We all want the best for our dogs, and the treats we give them are no exception. But with so many products available, how do you choose which ones are the best? In this blog, we'll explore what goes into a 'good' dog treat and how to select the right treat for your dog, along with some favourite picks from our range!
Choosing a treat for your four-legged friend is an important decision, one that can be made harder by the huge selection available to choose from nowadays. The right treat can go a long way in providing positive reinforcement for behaviour, such as training tricks and obedience, to supporting your dog's health by promoting a balanced diet.
When selecting a natural treat for your dog, it's important to always consider your dog's specific needs, whether that's allergy-friendly options, texture preferences or favourite flavours.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the key features to look for when shopping for snacks for your dog, and why they matter for your pet's overall health.
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Ingredients You Can Recognise
The ingredients list is an easy place to start when looking for a natural, nutritious treat for your dog. Avoiding sugar, fillers, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives can often be difficult, which is why looking for treats with simple ingredients lists is usually the safest option.
Products like JR Pet Products Training Treats are a great option - you can't get much simpler than one ingredient! These treats are 100% single source protein, made from premium cuts of fresh, human-grade meat only. The whole JR Pet Products range is 100% natural and single source protein, from their pure meat sticks and pate to their hairy cow and venison ears.
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Nutritional Benefits
As much as your dog might think that how the treats taste is all that matters, we know that selecting nutritious treats contributes towards a balanced overall diet. This is key for supporting overall health and wellbeing in your dog, and our range of treats have the added bonus of being delicious too!
For a boost of essential minerals such as copper and iron, omega-3 and 6, and b-vitamins, consider adding an organ meat treat to your rotation. Green & Wild's Ox Liver Chews are a high protein, low fat alternative to bleached rawhide chews, made from 100% ox liver.
Joint health is a huge concern for many dog owners; supporting healthy joints is an important way to keep your dog happy, healthy and comfortable for as long as possible. Whether your dog already takes a joint supplement or not, selecting treats that contain ingredients that promote joint health is a great way to provide an additional level of support.
Treats that contain cartilage, such as JR Pet Products Natural Chicken Feet, are a great natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are both important for joint health. These compounds both protect cells called chondrocytes, which are responsible for cartilage formation and collagen production.
When selecting natural treats that contain high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, look out for products with a high cartilage content, as this is where the compounds are naturally found. JR Pet Products Beef Air Pipe, JR Pet Products Ostrich Knuckle Bones and Anco Naturals Chicken Necks are all fantastic natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, and an equally tasty treat for your dog!
- Allergy-Friendly Options
As previously mentioned, many natural treats are a great option for sensitive dogs, as a wide range of single source protein options are available. Filler products in many commercially available treats include corn gluten, wheat gluten, soy and cereals; these ingredients provide little nutritional value and can cause digestive issues.
Feeding natural treats is an easy way to avoid these, so you can spoil your dog in confidence knowing there are no hidden nasties in the ingredients list!
But what about dogs with more complex allergies?
Some of the more surprising items on the common allergens list for dogs include beef and chicken, two ingredients that may seem hard to avoid when selecting a meaty treat for your dog. Unique protein sources, such as kangaroo, ostrich and camel, are some alternative options that may be less likely to trigger allergies or intolerances in dogs.
Browse our range of 'exotic' meat treats for dogs here, with everything from soft training treats to tough hide chews, perfect for keeping your dog entertained for longer.
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Dental Care
Did you know 85% of dogs over the age of 3 experience periodontal disease? Keeping on top of your dog's oral hygiene is key for preventing problems later in life, and a simple way to do that is by providing them with the tools to look after their own teeth! Alongside dental care supplements and regular brushing (if your dog tolerates it), chewy natural treats make for a great natural toothbrush, promoting dental hygiene and keeping your dog entertained at the same time.
All chewy treats can help to keep teeth clean to an extent, but natural treats like pizzles and tendons are amongst the best. These are a great option for a long lasting chew that can help reduce plaque and tartar build up on your dog's teeth. These tough and fibrous treats not only satisfy your dog's natural instinct to chew, but the action of chewing itself also mechanically dislodges plaque. Treats with hair, such as hairy rabbit ears or rabbit hair rolls are also great for dental hygiene: the hair acts as a natural floss to help scrape plaque away from the surface of the teeth.
By using natural treats to promote dental hygiene, you may notice your dog's breath smelling fresher, and fewer signs of tartar accumulation on the teeth.
Check out our range of natural dental care chews for dogs here.
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All Things Furry
Another reason to consider giving your dog natural treats is to promote intestinal hygiene. Whilst it may be off-putting to some people, hairy or furry treats, such as rabbit ears, have a whole host of benefits for your dog. Fur is undigestible for dogs, so when the fur passes through the digestive tract, it can help to flush out any parasites in your dog's digestive system.
Alongside a regular faecal worm egg count, using furry treats as a natural dewormer can be a great option for maintaining your dog's intestinal health.
Fur is also a source of insoluble fibre for dogs. Whilst it isn't enzymatically digestible (so your pet doesn't get much actual nutrition from it), fur provides important roughage which helps to form healthy stools and promote gastrointestinal motility (ie. keeps your pet regular!).
Shop our range of 'primal' treats here, including everything from rabbit ears to tendons.
Choosing the best natural dog treats for your furry friend is less complicated than you might think, and it certainly doesn't mean comprimising on taste! By keeping these key features in mind, you can pick out healthy, nutritious treats that benefit your dog's overall wellbeing.
Remember that moderation is important, whilst these treats are delicious and have a range of benefits, it is possible to overindulge! Your dog should enjoy natural treats in small portions, always while supervised and with access to clean, fresh water.
Shop our full range of natural dog treats here!
