DIET & NUTRITION
A Pet Parent’s Guide to Choosing the Best Dog Treats!
Dog treats are an integral part of a dog parent’s toolkit. Given all the options available today, how do we select the right kind for our puppies? Dr Pai elaborates.
Table of contents
What are the Types of Dog Treats?
Treats are bite-sized portions of any food your dog likes, typically used to reward and encourage good behaviour. Treats can be low value, medium value or high value based on how much your dog likes them. The only way to figure this out is to experiment with plenty of options as each dog may have its preference.
You can use quite a few things as dog treats:
1) Regular food:
A portion of your dog's meals can be kept aside as a reward. For example, Kibble, Cooked meat (minced or shredded), Eggs, etc.
2) Occasional treats:
These are food items that you can give once in a while as treats. The quantities should be regulated. For example, Natural, unsweetened (xylitol-free) peanut butter, plain cheese, curd, paneer, vanilla ice cream
3 )Commercial treats:
Processed or packaged treats that you can buy at the pet store. The quantities of these treats should be regulated. For example, Jerky, Wet food, plain sausages, etc.
4) Dehydrated/Baked treats:
These treats can be made at home or bought. They can be quite nutrient-rich so remember to adjust the quantity of your dog's meal accordingly. For example, any meat/organ can be dehydrated.
1) Regular food:
A portion of your dog's meals can be kept aside as a reward. For example, Kibble, Cooked meat (minced or shredded), Eggs, etc.
2) Occasional treats:
These are food items that you can give once in a while as treats. The quantities should be regulated. For example, Natural, unsweetened (xylitol-free) peanut butter, plain cheese, curd, paneer, vanilla ice cream
3 )Commercial treats:
Processed or packaged treats that you can buy at the pet store. The quantities of these treats should be regulated. For example, Jerky, Wet food, plain sausages, etc.
4) Dehydrated/Baked treats:
These treats can be made at home or bought. They can be quite nutrient-rich so remember to adjust the quantity of your dog's meal accordingly. For example, any meat/organ can be dehydrated.
How Do I Select the Best Dog Treats for My Dog?
For a puppy between 2 to 4 months of age
At this age, I find that the best option is to put aside a small portion of their regular meals (dog food like kibble or gravy or fresh food like minced or shredded meat/ scrambled or boiled egg) for rewards and training. Here’s why:
1) You don't want your puppy getting full on treats
A puppy will definitely need rewards and encouragement daily (like for potty training or socialisation), so you will probably need quite a lot of treats in a day. That's why we want to choose a treat that is actually providing nutrition.
2) Commercial treats are typically meant for older puppies or adult dogs.
That means the feeding guidelines are not usually for young puppies. If they aren't the right size, they can be choking hazards. Especially if your puppy tends to get over-excited and forgets to chew.
3) Puppies have sensitive tummies.
They take time to adjust to new foods. New treats may cause tummy upsets or constipation if not introduced correctly.
Don't worry, there's plenty of time to experiment with various treats later on!
1) You don't want your puppy getting full on treats
A puppy will definitely need rewards and encouragement daily (like for potty training or socialisation), so you will probably need quite a lot of treats in a day. That's why we want to choose a treat that is actually providing nutrition.
2) Commercial treats are typically meant for older puppies or adult dogs.
That means the feeding guidelines are not usually for young puppies. If they aren't the right size, they can be choking hazards. Especially if your puppy tends to get over-excited and forgets to chew.
3) Puppies have sensitive tummies.
They take time to adjust to new foods. New treats may cause tummy upsets or constipation if not introduced correctly.
Don't worry, there's plenty of time to experiment with various treats later on!
What treat would your dog be this patient for?
For a dog that is four months or older
At this age, your puppy is a true master of chewing (Evident by your chewed-up furniture). Training should also be a part of your daily routine so you may need quite a lot of treats in a day. While your puppy is now old enough to tolerate experimenting with different treats, continue to introduce them slowly and keep in mind that they are treats and not food. This means you cannot give more than a small portion per day. Always remember to factor treats into your dog's daily food intake! You have to reduce or adjust the quantity of your dog's meal according to what you are adding to their diet in the form of treats.
- You can continue to set aside a portion of their meals for training.
- You can also use fresh food as treats. For instance, occasional foods such as cheese, paneer, peanut butter, curd, etc. can also make for wonderful treats.
- If you're up for it, you can always get creative and make your dog's treats at home.
- Commercial treats are also an option. Read on to find the right ones for your puppies.
Dog treats serve as a great motivation for dogs during training.
Selecting the Right Commercial Dog Treats
There is a plethora of treats available in the market today. However, here are some points to keep in mind while deciding what treats to buy.
- Stay as close to natural ingredients as much as possible. This means avoiding treats that have bright artificial colours even though they may look interesting.
- Always have a look at the ingredients at the back of the packet. The fewer ingredients, the healthier the treats are. If the ingredients list is filled with names you can't pronounce, you may want to consider looking at alternatives.
- There are many companies today that make bite-sized, dehydrated meat treats from fresh meat. Since these ingredients are less processed, they are much better for your dog.
- Don't stick to one type of treat as your puppy may lose interest after a while. It is ideal to stock up on a couple of high and medium and low-value treats at home.
Remember, regardless of the kind of dog treat you choose, moderation is always the key. Selectin a few healthy dog training treats and keep switching between each to retain the value of the treat for your dog.
Happy Pet Parenting!
Happy Pet Parenting!
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