Hello! Hello!
Don’t let Valentine’s Day pass you by without showing some L-O-V-E to your favorite pup! And what do pups love almost more than anything? TREATS!
Regardless of what anyone says, I personally think that treats are a necessity for dogs. Especially for young dogs in the process of being trained; a treat is a reward for good behavior. A treat could be our way of doing something nice for our dog to show our love. If you enroll your dog in a trainer class, the trainer will probably advise you to keep some small treats in your pocket to reward your dog whenever he masters a good behavior.
Some people enjoy giving treats while others believe it is the same as table scraps and contributes to weight gain. My advice is as long as it is done in moderation and only given occasionally; treats are great for your dog.
There are many kinds of dog treats. The biscuits are great to use for dog training. Rawhides and pig ears are definitely favorites with my dogs and also help in keeping the tarter down on their teeth which in turn helps with fresher breath. You can make your own treats or opt to buy them. I have even noticed boutique-style shops that specialize in homemade baked dog treats!
If you are thinking of making your own, I would love for you to check out this bundle that I have available:
Spoil your Dog with Healthy Treats
This bundle contains everything you need to start your dog on a healthy diet. There is also a Doggie Cookbook with lots of recipes for treats. They are easy to prepare and you have control over the quality of the ingredients that you use.
I like to prepare the treats in bulk. I will freeze some for later and keep a couple dozen on hand over the course of the week for yummy surprises for my fur-girls.
I always make sure to keep my dogs’ box full of biscuits. I usually will give them a treat after they do their business outside and on other occasions where they display good behavior. For instance, when we have company and they are on best behavior and do not get over excited, they get a treat as a reward.
When we have what I call our ‘review times’ for things she learned with the trainer all those years ago, she gets a treat. I even keep some treats in my pocket for when we take walks and she knows to come to a stop at a street corner.
Some dog owners make their own treats, which is a great idea. Most of the loyal followers of the raw food diet usually make their treats based on the diet. Some treat recipes are easier to make than others and if I make mine, as I typically do, I try to stick to basic, easy to follow recipes.
A top favorite of my dogs has been the peanut butter and yogurt treat. I simply melt the peanut butter and mix in the yogurt, and then freeze it overnight. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
The great benefit of homemade dog treats is that you know exactly what is going into your dog’s mouth because you are the one making it. It kind of follows the same points as following the raw food diet. You can find many books that contain dog treat recipes and there are plenty on websites.
A few of my pups favorites are:
HOMEMADE DOG TREATS
1 cup warm water
1 ½ tablespoon canola oil
1 ¾ cup flour
1 ¼ cup oatmeal
¼ cup of all natural peanut butter
Mix oil and water together. Then add the other ingredients. Shape into a tube and chill for one hour. Slice into ¼ biscuit shapes and bake at 300 degrees for 50 minutes on a greased cookie sheet.
FROSTY PAWS
1 32 oz container of vanilla yogurt
1 mashed banana
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
Mix all the ingredients together and fill a muffin tin. Freeze for a few hours and then store in an airtight container. Heat in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
CHEESY DOG COOKIES
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup canola oil
4-5 tablespoons of water
Combine everything except the water. You can mix it in a food processor until it has the same consistency of cornmeal. Then add in the water until a ball is formed. Roll into ½” thickness and cut into biscuit shapes. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet.
There are countless recipes that you can find online. I tend to stick to the easier recipes due to time constraints but there are more gourmet recipes out there for your dog if you have the time to spare.
There are times when I know they want a special surprise and instead give my dogs a rawhide bone. Please bear in mind that there are many conflicting opinions out there on rawhides. Some feel that they are one of the best treats because they help fight plaque and tarter on your dog’s teeth. Others suggest that they are great for puppies because they stimulate the growth of their adult teeth. Even better, your puppy will chew on the bone instead of on your shoes!
Please use your own discretion when giving your dog rawhides, bones and pig ears or any other natural chew treat. Always check with your vet when in doubt.
On the flip side though, there are people who believe that rawhides are dangerous for your dog. For starters, rawhides are sometimes hard for some dogs to digest and in some extreme cases, it can cause chocking if a particularly large piece or pieces are swallowed. The choking hazard is closely associated with rawhides. Large pieces can get wedged in a dog’s throat which could have drastic consequences. It is believed that the rawhides treats will scratch your dog’s throat, and even his digestive tract, when they are digested.
However, I have been giving my dogs rawhide treats and have never had a serious problem. My dog Lucy will occasionally chew until her gums slightly bleed but that is the extent of anything I have experienced with my dogs.
The rare instances where problems sometimes do arise usually have specific circumstances around them. For instance, the dog breed: ‘chew hounds’ tend to inhale the rawhides and are at the most risk of choking.
If you have a dog that is a chew hound, you might decide against giving him rawhides or at least give him the kind that are twisted or knotted. These are rather harder to chew on because they are thicker. You also need to make sure that you have the right size bone for your dog.
A large breed dog may not do well with a small rawhide. That could well be the cause why dogs choke; they chew on bones that are not meant for their size and particular breed.
Again, if in doubt, please consult your vet on the safety of rawhides for your dog and the appropriate size rawhide for your breed.
How about pigs ears as a treat?
Yes, they usually are real pig ears and they can smell awful, but our dogs gobble them up with delight. This is another favorite subject of debate among many dog owners and vets.
Some people vehemently refuse to give pig ears to their dog because there have been instances in the past where pig ears that came into the USA had salmonella poisoning. Though stringent steps have been taken to ensure that this situation does not occur again, most people are very hesitant to give their dog pig ears as treats. Some people claim that pig ears are too fattening for their dogs.
On the flipside of the argument, pig’s ears are all natural pork which is a big selling point for some owners. Another pro that has been widely spread about pig ears is that they are tasty and tantalizing. I’m not sure what pet owner tested them to see if this is true or not but I’ll take their word for it. As for me, pig’s ears are going nowhere near my mouth.????
Another pro is that they will not splinter or crack which apparently is a big problem with some rawhides out there. Some people also feel that the fat content in the pig ears is good for dogs because it promotes a healthy coat and healthy skin. Pig ears are also 100% digestible so there is no need to worry about any sort of blockage or chocking.
But I must admit that I hate the smell and I dislike touching pig ears, but my mixed husky rescue absolutely loves them. They are special treats that I reserve for every now and then; she does not get one every day. Although some people say that giving a pig’s ear to your dog once a day is fine, my dog gets one only a few times a week and that is it.
I believe that treats are a very important part of a dog’s nutrients. Almost all pet owners give their dogs treats at some point or another.
It’s our way of showing our dogs that they are special and that we love them.❤❤❤
Have you ever really watched a dog when he gets a treat or just knows he is going to get one? Their tails will wag at triple speed and you can just see the eager anticipation on their faces. It is a great sight that makes you think; why deny your dog treats?
As long as you are not overdoing on the treats, there is no reason for your dog to gain any extra weight from them. So give them treats in moderation and you can put your mind at rest about them putting on any weight.
You may even get a tail wag and a kiss on the hand from your favorite pup. 🙂
Again, check out this bundle of goodness if you think you may want to try cooking up some yumminess for your pups.
Check it out here.
And don’t forget these FREEBIES… Show some love to the humans in your life with these fun cut-outs. Use card-stock paper. Help your child label them and pass out to friends. Just have fun and get creative!
CLICK ⇓⇓⇓ BELOW for FREE Valentine Cards and Tags!!!
Happy baking and ’til next time,
I agree that treats are necessary for dogs (and cats, my cats love their treats vas much as the dogs do!), but don’t overdo! Many commercial treats are high in fat (which is why they taste good!). Just like too much ice cream for us, too many treats are not healthy. And make sure that you don’t substitute treats for a healthy, well balanced dog food! Enjoyed this post with lots of good info!
Yes, I agree, Dee. High in fat always seems to taste good but moderation is the key; for us and our pets. Thanks for reading. 🙂