As we all know, there are few things as enjoyable as seeing the expressions on our dogs’ faces when we give them their favourite treat after asking them to ‘sit’ or ‘give paw’, or even just ‘who’s a good boy?’. Giving treats to our beloved dogs can be one of the most enjoyable ways to show our affection.
There is a wide variety of commercial dog treats available, together with a lot of information about which treats your dog will guzzle up. But, just because your dog likes them, does not always mean they are appropriate…
When are treats appropriate?
Treats are the best way to reward your dog for any favourable behaviour. Giving a treat when a certain action or behaviour is exhibited is defined as positive reinforcement, and is the basis of most successful dog training programmes – for example, immediately rewarding your dog with a treat if he sits when asked. It is very important that the favourable action must be rewarded within a few seconds after being performed, for your dog to associate the treat with the action. Using treats is also a great way of turning scary situations into pleasurable experiences – for example, offering your dog a treat while cutting his nails or cleaning his ears.
Be cautious not to unknowingly reinforce an unfavourable behaviour with treats; for example, giving your dog a treat every time he starts barking to get him to stop, will most likely make him bark even more frequently, because he thinks he is being rewarded for this. Also, never give your dog any treats while you are eating, as it might make him beg for food from your plate. In my house, we have learnt to be very secretive about where the treats are kept, to prevent our doggy from spending hours waiting in front of the cupboard where he spotted the treats appearing from.
Be very careful of overdoing it when it comes to treats. Treats should, ideally, not become part of your dog’s daily routine, and should always come as a surprise. By giving more than the recommended amount of daily treats, your dog is at risk of becoming overweight, which, contrary to some people’s opinion, is never cute! Treats should form part of your dog’s daily recommended calorie intake – something your local veterinarian can help you calculate and fine-tune to fit your dog.
Recommended treats
The ideal treat should be one that not only smells good to your dog, but is also packed full of natural ingredients, with as little fats, sugars, flavourings and salt as possible. Treats can be a great way to supplement your dog’s diet with vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, with some treats even containing ingredients to support joint health.
Calories should be kept to a minimum to prevent your dog from becoming overweight, as mentioned earlier. There are vet-recommended, reduced-calorie treats available for dogs who struggle with their weight. Treats that assist in controlling dental disease are also recommended; these treats are usually more solid and assist by ‘scraping’ the tartar from your dog’s teeth.
Treats to avoid
It is important to remember that everything we eat is not necessarily suitable for our pets. Try not to treat your dog with human food and table scraps, like sweets, cheese and meat. Cheese might not harm your dog in small quantities every now and then, but too much can lead to obesity. Apparently, feeding 28g of cheese to a 15kg dog is the equivalent of an average adult eating one whole hamburger. Furthermore, it can also cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and even inflammation of the pancreas, if given too frequently. Certain human foods are also considered toxic to dogs, for example raisins, chocolates, onions, and even caffeine in higher amounts.
In my opinion, the risks of feeding your dog bones always outweigh the benefits. Bones tend to fracture teeth, can get swallowed and cause obstructions, which might require life-threatening surgery to remove, or might break and flake into tiny pieces that can lead to constipation.
Be cautious of feeding large, hard treats to a small dog, which could hurt his mouth and teeth, but also ensure that the treats are not too small that they get swallowed whole and pose a choking hazard. The best solution is to supervise your dog while he enjoys his treats.
Be vigilant
With this information, you should be able to comfortably navigate through all the treat-related information out there. It will also ensure that the loving bond between you and your dog grows stronger by using treats in a safe and appropriate manner, while avoiding all the risks that come with it.
