October 20, 2024 • 20 mins
Karen Turner, the passionate owner of Union Jack Bulldogs and Friends, shares her transformative journey from bulldog breeder to holistic pet care advocate. Tune in to learn how her dedication to her pets' health sparked a thriving business focused on natural and healthy treats. Karen reveals her transition from being a breeder to creating a wellness line that includes nutrient-dense food, paw creams, and shampoos, all aimed at enhancing the lives of our furry companions. Her story is a testament to the belief that pets are family, deserving of the best care and attention.
Experience the vibrant energy of a home bustling with five adorable dogs: Harley, Diamond, Marlo, Pearl, and Gem. We explore the unique health challenges faced by some of these beloved pets and how they have inspired a meticulous approach to nutrition and care. Discover the heartwarming chaos of a cottage kitchen where human-grade dog treats are crafted with love and local ingredients, ensuring quality and safety. This episode is a delightful mix of insights and anecdotes that any pet lover would appreciate, offering a glimpse into the dedication it takes to run a successful home-based dog treat business.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thank you, charlie.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
We talk to local businessowners, neighbors, friends who
are business owners, influencers, and today I have a newly made
friend.
We met each other maybe fiveminutes ago, but I'm intrigued
(00:33):
by her business, and so I askedif she wouldn't mind coming on
and explaining to the communitywho she is, what she does,
because she is a union residentherself, just like me.
So, without further ado, Iwould like to introduce you all
to Karen Turner, owner of UnionJack Bulldogs and Friends, and
(00:56):
she'll explain what that means.
So, karen, welcome to the show,and please explain to the
community who you are and whatyou do.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Awesome.
Well, thank you, mike, it'snice to be here and being here,
so, yeah, so welcome to UnionJack.
Bulldogs and Friends.
I know that's a really longname, but what we really do is
we are a dog wellness and bakerybusiness and we provide, you
(01:26):
know, natural treats.
So basically that means noartificial flavors,
preservatives, fillers,additives, any of those things
into our dog treats, and so wereally zone in on that healthy
bit on it and we kind of makeand source everything local and
we dehydrate into low temps forour treats so we can get the
high value treats that arenutrient dense to our fur
(01:49):
friends.
So that's what we do.
And then, like I said, we havea little wellness line.
We've developed some paw creamand some shampoo for our
pumpkins, you know.
So for the dandruffs and thecracks, especially with the
winter coming, just protect them.
So we're all about our furfriends and just making sure
that they have healthy qualityof life.
(02:09):
So that's kind of why we start.
That's what we do.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So yeah, you mentioned winter and you know
the dryness of the skin and allthat stuff.
The same goes for summer, Iwould imagine, with hot
pavements, people taking theirdogs out and burning their
little paws and being aware ofthat.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
So yeah, definitely in the summer, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I didn't know you had all the wellness products.
I knew you had the treats, butthat's interesting to know that
you've got those other productstoo.
So healthy inside, healthyoutside, and yeah, that's good.
How did you get into thisbusiness Initially?
I know you wanted your the bestfor your pets, but what does
(02:53):
the story look like that got youto where you are today?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So we actually so Union Jack Bulldogs comes from I
breed bulldogs, comes from Ibreed bulldogs.
And I've kind of retired frombreeding my bulldogs but they're
the reasons why I started thisjourney, my little pumpkin pies.
They're my pets, I just adorethem.
My kids and I always teaseevery time one of my children
moved out.
I inherited a new bulldog, so Ihave five, and I noticed in
(03:24):
their diet that maybe I wasn'tfeeding them as well as I
thought I was with some of theproducts that are out in the
market.
So I started searching for avet who could help me do more of
a holistic approach for my dogs, more of a holistic approach
(03:46):
for my dogs.
And so that kind of started ourjourney.
Because I was noticing mylittle pumpkin diamond.
She would just she shed.
And when I say shed,everybody's like oh, the old dog
shed Right.
And I'm like, no, I can makecarpet out of her fur every
night.
You know, so she was sheddingand then her mama had like a
bare patches it looked likerazor burn on her fur and on her
face and her little paws and II just didn't think what we were
(04:09):
doing was, um, enough nutrients.
They were missing something.
It's kind of like humans, right, what we put in is what we get
out, right.
So, um, and humans were very,we're very um in tune with what
we do put in our body, you know.
I mean, that's why there's allthese different programs out
there for us, right.
Well, I didn't really seeanything for necessarily for
(04:31):
dogs, and especially thebulldogs, and so that led me
into doing their food so I do dofood on special request and
made sure that it was veterinaryapproved.
And then I started looking upthe treats I was feeding them
and I was like, well, if I'mgoing to give them this great
nutrient dense food, let me seewhat these treats are like the
(04:53):
greenies of the breath, mintsand you know things that help
their like turmeric and stuffwhat does that look like?
And so that's really what droveme was that, because I also had
a little pup pup, I call himTinkers and he had seizures, and
so I needed to be able to kindof help him with his seizures
(05:15):
and stop giving him so much meds.
I know he didn't need meds, butyou know, what can I do to kind
of prevent these things fromhappening and giving a better
quality of life to my pup, pupsand longevity, because you know
we're kind of cutting back somelongevity for the way we maybe
(05:35):
feed them and treat them.
So how do you go from like, oh,retiring from breeding into this
?
Well, that's how Union JackBulldogs and Friends came,
because it's inclusive, like we,it's not just about the
Bulldogs, it's about all our petfriends.
Right, we look at them asfamily members.
So you know we would do thebest for them.
(05:56):
So that's why we kind of justevolved into, like I said, union
Jack Bulldogs and Friends andtry to be inclusive to all the
animals out there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
So that's how I started this journey.
I mean, everybody's got a storyand that's that's why we get
together here, so I'm happy tohear yours.
You, you mentioned, I think yousaid, five dogs you have.
Now I I saw the names Diamond,Harley and Marlo on your website
At least those three.
(06:29):
So who do you have currently?
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Harley Diamond, marlo , pearl and Jim.
Ok, and Marlo had were the onesthat Marlo had his little
seizures and then Harley's, youknow they were the ones that
have a lot more um allergies,environmental allergies and
(06:56):
reactions to um medicine thatwas provided to them and stuff.
So they they're my primaryfocus um on on their nutrients.
Not that, you know, jim andPearl don't get it right um, but
you know they're kind of theones that really started because
I they're my oldest pup, pupsum.
So you know, and everybody thatcame into the fold, um into our
(07:20):
house, just kind of went onwith you know how we feed and
and how we treat them and givethem their yummies, so and and
you know, but yeah, so, yeah,five, but yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
So, like I said, my kids tease me because I have
five children and then yeah, soum, I just picture the the level
of noise when somebody ringsthe doorbell.
Maybe I'm wrong, Maybe they're,maybe they're quiet when the
doorbell rings, or maybe, uh,chaos ensues.
I don't know which is it.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So I'm going to tell you that I have a few barkers
and I have some that are not.
Harley Barley is definitely thebarker out of them, and so,
yeah, the doorbell rings and allI hear is skitter scatter on
the wood floors of all theirnails, and they just want to
greet and meet everybody.
So I think it's moreintimidating for the person that
came up to my door because thepop-ups think everybody's their
(08:11):
friend and so of course theywant to give a lot of love, and
so chaos that's how that looks.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
It's like being in a ball pit, except balls instead
of the balls at like aMcDonald's Playland it's.
You're surrounded by fur andkisses, I'm imagining it's it's.
It's kind of intimidating tosome people but fun to others.
I think it would be great,because I am a dog person.
So I'll have to.
I'll have to come meet themsometime.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yes, you'll.
You'll have to meet all mylittle pumpkin pies, so yeah,
I'd love to do that.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
So, and pies so, um, yeah, so uh, the treats that you
make, do you make them at home,in your own kitchen, or do you
have a kitchen that you sub outsomewhere?
What's that look like?
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, so we actually I call it a cottage kitchen.
Um, so we make them all from myown home.
We use the same process thatyou would expect from a
commercial kitchen the safetymeasures, you know, the
bleaching, the gloves, thethings that would be, like, I
(09:19):
said, what you expect fromsomeone who's doing it in a
commercial.
So we use the same hygiene andproduction controls that you
would find in that kitchen, justbecause, again, I'm more
concerned with some of the crosscontamination that can happen.
So we have grain free lime andthen we have, you know, ones,
that with grain, which is oatsthat's what we use when we talk
(09:41):
about grains, not white flour oranything like that and so there
are some pops that are verysensitive to those things.
And when then you do thewellness products right, when
you do a chamomile product,which is a calming thing you
just don't want any of thatstuff to mix and cross, and so,
again, we'd use the tightcontrols that you would find in
(10:02):
a commercial kitchen.
We just chose not to do acommercial kitchen at this time
because of the cost to produce,and then that would charge more
for treats, and you know, one ofthose myths out there is that
natural treats are expensive andI can see where people would
(10:23):
think that.
But again, it's a myth.
You know we pay great money forour own products.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
You know we would expect the for our own products,
you know we would expect thesame quality and standards for
for our peppers, Right?
So yeah, it sounds like, um theway you make them, that I could
eat one too.
I mean, do you try them?
Do they smell good?
I mean, do you do your own?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
taste.
They smell good.
I mean, do you do it your owntaste?
I do, actually, they're all.
It's all human grade material,right, they're all human grade
ingredients, but I can't legallyclaim that they're human grade
because they're not made in thatcommercial kitchen, but they
are made with human gradeingredients.
We do all of our meat and ourproduce and dairy they're
(11:08):
sourced from local as much as Ican get, and then, you know, in
locations basically where yourlocal restaurants purchase their
products.
That's where we go and get ithandled and so.
But I do taste test them and Iactually have my peppers love to
(11:28):
taste test, but I taste testthem.
They're just not as sweet as ahuman would like, right.
So they're baked goods andthey're bakery treats, but they
don't have that sugar componentto it.
Everything's naturalingredients, like you know,
bananas or apples you know thatI make into applesauce or
something like that, so itdoesn't have that high sugar
content that we like when we get, when we think of bakery items.
(11:50):
But yeah, you can, a human caneat them Might be disappointed.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Right, yeah, not what we're used to in terms of
sweetness, but to a dog I'm surethey taste like a hot fudge
sundae.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Hopefully.
They seem to gobble them up.
I can't keep them in my house,so how often do you fire up the
kitchen?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
How often are you baking?
Speaker 1 (12:14):
I.
Typically it really depends onthe schedule.
So I have some orders that haveto be filled.
So I would tell you that in aMonday through Friday work week
quote unquote work week, I'mprobably in the kitchen most of
those days.
It takes quite some time tomake a batch of treats and
they're all small batch made.
(12:36):
And because they're small batchmade, you know they're
basically made on demand.
Or if I have an event, so likeI have a fall festival coming up
that we're going to be part of,and so then you know, of course
you're going to create for thatevent A couple of the farmer's
(12:58):
markets that you can find me at.
So I yeah, for a lot I'mactually in the kitchen,
probably more than most peoplewould expect, but in order to
keep the quality.
That's kind of how we do ourthings Small batch made, made to
order.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
So you mentioned the events.
I imagine people can find theevents that you're going to be
at by going to your website andchecking out the events link.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Correct.
Yeah, they'll see where we'llbe and also what stores.
We're actually working ongetting into a couple of
boutiques around town and so youcan.
If you can't make it to anevent or or you can't place an
order online, you can find themat some of the local retail
(13:44):
places that we're working with.
But if you're in the tri-statearea, we do free delivery, so
you can always get enough treatsfor those those pepperonis at
any time.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
So people can order directly from your website, I'm
assuming.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yes, yeah.
And then, like I said, we offerfree local delivery, but we do
ship nationwide, so no problemfor anyone to get some great
treats for their dogs.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
So you have a heart for your puppers, as you call
them.
Yes, you seem like a great dogmama.
Yes, you just have a heart foranimals in general, I imagine.
So I think you mentioned to methat you also offer boarding.
Is that still the case?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, so you know, people kind of ask what I do for
fun on the side or anything,and honestly, I bring in our
friends, right.
So I actually board dogs.
I'm in my home and so, yes,chaos is here, but it's just
(15:02):
loving.
They have free range and freerun and we have a huge, huge
property yard that they get tohang out and so just my puppers,
some others to play with andsocialize with, so I call them
play dates.
So I do daycare and then I alsoboard from the house and then
you know that you know your dogis being well taken care of and
maybe you know it's a differentchoice than some of the other
(15:24):
options that are out there orbeing left at home and having
someone just stop in and say hito them.
So, yeah, so we we typicallyhave, you know, quite a few dogs
in the house and hanging outwith us.
So that's kind of what I do.
It's about puppers.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
So, yes, but we can't , we can't forget about our
feline friends, about our felinefriends, and I think you
mentioned to me earlier thatyou're starting to maybe get
into cat treats as well as thedog treats, correct?
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah, so we are in development of trying to find
ways to include felines ourlittle furry cats, friends and
kittens into our all-inclusiveand friends right, and so we're
doing a little bit of researchon what would work well for them
nutrition-wise and healthy-wiseand also make them happy with
(16:26):
them and making sure that wedon't again do anything that
adds preservatives or coloringor anything.
So we're hoping that thatfeline line comes out in
November, right before theholidays.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Well, good, Well, sounds like you're doing
everything with a warm, gentleheart and soul, and so I'm glad
to know that there are people inthe community that have the
options now in terms of whatthey're feeding their animals,
where they're boarding theiranimals and just somebody who
(17:05):
they can turn to, maybe for someadvice as well.
If you've kind of got the heartfor that, I imagine that people
go to you for advice, Do youhave?
I guess let's just go here andsay if somebody wants to reach
out to you, what is the best wayto reach you?
Speaker 1 (17:26):
So we're on all the social channels and then, of
course, our website, and so thesocial channels kind of talk
about reaching out for advice.
We're actually really trying tocreate that to be a community
of devoting pet parents, whereit's not just about the treats
and the shampoos and the pullbutter, but it's really to
answer those kind of questions,or what can we do to build that
(17:51):
community where like-mindedparents, pet parents, are really
just trying to give a qualityof life, the longevity of life?
So, but we are, we're on TikTok, instagram, facebook and then,
of course, our website, and thebest way to reach me is through
the website and just drop alittle, let's chat and and we'll
(18:14):
do a let's chat and see how wecan work with you or answer any
questions or concerns you mighthave or anything that comes
along when it comes to our, ourfriends.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Yes, Well, karen, I'm glad we got to meet and spend
some time together today.
If you, listening out there,want to be part of the community
that Karen is building, go toher website at
unionjackbulldogscom and youwill see everything that we've
just spoken about and you canreach out to her and be part of
(18:47):
that community, and you canreach out to her and be part of
that community.
And so with that, karen, ourtime together is ended.
For now, I do encourage peopleto go to your website and do a
drill down into all the thingsthat you can provide and are
currently providing in thecommunity, and I thank you for
(19:11):
everything that you're doing forour furry friends out there.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Thank you so much, Mike for having me, and thanks
to everybody.
I look forward to it.
Have we covered everything toyour satisfaction Is there
anything that we haven't talkedabout that you want to make sure
people know?
I mean, we are a woman, veteran, owned business who, ultimately
, ultimately you know whatUltimately I just do this
because love for our fur friends.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
So I think we covered everything that you know we
talked about a lot, so thanksfor spending time with us and
for everybody out there.
This is the good neighborpodcast.
Aaron is one of our goodneighbors, so I will just remind
all of you that until we speakagain, I want all of you to be
(19:56):
good to your neighbor.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
So until next time, bye everybody, thanks for
listening to the Good NeighborPodcast Union To nominate your
favorite local businesses to befeatured on the show.
Go to GNPUnioncom.
That's GNPUntunioncom, that'sgntunioncom, or call us at
859-651-8330.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thank you, charlie.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
We talk to local businessowners, neighbors, friends who
are business owners, influencers, and today I have a newly made
friend.
We met each other maybe fiveminutes ago, but I'm intrigued
(00:33):
by her business, and so I askedif she wouldn't mind coming on
and explaining to the communitywho she is, what she does,
because she is a union residentherself, just like me.
So, without further ado, Iwould like to introduce you all
to Karen Turner, owner of UnionJack Bulldogs and Friends, and
(00:56):
she'll explain what that means.
So, karen, welcome to the show,and please explain to the
community who you are and whatyou do.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Awesome.
Well, thank you, mike, it'snice to be here and being here,
so, yeah, so welcome to UnionJack.
Bulldogs and Friends.
I know that's a really longname, but what we really do is
we are a dog wellness and bakerybusiness and we provide, you
(01:26):
know, natural treats.
So basically that means noartificial flavors,
preservatives, fillers,additives, any of those things
into our dog treats, and so wereally zone in on that healthy
bit on it and we kind of makeand source everything local and
we dehydrate into low temps forour treats so we can get the
high value treats that arenutrient dense to our fur
(01:49):
friends.
So that's what we do.
And then, like I said, we havea little wellness line.
We've developed some paw creamand some shampoo for our
pumpkins, you know.
So for the dandruffs and thecracks, especially with the
winter coming, just protect them.
So we're all about our furfriends and just making sure
that they have healthy qualityof life.
(02:09):
So that's kind of why we start.
That's what we do.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So yeah, you mentioned winter and you know
the dryness of the skin and allthat stuff.
The same goes for summer, Iwould imagine, with hot
pavements, people taking theirdogs out and burning their
little paws and being aware ofthat.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
So yeah, definitely in the summer, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I didn't know you had all the wellness products.
I knew you had the treats, butthat's interesting to know that
you've got those other productstoo.
So healthy inside, healthyoutside, and yeah, that's good.
How did you get into thisbusiness Initially?
I know you wanted your the bestfor your pets, but what does
(02:53):
the story look like that got youto where you are today?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So we actually so Union Jack Bulldogs comes from I
breed bulldogs, comes from Ibreed bulldogs.
And I've kind of retired frombreeding my bulldogs but they're
the reasons why I started thisjourney, my little pumpkin pies.
They're my pets, I just adorethem.
My kids and I always teaseevery time one of my children
moved out.
I inherited a new bulldog, so Ihave five, and I noticed in
(03:24):
their diet that maybe I wasn'tfeeding them as well as I
thought I was with some of theproducts that are out in the
market.
So I started searching for avet who could help me do more of
a holistic approach for my dogs, more of a holistic approach
(03:46):
for my dogs.
And so that kind of started ourjourney.
Because I was noticing mylittle pumpkin diamond.
She would just she shed.
And when I say shed,everybody's like oh, the old dog
shed Right.
And I'm like, no, I can makecarpet out of her fur every
night.
You know, so she was sheddingand then her mama had like a
bare patches it looked likerazor burn on her fur and on her
face and her little paws and II just didn't think what we were
(04:09):
doing was, um, enough nutrients.
They were missing something.
It's kind of like humans, right, what we put in is what we get
out, right.
So, um, and humans were very,we're very um in tune with what
we do put in our body, you know.
I mean, that's why there's allthese different programs out
there for us, right.
Well, I didn't really seeanything for necessarily for
(04:31):
dogs, and especially thebulldogs, and so that led me
into doing their food so I do dofood on special request and
made sure that it was veterinaryapproved.
And then I started looking upthe treats I was feeding them
and I was like, well, if I'mgoing to give them this great
nutrient dense food, let me seewhat these treats are like the
(04:53):
greenies of the breath, mintsand you know things that help
their like turmeric and stuffwhat does that look like?
And so that's really what droveme was that, because I also had
a little pup pup, I call himTinkers and he had seizures, and
so I needed to be able to kindof help him with his seizures
(05:15):
and stop giving him so much meds.
I know he didn't need meds, butyou know, what can I do to kind
of prevent these things fromhappening and giving a better
quality of life to my pup, pupsand longevity, because you know
we're kind of cutting back somelongevity for the way we maybe
(05:35):
feed them and treat them.
So how do you go from like, oh,retiring from breeding into this
?
Well, that's how Union JackBulldogs and Friends came,
because it's inclusive, like we,it's not just about the
Bulldogs, it's about all our petfriends.
Right, we look at them asfamily members.
So you know we would do thebest for them.
(05:56):
So that's why we kind of justevolved into, like I said, union
Jack Bulldogs and Friends andtry to be inclusive to all the
animals out there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
So that's how I started this journey.
I mean, everybody's got a storyand that's that's why we get
together here, so I'm happy tohear yours.
You, you mentioned, I think yousaid, five dogs you have.
Now I I saw the names Diamond,Harley and Marlo on your website
At least those three.
(06:29):
So who do you have currently?
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Harley Diamond, marlo , pearl and Jim.
Ok, and Marlo had were the onesthat Marlo had his little
seizures and then Harley's, youknow they were the ones that
have a lot more um allergies,environmental allergies and
(06:56):
reactions to um medicine thatwas provided to them and stuff.
So they they're my primaryfocus um on on their nutrients.
Not that, you know, jim andPearl don't get it right um, but
you know they're kind of theones that really started because
I they're my oldest pup, pupsum.
So you know, and everybody thatcame into the fold, um into our
(07:20):
house, just kind of went onwith you know how we feed and
and how we treat them and givethem their yummies, so and and
you know, but yeah, so, yeah,five, but yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
So, like I said, my kids tease me because I have
five children and then yeah, soum, I just picture the the level
of noise when somebody ringsthe doorbell.
Maybe I'm wrong, Maybe they're,maybe they're quiet when the
doorbell rings, or maybe, uh,chaos ensues.
I don't know which is it.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So I'm going to tell you that I have a few barkers
and I have some that are not.
Harley Barley is definitely thebarker out of them, and so,
yeah, the doorbell rings and allI hear is skitter scatter on
the wood floors of all theirnails, and they just want to
greet and meet everybody.
So I think it's moreintimidating for the person that
came up to my door because thepop-ups think everybody's their
(08:11):
friend and so of course theywant to give a lot of love, and
so chaos that's how that looks.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
It's like being in a ball pit, except balls instead
of the balls at like aMcDonald's Playland it's.
You're surrounded by fur andkisses, I'm imagining it's it's.
It's kind of intimidating tosome people but fun to others.
I think it would be great,because I am a dog person.
So I'll have to.
I'll have to come meet themsometime.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yes, you'll.
You'll have to meet all mylittle pumpkin pies, so yeah,
I'd love to do that.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
So, and pies so, um, yeah, so uh, the treats that you
make, do you make them at home,in your own kitchen, or do you
have a kitchen that you sub outsomewhere?
What's that look like?
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, so we actually I call it a cottage kitchen.
Um, so we make them all from myown home.
We use the same process thatyou would expect from a
commercial kitchen the safetymeasures, you know, the
bleaching, the gloves, thethings that would be, like, I
(09:19):
said, what you expect fromsomeone who's doing it in a
commercial.
So we use the same hygiene andproduction controls that you
would find in that kitchen, justbecause, again, I'm more
concerned with some of the crosscontamination that can happen.
So we have grain free lime andthen we have, you know, ones,
that with grain, which is oatsthat's what we use when we talk
(09:41):
about grains, not white flour oranything like that and so there
are some pops that are verysensitive to those things.
And when then you do thewellness products right, when
you do a chamomile product,which is a calming thing you
just don't want any of thatstuff to mix and cross, and so,
again, we'd use the tightcontrols that you would find in
(10:02):
a commercial kitchen.
We just chose not to do acommercial kitchen at this time
because of the cost to produce,and then that would charge more
for treats, and you know, one ofthose myths out there is that
natural treats are expensive andI can see where people would
(10:23):
think that.
But again, it's a myth.
You know we pay great money forour own products.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
You know we would expect the for our own products,
you know we would expect thesame quality and standards for
for our peppers, Right?
So yeah, it sounds like, um theway you make them, that I could
eat one too.
I mean, do you try them?
Do they smell good?
I mean, do you do your own?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
taste.
They smell good.
I mean, do you do it your owntaste?
I do, actually, they're all.
It's all human grade material,right, they're all human grade
ingredients, but I can't legallyclaim that they're human grade
because they're not made in thatcommercial kitchen, but they
are made with human gradeingredients.
We do all of our meat and ourproduce and dairy they're
(11:08):
sourced from local as much as Ican get, and then, you know, in
locations basically where yourlocal restaurants purchase their
products.
That's where we go and get ithandled and so.
But I do taste test them and Iactually have my peppers love to
(11:28):
taste test, but I taste testthem.
They're just not as sweet as ahuman would like, right.
So they're baked goods andthey're bakery treats, but they
don't have that sugar componentto it.
Everything's naturalingredients, like you know,
bananas or apples you know thatI make into applesauce or
something like that, so itdoesn't have that high sugar
content that we like when we get, when we think of bakery items.
(11:50):
But yeah, you can, a human caneat them Might be disappointed.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Right, yeah, not what we're used to in terms of
sweetness, but to a dog I'm surethey taste like a hot fudge
sundae.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Hopefully.
They seem to gobble them up.
I can't keep them in my house,so how often do you fire up the
kitchen?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
How often are you baking?
Speaker 1 (12:14):
I.
Typically it really depends onthe schedule.
So I have some orders that haveto be filled.
So I would tell you that in aMonday through Friday work week
quote unquote work week, I'mprobably in the kitchen most of
those days.
It takes quite some time tomake a batch of treats and
they're all small batch made.
(12:36):
And because they're small batchmade, you know they're
basically made on demand.
Or if I have an event, so likeI have a fall festival coming up
that we're going to be part of,and so then you know, of course
you're going to create for thatevent A couple of the farmer's
(12:58):
markets that you can find me at.
So I yeah, for a lot I'mactually in the kitchen,
probably more than most peoplewould expect, but in order to
keep the quality.
That's kind of how we do ourthings Small batch made, made to
order.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
So you mentioned the events.
I imagine people can find theevents that you're going to be
at by going to your website andchecking out the events link.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Correct.
Yeah, they'll see where we'llbe and also what stores.
We're actually working ongetting into a couple of
boutiques around town and so youcan.
If you can't make it to anevent or or you can't place an
order online, you can find themat some of the local retail
(13:44):
places that we're working with.
But if you're in the tri-statearea, we do free delivery, so
you can always get enough treatsfor those those pepperonis at
any time.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
So people can order directly from your website, I'm
assuming.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yes, yeah.
And then, like I said, we offerfree local delivery, but we do
ship nationwide, so no problemfor anyone to get some great
treats for their dogs.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
So you have a heart for your puppers, as you call
them.
Yes, you seem like a great dogmama.
Yes, you just have a heart foranimals in general, I imagine.
So I think you mentioned to methat you also offer boarding.
Is that still the case?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, so you know, people kind of ask what I do for
fun on the side or anything,and honestly, I bring in our
friends, right.
So I actually board dogs.
I'm in my home and so, yes,chaos is here, but it's just
(15:02):
loving.
They have free range and freerun and we have a huge, huge
property yard that they get tohang out and so just my puppers,
some others to play with andsocialize with, so I call them
play dates.
So I do daycare and then I alsoboard from the house and then
you know that you know your dogis being well taken care of and
maybe you know it's a differentchoice than some of the other
(15:24):
options that are out there orbeing left at home and having
someone just stop in and say hito them.
So, yeah, so we we typicallyhave, you know, quite a few dogs
in the house and hanging outwith us.
So that's kind of what I do.
It's about puppers.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
So, yes, but we can't , we can't forget about our
feline friends, about our felinefriends, and I think you
mentioned to me earlier thatyou're starting to maybe get
into cat treats as well as thedog treats, correct?
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah, so we are in development of trying to find
ways to include felines ourlittle furry cats, friends and
kittens into our all-inclusiveand friends right, and so we're
doing a little bit of researchon what would work well for them
nutrition-wise and healthy-wiseand also make them happy with
(16:26):
them and making sure that wedon't again do anything that
adds preservatives or coloringor anything.
So we're hoping that thatfeline line comes out in
November, right before theholidays.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Well, good, Well, sounds like you're doing
everything with a warm, gentleheart and soul, and so I'm glad
to know that there are people inthe community that have the
options now in terms of whatthey're feeding their animals,
where they're boarding theiranimals and just somebody who
(17:05):
they can turn to, maybe for someadvice as well.
If you've kind of got the heartfor that, I imagine that people
go to you for advice, Do youhave?
I guess let's just go here andsay if somebody wants to reach
out to you, what is the best wayto reach you?
Speaker 1 (17:26):
So we're on all the social channels and then, of
course, our website, and so thesocial channels kind of talk
about reaching out for advice.
We're actually really trying tocreate that to be a community
of devoting pet parents, whereit's not just about the treats
and the shampoos and the pullbutter, but it's really to
answer those kind of questions,or what can we do to build that
(17:51):
community where like-mindedparents, pet parents, are really
just trying to give a qualityof life, the longevity of life?
So, but we are, we're on TikTok, instagram, facebook and then,
of course, our website, and thebest way to reach me is through
the website and just drop alittle, let's chat and and we'll
(18:14):
do a let's chat and see how wecan work with you or answer any
questions or concerns you mighthave or anything that comes
along when it comes to our, ourfriends.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Yes, Well, karen, I'm glad we got to meet and spend
some time together today.
If you, listening out there,want to be part of the community
that Karen is building, go toher website at
unionjackbulldogscom and youwill see everything that we've
just spoken about and you canreach out to her and be part of
(18:47):
that community, and you canreach out to her and be part of
that community.
And so with that, karen, ourtime together is ended.
For now, I do encourage peopleto go to your website and do a
drill down into all the thingsthat you can provide and are
currently providing in thecommunity, and I thank you for
(19:11):
everything that you're doing forour furry friends out there.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Thank you so much, Mike for having me, and thanks
to everybody.
I look forward to it.
Have we covered everything toyour satisfaction Is there
anything that we haven't talkedabout that you want to make sure
people know?
I mean, we are a woman, veteran, owned business who, ultimately
, ultimately you know whatUltimately I just do this
because love for our fur friends.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
So I think we covered everything that you know we
talked about a lot, so thanksfor spending time with us and
for everybody out there.
This is the good neighborpodcast.
Aaron is one of our goodneighbors, so I will just remind
all of you that until we speakagain, I want all of you to be
(19:56):
good to your neighbor.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
So until next time, bye everybody, thanks for
listening to the Good NeighborPodcast Union To nominate your
favorite local businesses to befeatured on the show.
Go to GNPUnioncom.
That's GNPUntunioncom, that'sgntunioncom, or call us at
859-651-8330.
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