Treats are one of the best aids in dog training and dog spoiling. Most dogs learn to respond properly when given treats, as a reward for good behavior or trick performance.
Some owners use treats to bond better with their companions, or simply to comfort their beloved pets.
But, how many and what kind of treats can a dog get daily, to protect its health?
What Are Dog Treats?
Most dog treats are made using animal by-products such as rawhide, as untanned cow leather is known for, dried chicken or turkey meat, bone powder, or other animal parts.
Dog treats come in many shapes, and sizes, such as biscuits, kibble-like treats, chewable ears, rawhide, dentistry treats, and much more. They can be soft or hard, smaller or larger.
Some are healthier than others and can be given to the dog multiple times a day, such as training treats.
Some treats, such as rawhide bones or shoe-shaped treats, are powerful tools to prevent chewing and boredom in your furry companion.
How Many Treats A Day?
Treats don’t represent a meal themselves and don’t replace dog food. Many owners try to compensate for their dog’s refusal to eat dog food by providing treats. But, the total amount of treats your dog should receive daily mustn’t exceed 10% of their daily intake.
This means a new job for you: you’ll have to check the dog food package, to see how many calories your dog eats every day, according to its weight and size.
Things are different with puppies and adult dogs. In puppies, metabolism is faster, so they’ll need more nutrients, but the same calorie number. For example, a 3-month-old German Shepherd puppy has to eat around 0.8 pounds (~367g) of food, daily.
A kilogram of puppy food has approximately 3808 calories, which means your puppy must eat 1397 calories daily, and the treats it may eat should be at most 10% or 0.3 pounds (139g).
As an adult, it will weigh approximately 77 pounds (~35kg) and will require around 0.78 pounds (362g) of food daily. A kilogram of this dry adult dog food has 3854 Kcal; this means it will eat 1395 calories daily and, as in puppies, the amount of treats should not exceed 10%, e.g. 0.3 pounds (139g).
Smaller dogs have faster metabolisms, so their daily calorie intake is larger than big-sized dogs. Thus, they need more calories per pound of body weight.
You’ll have to pay attention if your dog has a special diet formulated for kidney problems, dermatitis, obesity, or other health concerns. Dogs with health conditions may be given only treats that are poorer in fat, protein, and mineral content and richer in antioxidants, fish oils, and other beneficial compounds.
Too many treats per day can cause serious health problems, like digestive upset, skin conditions, such as hair loss, and dermatitis, or in serious cases, acute liver failure.
Choosing The Right Type Of Treats For My Dog
When choosing a doggie treat, the first thing to pay attention to is the treat’s texture. This is particularly important for older dogs with certain dental health issues, such as tartar, gingivitis, or missing teeth.
They can be given treats that prevent and help with tartar removal, or softer, and smaller treats if too many teeth are missing. Dental sticks are a good option too. These are made from chicken, rice flour, and starch, and improve the dog’s oral hygiene.
Biscuit treats are not suitable for these dogs, because they’re hard to chew on, and not all dogs like them, although they come in many shapes and flavors.
For dogs that get bored easily, rawhide treats shaped as ribbon, bones or shoes, toys or animals, keep them busy for longer periods. We recommend giving them such treats in bigger sizes, to be harder to chew and swallow. These can be given daily or as needed because they’re hard to chew and the dog won’t eat much at once.
Many dogs adore freeze-dried and jerky treats, which are similar in many ways to human food. Among the healthiest treats you can offer your dog, these are made from actual meat, freeze-dried, and packed. They can also be used for training if cut into small pieces.
Fatty treats, such as pig ears, should be given to dogs 1-2 times a week, at most. Although dogs are carnivores, domestication and living among humans have made their digestive systems more sensitive. These should be avoided in dogs with pancreas and liver diseases because these dogs cannot digest fats and protein properly.
Proper training treats are soft, palatable, and have few calories. Canines eat these fast during training sessions, so they’re bitesize. Quality training treats don’t cause bloating or stomach aches.
Joint support treats are a great aid for elderly canines. These contain antioxidants, glucosamine, and chondroitin, for maintaining bone and cartilage health.
For future protection against eye conditions, dogs can be given eye support treats. These contain antioxidants, DHA and lutein, which support the retinal health and provide powerful nutrients for the eyes.
What’s the best treat I can offer my dog?
It’s important to read the label first. Quality treats have a short ingredient list, that’s easy to read and understand. Cheaper treats have long lists of ingredients, with some you’ve never heard of, and are made from poor-quality ingredients.
Many owners try compensating for expensive dog food by buying cheap treats. But this is like feeding fast food to your dog.
Always go for the more expensive ones, made from natural ingredients, with little artificial flavorings and additives added, and avoid colorful treats, that may contain harmful chemicals used for dyeing.
Quality dog treats contain hydroxyproline, an amino acid found in collagen and gelatin products, good for the dog’s joints and muscles.