The Complete Guide to Dog Treats

We all deserve a little treat now and again, whether it’s a tasty chocolate dessert after a meal or maybe an extra scoop of ice cream in the park. The same goes for your dog. However, with so many options available and disputing arguments on what dog treats dogs should eat or how many they should have, it's difficult to know where to start. 

To help you make the best decision for treating your dog, we’re going to cover all you need to know about dog treats, including:

• Homemade dog treats

• Natural dog treats

• Dental dog treats

• Long-lasting dog treats

• Treats for puppies

But first, let’s cover the basics.

Does My Dog Need Treats?

Dogs need treats in the same way that humans do. Do you need that bag of crisps with your lunch? No, but they taste great and make you feel good. The same goes for dog treats. While they aren’t necessary for your dog’s survival, they make dogs happy! And happy dogs are much more receptive when it comes to training. 

Whether you’re working on training, helping with mental stimulation, introducing new experiences, or want to give your dog treats for their straightforward enjoyment, there are plenty of reasons to introduce treats to your dog. Just remember, everything is in moderation. Too many dog treats can lead to stomach upset in the short term and even weight gain and obesity in the long run, so it’s important to ensure treats stay part of a healthy and balanced diet and only take up 10% of their daily calorie intake. 

How to Choose The Best Dog Treats

Much like choosing the right dog food for your dog’s main meal, there are a few things to consider when deciding what treats are best for your dog. Here, we will cover the key things to consider when choosing the best treats for your dog:

Healthy Ingredients

Animal welfare is not a new topic, but the recent spotlight has meant more owners are becoming conscious of what is being put into their pet’s food. This means top brands are now offering far more healthy and natural dog food and treats made with wholesome ingredients that better complement your dog’s diet than some less healthy options. By choosing a healthier treat option for your dog, you can ensure they are getting all the enjoyment of treats without compromising their health. 

Great Taste

Dogs have something of a reputation for eating anything that’s going, and while this is undoubtedly the case for some breeds (we’re looking at you, labradors), many dogs will still have their own individual preferences with their treats. Monitor the flavours of food your dog enjoys and find treats that match your dog’s tastes, especially when using treats for training. 

Purpose

Your intention behind your dog’s treats should also play an important role when choosing your dog’s treats. 

If you are choosing dog treats for training, it’s important to look for something small but high-quality, like these Scrumbles Softies Training Treats, since your dog will need multiple treats per training session daily. 

If you want to supplement your pet’s diet with extra vitamins or are concerned about their dental health, choosing specialist treats could be the answer, like these ProDen PlaqueOff® Dental Bites.

If you want to offer mental stimulation to your dog, try looking for long-lasting treats like these Earth Animal No Hide Beef Stix Chews, to provide a distraction. 

Homemade Dog Treats

If your dog is especially picky, or you’re conscious about what they’re eating, why not take the stress out of the search by making your dog treats? Plenty of dog-safe foods, like sweet potato, blueberries, watermelon, cucumber, and peanut butter, can make for super tasty treats that your dog will love! 

You could try filling your dog’s KONG toy with peanut butter for a great-tasting distraction, or give them something simple like yoghurt-coated blueberries. Following this recipe, you can even make dog biscuits using only sweet potato, whole wheat flour, applesauce, and eggs! 

So long as you use dog-safe ingredients, the only limit is your imagination!

Natural Dog Treats

We all want the best for our pets, and by choosing treats made from natural, whole ingredients, you can be sure they’re getting only the good stuff! This is especially important if your dog has any allergies or intolerances to commonly used ingredients like grains, fillers and other preservative chemicals. 

Some great picks for 100% natural dog treats include the Pet Munchies range or these Antos Highland Natural Deer Antlers, which are long-lasting and encourage your dog's natural instinct to chew. 

Dental Dog Treats

Maintaining your dog’s dental hygiene is essential to dog ownership and should never be overlooked. However, getting your dog to cooperate long enough for you to brush their teeth can be a challenge. Thankfully, plenty of dental chews and treats are available from several market-leading brands specifically designed to target your dog’s oral health and hygiene in a way that’s fun for them!

Some great choices for dog dental treats include these ProDen PlaqueOff Dental Dog Chew Bones, which are available in a variety of flavours, or these Whimzees Dental Treats, which are perfect for cleaning your dog’s teeth and freshening their breath as well. 

For more help with your dog’s dental hygiene, why not check out our range of dog dental care products? 

Long-Lasting Dog Treats

If your dog needs a lot of mental stimulation or you need a bit of a break from their adorable company to finally get that laundry done, then choosing a long-lasting dog treat can be a brilliant choice. 

These kinds of treats can work multiple ways, whether you pick something like Antler Chew Dog Treats, which are perfect for encouraging your dog’s natural chewing instincts, or use a toy-treat-combo like these LickiMat soothers, which keeps your dog occupied and relaxed while also promoting licking!

Treats for Puppies

Just like when choosing the right food for your puppy, you need to consider when picking the right treats. Puppy treats are designed for younger dogs, both in size and ingredients. Many puppy treats include extra supplements like Omega-3s that help develop your puppy’s eyes, brain, and immune system. 

When choosing a treat for your puppy, there are plenty of great options available that can help your pup grow up healthy and strong. Try choosing soft treats specifically made for sensitive teeth, like these Doodlebone Soft Bites, or picking something that actively encourages your puppy’s instinct to chew (especially while teething), like these Nylabone Puppy Bone.

Choosing the best treats for your dog might not be the most straightforward task, but we hope this guide gives you some insight into where to start. Remember, every dog is different and has different needs for enrichment and nutrition, so be sure to try plenty of options before you find the one that sticks!