Pet Treats Are Serious Business: What Every Pet Parent Should Know

Natural. Holistic. Human Grade. Organic.

We see these words everywhere when shopping for pet food and treats. They sound reassuring, but what do they actually mean?

And more importantly — do they automatically mean a product is healthy and safe for your pet?

The answer is no.

At L’Barkery, we believe choosing pet treats should be about much more than how cute the packaging is, how many followers a brand has, or whether your dog thinks the treat is delicious. What’s inside matters.

What Does “Human Grade” Actually Mean?

We use the term Human Grade at L’Barkery to describe the quality of the ingredients we choose.

For us, it means using quality ingredients that we are proud to put into our products — not ingredients that are simply leftovers, by-products or something that wasn't considered suitable for human food.

But here's the important part: seeing the words "human grade" on a packet doesn't tell you everything you need to know.

Always look beyond the marketing claims and check the actual ingredient list.

Because a product can contain ingredients that are technically suitable for human consumption while still not being the best choice for your pet.

Don't Just Trust the Front of the Packet

Pet food marketing can be clever.

Words like natural, holistic, premium, wholesome, organic and human grade can create the impression that a product is automatically healthy.

But the real story is found on the ingredient list.

Look at what's actually inside the packet. Are the ingredients clearly listed? Do you understand what they are? Are there unnecessary additives, colours, flavours or fillers? Does the company explain why those ingredients are being used?

Don't let the front of the packet make the decision for you.

“Natural” Doesn't Always Mean Healthy

Natural is another word that sounds fantastic — but it isn't necessarily a guarantee of quality.

A product can be marketed as natural while still containing ingredients that you may not want to feed your pet regularly.

That's why we encourage pet parents to look beyond buzzwords and ask:

What does “natural” actually mean for this particular product?

A good pet treat should have a purpose beyond simply tasting great.

What About “Holistic”?

“Holistic” is a popular term in the pet industry, but it can be difficult for consumers to know exactly what they're getting when they see it on a label.

Rather than relying on the word itself, look at the philosophy and ingredients behind the product.

Does the company focus on quality ingredients? Are unnecessary additives avoided? Are ingredients selected with your pet's nutritional needs in mind?

The ingredient list should always tell the real story.

Be Careful With “Organic”

Organic is another claim worth investigating.

Certified organic products are subject to specific standards and certification requirements. Simply using an organic ingredient doesn't necessarily mean the finished product is certified organic.

If a product claims to be organic, don't be afraid to ask:

“Is this product certified organic?”

A reputable business should be happy to explain exactly what its claim means.

The Responsibility Behind Making Pet Treats

Making treats for your own dog at home is one thing.

Making and selling treats to other people's pets is something completely different.

When a pet parent buys a treat from a business, they're trusting that business with the health and wellbeing of a member of their family.

That's a responsibility we take seriously.

Pet treat businesses should understand what ingredients they're using, why they're using them, and whether those ingredients are appropriate for dogs or cats.

Unfortunately, not every product on the market is created with the same level of knowledge, care or transparency.

That's why asking questions matters.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Whether you're buying from a large pet food company, a local market stall or a small home-based business, you have every right to know what you're feeding your pet.

Ask:

Who makes the treats?
Are they made by the business selling them, or are they purchasing and repackaging another product?

Where do the ingredients come from?
Are they Australian sourced, imported, or a combination?

If ingredients are imported, where are they from?

Does the business understand its ingredients?
Can they explain what they're using and why?

Are all ingredients clearly listed?

How are the treats made and stored?

A trustworthy business shouldn't be offended by these questions. They should welcome them.

Read the Ingredient List — Not Just the Marketing

One of the biggest mistakes pet parents can make is choosing a treat based solely on its name, packaging or marketing claims.

A beautiful packet doesn't tell you what's inside.

A product being popular on social media doesn't automatically make it a good choice.

And a long list of impressive-sounding claims doesn't replace a transparent ingredient list.

At L'Barkery, we believe transparency is more important than clever marketing.

Support Your Local Pet Treat Makers

We don't want this article to scare you away from small, local pet treat businesses.

Quite the opposite.

There are some incredibly passionate small businesses producing fantastic treats for our pets. Many are created by people who genuinely care about animal nutrition, ingredient quality and making products their own pets can enjoy.

Support local. Support small. But ask questions.

The best businesses will be proud to tell you about their ingredients, their processes and the people behind their products.

Your Pet Can't Read the Label — So You Have To!

At the end of the day, our pets don't know what's in their treat.

They just know it smells good!

That's where we come in.

As pet parents, it's our responsibility to look past the cute packaging, catchy names and impressive marketing claims and actually understand what we're feeding.

You wouldn't buy food for yourself without knowing what's in it.

So why would we do anything differently for our pets?

Next time you're shopping for pet treats, remember:

Read the label. Ask questions. Know what you're feeding.

Because pet treats aren't just cute and fun.

They're serious business. 🐾

L'Barkery's Treat-Checking Checklist

Before buying a new treat, ask yourself:

✔️ Are all ingredients clearly listed?
✔️ Do I understand what the ingredients are?
✔️ Does the business know where its ingredients come from?
✔️ Does the business actually make the product?
✔️ Are the ingredients appropriate for my pet?
✔️ Can the business explain its nutritional and ingredient claims?
✔️ Is the product made and stored responsibly?
✔️ Am I choosing it because it's genuinely good — or simply because the packaging looks great?

Because when it comes to our fur babies, they deserve more than good marketing. They deserve good ingredients.