Howling Dogs Bakery Dog Treats PLUS: Recipe!

Laura Lloyd and her four children keep busy running The Howling Dogs Bakery out of their home in Mound.

By: Molly Kentala Broman | From the issue: May 2011

Photo: Marshall Franklin Long

Laura, Catie, 19, Tom, 14, and 7-year-old twins Derek and Ken Lloyd.

With four children, three dogs, two cats and a tarantula named Charlotte, it’s safe to say Laura Lloyd’s life is always in motion. And it’s especially so these days as she, along with her children, run The Howling Dogs Bakery out of their home in Mound.

It began back in 2007 when the Lloyds’ oldest dog, Grizzley Bear, had a number of health issues which lead him to become gluten intolerant. They quickly found new dog chow for him but had a hard time locating gluten-free treats. “What good is that?” asks Lloyd. “You’ve got to have treats to go along with your food!”

Owner of a cookie company in Idaho at the time, she developed a gluten-free dog treat with the help of their veterinarian. Once Lloyd and her husband, John, relocated to Mound, word began to spread. Soon, there was enough demand to officially open The Howling Dogs Bakery and sell a slew of homemade treats, broth and birthday cakes from their kitchen. While the business is home-based, Lloyd is quick to point out that she works closely with the State of Minnesota to ensure their kitchen and equipment follows every food safety guideline.

Lloyd—along with Catie, 19, Tom, 14, and 7-year-old twins Derek and Ken—create and name all of the products themselves. One of their best sellers, the Bow Wow Bulldog Daisy (8 oz., $5.50), is chicken or beef flavored, and named for the flower-shaped design they first used to cut the treats. The also sell a lot of Snappy Spaniel Snacks, a pot roast flavored delight (8 oz., $5.50).