Is it good to give dogs snacks?
There are currently a wide variety of dog snacks on the market. Dog treats, as they are also known, come in many types, such as sticks, biscuits, wet snacks, pressed skin, fresh meat snacks, and many more. Giving your dog a snack won't make your pet love you more or less or be happier or happier, however, It will be of great help to make the dog obey you and learn behavior patterns. that you want to teach him.
In this article, we want to tell you about the main purpose of dog treats—whether they're dental treats or natural dog treats. We'll also answer the different types of dog treats, how often they should be given to your pet, and some tips on how to train your dog. Keep reading this article to learn more about dog treats!
What are dog snacks for?
Dog snacks, dog treats or dog treats are foods primarily designed for to reward your pet for its behavior, but also to strengthen the bond you have with your dog and as a mental stimulus. You should know that, although dogs nowadays have food within their reach, their instinct is based on searching for food and selecting what they can eat. Dog treats take advantage of this instinct and can achieve the following results:
- Reward your pet's behavior and train it.
- Strengthen the bond with your dog.
- Mental training.
- To strengthen your health.
Dog treats are excellent for training our pet—or training a dog. They can be used both indoors and outdoors, and, as we explained in the introduction, they come in many different types. Another function of dog treats is to serve as mental stimulation. You can, for example, hide various snacks in different places around the house for your pet to find, reinforcing its tracking instinct. You should know that snacks can also be used to strengthen the pet's health, especially when they have a nutritional deficiency - although this is not the most common case.
Types of dog snacks
When you think of snacks, you think of dog treats and associate them with something negative. Dog snacks don't have to be bad, though., it is important to properly choose the product that you are going to provide to your pet. In any case, it's best to buy natural dog treats when buying dog treats. These are free of chemicals and additives that can be harmful to your dog's health if overused. Dental dog treats, for example, are recommended for preventing the appearance of tartar and reducing its presence on teeth, as well as for preventing bad breath. When we talk about the main types of dog treats, we find the following:
- Dehydrated snacksThese snacks are recommended for all ages and breeds. They ensure that the dog's teeth are working while eating them. They should be avoided in older dogs with weakened teeth.
- Wet snacksThese are soft snacks, recommended for dogs with worn and sensitive teeth, such as beef or chicken sausage. Avoid foods that contain excessive additives and always opt for the most natural ones.
- Skin bones for dogs: They're one of the most common and desired snacks for dogs. They're usually made from pressed beef and pork hide.
- Dental snacks for dogsDental treats for dogs are intended to prevent the buildup of tartar, improve overall dental health, and prevent bad breath. They are usually in the form of sticks for dogs.
- Dog biscuits: This is another type of dog snack, although it's shaped like a biscuit. They come in all kinds, such as chocolate biscuits, animal-shaped biscuits, bone-shaped biscuits, bone-shaped biscuits, and more.
- Natural snacks for dogs: This is one of the most recommended snacks. Natural dog snacks are made with natural foods, such as chicken wings, chewy cod rings, skin bites, salmon chips, deer antlers for dogs, etc.
How often to give dog treats
As long as they are natural dog snacks - like dog snacks that we sell in Arquivet— or snacks that have a high nutritional value and are healthy, The amount of snacks you can give a puppy is up to 15% of the daily calories.The rest of the ration should be a complete and balanced meal so that the dog receives the macronutrients he needs for proper development. Dental treats for dogs can be given once a day. More than one can be harmful to his health and cause stomach problems. Stick-shaped dog treats, small biscuits, are widely used to reward pets in various situations where behavior needs to be reinforced. In the case of adult or senior animals, it is advisable that dog treats do not exceed the 10% of daily calories that the pet ingests.
How to train my dog with snacks
To answer the question of how to train a dog with treats, it's important to keep in mind some of the following tips:
- Treats should never be used as a substitute for your dog's daily diet. They are used to positively reinforce your dog's behavior. In other words, to provide specific training.
- Snacks should be of good quality, the more natural the better.
- The amount of snacks should be reduced once the dog has learned the behavior or exercise.
- It's advisable to have several types of treats of varying value. When the behavior is difficult to learn, work with the highest-value treat and the one that's tastiest for the dog.
- Complement the snacks with other positive reinforcement, such as caresses and tone of voice.
