×

Wheeling boy bites into dog biscuit business

BISCUITS FOR DOGS — Zeb Helmick, 9, of Bethlehem shows off the dog biscuits he is baking, marketing and selling at the farmers’ market outside St. Michael Catholic Church in Wheeling. -- Joselyn King

BETHLEHEM — Many say it’s a “dog eat dog” world, and 9-year-old Zeb Helmick hopes to take advantage by baking, marketing and selling his own brand of all-natural dog biscuits this summer.

Local canines got their first taste of “Zeb’s Barky Bites” last week at the farmers’ market outside St. Michael Catholic Church in Wheeling. The products also are available online at zebsbarkybites.com.

Helmick said about a year ago he and his mother, Betsy, began baking banana bites dog treats for their three boxers — Liam, Lucy and Layla.

“Our dogs have some stomach issues,” he said. “These are the only ones they can eat. I thought maybe other dogs would like treats like that, and that’s how ‘Barky Bites’ was born.”

The Helmicks then began to seek out other dog treat recipes online and created a few of their own.

In addition to the banana chips, “Zeb’s Barky Bites” are available in maple brush potato chip, peanut butter banana, pumpkin pie snacks and peanut butter pumpkin flavors.

“I’ve tasted them all — but they do not taste great,” Helmick said. “Dogs like them better.”

Betsy Helmick said the treats are made from all natural ingredients, and Zeb is involved throughout the process.

“Some people have said the potato chips are good, and the dog flavors would be good if they had salt or sugar in them — but they don’t,” she said.

“The dogs don’t need them. Everything is made with human-grade food, and he has to taste everything.”

He has never tried to make cookies, cupcakes or other delights for human consumption.

Zeb Helmick came up with the idea of starting the dog treat business earlier this year, but it has taken some time to meet all the government regulations for such a business. Samples must be sent out for testing for protein, fat, fiber and moisture analysis.

The Helmicks asked that the treats — which have no preservatives — be tested for shelf life. The study indicated the treats are good up to six weeks, but the label on them advises that canines consume them within a month.

More flavors could be available in the future.

The family has a cat named Lola, and Zeb Helmick said he hopes to eventually expand his venture to include feline treats.

Along the way, he wants to raise money for college and maybe someday be a veterinarian.

For now, his dogs are just happy they get to benefit from his business ingenuity.

The Helmicks say whenever they hear the oven door open, the dogs immediately start to drool with anticipation.

“We have a saying at our house — if you spot a pool of drool, it must be a Barky’s Bite,” Betsy Helmick said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today