Toward the end of spring, Jillian Plaster – co-founder with her husband, Ian Kester, of The Good Dog Food Company and both locations of The Dog House – asked me if I would be a “celebrity judge” for her upcoming Project Dog House fundraiser, benefiting The Animal Foundation.

I said “Sure!” and thought nothing more about it.  I’d go, judge some cute doggies, and finally have a chance to write about the fantastic niche that Jillian and Ian have carved-out for themselves among well-to-do dog lovers, in Las Vegas.

In case you aren’t a shopper of doggie-themed toys or treats ( in the Las Vegas area, I’m gonna give you a quick run-down about the companies.  Then, next time, I’m gonna talk about Project Dog House, and the way a simple afternoon changed my life.

After graduating from culinary school, Jillian and Ian adopted Trucker, an English bulldog.  And while they were whipping-up gastronomic goodies with the wherewithal they’d gained while studying at Le Cordon Bleu, they noticed that little Trucker would stare up at them (yes – with puppy eyes), wanting to get in on the action (or, at least, get some of that yummy goodness in his tummy).  So, guess what they did…  Yup, they started making Trucker’s food, from scratch.

Unfortunately, this was incredibly time-consuming, so Jillian and Ian figured that the best solution was to mass-produce their product, and thus The Good Dog Food Company was born.  Before they sold anything, they would meet with a doctor of veterinary nutrition, a master herbalist, and a number of dog-owners, who helped them put-together their recipes.  Then, they sent those recipes to the FDA for approval.  And while the company was launched out of the couple’s kitchen, shortly thereafter they began working with an Oregon-based USDA-inspected butcher, who aids in the preparation.

Whether it’s free-range chicken or grass-fed beef; organic veggies such as sweet potatoes, green beens, and pumpkins; whole grains like oats and brown rice; or naturally-derived nutrients like healthful oils, dried kelp, almond meal, wild herbs; what goes into GDFC products is important, but just as integral to the food’s success is what is intentionally left out.  Everything made by The Good Dog Food Company is free of corn, wheat, and soy, as well as any by-products, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, making the food and treats both tasty and healthy for all dogs (regardless of breed) – with clients choosing the custom formulation that best suits their dog’s needs.

They even refuse to cut corners in their preparation, adding the vegetables only after gently cooking the meat, so – never being exposed to heat – the veggies never lose their nutritional value.  It’s reasons like this that GDFC’s recipes have met the exacting standards of the AAFCO/Association of American Feed Control Officials.

Now, Jillian and Ian have opened two outlets of The Dog House, their retail shop – one at Tivoli Village, in Summerlin; and the other at Town Square, on the Las Vegas Strip.  The Dog House is great.  In addition to the extended line of Good Dog Food Company meals, snacks and treats for your canine companions, The Dog House has a Health section (featuring holistic supplements and pet care products), a Toy department (chew toys in the shape of cigars, champagne bottles, cell phones, etc.); pet furniture, pet accessories, and the like – all presented in a shop with an open, bright, well thought-out, casually upscale décor.

Come back next time, to learn how Jillian’s Project Dog House event would change my life, in the most wonderful way.

The Good Dog Food Company
Click HERE for info

Get into it!