Biosystems and agricultural engineering researchers at the Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center (known as FAPC) and Granny's Hillside Farm have teamed up to develop a new line of dog treats. The line of products includes Bon Bons for Bowser, Bowser's Pasta with Fortunes, and Flowers and Hearts for Jodi, a Valentine's special.

The purpose of FAPC is to help bring products, jobs and dollars back to Oklahoma. FAPC bridges the gap that sometimes exists between academics and the private sector by offering large and small businesses, producers and entrepreneurs access to faculty and staff who have expertise in business and technical disciplines. The center also has 21st century pilot processing facilities, research laboratories and outstanding educational programs and seminars, according to a pamphlet produced by FAPC. 

The line of dog treats was named for Tim Bowser, OSU assistant professor, food engineer and project director for Granny's Hillside Farm. Bowser has worked with Granny's and the project from its beginning. 

"The Granny's Hillside Farm projects have been some of the most interesting projects that I have personally been able to work on," Bowser said. 

Granny's Hillside Farm is located near Lake Tenkiller in Gore, Okla., and is owned by John and Anna Niwa. The couple began with a small, pet turtle business and worked with FAPC to develop a ready to eat turtle food which provided the required nutrients for turtles.

The Niwas learned of FAPC and its work on developing products through an article in Oklahoma Living and contacted the Okmulgee County Extension Office. The Niwas were put into contact with Bowser and Lowell Satterlee, FAPC director.

The success of the turtle food led to the development of iguana and tortoise food. The Niwas found their business to be seasonal and wanted to expand. They began to explore other options for their formula to be used for other animals. They discovered a huge market for dog products. The Niwas took advantage of the opportunity and began development of a dog treat. The development of the dog treats took around one year. 

"The recipe had to be perfected," Bowser said, "but once the recipe was set, everything went quickly." 

Bowser's Bon Bons are all natural dog treats made of wheat, flour and eggs with a cheese coating. The bon bons are star shaped, packaged in a foil wrapper, placed in a decorative container and retail at $9.99. 

Flowers and Hearts for Jodi is named after Bowser's wife and is a Valentine special that is similar to the bon bons. The treats are in the shape of flowers and hearts and come in a variety of colors. 

Bowser's Pasta with Fortunes is a fortune cookie for dogs. The pasta is imported from Italy and boiled in a special beef broth sauce for flavoring. The fortune cookies are dusted with crumbs and baked. There have been hundreds of fortunes developed to place in the cookies for dogs. The Pasta with Fortunes retail at $3.99 per container.

John Niwa is excited with the sales of the line of dog treats. 

"We have sold over 115 percent of the product produced," Niwa said. 

The Bowser line of dog treats is currently being sold to Laid Back Enterprises in Oklahoma City. Laid Back Enterprises markets a variety of pet products through a catalog. 

Technology has come a long way since leftover bones and the first dog biscuits. No more bland biscuits in cardboard boxes. Flavorful treats packaged for royalty are the wave of the future. 

So, next time your pooch does an exceptional feat, reward him with a treat from the Bowser line. 

If you are interested in developing a product or improving a current one, contact the FAPC at (405) 744-6071.