Providing Your Dog With The Best Dog Treats
Who doesn’t like a surprise occasionally? We treat ourselves with food and other splurges on special occasions. For example, when someone graduates from school, they usually receive a reward of some sort. Even regular annual events, like anniversaries or birthdays earn us a special gift. Everyone loves receiving something out of the ordinary. Well, our dogs love treats too. So, what are the best dog treats?
We do so much to ensure that our dogs are well taken care of. We monitor their health with regular veterinary visits. We walk them to make sure that they get the exercise that they need. We even train them to make sure they know how to behave in certain situations. Only the best food gets purchased for our dogs so that they are consuming food that contains nutrients needed for their unique circumstances.
However, we often don’t exercise the same care when we throw them a treat. The problem is that most pet owners haven’t put the time into choosing treats the way they monitor everything else.
Choosing the best dog treat for your dog will make you and your dog happier, healthier and longer lived. Just like every person is unique, so are our dogs. Some dogs need weight control, some need dental care, and others need smaller treats for training or entertainment. Carefully assess your dog’s needs and why you are using them before deciding on which treat is most appropriate. Veterinarians suggest that you use the 10% rule and make sure that your dog’s diet does not consist more than 10% in treats. This rule will not work for all dogs especially those with existing weight problems. It is best to scale back treats or try low calorie treats when this problem is present.
Remember, treat size can be scaled back too. If the treats you are giving are too big, given your dog’s size, find a smaller treat or you can cut the goodie in half. For example, if a large biscuit has 100 calories, daily use can really add the calories up quickly. Too many treats can lead to obesity in your pet, so an adjustment of your pet’s exercise routine may be in order. Rethink treating your pet to food and consider a walk or play time instead. Your pet wants your attention, not just food. Find a way to reward your pet without jeopardizing its health.
Another consideration when dispensing treats should be the effect on your dog’s teeth. Hard treats such as bones, antlers, and hoofs have reportedly caused fracturing in the teeth, especially aging dogs. Rawhide softens as it gets chewed making it a great alternative to long lasting treats. However, you need to ensure that you remove the rawhide from your dog prior to it getting small enough, or worn and torn enough to become a choking hazard. Consider this when purchasing your dog the best treat.
One of the biggest unrecognized issues, and another reason to reward your pet, is boredom. Too often, while owners are working, or busy with other things, their pet gets very lethargic. You can also alleviate this with something too few people think of as a dog treat- a stimulating toy! Whether it’s a squeaky stuffed chew toy, a treat dispensing ball, or a pet puzzle, the stimulation and entertainment value for your pet is huge! Just like for humans, boredom can be very detrimental and destructive. A thoughtfully selected toy can provide hours of fun and keep your dog more energetic.
Avoid, or keep to a minimum, feeding your dog table scraps. When you feed your dog from the table you create a permanent fixture at the table when you are trying to eat. Your dog learns from rewarded behavior so when you reward begging you get a beggar. This approach to treating may create a picky eater as well. You will find that your dog prefers the fat from your steak to the dry dog food in the bowl.
So, to conclude, here are the basics, when it comes to the best dog treats:
• Read labels to ensure the treats are as healthy as the other food you buy
• Use treats to reward good behavior, not normal activity
• Use a mix of treat types, food, exercise and gnawing toys
• Use treats of the appropriate size and calorie count for your dog’s size and health
• Avoid table food as a treat
We do so much to ensure that our dogs are well taken care of. We monitor their health with regular veterinary visits. We walk them to make sure that they get the exercise that they need. We even train them to make sure they know how to behave in certain situations. Only the best food gets purchased for our dogs so that they are consuming food that contains nutrients needed for their unique circumstances.
However, we often don’t exercise the same care when we throw them a treat. The problem is that most pet owners haven’t put the time into choosing treats the way they monitor everything else.
Choosing the best dog treat for your dog will make you and your dog happier, healthier and longer lived. Just like every person is unique, so are our dogs. Some dogs need weight control, some need dental care, and others need smaller treats for training or entertainment. Carefully assess your dog’s needs and why you are using them before deciding on which treat is most appropriate. Veterinarians suggest that you use the 10% rule and make sure that your dog’s diet does not consist more than 10% in treats. This rule will not work for all dogs especially those with existing weight problems. It is best to scale back treats or try low calorie treats when this problem is present.
Remember, treat size can be scaled back too. If the treats you are giving are too big, given your dog’s size, find a smaller treat or you can cut the goodie in half. For example, if a large biscuit has 100 calories, daily use can really add the calories up quickly. Too many treats can lead to obesity in your pet, so an adjustment of your pet’s exercise routine may be in order. Rethink treating your pet to food and consider a walk or play time instead. Your pet wants your attention, not just food. Find a way to reward your pet without jeopardizing its health.
Another consideration when dispensing treats should be the effect on your dog’s teeth. Hard treats such as bones, antlers, and hoofs have reportedly caused fracturing in the teeth, especially aging dogs. Rawhide softens as it gets chewed making it a great alternative to long lasting treats. However, you need to ensure that you remove the rawhide from your dog prior to it getting small enough, or worn and torn enough to become a choking hazard. Consider this when purchasing your dog the best treat.
One of the biggest unrecognized issues, and another reason to reward your pet, is boredom. Too often, while owners are working, or busy with other things, their pet gets very lethargic. You can also alleviate this with something too few people think of as a dog treat- a stimulating toy! Whether it’s a squeaky stuffed chew toy, a treat dispensing ball, or a pet puzzle, the stimulation and entertainment value for your pet is huge! Just like for humans, boredom can be very detrimental and destructive. A thoughtfully selected toy can provide hours of fun and keep your dog more energetic.
Avoid, or keep to a minimum, feeding your dog table scraps. When you feed your dog from the table you create a permanent fixture at the table when you are trying to eat. Your dog learns from rewarded behavior so when you reward begging you get a beggar. This approach to treating may create a picky eater as well. You will find that your dog prefers the fat from your steak to the dry dog food in the bowl.
So, to conclude, here are the basics, when it comes to the best dog treats:
• Read labels to ensure the treats are as healthy as the other food you buy
• Use treats to reward good behavior, not normal activity
• Use a mix of treat types, food, exercise and gnawing toys
• Use treats of the appropriate size and calorie count for your dog’s size and health
• Avoid table food as a treat