Today, February 23 is International Dog Biscuit Day.
They were invented quite by accident in the late 1800’s. In a London bake shop by popular demand, the baker was attempting to expand his business with a new biscuit recipe created especially for his customers. The shop was filled with a sweet aroma and warm just from the oven, with great anticipation he raised a biscuit and slowly took a bite . . . and immediately spat it out onto the floor.
It was the worst he had ever tasted. Just before tossing the entire batch, he gave one to his dog who happily ate it right up. So, he gave him another one with the same tail wagging result. This gave the creative baker the idea of making biscuits specifically for dogs. He made them in the shape of a bone and they quickly began to sell.
In 1908 he sold his recipe to an American businessman and the F.H. Bennett Biscuit company was formed. They sold the canine cookie under the name of Malatoid with a patent granted three years later. In 1915, to emphasize the fact that cow’s milk was a main ingredient, the name was changed to Milk-Bone.
Today, ingredients range from corn-free, wheat-free, soy-free, grain-free and gluten-free. Flavors are available in butternut squash, kale, pumpkin, peanut butter, vanilla, oats, apples, chicken, bacon, cheese and all-natural beef liver. They come in any number of shapes, sizes and dental chews for adult dogs and puppies.
It’s no surprise that dog treat sales in the US is around $2.9 billion per year ($825 million for cat treats). Not too bad for something whose humble beginnings started out as being spat out in disgust onto a bakery floor.