About National Dog Biscuit Day
James Spratt, an American electrician, is credited with creating the first commercial dog biscuits. In the 1850s, Spratt observed stray dogs in London eating hardtack, a type of dense, dry biscuit that was commonly used as a ration for sailors. He realized that a similar type of biscuit could be created specifically for dogs and began experimenting with different recipes.
In 1860, Spratt patented a "meat biscuit for dogs" and began to manufacture them in a factory in London. The biscuits were made from a mixture of wheat meals, vegetables, beetroot, and beef blood and they were shaped into the form of a bone.
Spratt's dog biscuits were an instant success and he quickly began exporting them to other countries. He went on to establish a factory in Cincinnati, Ohio in the United States, where he began manufacturing dog biscuits for the American market.
Spratt's dog biscuits laid the foundation for the modern pet food industry, and his invention of the first commercial dog biscuits is considered a significant milestone in the history of pet food.
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