May 6, 2008

Photo Illustration by Auston Vitt, Pet Pulse

CHICAGO –- It’s a case of banker turned baker.

“Two things I love: dogs, baking. Seemed to go together,” said Bill McClung, owner of McClung’s Bakery in Chicago (K9CookieCompany.com).

After working in finance, six years ago McClung traded his suit for an apron, opening a pet-centric bakery. He’s been creating doggie delicacies ever since.

K-9 Cookie Company features goods that are anything but cookie cutter.

“As far as the dogs are concerned, their health is a big concern to us,” McClung said. “Everything that’s in the treats, basically, are items you’d find in your own pantry at home. There’s no byproduct or excess fat, or anything like that.”

All of McClung’s recipes include a healthy helping of research, with a puppy purpose for every ingredient.

“Cranberry is an antioxidant, which is good for the dog,” McClung said. “Good for cleaning the urinary tract.”

As for taste, McClung’s clientele ranges from discerning doggies to less than picky pups. About their only common thread is, well, none of them talk, so their actions must speak louder than words.

“”We got about 50-percent rejection from dogs that didn’t like the carob,” McClung said. “They literally spit it out. The other 50-percent, in fact we had one that was just standing there picking up all the ones that were spit out.”

Thanks to McClung’s dogged determination, they’ve come up with 35 recipes that have received plenty of doggone approval.

“If you see some of the dogs when they come in, the way they get a treat and things like that, some of them literally bounce in from the door,” McClung said.

All of K-9’s puppy pastries are designed to be as delicious as they are healthy. Take their squirrel-shaped treats made with sweet potato, vanilla and honey. While the products are made for pets, people aren’t precluded from enjoying them too.

“It’s not the first instance where someone has come in and said their husband or son has come home, gone into the refrigerator and consumed them,” McClung said.

Pet bakeries are on the rise nationally, but McClung’s breaks the mold, its owner says.

“We actually opened this business to give dogs a healthy treat, and that’s what we are prepared to stay by,” McClung said.

Sounds like one smart cookie.

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