Visit any dog supply store and you’ll be inundated with dozens of varieties of dog treats: chewy treats, soft treats, crunchy treats, fancy cuts of meat treats, and custom-created dog cakes. The options can be overwhelming!
Dog treats are big business. It’s estimated that Americans spent $38.4 billion on pet food and treats in 2020, according to the American Pet Products Association. Rising spending on treats is driven by awareness and demand from dog lovers for higher quality ingredients and attention to what ingredients are included in treats, where the ingredients come from and how they are processed .
Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor of Petfood Industry and Petfood Forum explains that basically all of the trends you see in pet food these days also apply to treats, often spilling over into human food. Trends such as high protein, limited ingredients, and natural (or organic) foods, as well as health issues specific to pets, such as gut health, joint and bone health, skin and fur. You’ll also see trends in newer, less traditional formats, such as freeze-dried, baked, and more.
Debbie says these “grow, just like they do in pet food. And yes, trends or concerns such as sustainability, sourcing, animal welfare, etc. are also at play in treats as in pet food.
Essentially, current trends in dog treats mirror the same trends we see in the snacks people buy for themselves. We all want our dogs to have the best, healthiest, highest quality, yet most enjoyable snacks possible.
Break down the size
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Dr. Ernie Ward, author of The Clean Pet Food Revolution, advises dog parents to be wise consumers when it comes to treats.
“Today’s savvy, health-conscious pet parent has to sift through a lot of marketing, claims, and attributes. If it looks good or they have an inviting message or that the dog just devoured it and if they like it, I’m going to give more and more Dr. Ward explains that the emotional reaction of guardians wanting to give their dogs more of what they love is understandable, but can lead to health complications like obesity, which is the most common preventable disease in American dogs Unfortunately, even though our dogs love treats and even though we love giving them treats, the treats we give our dogs can quickly gain weight.
The quality of the treats you give is important, but the serving size is just as important to consider. Dr. Ward notes that “dogs don’t do splits,” which means dog treats can be one size, but you don’t have to give your dog an entire treat – you can. break in half, thirds or even smaller. .
I train a lot with daily treats, as well as sports with my dog. Even though this is a giant breed, I divide all treats into very small pieces to use with training.
Become a calorie counter
Do you know how many calories your dog should eat per day? Most dog parents don’t! Dr. Ward advises talking to your veterinarian to find out how many calories your dog needs per day. According to Dr. Ward, your dog’s treats “should not exceed 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories per day.”
Do calculations based on the calories listed on your dog’s favorite treats. However, Dr. Ward explains that candy manufacturers aren’t required to include calorie counts on their packaging, but companies of higher quality and generally healthier candy bars tend to be transparent about the information. on calories. He considers it a red flag if calorie information is not included.
When choosing healthy treats, you’ll find that the calories can really start to add up when the treats contain carbs and protein. Dr. Ward actively encourages health-conscious dog keepers to look for single-ingredient treats because “we can be a little more confident that there isn’t as much opportunity for contamination.” Additionally, these treats tend to be easier for dogs to digest, and limited-ingredient treats tend to be lower in calories.
When calculating the percentage of your dog’s daily calories that go to treats, remember to factor in all the treats you give during the day, including peanut butter you might use to stuff chew toys. or the treats you give your dog when you leave the house.
Use vegetables for treats
If your dog is aging, has pancreatitis, diabetes, or other health conditions, it can be difficult to find a treat that won’t aggravate his pre-existing conditions. Dr. Ward explains that he’s a big fan of giving dogs vegetables as treats.
“The majority of dogs love baby carrots, they love celery, they love sliced zucchini, and many dogs find them just as satisfying and appetizing as commercial treats.” These are the only treats he gives daily to his own dogs.
Dr. Ward encourages dog sitters to talk to their veterinarian about functional treats that might help your dog with an ongoing health condition, such as joint supplements to help with arthritis, instead of giving your dog a treat with no components. strengthening health.
Treats are important
Talk to any good positive reinforcement trainer and they’ll tell you to have lots of treats ready. We spoke to a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), who explains that “using treats in training” falls under the very broad concept of positive reinforcement training if applied correctly. The IAABC promotes and adheres to a standard known as LIMA (Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive Interventions for Behavior Modification).
Jenny Efimova, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and owner of Dogminded, explains, “We train with food because it’s effective, versatile, and portable reinforcement. It’s usually not something we have to work to make valuable to the dog, and there is a wide variety and options we can find for every dog. Another important benefit of training with food and positive reinforcement is that dogs will develop positive associations and emotions with us, the training, and the training environment. How dogs feel while learning is just as important as what they learn, as this will impact their overall behavior and well-being.
One of the most common questions I get asked as a trainer is “When can I stop using treats?” I like to reply by asking, “When was the last time you went to work without getting paid? Dogs deserve to be strengthened like we do. This idea was echoed by Jenny, who notes that when incorporated into your training, “food is reinforcement, not a bribe. No living organism does things just because. What drives behavior is reinforcement. Using food as reinforcement allows us to teach new behaviors and give our dogs clear information about what works.
If you’re concerned about how many treats your dog gets during your training sessions, use some or all of your dog’s food as part of your training. Instead of putting his entire meal in the bowl, put some in a training pouch to use as a reward while you work with him during the day. This makes meals more rewarding and prevents your dog from adding extra calories from treats.
You don’t eat sweets?
Just like people, some dogs are picky eaters. If you have a dog who is uninterested or ambivalent about treats, chances are he hasn’t gotten the right type yet.
For fussy puppies, try several treats with a variety of textures and flavors to see what your dog prefers. You may also need to experiment with different types of protein: chicken, pork, beef, or fish. Even crickets might attract your dog’s attention. For very picky eaters, sticky or very smelly treats can be especially appealing.
