Product Review: Bistro Bites

Any trainer will tell you that when you reward your dog with a treat, it should be a treat that can be eaten in one bite. Otherwise, you lose the momentum of training. A big snack will be dropped to the floor and eaten in several bites. The result is lots of crumbs, a delay in repeating/reinforcing the command, and also a dog who’s full after a few commands, and therefore not treat-motivated anymore. Plus, small and tiny dogs don’t need a big treat. With smaller treats, you can give them a little yummy without adding a lot to their caloric intake.

Enter Bistro Bites. These bite-sized (1/4?) treats are formulated and sized just for dogs 20 lbs and under. Using gluten-free recipes and fresh ingredients, these semi-soft treats are best when kept refrigerated. They come in a resealable zipper bag inside the A-frame box. There are enough treats inside to last about a month. It looks like a few treats compared to other treats on the shelf, but when I remembered they were sized for small dogs, it actually looked like a lot of treats. I microwaved a few treats for 5 seconds and they softened even more.

I like that they’re gluten-free. Because of the high-grain content of commercial dog food, many dogs have developed wheat allergies. It’s nice to see a treat that doesn’t add to the problem. (Solution: feed your dog meat instead of grains.) Some flavors (such as pumpkin) may be available only when the main ingredient is in season. The manufacturer uses only fresh ingredients, U.S. grown and made, and when possible, from local farms. My dog loved the taste. I always know when he really likes a treat because he wags his tail when he eats it. My other dogs have wagged their tails in anticipation of a treat, but then got down to business when the actual eating commenced. However, this one wags the whole time. Cute!

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Man Bites Police Dog, Sues Police

Zeke and his handler (Photo: Phoenix Police Department)

Yes, you read that right: A man who bit a police dog who had nabbed him after he allegedly burglarized a house is suing police and two Arizona cities involved in his capture.

According to reports, the dog, Zeke, caught up with Erin Sullivan, 33, and apprehended him by biting him on the shoulder, as K9s are trained to do. But Sullivan didn’t want to be caught, according to reports.

“Sullivan punched Zeke in the face then bit Zeke on his muzzle. Zeke then repositioned his bite to Sullivan’s upper left arm. Sullivan pulled Zeke’s face toward his and bit Zeke over his right eye,” according to the Glendale, Ariz., police report. At that point, officers used pepper spray on Sullivan, and Zeke pulled him from his hiding place.

Sullivan is now is serving an eight-year prison sentence for the incident, which happened last spring. He was convicted of criminal trespassing, second-degree burglary, and cruelty to animals.

But that hasn’t stopped him from filing a lawsuit demanding $450,000 for his alleged mistreatment. He claims that when he heard the police helicopters, he dropped to his knees and put his hands on his head, and that the dog viciously attacked him anyway. So he bit back. You can read more details of his claims — including that he needed 40 staples to close the damage done by Zeke — in this Daily Mail article or on Fox News.

Zeke also needed medical attention after the bite, according to police, but he has not sued Sullivan.

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