Chewy dog snacks

Process for preparing a chewy, semi-plastic, non-extruded, non-porous, microbiologically-stable dog food consisting essentially of

• (i) about 12 to about 30 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the dog food, of gelatin;
• (ii) at least one edible acidulant;
• (iii) about 5 to about 20 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the dog food, of at least one edible cereal starch-containing textural agent;
• (iv) about 1 to about 20 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the dog food, of at least one edible release agent;
• (v) about 10 to about 30 weight percent, based on the total weight of the dog food, of at least one edible taste agent;
• (vi) about 6 to about 35 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the dog snack, of at least one edible sugar;
• (vii) about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent, based on the total weight of the dog snack, of salt;
• and
• (viii) added water, said dog food being a snack or biscuit in a molded form, said dog food having a pH of about 3 to 5, said dog food having a moisture content of about 10 to about 20 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the dog food, and said dog food being chewy, semiplastic, non-extruded, non-porous and microbiologically-stable, said process consisting essentially of:
• (a) mixing dry components and liquid components with low speed agitation and continuing the mixing until a dough is obtained;
• (b) forming the dough by molding or rotary molding into molded snack or biscuit;
• and
• (c) packaging the molded dog snack or biscuit in a protective package.