When it comes to choosing the appropriate treat variety you should take several things into consideration.
Your Dog’s Size
The size of your dog will affect the appropriate size of treats needed.. Some larger treats can be a choking hazard for smaller dogs, and some larger treats can be too hard for smaller dogs to effectively chew. Large dogs, on the other hand, can devour smaller treats at a quick pace which in itself can be unhealthy for their digestion, but it can also leave you buying more treats than you originally planned.
Function of Your Treat
Knowing what you will be using your treats for will impact your choice of dog treats. As mentioned before, treats can be used for training, dental health, weight control, etc. Some treats are specifically designed to promote dental health and may not be suitable for the immediate gratification needed for training. Others are specifically formulated for weight control or joint health. Be sure to choose a treat that will best serve the function.
Healthy Treats
It’s important to look for high quality, healthy ingredients. Treats are formulated to include many healthy benefits for your dog. As a general rule you should look for treats that are all natural, low glycemic and functional.
Food Allergies
Many dogs have allergies to foods. It’s important to consider those allergies when choosing a treat.
Types of Dog Treats
There are many categories of dog treats. Following are some of the main types of treats on the market.
Biscuits, Bars, Cookies and Other Crunchy Treats
There are a variety of flavors, shapes and sizes of crunchy treats. Buddy Biscuits are all natural and made with human grade ingredients. Wagger’s Natural Treats are low fat and are made with premium ingredients and contain no added salt, sugar and corn.
Small Treats
There are a variety of flavors, shapes and sizes of small treats. Small treats are often used during training for their pleasant taste, texture and speed of which they can be consumed. Using smaller sized treats during training allows for immediate gratification. Mini-Naturals are the perfect size for frequent use without overfeeding. Rice Bites are all natural, low calorie and rich in antioxidants.
Freeze-Dried Treats
Freeze-dried treats help retain the original flavor offer and offer a tasty treat similar to human food. These treats are available in a variety of flavors of meats, liver, poultry and seafood. Many freeze-dried treats are effective for training because of their desirable flavor and relatively small size. Pooch Passions and Gimborn Pro-Treat are examples of freeze-dried treats.
Dental Chews Treats
Dental chews are typically made from harder, yet digestible materials. Because of the degree of chewing required to consume these treats, they can promote dental health. Though safer than real bones, these treats can still cause blockages, so be sure to choose the appropriate size dental chew for your dog. Greenies are popular dental chews as well as Nylabones and Nutri Dent.
Bones & Rawhide
Bones and Rawhide help promote healthy teeth and gums, and may become a long term chew treat. Make sure you choose the appropriate size for your dog and look for types of rawhide that are specially developed to be digestible.
There are many options available for dog. If you take the time to consider what you will be using the treats for, you will find the perfect treat for your dog. |
