Giving Your Dog Treats

If Fido could read a calendar, he’d be pretty excited about February 23rd: it’s Dog Biscuit Day! Treats are definitely one of Fido’s favorite things, along with belly rubs, walks, car rides, and toys. Whether your furry pal knows them as biscuits, treats, cookies, or snacks, those yummy tidbits definitely get his tail going. A Tipp City, OH vet discusses giving your dog treats in this article.

Treats can be very quite helpful when it comes to training. When trying to teach your canine buddy petiquette, it’s important to stay positive. Rewarding him for good behavior is much better than reprimanding him for doing something wrong.

We really can’t discuss doggy treats without at least touching on the subject of begging. Man’s Best Friend has many of his humans wrapped around his paws! We know, Fido is absolutely adorable when he puts on that sad, soulful stare. Just don’t let your pooch manipulate you into overfeeding him.

It’s probably safe to say that your pooch would be super happy if you shared your bacon or sausage with him. However, it’s really best to limit these fatty treats. You’ll also want to avoid giving your pup anything that contains garlic, onion, scallions, or chives; pitted fruits; nuts; mushrooms; grapes, currants, or raisins; chocolate; alcohol; caffeine; or xylitol. Meat on the bone is also unsafe, as are raw meat, dough, and yeast. When shopping for store-bought treats, choose products that contain mostly meat, fish, and/or poultry.

If you like cooking, you can try making Fido some homemade snacks. Look online for recipes that use pet-safe ingredients. Some good options are plain, cooked, boneless meat, fish, or poultry; cheese; bacon, as well as bacon bits or grease; plain yogurt; natural peanut butter; wheat germ oil; liver powder; and pureed pumpkin. Here’s an easy one to try: mix natural peanut butter with pureed pumpkin, an egg, and water. Divide the batter up into small portions, then bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes or until hard.

Many dogs actually enjoy learning things and/or doing a job. Once Fido has basic doggy obedience commands down, start having him do tricks for his snacks. (Tip: Roll Over will always be adorable!)

Do you have questions about your dog’s health or care? Contact us, your Tipp City, OH vet clinic, today!