Tayo Bear is a unique little business we came across recently. It isn’t your regular pet food store as it has a great twist to it. We got in touch with its owner Shanaz Fouze who gave us an insightful idea as to its workings. Shanaz, who’s currently in the process of completing her MBA in Entrepreneurship, has always been a dog lover. She told us that she’s been involved in making treats for her own pet dogs for nearly three years. It was her pet Labrador Tayo that inspired her to come up with recipes to cater to its needs. It was the countless number of trials and errors that enabled her to come up with a variety of perfect little treats that best suited her own dogs’ health and vitality (she’s the proud owner of six dogs!). [gallery link="file" columns="2" size="large" ids="3077,3078"] Having to have all of her treats tested, she first started out by giving her products to her family and close friends. She then ultimately turned towards opening up her very own business start-up which now caters to her loyal customers. While Tayo Bear isn’t necessarily a store just yet, it is currently based in Pepiliyana and has island wide delivery. These unique delicacies can be obtained by placing an order, which will then be delivered to the customer. It is, without a doubt, safe to say that Tayo Bear stands out from everything else pet related by the mere fact that the food being prepared by one person (the owner) uses fresh local produce and organic ingredients. The delicacies Shanaz has got a wide variety of products in her menu ranging from biscuits to a Doggy Breakfast Jar, and even dehydrated food items such as chicken, pumpkin, and sweet potato. The biscuits, as she says, happen to be a customer favourite. They come in two different levels of quantities, i.e. bags of 15-20, and 60-70 cookies. They’re all hand-cut into heart and dog bone shaped cookies. They’re consistent of ingredients such as peanut butter, which I may add, is homemade along with other ingredients such as oats, liver, and vegetables (for vegan cookies).  She emphasises the fact that the biscuits are to be used for not more than two weeks as they may not be consumer friendly afterward. Cupcakes and doggo cakes are other delicacies that are included in Tayo Bear’s menu. The core ingredients used to prepare the cupcakes are oat flour and organic eggs. It also features ingredients such as banana, peanut butter and oats for texture and subtle flavour. The cupcakes are topped off with a mashed potato frosting with either chicken bacon or minced liver. They are then sprinkled with coloured coconut flakes that have been dyed using natural organic and non-toxic colouring agents such as beetroot and flowers. The Doggo Cakes are essentially a larger version of the cupcakes and Shanaz points out that they’re currently quite trendy amongst many pet owners. [gallery link="file" size="large" ids="3079,3080,3081"] Another interesting delicacy that’s a Tayo Bear specialty is the Doggy Breakfast Jars. They’re made using a biscuit of your pet’s choice and are jam-packed with nutritious and healthy ingredients such as peanuts, soy, carrots along with homemade wholemeal bread that contains sunflower seeds. Shanaz further mentioned that she prepares portions of rice as well. They contain sides of fish, dhal and dehydrated chicken for texture. One portion is approximately the size of three lunch packets and is a good value for your money. Hence, this is ideal for those busy pet owners who want to make sure their pets are not only being fed well, but also with the right nutrition, regardless of their busy schedules. It is worthy to note that none of the items on the menu contain any artificial flavours and preservatives. They’re made using fresh organic produce and ingredients that are of the highest of quality. While most of the items are mainly targeted towards dogs, Shanaz points out that there’s no harm in feeding these treats to cats and hamsters as well. Customers of Tayo Bear will receive a carefully thought out inquiry as to their pet’s dietary needs to ensure the proper administration of nutrition to cater to their unique and individual needs. Tayo Bear is a definite option for those of you who want to make sure that your pets are fed with nothing but the best.   Facebook - Tayo Bear Instagram - tayobear   By Chenelle Fernando