Treats are yummy snacks for dogs. If you have a good stack of them, you can rule your dog.
Treats not only provide enjoyment, but they can also provide health benefits, and they are also a great tool for training.
So, in this article we’ll talk about
- Treats that both taste good and are healthy for your dog
- Qualities of the best treats for dogs
- 4 example types of treats for your dog
What Will I Learn?
Qualities of the Best Dog Treats
First we’ll talk about qualities to look for when choosing the right dog treat… and then I’ll show you where to buy treats that check off these qualities.
Quality #1: It smells and tastes yummy
The taste and smell of treats will make most dogs go crazy. It takes them seconds to pick up the scent.
However, your dog might be picky when it comes to food.
So keep in mind that treats come in many flavors, like beef, chicken, lamb, etc. If your dog is stubborn and needs extra motivation to eat something, experiment different flavors to see if there’s one he really likes.
Quality #2: Treats that provide health benefits
The best treats contain nutrients, like vitamins and proteins. Some treats even contain prebiotics and probiotics that are good for your dog’s digestive health and anxiety.
However many treats contain artificial ingredients or high calories that are bad for your dog if you overuse them, so watch out for those.
Quality #3: Some treats are fun to eat and make your dog burn energy
A pig ear takes time to chew, occupying your dog for hours. He wants to eat it in one gulp, but he can’t. It will give your dog a challenge. He will use up a ton of energy in the process… energy that he won’t be using to destroy things and bark loudly at night.
Burning energy = burning calories = exercise = good.
Quality #4: Some treats can be used to train a dog to follow your commands
By giving your dog a treat when it performs the action you want… you shape the action you want him to take by molding the “path” to reward. (You can learn 5 Basic Commands to Teach Your Dog here)
Low-calorie small tasty treats that can be eaten often are the best for this. Obviously you won’t feed your dog a pig ear every time he “sits” or gives you his paw.
Some treats aren’t meant to be used repetitively for training. The calories will add up and it won’t be good for your dog’s health. That’s why you need to choose your training treats wisely.
Ok now let me give you the names and brands of the treats that meet the above qualities.
4 Example Types of Treats for Your Dog
1. Treats For Picky Dogs
Tasty freeze dried treats provide high value that tempt even the pickiest of eaters.
You can choose from liver, chicken, rabbit, salmon or sweet potato.
As an added bonus, these treats are low-calorie (so you can give them more than usual)
2. Treats That Are Good For Gastrointestinal Health
PetLab Co. Dog Probiotic | Chewable Probiotic with 8 Strains of Beneficial Bacteria
Nutri-Vet Pre and Probiotic Soft Chews for Dogs
Related: Best Dog Food For Hyperactive Dogs
3. Treats That Keep Your Dog Entertained and Make Them Burn Energy
The Kong Toy
The “Kong” is a rubber toy that you fill up with peanut butter, and it keeps your dog entertained for a long time. He can’t eat the peanut butter all at once, he’s gotta stick his tongue in and get creative. If you give the Kong toy to your dog at night, he’ll spend his pent-up energy fooling around with it and not barking loudly or destroying things.
Kong even sells you a special tube that makes it easy to fill up the Kong with peanut butter.
4. Treats For Training
Once again, we go back to the freeze-dried liver.
Freeze-dried liver is what acclaimed veterinarian, trainer, and writer Dr. Ian Dunbar calls the
“Ferrari” of dog treats.
These are great for training because they are 1. High value (they are tasty and represent a big reward for a dog) and 2. Low calorie (the treat can be fed multiple times during a training session)
Pupford Freeze Dried Beef Liver Training Treats
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- Always maintain the right balance between regular food and treats.
- Treats must not exceed 10% of your dog’s diet in terms of calories.
- When you walk by a pet store and you see some attractive treats on display, know that they are meant to lure you in with their flashy look.
- Most of these products have artificial ingredients, which can be hazardous for your dog.
- Finding the best treats for dogs requires diligently looking through the ingredients before choosing a product.