Dashka Slater delved into the history of dog biscuits:

• In 1860 an in Ohioan noticed that stray dogs loved chowing down on the dry biscuits that sailors consumed on long voyages.
• Soon the man started packaging and selling them. At each 50 pound bag costing a day’s wages they were an upmarket product aimed at the wealthy.
• They’ve played a part in a murder mystery. In 1902 a prizewinning show dog was assassinated by what is widely believed to be a poison laced dog biscuit.
• The treats became bone shaped after another American inventor had trouble getting his pooch to eat a milk based version in 1907. He realized that shaping them as bones was all it took to convince the dog to try them.
• These days dog biscuits are a $2.6 billion a year market.
• Like human food they’ve also become loaded with more and more calories – over 50% of all American dogs are now thought to be obese.

Read more about the history of the dog biscuit, how they’re linked to margarine, and why the dogs might be taking pity on us by eating the biscuits over here.

Source: The New York Times