What Sets Us Apart
Key Benefits
More people are seeking out functional foods—those that have health benefits beyond basic nutrition—to improve and extend their lives. Now, more pet parents are seeking out foods and treats that can have similar paw-sative effects on their fur family.
Sure, treating our pups is about joy, reward, comfort. But studies show that superior nutrition plays a key role in enhancing and improving dogs’ overall well-being, maintaining good health and reducing the risk of serious diseases.
At Cooper & Friends, nutrition is designed with purpose.
We create functional jerky to support proactive health and long-term wellbeing in dogs — with a focus on longevity from the inside out.
Our approach is built on synergy — the thoughtful combination of high-quality protein, science-backed supplements, balanced calories, and a gentle dehydration process. Together, these elements work in harmony to deliver meaningful, functional benefits.
Our functional formulations are developed using ingredient synergy, where two or more active ingredients work together to deliver optimal benefits and support specific health needs in dogs.
All recipes are crafted with clean, premium ingredients, including fresh proteins and vegetables, carefully paired with targeted supplements. Our slow dehydration process helps preserve natural nutrients while maintaining digestibility and nutritional integrity.
At the core of every formula is gastrointestinal digestive health. This unique combination of high-quality ingredients and science-backed supplements is designed to support easy digestion and help promote a balanced microbiome — the foundation of overall health and longevity in dogs.
Why it is so important?
Let’s look at each of these functional ingredients to learn why they have been specifically selected and are so important for your furry family member.
Gastro-Intestinal and Digestion Health
The most important factor
Even if pets eat the best food available, it will not be utilized properly if the digestive system is functioning poorly. Providing a healthy digestive environment is the key to optimizing feed efficiency and health, and doing it naturally increases the likelihood of of success.
The following unique ingredients added in all COOPER & FRIENDS DOG TREATS work together to provide a healthy digestive environment that is the key to optimizing food digestibility and efficiency.
May help maintain healthy digestive and intestinal environment
May help optimize food digestibility and efficiency
May help promote beneficial bacteria development
May help reduce pathogens presence in digestive tract
May help improve immune system health
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) - prebiotics
Since the value of probiotics (good and friendly bacteria) became widely accepted, interest in substances that support their growth in the intestine has grown.
These are essentially carbohydrates that are not digested in the stomach or small intestine (i.e. non-caloric) and not utilized by pathogens. Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are carbohydrates derived from chicory roots, sugar beet or sugar cane and used as food source for the naturally present good bacteria as well as probiotics which can be added to food as supplement.
They aid digestion by allowing these beneficial bacteria and probiotics to lower intestinal pH (providing a more acidic environment).
This inhibits both pathogens and putrefying bacteria and thus reduces stool odor.
The prebiotic/beneficial bacteria tandem is also believed to have a positive impact on immune system function.
Organic acids (lactic, citric, fumaric and malic acids)
A mixture of fumaric, citric, lactic, and malic acids encapsulated and protected by fat in order to ensure their release in the intestine instead of the stomach are also included to help improve digestive system health. This group of unique functional ingredients acidifies the intestinal environment, favoring the growth of beneficial bacteria over that of pathogens. This then facilitates the presence of beneficial bacteria by acidifying intestinal bowel, which would also help reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria (which do not like acidic environment). The acids may also penetrate the cell wall of harmful bacteria such as salmonella and coliforms to inhibit them directly.
Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) – yeast extract
Mannan-oligosaccharides are carbohydrates derived from yeast, which can help limit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria (such as salmonella and E. coli mainly). These bacteria will attach to MOS instead of becoming attached to intestinal wall cells and are then excreted with stools. MOS also stimulates the production of mucin, a protein present in the mucus that coats and protects the intestinal wall (lining) and represents the first line of defense against invaders such as bad pathogenic bacteria as well as toxic matter. Mucin plays a major role in maintaining a healthy beneficial microbial population.
Thyme extract
Thyme extract is a source of natural essential oils including thymol, carvacrol, and phenols which can help stabilize the digestive system. Produced by steam distillation of thyme leaves, this extract has antimicrobial activity at very low concentrations. It helps lower intestinal pH and is mainly included in food to help maintain firm stools.
Key Benefits
Ingredients come first. Always.We craft our jerky with clean, premium ingredients — locally sourced proteins, fresh vegetables, and targeted, science-backed supplements.All ingredients are safe for dogs and aligned with AAFCO standards for quality and trust.
All carefully selected supplements are backed by science to support digestion and overall wellbeing in dogs.Thoughtfully balanced to promote gut health — the foundation of long-term health at every stage of life.
Made with high-quality, fresh protein to support strength, energy, and overall wellbeing in dogs.
Low-calorie, made to fit a balanced diet.Balance matters. Recipes are thoughtfully crafted to keep calories in check — supporting a healthier, more mindful approach to daily feeding.
Gently dehydrated for better nutrition.Our slow dehydration process helps preserve the natural nutrients of each ingredient — so dogs get more from every bite.
