January 28, 2022 Sharon No Comments

We all know that a healthy dog starts with a healthy gut. It’s important to know what ingredients we’re putting in our dog’s dishes because after all, dogs aren’t conscious of what’s in their food and we, as owners, are their best advocates. With thousands of products to choose from, it’s a daunting task to pick out the best from the bunch. In my quest to find a dog treat company that integrates flavor without compromising the quality of ingredients, I came upon an Edmonton treat maker, MYLZ Treats. When speaking with Yvonne, the co-owner of MYLZ Treats, she radiated with passion. It’s not hard to see that Yvonne takes animal health seriously. 

Yvonne and her partner Alexander are everyday pet parents who put their talents together after a chance meeting at a local dog park. In 2020, they joined efforts to launch MYLZ Treats with the mission to “make every bite count”. 

Why did you choose the pet industry? 

Yvonne: It’s a bit of a long story and it was sort of unexpected. I spent a few years living in Vietnam and that’s where I met a fellow animal lover named Chris from the Vietnam Animal Rescue in Saigon. We quickly became friends and that’s how Lani, the Vietnamese-born Alaskan Malamute, came into my life. Lani was surrendered to the Vietnam Animal Rescue because her owners were unable to properly care for her. Under the thick coat, Lani struggled with painful hotspots as a result of the heat and humidity in Vietnam. It was apparent that she needed someone who would be able to provide proper care and exercise specific to her breed. After meeting the adorable Lani, I decided to take her in and that was it! Since her adoption, my life’s trajectory changed. It quickly became clear that 24/7 air conditioning, timed walks (avoiding noon sun), and homemade popsicles simply weren’t enough to combat the heat. She depended on me to give her the best life, and I could see that Vietnam wasn’t working for her. A few months after adoption, I expedited my decision to move back to Canada. We settled in Edmonton, Alberta (Amiskwaciwâskahikan – ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) and Lani was in heaven. Having an Alaskan Malamute was the key to me appreciating Alberta’s -25C days!

What gave you the motivation to create your product line?  

Yvonne: As a dog owner, I know that a good diet is necessary for a dog’s longevity, health, and overall development. A big concern of mine was that I had no idea what Lani was fed for the first year and a half of her life. To me, the first year of puppyhood is a key developmental stage that could lead to future health implications. Because of the lack of information from her former owner, I made it my mission to make up for the lost time by giving her the best diet I could. I’ve tested many products and spent countless hours educating myself on dog nutrition. With that information, I chose a diet that’s right for my dog, and I channeled the passion for pet nutrition into MYLZ Treats. After months of trials, Alexander and I developed our first line of MYLZ Treats. Being a chef, Alexander is adamant about both flavor and quality. We both refused to trade one for the other, so you can be assured that our treats are not only healthy but tasty too. Although Lani’s health conditions were mild compared to what other rescues struggle with, we do believe that food, supplements, and a trusted vet is the key to rehabilitation for many health issues.

Tell me about MYLZ treats

Yvonne: Everything you put in your dog’s mouth matters. The pet food sector is largely unregulated and many companies use marketing tactics to mask low quality ingredients. At MYLZ treats, Alexander and I choose human-grade ingredients and stick to simple, no-filler recipes made from natural food. We want to know exactly what goes into everything we give our dogs and yours. Though we include novel proteins such as kangaroo in our treat line (for dogs allergic to common proteins), we also try to source our proteins locally where possible. For our bison treats, we work with local Alberta ranches and have built great relationships with them. Our primary source comes from the Alberta Bison Ranch.

Tell me about the Alberta Bison Ranch 

Yvonne: Neil, the owner of the Alberta Bison Ranch, is a third-generation rancher. His bison are prairie grass-fed without the use of antibiotics. From working with him, I’ve learned that bison are more environmentally-friendly to raise because they consume fewer resources. I also appreciate the fact that bison have a long history in the prairies that precedes settler ranching. Neil loves his animals and takes good care of them and we also appreciate that bison meat is nutrient-dense and 100% natural. 

What are your future goals? 

Yvonne: We’re looking at adding a nutraceutical line that targets specific health conditions. Not only that, we hope to eventually offer customizable diets. Options that allow pet parents to be able to create complete meals for their pets by customizing the ratio and types of proteins, organs, prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to meet their pets’ individual nutritional needs and preferences.

As a local Albertan company, we’ve met so many incredible people from the community, fellow business owners, pet parents, suppliers, animal lovers and our clients, both furry and human. It’s a community that we love and would like to give back to. We’ve partnered with the Edmonton Humane Society for Pets in the Park to raise money for animals in need, and we will continue to collaborate with other local organizations and events in the future. Be sure to check out the Pets in the Park events in 2022! Please follow our Instagram @mylztreats for more information on our future events. 

What do you want pet parents to know? 

Yvonne: We want pet parents to know that they can count on MYLZ to continuously deliver quality products. Again, we love working with local businesses and animal lovers to elevate the Alberta pet care industry. We’ve even formed a community, Yegdog, to help each other grow and to talk about how we can best serve our local pets and their owners. 

To all the Edmonton pet parents: I love my Lani so much, and I know you love your pets too. For me, the best way to show my love is through a healthy, delicious diet. I want Lani to have a high quality of life so she can be active for years to come. It’s a bit selfish of me, but I also want to keep her healthy so that she can stay with me for as long as possible! We love serving the Edmonton pet community, and we will continue our mission to make every bite count.

Thank you for shopping local, whether it’s with us or your local favorites, we appreciate it!