Four healthy ways to treat your pup
We all love treating our furry friends. They are part of the family. Who doesn’t love to see their tails wagging like crazy when they are given their favourite treat, whether it’s an all natural, wheat free dog biscuit (hello there Queens of the Bone Age bestseller reward biscuits!) or their favourite meaty chew.
As well as a way to show your love, treats are also an excellent way of rewarding your pet pooch for good behaviour as part of positive reinforcement training. The treats can go a long way in helping your dog to learn what positive behaviour you’d like them to be modelling.
However as owners we are responsible for the physical health of our pets as well as just their happiness. It is up to us to give our doggies the best and healthiest life that we are able to.
So what kind of treats, and importantly in what amounts, are healthy?
- Research shows that the treats you give your doggo should not make up more than 10% of their daily calorie intake. So for example a moderately active, adult Cockapoo should weigh around 20lb and have a daily calorie requirement of about 350-400 calories. Meaning that their daily treats should not exceed 40 calories. Additionally your dog should not have so many treats that they start to lose interest in their main meal as this way they may miss out on their core nutrition.
- It is important to know what ingredients are in your dog treats too. Make sure to avoid highly processed treats that may contain added salt and sugar which are bad news for your pup. These ingredients can be detrimental to your dog’s health, for example, much like humans, too much sugar in your dog’s diet can lead to excess weight gain and problems with their teeth. Instead, try minimally processed, all natural treats with a short ingredient list so you know your dog is getting the very best. Here at Queens of the Bone Age, we do our very best to keep our ingredient list short and top quality. In fact, all the ingredients we use are human-grade and our bestselling peanut bone biscuits contain just three ingredients (with no added salt or sugar). You could even eat them yourself, we know - we’ve tried!
- Treats may also be used to supplement your dog’s diet in a healthy way. Added ingredients such as organic beetroot or spirulina, which are packed full of vitamins and minerals, can have benefits for your dog like helping to keep their coat soft and shiny and their gut healthy.
- Above all, it is important to remember that one of your dog’s very favourite things is you. You are the leader of their pack. And love and attention, in the form of a fun game or praise, is as equally rewarding as giving your dog food and treats whilst also helping to strengthen your emotional bond.
