Jake and Knight's Doggie Delights was created through the combination of my love for dogs and my delight in baking. My mother created gorgeous and delicious wedding cakes when I was growing up. I watched, assisted and eventually learned her techniques. My mother and I LOVE the creative aspect of baking and the joy it can bring to others.

My love for dogs was also cultivated within my family. Growing up, our dog was always treated as a part of the family. Our white lab, Coffee, joined the family when I was in first grade and she was with us through my sophomore year in college. Our lives were then blessed with a chocolate lab named Ema. Ema had a lot of love to give all of us (and not just because she tipped the scale at 112lb!) Tragically though, she was stricken ill and passed away at only 4 years old. My family was devastated at this unexpected loss but we knew she'd want us to continue to have the joy of dogs in our lives.

My husband and I dreaded the "puppy" stage, so adoption was our answer. We adopted Jake at age one and a half from a family that didn't have the time for him. Jake is a high energy guy who needs to know everything that is going on and be in the middle of it. He can drive you crazy with his persistence, warm your heart with his antics and amaze you with his Frisbee fetching ability.

We adopted Knight for my father from a breeder in Indiana who had been keeping him as a stud dog. Knight made the trip out from Iowa when the breeder was delivering Christmas puppies and his life was forever changed when he was introduced to indoor living. He spends his days as the shadow of my retired father and the spoiled child of my mother. Knight is as mellow as a lab can be (unless of course a tennis ball is in play). He's infamous for falling asleep as soon as he gets into the car and insists upon his daily routine.

Jake and Knight are two Lab boys with opposite personalities, but they are the best of friends. They are a reminder to me that you never know where life will take you. And they provide us so much love and joy that I just want to give it back to them. What better way to a Labs heart then through his stomach?

So I started baking homemade treats and Jake and Knight loved them! I gave samples out to their neighborhood dogs and to my friends with dogs. I kept getting positive feedback and requests for more! My brother's girlfriend has a small, finicky dog, but even Ku'uipo was wondering when the next batch was coming!

After fostering several rescue dogs, Tony and I adopted our second dog in May of 2005, a white lab mix we named Alaska. The demand for treats increased with another dog in the house and I decided to expand my kitchen into Jake and Knight's Doggie Delights. I consulted a vet, a dog diet expert and read up on dog nutrition to see that I was on the right track. I continued to test and use my knowledge of baking to alter different recipes to create great doggie snacks. Starting with the best ingredients, I use no salt, artificial ingredients, unnecessary sugar, oils or fats. Whenever possible I use wheat and rye flour, and always fresh fruits and vegetables.

Dogs add so much to our lives. I believe we can add to theirs by what we feed them. I bake these treats for people who want their dogs to be happy and healthy because they know that their dog is not only in their life, but a big part of it!