Healthy Treats for Your Dog
Dogs are incredibly food-oriented. Their high-powered noses can pick up delicious scents faster than you can say sit! And their ears prick up with the slightest rustling of food packaging.
Because of their love of food, you can efficiently train them with treats. Your dog is more likely to respond to threats, and they'll be more than happy to do commands if they are munching in something tasty.
As fun and exciting as treats can be, you must give your dog healthy treats to avoid unnecessary weight gain or an unbalanced diet. We have curated a list of the best healthy dog treats you can give your dog while training them.
Dogs love peanut butter! But you should never feed your dog peanut butter that has salt, sugar, or any artificial sweeteners. Some peanut butter products also contain xylitol which is particularly toxic to your furry friend.
It can sometimes be listed as E967 or Birch sugar. Basically, as a rule of thumb, if you doubt any ingredient in the P.B, don't feed it to them. A spoonful of unsweetened peanut butter with no additives will serve as the perfect dog treat for training, and the best part is peanut butter is an excellent source of proteins, nutrients, and vitamins.
You can also go for peanut butter-based dog treats such as Zuke's 5s Baked With Peanut Butter & Berries Crunchy Dog Treats. These dog treats are the right size for your man's best friend regardless of whether they are a 10-pound terrier or a 90-pound retriever. They are chewy and soft but sturdy enough that they crumble in the treat bag or your pocket.
Each treat has less than three calories to help you count the calories you give your dog, and they are sold in six flavors. Best of all, they don't contain any artificial colors, flavors, corn, soy, or wheat.'
Fresh Meat or Cheese
Fresh meat or cheese is a great choice when you begin training your dog. Cut them up into small-sized pieces to make them easy to swallow and digest.
Fresh meat can be anything from organic chicken breast to natural hot dogs that don't have garlic or onion. Feel free to use any meat from your grocery store's meat aisle.
It's, however, worth noting that some dogs, the smaller ones specifically, may have tummy troubles when they take lots of rich meats such as beef or cheese.
Cooked Lean Meat
Still on meat, if you need high reward dog treats for serious commands, you could try some lean meat. Boil some plain chicken breast with no seasoning or oil, and cut them into small pieces. Chicken is rich in omega-6 fatty acids that help promote a healthy coat and skin.
You can also try cooked salmon as it's also full of omega-3 fatty acids. However, it has a higher fat content and should be given in minimal quantities, especially in dogs with a history of pancreatitis.
Their Daily Kibble
When your dog isn't highly distracted, kibble can work perfectly as a dog training treat, especially if you are already food-motivated and overweight.
Another great thing about giving your dog kibble as their training treat is that you can consider training to be part of their mealtimes. For instance, if you're working with your dog near lunch, you can take a handful of their portion for lunch and use it during the training sessions.
Fresh Vegetables
You can use several types of vegetables as dog treats. For instance, green beans, carrots, and broccoli are great choices. Green beans are especially a great dog treat because they contain vitamins and iron.
You should, however, ensure they're not chunky because raw veggies can get lodged in your dog's esophagus or further down the digestive system if they can instead of chewing them. You can chop them into small pieces or grate them to reduce their size.
