of food they carried online. So she responded to Mr. Andrew and that is how she became an Influencer. BUT THE POINT of my story is - she was a customer FIRST. Mr. Chewy eventually became Chewy.com.

A couple of times something she bought for me didn't turn out to be so good and KNOW WHAT? Chewy.com Customer Service always treated her with the utmost courtesy and care. The problem was always solved right away. And they never asked her to spend money to send the item back. Instead, they asked her to donate the item to a local shelter or rescue. How great is that?

I am ALL ABOUT Chewy.com.

Then, the other day, this happened. . . a package arrived that WAS NOT ordered. Mommy showed us and we started running around acting like idiots. Yay! Something from CHEWY.COM.

Then she opened it and THIS was inside

None of those treats are for PUPS or KITTIES!!!! None. I could not believe it. I mean, I was happy for Mommy #2 (who is on a d-i-e-t and cannot eat them), but you know me. . .

I am ALL about the treats

So, uh, Thanks?

I still love you Chewy.com.

Next time the TREATS are for me.

The Anticipation of a Treat

What this photo does not show is the sliding motion of my paws. I am jiggling
with excitement and my paws won's stay put.

There is nothing better than the anticipation of a TREAT. Other than actually GETTING the treat - that's a lot better. But the anticipation . . . . that is something special. It all begins with those magical words

"Noodles and Molly - do you want a treat?"

As if I would ever say no.

SHE goes about doing her THING while we spend a couple of seconds - which seem like hours - looking at each other in amazement, "Did she REALLY say that?" Then we realize it IS HAPPENING and we dash like idiots where ever SHE might be. At last we see them - the treats, that is - is her hand, teasing us.

"First I need you to sit and calm down," she says. "I don't give treats to girls who are acting all weird and anxious."

Well, who wouldn't be anxious? This is a TREAT! Not an every day occurrence around here. Okay, okay every day yes - for doing nothing special, I think NOT! But here we are, minding our own business and not doing anything special and a TREAT is being offered seemingly for no reason at all.

I am squirming and twitching all over at the thought of a treat. I yip. I smile. I yawn (?) Anything to make the time for the treat NOW. Nothing. We sit.
And sit.
And Sit.

My legs are no longer holding me up as I slide to a LAY DOWN rather than a sit. I can't help it. The burden of the moment is almost too much for me. It overwhelms me.

"Noodles, there are no treats for laying down," she says, And I try very hard to stay upright despite the increasing anxiety.

Finally she says "Good" and gives us our un-asked-for and unexpected treats.

I think I have just found paradise.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

She Went to the Beach and I Got Treats

We are very proud of our Japan Town. It is very beautiful and filled with wonderful businesses. Biscuits is located on
the left in this photo - sandwiched between Kogura and Nikkei Traditions

As some of you might know, Mommy #2 abandoned me and went to the coast. She went to a BEACH that allows dogs so there was really no excuse for her to not take me. She told me later that it was a bit cold and I probably would not have enjoyed myself much. I think I would have but that is a discussion for another time.

On the way home, she and Auntie B stopped by JAPAN TOWN for some ice cream at Jimbos (they serve yummy stuff there - very Hawaiian - I know.  .  . I have tasted it before. So she decided that since she was in Japan Town, she would pay Biscuits: Give a Dog a Bone a visit.

According to Wikipedia, San Jose's Japan Town was originally settled around a China Town. The two cultures still share cultures in the area. It is one of THREE Japan Towns still viable in California..

BISCUITS is our favorite boutique because it carries very healthy toys, snacks, and food as well as organic pet health products. There are clothes that support the local teams and even kimonos so we can attend Nikkeimatsuri and Obon dressed in style. There is so much to buy that a pug can go crazy trying to make a decision. Mommy limits me to one thing ONCE in a while.

AND THE OWNER, Ms Jennifer, is the coolest human I know! She recognizes me when ever I go there and she always always always gives me a treat (with Mommy's permission). She has a real understanding of what pooches like and she is MOM to TWO rescues!!!

So Mommy and Auntie B looked around and ended up buying these treats for us

 Don't these look fun? Mommy is such a Star Wars freak that I am not surprised she bought these. I am sure she wishes they were for her. They contain wheat so they are not for pooches with allergies - but otherwise they are dog friendly. We have not tried them yes so I really cannot tell you if they are yummy or not. BUT, they are from BISCUITS so I am betting they are the best. Everything I have ever bought at Biscuits is yummy IF it is eatable.

We, me and Molly, DID get to try these PUPCAKES, though. OMP! They are NOT to be believed. Absolutely yummy and delicious and tasty and any other superlative you can dream up. I give them FOUR paws up just for being food - FOUR MORE for being the stuff dreams are made of.

I am sorry a lot of you are not in the Bay Area to be able to visit Biscuits. It is just the best. But if you have a favorite boutique near you, be sure to visit it. Buying local and supporting small businesses is the WAY TO GO.

I am so happy Japan Town has this shop.

Ever Try to Stand On Your Head For a Treat?

Oh Chewy.com - you are SO GOOD to me. . .

I have - and it is not easy, I tell you. But I WILL try anything for some treats - like Nature's Variety Prairie Pumpkin and Cranberry TREATS. I admit, I was a little unsure if I should pick these when Chewy.com offered these as part of their October Pumpkin extravaganza newsletter. I mean, they SOUNDED yummy and all. But they also advertised these treats as a healthy choice. SINCE WHEN is a treat. . . a GOOD treat. . . ever a healthy choice?

EVERYTHING had pumpkin in some form. It was so hard to choose just one! But I had to do just that (plus SOMEONE would NOT let me choose TWO kinds of treats to try). I decided to stick with the company that makes my favorite food in the whole wide world -  (Instinct Raw Boost) Nature's Variety. I knew they wouldn't disappoint me. BUT. . . I was totally unprepared for how much I would love these treats.

First, some business re the Natures Variety Prairie treats -

1) They are OVEN BAKED and not fried
2) They contain ALL NATURAL ingredients like Oatmeal, barley, tapioca, pumpkin, cranberries, canola oil, turkey meal, montmorillonite clay, ground flaxseed, natural flavor, cinnamon, cloves, mixed tocopherols (preservative), citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract
3) They have no wheat, corn or soy and NO artificial preservatives (which they totally don't need because they won't hang around that long)
4)They TASTE GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRReat!

They arrived at Casa de Noodles like all Chewy.com stuff - FAST! I knew the instant the doorbell rang that it was Mr. Delivery Man bringing me something from Chewy.com. So I welcomed him - loud and clear. And for a long time. FINALLY, Mommy brought the package inside and opened it for us. Molly was going positively bonkers - so much so that Mommy could not get her to pose nicely with me (she kept trying the nip at my paws).

This was the best picture Mommy could take. Molly is
practically across town!

So then Mommy put them away. She said we were being too wild to deserve a treat and we'd have to wait until we calmed down. How could she do that to ME of all pugs?! All because of THAT MOLLY, too. So I nipped at Molly's paws like she had done to me. Mommy said a few HBO words and before I knew it, WE were on TIME-OUT in the big room.

TIME-OUT!!!

When she finally decided we had REPENTED enough, she let us out and asked us into the kitchen. DOGGONE. . . it was bad. . . real bad. . . I knew at a glance that this was where the REAL TORTURE was gonna happen!!! There, at DOG LEVEL was the bag of treats and TWO biscuits, one at Molly's eating spot and one at mine. I started to trot over to what was CLEARLY my reward for being a good dog when Mommy GROWLED real loud -"NO!!!"

I almost had to excuse myself because she scared me so much! I stopped IN MY TRACKS and immediately sat down. "I'm a good girl, I'm a good girl, I'm a good girl" I kept chanting to myself. Molly, in the meantime, skulked back to the big room. Mommy smiled about then and cajoled Molly to come out of the big room and get a treat. I looked from Mommy to my treat to Mommy to my treat. . . I was so confused.

When Molly finally tiptoed out of the big room and over to her treat, Mommy intercepted her and made her sit IN FRONT of her TREAT. She also could not eat it.

Molly trying to look nonchalant

Mommy said we had to wait until she commanded it and then we could eat the treat. She does that sometimes - some sadistic pleasure for her, I am sure. Well, we stared at those treats for what seemed like a really really long time and I couldn't help it - I DROOLED. Those treats were smelling so good with all the pumpkin smell and the cinnamon. . .

EAT IT!!!!!

When Mommy told Molly she could eat hers, Molly got all weird again and SNIFFED it. And SNIFFED it. AND SNIFFED it before she ever set her teeth or tongue on it. Meanwhile, I'm DYING over on my side of the kitchen and was screaming "Molly Eat It Already" like a wild DINGO! I was desperate because I wanted to EAT THAT TREAT and Mommy wasn't letting me.

So I did the only thing I could think of that would definitely win me the command to EAT THAT TREAT - I tried a HEADSTAND.

Whew! I'm not sure how long I can HOLD this HEADSTAND!

Nature's Variety Prairie Pumpkin and Cranberry treats are so yummy. You gotta try them yourself. It is so easy to do - you just click this link and it will take you right to CHEWY.COM and the exact page for the Nature's Variety Prairie treats. Put them in your virtual cart, click PAY, borrow your 'rents' credit card, and VOILA - you will have treats before you know it. Almost as fast as a treat dispenser in your kitchen!

We give them EIGHT. . . no TEN appendages up because EIGHT is not enough. Since we only have EIGHT PAWS between us, we added our HEADS to the count. So, to sum up, they're a TEN on a scale of EIGHT. Succinctly put, they ROCK!!!!

*Disclaimer - I was not paid for this post not for the opinions in this post. All observations and opinions expressed in this post, and indeed in this blog, are all mine and offered free of charge. I did receive a bag of treats to try so that I can offer an informed opinion.

So While Molly Was Leaping and Climbing. . .

I was visiting VENDORS and talking to folks about their products and services. I really had a lot of fun doing so AND BEST OF ALL, I got lots and lots of treats. As you know, I have been BANNED from treats for a while now due to excessive weight. I lost a fair amount when I was sick a few weeks back BUT THAT NEVER seems to be enough. I am still on a TREAT ban. So here was the best opportunity I would ever have to score treats without out Mommy being able to do much about it. After all, she didn't want to be rude and tell people NO, MY PUG IS FAT. How uncool would THAT be? 

Here is my M.O. for scoring vendor treats -

1. Trot don't walk - enthusiasm wins
2. Flash those ORBS - if ya got it flaunt it
3. Sit and wait - be polite. Jumping gets you nothing
4. Tilt your head when talked to - looking interested is a surefire way to score

Works for me!

What I'll Do For Treats . . .

Thanks Chewy.com

 The Treat
 Science Diet Fruity Snacks are COOKIES that are good for Pups! They are made with Ground Wheat, Oat Flour, Dried Apples, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Flaxseed, Beet Pulp, Molasses, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid).
Use caution if your PET has any allergy to wheat. Lucky for me - I DO NOT!
These treats are crunchy and contain real fruit and oatmeal for digestion. They also have flaxseed to help maintain a shiny coat. Notice the beet pulp - that is a natural sweetener so there is no refined sugar in these snacks, either!














But Is It Worthy?

I think I have mentioned it before that I measure a treat's worthiness by the level of trick I am willing to perform for it. There are treats I will sit and MAYBE shake for (freeze-dried liver snacks); treats I will sit calmly and but beg intently for ( real chicken); and treats I will do ANYTHING for (those Halo chicken snax). For me to go out of my way to do a trick, the treat has to be (1) tasty, (2) smell good TO ME, (3) be a reasonable size - not to big and not an ort, and (4) be good and not fattening for me (Mommy put this one in here. . . I don't care. . . but then again, a thick waistline means less snacks so on principle I agree).

This is what I think of Science Diet Fruity Snacks:

Yep. I'd buy them.

You can get Science Diet Fruity Snacks any place that sells quality dog food. But make it easy on yourself and order them from www.Chewy.com! They carry Science Diet Fruity Snacks and a lot more - and with Chewy.com you get low prices, fast shipping, and great customer service.

This is a review for a product that was provided free of charge to me. That being said, all of the opinions expressed in this review are mine alone (sometimes I let Mommy have a word or two. . . but usually it is me). I have not been paid or otherwise compensated in any other way.

A Game of Treats - And One Shall Stand Tall

Sunshine the Cat entered into the GREAT arena and joined Noodles the Pug and Molly Ragmuffin at the judging table.Their faces were a blank slate - impassive as the first contestant stepped up to the gate. One by one the TREATS entered the playing field. One by One they stood tall or fell as challenge after challenge was delivered.

The contestants were given FOUR of each treat and their reactions carefully scrutinized. No stone was left unturned - no action overlooked.

It was a grueling competition and at the end of the day, the three judges were spent and full. All except for Noodles the Pug. She can never be fully sated. . . hers is an achingly constant HUNGER that cannot be quenched by mere treats. NAY! Nor by mere meals.

In the end - only ONE ranked highest of all . . . only ONE treat will sit on the THRONE of TREATS.

The winner of the GAME OF TREATS will be revealed in a special post SATURDAY morning, DECEMBER 7, 2013.

The END

I hope you enjoyed the Game of Treats

Hey Look! A CONTEST!!!!

Match the treat with it's proper score. Email your answers to the official A Bowl of Noodles email address: noodlesthepugATaolDOTcom  Deadline to enter is Friday, December 6, 2013 at Midnight PT.
Top entries will be put into Randomizer and the winner will win be randomly chosen.
The PRIZE will be some of the TOP TREAT for you to enjoy and NOT share IF you don't want to.

A. Carrot of Treat                                                    1. Extremely edible, Smellgoodable,
                                                                                        Patienceworthy, Trickworthy

B. Banana of Health                                          2. Edible, Smellgoodable,
                                                                                  Patienceworthy, ShakeHands

C. Liv-a-Littles Chicken of HALO                         3.Will eat if nothing else, Rank
                                                                                       Anxious to get over with, No                                                                                                Trickworthiness

D. Freeze Dried Chicken Liver of Pro-Treat      4. Very edible, Smellgoodable,
                                                                                   Patienceworthy, Sit/High Five


NOTE: This is a review for Halo Live-a-Littles Chicken treats. The product was provided free of charge to me by Chewy.com in exchange for this review. The opinions of all of these treats are mine alone and not dictated by the treat provider. For more information about Halo and Halo Pet Products please visit www.chewy.com or www.halopets.com.
** Prize for the contest will be provided by A Bowl of Noodles

The Game of Treats. . . a Short Novel of Rewards

The day dawned crisp and clear - a harbinger of colder days to come. They had all gathered early to witness the GAME OF TREATS.

She was nervous, this Molly of Ragmuffin, for this had been her first venture as a judge for the GAME OF TREATS. The prize. . . well, a treat, of course. But the question weighing heavy on all of the JUDGES' heads was: Which treat will prevail?

The contestants traveled from far and wide on this late Fall day. Many suffered hardships as cold wind and the scent of snow assailed them from every direction. Many would not survive the journey and those who did will never be the same again.

They say this will be a Winter of Winters. I fear they may be right.


The FINAL FOUR treats challenging the panel of judges were:

Carrot: This food is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Potassium.

Banana: This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin B6.

Halo Liv-a-Little Chicken treats: Chicken, water,sodium phosphate, salt, and carrageenan.Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 80.0% (Min), Crude Fat: 3.0% (Min), Crude Fiber: 2.0% (Max), Moisture: 5.0% (Max)

ProTreat dried liver dog treats: 100% pure chicken liver. Guaranteed Analysis: Minimum Protein 70.45%, Minimum Fat 15.38%, Maximum Fiber .07%, Maximum Moisture 6.5%

A hush ran through the crowd as the contestants took their places in the ARENA. Determination painted the faces of each one. Nervous tension stretched taut across the field.

End of Chapter One

Come back tomorrow as the story continues

Land of GAZILLION Treats!!!!

Here is a photo of me and Molly showing off - uh, I mean displaying - all of the goodies we got at the PetSmart Pet Party. This was some major eatables, I tell you. There were one, two, three foodlike stuffs for PUGS and dogs and ONE for kitties. Even though Sunshine did not attend, she scored some treats. For a picky eater she sure likes her treats!

AnyWHO........ Look how big those Brett Michael toys are! Amazing. What is MORE amazing is I only have TWO entrants into the Gotcha Day drawing. I am going to sweeten the pot and INCLUDE an assortment of EATABLE with the winning toy. Let me know if you want to enter the drawing.

It is painless and FUN!!!!

Oh, and dig the new bed we are sitting on. It was on SALE for $10!!!! Can you believe it? It can fit all three of us, plus toys and still have room for more. And Lil' One sometimes curls up on the giant bed while she watches her HOCKEY games! That was a S-C-O-R-E for Mommy!

Drawing ends Friday, October 25, 2013 at MIDNIGHT PST.

Package from Pip with Precious Prizes

Look! I got a package and it is from PIP!

I enter contests all the time. It is my competitive nature to try and defeat EveryPuggy that I can. I accept defeat with my usual aplomb and a good sense of humor. I have to because most of the time. . .

I LOSE!

So I entered Pip's giveaway for pumpkin treats from EntirelyPets.com and this time, I did not lose. I won and I WON BIG! I won 2 bags of  Grandma Lucy's Organic Pumpkin Cookies Dog Treats (14 oz). They are made of human quality ingredients and are all natural. They do have wheat, though, so are not for pets who are wheat sensitive.

Look at the size of these bags of treats! They look bigger than us.
(Mommy note: Photo illusion, the bags are big but nowhere
near as big as Noodles and Molly)

Do these look DELICIOUS or what?

Molly displaying patience

Once the box was open and ONE of the bags was open, Molly and I  hopped and whined and otherwise made a ruckus like we sometimes do until Mommy gives us a treat. That decidedly DID NOT work, though; and we had to wait for our reward. First we had to pose for the above photo with the bags. Then we had to sit like we usually do for treats. Molly waited patiently for the command to try her pumpkin treat. But I one-upped her by not only waiting - but waiting with the treat ON MY PAW!
It was worth the wait, I tell you. They are the yummiest.


And you KNOW WHAT? My Mommy #2 ATE ONE! She read the ingredients and saw there were no meat products in them AND they were made with ingredients she would use if she was baking them for us. So she ATE ONE! She said they were really TASTY!!!

I see your patience and RAISE you

That Mommy #2 is a crack-up!

Thank you Pip for having such an AWESOME giveaway and thank you LADY LUCK for shining down on ME! I love my new treats and if you come to my house to visit me, I can totally promise you I will share with you.

Dancin' For a Treat . . .

(to the tune of Billy Idol's Dancin' With Myself)

Dancin' for a tree-eat

oh oh oh

Dancin' for a tree-eat

Oh there's nothing to lose

And plenty to choose

So, I'm dancin' for a tree-eat

A Pig's Ear BUT It's NOT a Beer

These are not good pictures of us 
with our PIG'S EARS

Why? You ask? Well, according to Mommy, she couldn't get us to STOP CHOMPING long enough to get a decent photo!

Yes, they are THAT good.

My regular readers know that occasionally I will succumb to a marketer's plea to try something new and do a review. Why do I do it? Well, overtly it is to try new things for free that perhaps we have no access to OR perhaps is out of our budget. But in addition to this OBVIOUS reason, I also loves loves loves to share new finds with my FURiends in Blogville. It makes me feel good to know I am helping to spread the word on unique sites to buy pet supplies, on healthier choices at fair prices, and perhaps an unusual good-for-you item that maybe you hadn't thought of before. I know that I am so naive when it comes to a lot of SNACKS out there for a PUG and rely on other bloggers to introduce me to new things.

Some time ago my BFF Bellatrix shared a PIG'S EAR with me. I had never heard of them before and she said they were among her favorite treats. Well, I loved it and asked my Mommy to get me some more. At the time, it was a difficult thing to find. Not only that, but the ones she did find were dry with sharp shards (whattha???) or smelled chemically funky). In a word, they were anything but natural and healthy. The result was that I, NOODLES THE PUG, was not allowed to have any pig's ears until she could find a decent product.

Wouldn't you know it, 2 weeks ago, Mommy got an email from Chewy.com asking if we would be interested in sampling and reviewing some  100% Natural True Chews Pig's Ears. CHEWY.COM to the rescue! How many times before have I said this same thing? Chewy.com is the best when it comes to finding healthy and unusual PUG supplies. 

Chewy.com sells these for $17.99

Mommy read the labels and all the info CHEWY.COM sent to her regarding the product. She had learned from experience just how UNNATURAL some natural dog foods can be. 

Here is what she found out:

• True Chews are made in the USA in Independence, Iowa
• True Chews are made rawhide free and with no fillers
• True Chews are slow-roasted to give them a dense chewiness
• True Chews are lightly smoked for added flavor

THAT IS ALL!!! No artificial preservatives or colors or flavors.

And they taste FANTASTIC!!! We got one (which lasted a couple of days) each and then when it was gone. . . WE GOT ANOTHER!!! That never happens in our household. Like all treats, My MOMMYS make sure to supervise us when we are chewing them to make sure we do not choke on them. They also take the small pieces away to prevent choking (this is more for Molly because I am pretty sure I can expand my throat to eat ANYTHING!!!). She also makes sure we chew near fresh water.

So I heartily recommend 100% Natural True Chews Pigs Ears for your chewing pleasure and your good health. And, it goes without saying that I recommend Chewy.com to buy your 100% Natural True Chews.