We've been huge Charlee Bear fans since we launched PupLife.com over four years ago. They've been one of our best selling dog treats, and for good reason - they are fantastic dog treats! Charlee Bears are tasty (dogs love them), low-calorie (only 3 calories per treat) and pocket friendly (perfect for long walks and training). Charlee Bear Cheese & Egg, and Liver Dog Treats are both fantastic choices for treating your dog right.

We recently spent some time chatting with Ava Olsen, one of the driving forces behind Charlee Bear Dog Treats. Ava lent us some insights on why these dog treats have been so popular over the years, and why Charlee Bears are still one of the best all-purpose dog treats on the market.

PupLife.com: Hi Ava. Thanks so much for sharing your insights with our readers.

Ava Olsen: It is my pleasure to be on the PupLife.com site.

PupLife.com: We have been big fans of Charlee Bears for years. Tell our readers about how these treats were first created.

Ava Olsen: Charlee Bears were created about 16 years ago when Steve Brown, the creator of the treat, was raising some puppies and saw the need for a wholesome, low calorie, natural, "pocket perfect" treat. I met him at that time and we worked together to create packaging and bring the treat to market. In the early years my kids helped me load up our Honda and deliver the treats to the stores. They went to stores with me on weekends to give out samples.

PupLife.com: What are the ingredients of Charlee Bear dog treats?

Ava Olsen: Charlee Bear Dog Treats are made from simple, wholesome ingredients: Wheat flour, fresh liver, cheese, eggs and we use vitamin E as as preservative. We add a tiny about of garlic and salt. There is one tablespoon of salt in 100 pounds of liver treats. There is no sugar, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no chemical preservatives.

PupLife.com: Where are Charlee Bear treats made?

Ava Olsen: All of our ingredients are from the US and our treats are made in the US as well.

PupLife.com: What are the dietary benefits of Charlee Bears?

Ava Olsen: Charlee Bears were created with the idea that it is fun to treat your dog, fun for you and fun for your dog. Every time you give a treat it is a bonding experience. We wanted a treat that you could use many times without adding lots of calories or unhealthy ingredients. MORE TREATS MORE FUN! The benefits of Charlee Bears are the protein of real liver or cheese and eggs and the fact that they are only 3 calories each (an average medium size dog biscuit is 36 calories). We are trying to help in the battle against canine obesity which is the root cause of so many health problems.

PupLife.com: We love the fact that Charlee Bear treats are basically "Crumb free", meaning that we can keep them in our pockets during training or walks. Was this "crumb free" design intentional?

Ava Olsen: It was definitely part of the plan. We wanted a treat that would be easy to take along and a treat that you could easily carry in a pocket without stains, smells or crumbs. We call them "Pocket Perfect"

PupLife.com: The small size of Charlee Bear treats makes them suitable for smaller dogs, but our retrievers love them too! Have you found that Charlee Bear treats appeal to any particular breed, or size of dog?

Ava Olsen: I have been working with Charlee Bear since we started over 15 years ago. I have found that all size dogs love Charlee Bears. They are great for small dogs that are not able to eat many of the treats that are out there but the big dogs love them as well. It seems that dogs in general love the taste and the crunch and I receive many letters from people with dogs of all shapes and sizes who love Charlee Bears.

PupLife.com: Why do you think Charlee Bear dog treats have been such a big hit over the years?

Ava Olsen: I think we have a unique crunch, great flavor, simple ingredients and a name people like. I also believe that our love for dogs and our concern with their health and happiness shows in what we do. People care about their dogs and want to give them wholesome products that taste good. As dog owners we wanted something that we would feel good about giving to our own dogs.

PupLife.com: Thanks so much for joining us Ava!

Ava Olsen: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to communicate with the folks who come to the PupLife.com site.