Who doesn’t love rewarding their furry friend with a tasty treat? While an occasional indulgence is fine, it is important to choose healthy dog treats that provide nutritional benefits rather than empty calories. This guide covers everything you need to know about picking out safe, high-quality treats for your pup.
Identifying Healthy Ingredients
The experts over at Nextrition say that the first step is looking for treats made from simple, recognizable whole food ingredients you would find in natural dog food, such as:
- Single-source proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, fish, or eggs.
- Complex carbs from whole grains, beans, peas, or sweet potatoes.
- Healthy fats and oils like olive, coconut, or fish oils.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables for vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Avoid treats with vague terms like “by-products”, “meat and bone meal” or ingredients you cannot pronounce. Properly balanced natural treats nourish while satisfying your dog’s cravings.
Crunchy vs. Soft Treats
Both crunchy and soft treats have their advantages depending on your pup’s needs and preferences:
Crunchy Treats:
- More calorie-dense, so ideal for high energy treats.
- Crunchy texture helps scrape plaque off teeth.
- Air-dried, dehydrated, or baked options available.
- Break into smaller pieces for training treats.
Soft Treats:
- Better for older dogs with sensitive teeth/gums.
- Chewy texture and higher moisture content.
- Lower in calories/fat compared to crunch treats.
- Often contain fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Many companies offer both crunchy bites and soft chews in the same recipe so you can easily vary the textures.
Addressing Dietary Restrictions
For dogs with food allergies, intolerances, or other special dietary needs, it is crucial to carefully check treat ingredients. Look for limited-ingredient formulas free of common triggers like:
- Beef, chicken or other protein sources.
- Dairy products like whey, casein, or milk.
- Grains like wheat, corn, soy, or gluten.
- Artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Hypoallergenic treats made from novel proteins like venison, bison or duck are ideal for dogs with multiple sensitivities.
Training Treat Tips
Certain types of treats work better than others when training or reinforcing commands:
- Soft, pea-sized treats can be eaten quickly with little mess.
- Crunchy options may be too distracting or take too long to consume.
- Low-calorie, low odor treats prevent packing on pounds.
- Fresh foods like plain chicken, cheese or hot dogs cut into pieces.
- Keep treats bite-sized to maximize the number of rewards.
You will also want to factor in your dog’s age, size and activity level to avoid over-treating. A busy working dog may need more fuel than a couch potato.
Additional Considerations
A few other important things to look for when choosing healthy dog treats include:
- Reputable, transparent brands focused on quality ingredients.
- Treats formulated for specific purposes like dental, skin/coat, etc.
- Single-ingredient treats like dehydrated chicken or sweet potato.
- Treats sized appropriately for large vs. small breed dogs.
- Human-grade quality and safety testing standards.
- Product certifications like non-GMO, organic or grain-free.
Treats should complement a dog’s balanced, species-appropriate diet rather than interfere with proper nutrition.
Using Treats Responsibly
While an occasional treat is perfectly fine as a reward or enrichment activity, it is important not to go overboard. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories to prevent unhealthy weight gain and nutritional imbalances.
It’s also wise to thoroughly inspect treats for any choking hazards like hard pieces, bones or parts that could break off before offering them. Treats should never fully replace healthier chew alternatives like edible chews or food puzzle toys.
Conclusion
With a little research on safe, high-quality ingredients, you can absolutely have it all; tasty treats that satisfy cravings while also optimizing your pup’s nutrition, health, and happiness.