Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the deal with gluten free dog treats?
Dogs are often allergic to wheat, corn and soy. These items are not part of their diet in the wild and can lead to itchy skin, rashes, dandruff, vomiting and other symptoms. Wheat is a high-gluten product and some research suggests that dogs do not digest any gluten products well. Gluten is a sticky substance that can block the absorption of nutrients in the dog’s small intestine. So we decided to eliminate gluten from our treats in addition to corn, soy and artificial ingredients.
Where do you source your ingredients?
We are aware of many problems associated with ingredients used in other brands of dog treats. This business is highly competitive and some companies feel they need to source as cheaply as possible. Many believe that dog treats and dog food do not need to meet the same standards as people food because dogs are “just animals”. We believe that poor nutrition affects dogs just as humans and we want our pets to live as long and happy as possible. Therefore, Distinctive Dog does not purchase second rate products or byproducts of any kind. We source all of our ingredients from FDA approved U.S. suppliers and bake our natural dog treats in Seattle, WA.
Can I feed these to my kids?
Registered as a pet food item, by law we are required to tell you that Distinctive Dog treats are not intended for human consumption. But don’t tell my grandmother that.
Why can’t I just bake my own treats?
You can. There is a variety of recipes on the Internet. However, we caution you to research ingredients. There are some ingredients including raisins, chocolate, grapes and garlic that can be toxic to dogs.
How can I store dog bakery items and how long will they last?
Distinctive Dog treats remain fresh for at least six months after shipping. You can also extend the life by refrigerating or freezing the treats. If freezing, let them air dry outside of the packaging so the moisture can escape properly.
Do I have to sign up for a PayPal account to order?
No. PayPal is a secure and easy way to pay for your Internet orders. If you do not wish to sign up for PayPal, select “Continue” on the payment screen and you can enter a credit card without signing up for PayPal.
How is my credit card information kept secure?
Distinctive Dog has chosen to utilize PayPal services to ensure the highest levels of security. Your confidential information is encrypted in transit to PayPal using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available). The PayPal server first checks that you’re using an approved browser – one that uses SSL 3.0 or higher.
Once your information reaches PayPal, it resides on a server that is heavily guarded both physically and electronically. The servers sit behind an electronic firewall and are not directly connected to the Internet, so your private information is available only to authorized computers. Distinctive Dog does not have access and does not store any credit card or bank account information.
