Keep Your Dog Healthy With The Right Number of Dog Treats

By Bailey’s Mom Cindy

There is so much talk about the type of food to feed your dog, what kind of treats to give, whether you should count the calories, etc., that after researching article after article, the simple rule of thumb is to use common sense.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all chart for your dog’s specific needs or a secret formula to perfectly suit any size dog. Why? Because every dog is unique- just like us! As we differ from one another in age, health, and work, so there are a few areas to keep in mind when gauging how many dog treats to feed your dog.

Here they are:

• The activity of your dog. Does he get to run in the backyard? Does he go for long walks? Is he spunky for activity? Is this the normal day to day routine? If so, then, you could probably follow the recommended amount shown on the label of your dog food. He or she won’t gain weight with this good active routine. He will burn the calories taken in, and at the same time get the nourishment it needs.
• The health of your dog. Has your dog recently been through surgery? Has it experienced separation anxiety or just not feeling herself? Usually, dogs will eat less by their own choice during times like these. So stay with this program for awhile. Perhaps feeding him or her small amounts, but of what she really likes, like wet food or her favorite dog treat. Then add in the dry food as she starts gaining her strength back.
• The age of your dog. Is your dog less active because of age? Just can’t do what she used to? Lounges around the house without the excitement even when encouraged? Then you might want to cut back on the amount of food. Short walks would be a great treat for your dog.

It’s always good to check your dog’s weight from time to time. The veterinarian will suggest a recommended weight, but often, you can tell just by feeling around the dog’s neck and rib area. You should be able to feel the ribs a little, that’s a good thing. Not overweight. If you can’t feel the ribs and find a good pinch of fat around the neck and back area, you’ll probably want to cut back on the number of dog treats you give your dog. Exercise is great, but be reasonable. You want a happy and healthy dog, and you will, if you continue to watch how much you feed you dog.

Use Dog Treats for Training

Dog treats for training.  Trust me when I say that Bailey’s preferred method of training is by the use of dog treats!  We have successfully used dog treats for training Bailey to do her tricks.  I have tried the clicker method and the dog treat method of training and I have found that a dog will try really hard to learn when you have a tasty treat in hand.

How can you use dog treats for training your dog?  When you are trying to train a dog to do a new trick, or just to sit or stay, patience and dog treats go a long way toward succeeding and having fun with your dog.  What you need to do is to state a clear command and make sure that you always use the same command.  For example: to a dog “Sit” and “Sit Down” are two different things, so you should pick one and stick to it.  Once your dog makes small effort to do what you want reward them with a small treat or piece of a treat.  Repeat this process rewarding your dog with a treat each time he makes progress in doing what you are trying to train him to do.

Dog Treats can also be effective for training your dog to break a bad habits.  Recently Bailey started getting into a bad habit of pulling away from me on the leash when I would try to get her closer as a car approached.  This was a habit that needed to be broken quickly.  To train her to break this habit I had a few options, I could have gotten a training collar which would inflict a bit of pain when she would pull.  Instead, I chose to use dog treats for training.  I started by rewarding her for coming quickly when I would say “Come” when there were no distractions.  After a week or so of this she was coming much more quickly.  Then I started using dog treats to reward her when she would come when there were distractions.  Now she happily comes quickly when I call her close even when there are distractions and she would have ignored me in the past.  Chock one up for using dog treats for training!  And as I mentioned, Bailey fully endorses this method!

Here is a great video about how to find out what treat will be the best to train your dog with.

Homemade Dog Treats Can Be Great For Your Dog!

Homemade dog treats.  What better way to show your furry friend that you love them?  What are some guidelines you should follow when you decide to make dog treats at home?

First, consider your dogs taste.  I know that Bailey is not a big fan of super crunchy treats.  I think it reminds her of her regular dog food and does not seem as special to her.  So, when I look for homemade dog treat recipes I look for ones that are on the meaty and soft side, I know she will love them.

Second, when dog treats are homemade you want to make sure that you are including ingredients that are nutritious and healthy for your dog.  This means that you will avoid including ingredients in your homemade dog treats that are toxic to dogs such as the following:

• Onion or Onion Powder
• Garlic or Garlic Powder
• Citrus Oils
• Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine
• Raisins
• Macadamia Nuts
• Mushrooms

This is not a complete list but it covers most of the common ingredients that you might think of adding to homemade dog treats.

Third, remember that you can pack a lot of healthy nutritional value into your dog treats that are homemade.  This can provide an excellent supplement to your dogs regular diet.

Homemade dog treats are also great because it is easy to modify recipes to meet your dogs individual needs.  Many advocates of homemade dog treats say that dog treats that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates are often easier to digest.

Introduce different homemade dog treats gradually to see if any do not agree with your dog.  By following a few simple guidelines making dog treats homemade can be rewarding and satisfying for you and your dog!

Here is a great video about making homemade dog treats.  Give it a try!

Here is an interesting High Protein Homemade Dog Treat

5 Tips to Choose Good Dog Treats

There is balance in everything that works well. Choosing a healthy dog treat should include, not only what your dog likes, or what is on sale, but what you know will be safe and healthy for your furry friend.

Just like you might give your kids a scoop of ice cream from time to time; you may give your dog his or her favorite dog treat, regardless of that extra ingredient, every now and then.  However, it is worth your time to make sure that the treats you give your dog on a regular basis, especially training treats, are going to work towards and not against your dogs long term health.

Here 5 things to keep in mind when choosing dog treats for normal day to day use.

1 - Choose a treat with the least amount of additives and preservatives.
2 - Choose a treat with low sugar and fat content.
3 - Choose a treat with higher protein.
4 - Choose a treat that will be easy for digestion.
5 - Choose a treat that can help keep teeth clean and healthy.

The next time you go shopping for healthy dog treats try to find dog treats that meet as many of the above criteria as possible.

Dog Treats for Aging Dogs
If your best friend is older and you notice that their flexibility isn’t what it once was, you might want to try a treat that has glucosamine and chondroitin.  These ingredients may help.