Your dog is your most loyal companion, so naturally, you’d want to reward them now and then. There are endless ways to treat them, like their favourite treats, biscuits, soft chews, or buying them a new toy. However, if you have a puppy you’d like to start training, you may be wondering what treats you can use and if they can safely enjoy treats meant for adult dogs.

The good news is that you can reward them with dog treats, but it pays to keep a few things in mind when selecting one for your four-legged friend. Here’s what you should know about giving your puppy some healthy dog treats:

1. Consider Nutrition

Dogs are carnivorous by nature, which means they need protein from meat sources to thrive. Animal-based proteins offer nutrients to your dog through the “microbiome”, a gut bacteria that, when fed correctly, produces digestive enzymes that process nutrients and essential vitamins like thiamine and B12. 

Puppies with poor microbiome health have dysbiosis, typically caused by consuming too much processed foods, antibiotics, and GMOs. When a puppy eats too many of these products while in its developing years, it faces a higher risk of developing the condition, even when it starts eating a proper diet. That’s why you should feed your puppy healthy dog treats and foods with whole ingredients only. 

2. Be Careful with Calories

When choosing dog treats for both puppies and adult canines, you should make sure that it takes up no more than 10 per cent of their daily caloric intake. That means you should be prudent in doling out high-calorie treats, as you may be overfeeding them. Dogs usually need 25 to 30 calories per 0.453 kilograms of body weight, though big-name biscuits typically pack more than 100 calories per treat. Additionally, most of the calories in commercially produced biscuit-style treats are simple carbohydrates that are most known for contributing to weight gain.

Instead, get treats containing complex carbohydrates. Oats and quinoa are great examples that offer long-lasting energy that nourishes the microbiome for several hours while being delicious and rewarding for your pup. However, if your puppy likes to chew, you’ll want to give them an extra crunchy biscuit.

3. Go Bite-Sized

Training your pup can be complicated. It also often involves a lot of positive reinforcement since that’s the best way to get them to learn something new, requiring large amounts of treats. Since puppies are primarily motivated by these delicious snacks, you’ll need to have plenty on hand to affirm techniques, particularly in the early stages.

Naturally, that brings the tricky question of accidentally overstuffing your puppy with calories. Instead, try using bite-sized single ingredient whole foods as treats. Carrots fit the bill, as they’re low in calories while being tasty and crunchy. Still, not all puppies or dogs would be eager to drop into a roll for a carrot or sweet potato. Instead, consider organic dog biscuits that are low calorie, offer a lot of protein, and are something you can break into smaller pieces to control your pup’s intake.

Conclusion

Treats are an essential part of training your puppy, but it’s important to choose your treat carefully to avoid giving them too many carbohydrates to the point of making them sick. By using our guide and opting for organic dog treats, you’ll have a healthy, happy puppy.

Frankie Lovers Barkery is a dog treat bakery offering healthy dog treats in Australia. All our products, including dehydrated treats, are handmade from natural ingredients. Sign up for our mailing list to get 10 per cent off your order!