Choosing the Best Dog Treats for Your Furry Friend
Key Takeaways:
- Dog treats serve a variety of purposes like offering training rewards, providing an occupying activity, cleaning teeth, and simply making your furry friend happy.
- Look for healthy, low-fat treats made with limited ingredients to keep your dog feeling their best.
- You can make your own treats using dog-friendly ingredients such as sweet potato, bananas, and carrots.
Selecting the best dog treats depends on their ingredients, your furry friend’s age and size, and what you want the treats to accomplish. If you’re training your dog, for instance, you’ll want to use small, quick snacks to get their attention and reinforce positive behavior. On the other hand, you may want to opt for long-lasting chews like bones and bully sticks if you’re looking to keep them busy.
You’ll need a few kinds of treats on hand to help your dog live their best life, from giving them wholesome nutrients to offering the enrichment they crave. Discover the different varieties of treats available and how to choose the best ones for each situation.
Best Treats for Your Dog
| Treat Type | Treat Benefit |
|---|---|
| Crunchy Treats and Biscuits | Satisfying texture, excellent for training, instant gratification. |
| Long-Lasting Chew Treats | Occupying, help fight boredom. |
| Jerky Treats | Savory flavor, chewy texture, often high in protein. |
| Dental Treats | Help clean teeth and gums, reduce plaque and tartar buildup, freshen breath. |
| Natural Animal Parts | Satisfy primal urge to chew, extremely long lasting, help prevent destructive chewing. |
| Homemade Treats | Control over ingredients, extra-special indulgence. |
Crunchy Treats and Biscuits
When you hear "dog treats," you probably think of small treats and biscuits. These baked snacks often come in a compact size and feature a satisfying crunchy texture, making them tasty rewards for your best friend.
Small bites—or even your dog’s favorite treat toy refills—are excellent training rewards because they provide instant gratification. The best dog training treats are little so you can offer your furry friend praise multiple times during a training session.
Long-Lasting Chew Treats
What are some of the best dog treats for tough chewers? Long-lasting chew treats, of course! These tasty rewards keep dogs occupied and happy, offering everything a pup and their pet parent can ask for. They are also ideal for helping dogs fight boredom; for example, when you have a busy day working from home and can't give your best friend as much attention as usual!
If you want your dog’s chew treats to be delicious and healthy, you’re not alone. According to a Nylabone® survey1, pet parents ranked natural, highly digestible, and made with real meat as the most important attributes they look for in a long-lasting treat. That’s why we recommend USA-made Natural Nubz® chew treats, which are highly digestible and free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives for guiltless enjoyment. From real chicken to a savory meaty center, these limited-ingredient treats come in a variety of delicious flavors dogs love.
Jerky Treats
We humans aren't the only ones who enjoy savory jerky snacks! Jerky treats for dogs are made of dehydrated meats, fish, fruits, or vegetables, offering the appetizing flavors our furry friends naturally crave. Through the dehydrating process, moisture is removed to preserve the food while retaining key vitamins and minerals. Because of the lower water content, jerky typically has a tough, chewy texture that dogs love!
Give your furry friend a dog jerky treat that is premium quality, low in fat, and made with real ingredients. Meat and fish jerkies are especially high in protein!
Dental Treats
Did you know dental care impacts your dog’s overall wellness? When a dog develops dental disease, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to other areas within the body, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. This could lead to serious health problems like heart and liver disease.
Incorporating dental treats offers an extra layer of protection against periodontal disease. While giving your dog dental treats should never replace daily brushing, it’s an effective way to supplement their routine.
Look for dental treats with textured surfaces that scrape away plaque and tartar buildup. We recommend Nutri Dent® chew treats, which feature 360-degree scrubbing nubs and multiple textures to help your dog’s smile shine.
🦷 Related: A Pet Parent’s Guide to Mastering Dog Dental Care
Natural Animal Parts
It's simply in dogs' nature to crave treats made from real animal parts such as bully sticks, beef hide, and pig ears, and other long-lasting dog chews. In addition to satisfying every dog's primal urge to chew, natural animal parts help clean teeth as dogs chew. These treats are typically long lasting, which keeps dogs occupied and helps prevent destructive chewing. Some popular natural parts for dogs include:
- Bully Sticks and Piggy Sticks: Single-ingredient bully sticks and piggy sticks are available in various sizes and shapes. These edible dog chews are highly digestible and high in protein.
- Beef Hide: From all-natural to varieties with tasty flavors, beef hide chews satisfy tough chewers. Popular shapes include curls, retriever rolls, and chips.
- Beef Shin Bones: Beef shin bones provide an entertaining chewing challenge for extreme chewers and are often stuffed with tasty fillings dogs love.
- Cow Ears and Pig Ears: Cow ears and pig ears are often oven roasted to bring out their natural savory flavor. They're high in protein and low in fat, providing a wholesome treat.
Homemade Treats
Sometimes there's nothing as satisfying to us as a homemade goodie…and the same goes for dogs! There are plenty of dog-friendly treat recipes out there for you to follow. From frozen dog treats ideal for warmer weather to festive dog treats during the holiday season, some of the best dog treats are made with love.
No matter what kind of treat you make your pup, be sure to include dog-safe foods such as sweet potatoes, bananas, and carrots while staying away from toxic foods for dogs including raisins, onions, and anything with xylitol. Also be mindful of the ingredients, size, and calories to meet your furry friend's specific needs.
Dog Treats for Sensitive Stomachs or Food Allergies
If your furry friend experiences excessive gas or vomiting after eating, they may have a sensitive stomach. Lean meats like skinless chicken breast and fiber-rich vegetables such as sweet potato and carrots are easier on their digestive systems. Look for treats with these ingredients, and steer clear of options with artificial additives like corn or wheat.
Similarly, you should pay close attention to treat labels if your dog has food allergies. Beef, chicken, dairy, and eggs are among the most common allergens, and luckily there’s an array of hypoallergenic dog treats that omit these ingredients. Options made from duck, salmon, pork, sweet potato, or pumpkin are among the most popular alternatives.
Dog Treats by Life Stage
Your dog’s age can also influence the kinds of treats you should give them. If you have a puppy, check the treat label to ensure they’re appropriate for their age and size. Treats made with natural ingredients are best for pups’ delicate stomachs, and omega-3 fatty acids can even aid brain and eye development.
Senior dogs benefit from softer treats, as their teeth are often more sensitive. Likewise, you should give them ingredients that help support their aging joints, such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
Treating Tips
Be sure to follow best practices when giving your furry friend any treat. This means always feeding treats as a supplemental reward and not as a meal replacement. Reward your dog in moderation and ensure you find what the best dog treats are for your pup's size and weight. Of course, you should always supervise your dog while they are enjoying a treat, too!
Discover our wide variety of chew treats for more healthy ways to reward your four-legged friend.
FAQs About Choosing the Best Dog Treats
What are the best dog treats for training?
Small, crunchy treats and biscuits provide instant gratification and can be given multiple times during a training session. Look for treats in your dog’s favorite flavors to keep them happily motivated.
How many treats per day should I give my dog?
Treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your dog’s diet, and they are not intended to be fed as a meal. The exact number depends on your dog’s size; larger dogs can have more treats than smaller dogs.
What are the best single-ingredient dog treats?
Natural animal parts like bully sticks, beef hide, beef shin bones, cow ears, and pig ears are some of the most popular options. Plus, they’re all long lasting and help clean teeth as dogs chew.
What treats are best for dogs with allergies?
Limited-ingredient treats that are free from artificial additives are best for dogs with allergies or sensitivities. Proteins like duck, salmon, or pork typically make good choices for dogs who are allergic to beef or chicken.
What treats are best for puppies?
Treats with natural ingredients and omega-3 fatty acids are great for your pup’s overall health. Before giving your puppy treats, check the label to ensure they’re appropriate for your dog’s age and size.
How can I make dog treats?
Many baked or frozen healthy dog snacks call for dog-safe foods like plain yogurt, sweet potatoes, bananas, blueberries, and carrots. Be sure to stay away from toxic ingredients such as raisins, onions, and anything with xylitol.
1 Source: Nylabone® online survey conducted July 2023 among 301 dog owners.
FOLLOW US!
