Looking for the best treats for your dog? Want to ensure that your dog gets the right nutrition while also satisfying their taste buds? Let’s find out together how to choose the right treats to keep your dog happy and healthy.
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How we test 🐶
First, we looked closely at the ingredients. With a dog treat, you should pay attention to the ingredients just as you would with good dog food.
Sugar and flavor enhancers should be avoided. They are unhealthy for the dog’s teeth and can lead to cavities.
We also looked at the sizes of the treats. For a large dog, the treats should also be correspondingly large so that he cannot swallow them in one piece.
However, large treats are quite difficult for a small dog to chew. For this reason, the size of the dog should definitely be considered when choosing the treat.
Variety was another point on our list. Today, there are not only treats that taste like chicken but also numerous other varieties.
In addition, there are special treats for allergic dogs, for dogs on a diet, and for dogs with kidney disease. Every dog can be provided with the right treat.
Who is this test for?
This test comparison is suitable for all dog owners who, in addition to high-quality dog food, also pay attention to high-quality treats.
The selection of dog treats on the market is quite extensive. Countless brands, different varieties, and then the different prices make the choice not easy.
For this reason, we have launched this test to make your selection easier. We have made the effort and selected the five best treats for you from over 100 products.
How we selected
Before we focused on the number of treats, we spoke with longtime breeders, dog experts, and veterinarians. They gave us good hints on what to look for in our dog treat test to truly find the best treat.
Then we had countless varieties and brands delivered to us and examined them closely. We checked the ingredients for content, declaration, and size.
How often can I give my dog treats?
Every dog loves treats. Nowadays, there is such a large selection on the market that a fresh dog owner can hardly make a decision.
Even the question of how often a treat can be given can trigger heated discussions. Basically, a dog should not receive too many treats because they are not good for the teeth in the long run, and many treats also contain flavor enhancers and sugar, which are also not good for health.
There are different situations in which a treat can be useful:
- As a reward: After giving a command or after training, many dog owners like to give a treat. There is nothing wrong with that, but make sure that a treat is not given after every command. The dog quickly gets used to it and demands his treat more and more often. Think of his figure and his health. A chew bone is a good alternative to the usual treat sticks.
- At the vet: Nobody likes to go to the doctor, and dogs are no exception. A dog also has to go to the vet regularly, but is very excited before every examination. After the visit, a treat can be useful so that he remains calm during the next visit to the vet. A dried beef tendon, which has been air-dried, would be good for the teeth. It also strengthens the chewing muscles at the same time.
Healthy Alternatives to Dog Treats
There are, of course, healthy alternatives in the realm of dog treats. Buffalo hide chew bones are good for jaw muscles as well as for cleaning teeth.
Hard biscuits can also be recommended. The big advantage here is that biscuits can be quickly made at home. This way, the ingredients are known and can be freely chosen.
Plant fiber should be included in every treat, as they provide vitamins and nutrients that the dog needs.
Yogurt for Dogs?
A dog needs a good amount of protein and calcium. Especially in dog treats, these ingredients are often lacking. But with a piece of cheese or a small amount of yogurt, the dog can be provided with protein and calcium.
How to Make Your Own Treats
In addition to the countless treats offered in stores, there is the possibility of making your own. Attention must be paid to the ingredients. Not every ingredient is suitable for processing.
For example, chocolate. Dogs like to eat chocolate, but it is not healthy and can even lead to blindness. The following ingredients can be safely processed into treats:
- Oat flakes
- Corn bran
- Flour from wheat, spelt, or corn
- Liver sausage
- Beef mince
- Ham (diced)
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Corn germ oil or olive oil (only high quality)
- Eggs (hard-boiled)
Preparation of Treats
The preparation is very simple. The selected ingredients are mixed well together to form a mass that can be easily cut out. The shape is up to you. However, the size should be appropriate for your dog.
They must be able to chew the treat well and not just swallow it. The cut-out shapes are baked in the oven. Preheat the oven to 356°F (180 degrees Celsius). With top and bottom heat, the treats remain in the oven for about 30 minutes until they are well baked.
Then they need to dry calmly. Only through drying do they get a nice, hard shape. After that, the treats can be wrapped in a dish towel. This way, they stay fresh longer.
Treats for Puppies
The good news is: Yes! You can give treats to your puppy. Puppies are still very active and can quickly burn off their calories through their activity.
However, puppies are still small and need fewer calories.
Therefore, only in moderation should you give treats to your little one. Treats are suitable for rewards, and they also get their regular puppy food.
Depending on the size, you can decide on the quantity. An approximate indication can also often be found on the manufacturer’s packaging.
Has Consumer Reports tested treats?
As of today, they have not. That is also one of the reasons why we chose this test report. So that we can help you choose suitable treats.
