Marybeth Putetti loves her dogs.
That affection has led to a whole new world.
After taking her precious dog, Rocky, to the vet for allergy-related issues where she learned she had to be careful of the types of treats she was feeding him, Putetti said she began reading labels on treats she was buying in stores.
“I couldn’t believe there were ingredients listed I couldn’t pronounce and had no idea what they were,” said Putetti, now owner of Rocky and a Rollin’ House of Chews, an all-natural dog treat business in Waterbury.
“Because he was already on a prescription diet for his food, the only way I could still spoil him with his treats was to make them myself. He loved them and I knew exactly what he was eating,” she said.
When Rocky passed away from cancer, Putetti decided to continue baking the healthful, all-natural treats and in 2022 began her home-based business in honor of her precious pup.
Putetti’s mission is to provide homemade all-natural dog treats using only high-quality ingredients that contain no sugars or preservatives, she said.
Depending on the needs of the dog, Putetti’s treats are gluten-free, nut-free, grain-free, and a mix of all three.
“All of our treats are made in small batches that are hand-cut, oven-baked to perfection, and then dehydrated to provide a longer lasting crunchy treat,” said Putetti.
The line of treats, baked fresh daily, comprise training treats, biscuits, and other items made with ingredients such as flaxseed, cinnamon, blueberries, strawberries, coconut oil, pumpkin, bananas, and chia seeds, in addition to whole wheat flour, chick pea flour, oat bran, and sunflower butter.
The numerous health benefits derived from these ingredients are intended to help the dog maintain a healthy coat and immune system, support joint health and mobility, aid in healthy digestion, regulate blood sugar levels, support metabolism, boost brain function, support vision and heart health, and more, she said.
“I even make the peanut butter with crushed peanuts and nothing else to insure there is no other ingredients added. Sure, it’s time consuming, but our fur babies deserve nothing but the best.”
Brian and Liz Michaud are frequent customers and fans of the food for their dog.
“Rocky and a Rollin’ House of Chews is PAWfection. Our dog, Ollie, has always had a sensitive stomach, but not with these treats. Marybeth bakes treats with minimal ingredients that our dog not only loves, but they’re good for him too – we even tried a bite,” said Liz Michaud.
“From getting our pup everyday treats to a custom design for a birthday or special event, Marybeth does it all. She goes above and beyond to create treats that not only taste good, but look great, too.”
She tries every dog treat
All of the treats are named after a popular song.
“My husband and I love music and always have music playing. Every time Rocky saw me dancing in my kitchen he would come running in and we would dance. That’s how Rocky and a Rollin’ House of Chews was born,” said Putetti.
Her three biggest sellers are I’m a Good Dog, and Work All Day, Pawty All Night made with freshly-ground peanut butter, cinnamon, and whole wheat flour and You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hound Dog made with whole ground oats, freshly ground peanut butter, banana, and flaxseed.
It was named for Elvis Presley’s song because of his fondness for peanut butter and banana. A popular treat is Sealed with a Kiss made with peanut butter, pumpkin, egg, and cinnamon.
“They’re Keto-friendly so pup parents can snack on them, too,” she said.
Putetti tries every treat she makes to ensure they have a crunch and will appeal to dogs.
“Every human can eat these treats because the ingredients are all things that we have in our diets.” A new item is Rocky’s Bad A** Biscuit Bar, a doggie bag with personalized treats for weddings, baby and wedding showers, or other events.
Like all dog owners who lose a beloved pet, Putetti mourned. So it took a while to move forward and establish her full-fledged business.
“It didn’t happen overnight. After my Rocky passed away, I was broken. It took a long time for me to get back to a good place,” she said. “Eventually, I decided I should continue to make homemade treats for my other pup and researched different recipes, joined a variety of homemade dog treat groups from all over the world, took a course on how to start a dog treat business, researched what dogs can and can’t eat, and the different types of treat recipes that could be used.”
Feeling confident in her newfound knowledge and her abilities in the kitchen, Putetti made a variety of recipes using the best and most beneficial ingredients, ending up with 15 taste-testers to determine the best ones to keep as her main recipes.
“Over time, with a lot of hard work, Rocky and a Rollin’ House of Chews was born. All our treats are manufactured here in our home. Dough created, baked, dehydrated, decorated, packaged and labeled,” said Putetti.
The dehydrated treats can be stored in an airtight container for up to one month or they can be refrigerated for longevity or frozen for up to three months
Rocky and a Rollin’ House of Chews also offers customized treats for special occasions and holidays, including birthday, gotcha day, feel better soon, and more, along with a variety of items for various holidays.
The treats can be purchased on her website at: rockyandrollinchews.company.site and at various local markets, such as Act Natural Health and Wellness in Thomaston and Camp Canine doggie daycare in Bristol. Putetti also sells her products at various events throughout the year.
Putetti’s business also gives back to dogs in need. “When starting this business, one important goal was to help crush the harsh perception of ‘bully breeds’ and to support the shelters where they sit far longer than almost any other breed,” said Putetti who created Bully Buddies treat packets in honor of her pups, past and present, and those struggling to find a forever home.
“For every packet purchased, Rocky and a Rollin’ donates 50 percent of its proceeds to a different shelter every month to help make these pups’ lives a little easier while waiting for their special human to give them the life they deserve.”
Putetti hand-delivers these orders with a note card with the purchaser’s name. Through the mission, she has donated $300-plus bags of bullies to Happily Furever After Rescue in Bethel and $200 to Bikers Against Animal Cruelty.
“Also, every year on October 10, Rocky’s birthday, we deliver bags of some of his favorite homemade treats to area rescues to share with pups that may never have had the opportunity to have a birthday celebration. We continue on a monthly basis going to different shelters and either give a donation or bring treats to the pups,” she said.
Putetti appreciates the opportunity to honor Rocky while helping other dogs. “People want to find the healthiest treats to give their pups so they will live long happy lives,” she said. “It warms my heart to know that pup moms and dads trust me enough to buy my homemade treats. I enjoy every minute of what I do and I’m so happy when pup parents tell me how much they appreciate me and how much their pups love my treats.”
Pamela Brown is a freelance writer in Connecticut.
