Dog food treats and snacks are a vital part of your communication with your pets. We use them to reinforce good behaviour, and also as an incentive and reward for successfully completing tricks we are teaching them.
You need to ensure that any type of treat or snack given to your dog is based on healthy, natural food wherever possible. It should also have some kind of helpful result such as aiding in cleaning teeth. Rawhides as well as beef jerky specifically made for dog food treats are a great means to do this.
While some individuals use table scraps for dog food treats, it is generally not recommended. Many of these scraps often do not provide the nutritional nourishment that the dog needs.
There are a wide choice of good quality treats on the market including healthy, natural ones. Therefore you should have no problem finding suitable treats for
your dog.
Alternatively, you can make your own dog food treats at home.
This option is not only a fun way to connect with your fur baby, but also an opportunity to learn how to make something new in the kitchen that you would
not normally make. You can make sure they are made with healthy ingredients that you choose. Thus no more quality or food recall problems.
The video below details two healthy, tasty, organic recipes presented by Rosanna Pansino which your dogs will love:
THE THINGS YOU WILL NEED FOR ROSANNA’S RECIPES:
Mini Mutt Mints
* (1/2) Cup Fresh Minced Parsley
* (1/2) Cup Fresh Minced Mint
* (2) Cups Oat Flour
* (1/2) Cup Almond Meal
* (1/4) Cup Apple Sauce
* (1/4) Cup Coconut Water
* (1/4) Cup Coconut Oil
* (1) Heart Cookie Cutter Set
Sweet Potato Doggie Biscuits
* (1/4) Cup Fresh Minced Parsley
* (1/2) Cup Minced Celery
* (3/4) Cup Mashed Sweet Potato
* (1) Cup Brown Rice Flour
* (1/4) Cup Chicken Broth
* (1) Cup Oat Flour
* (1/2) Teaspoon Chicken Seasoning
* (1) Bone Cookie Cutter Set
Two other healthy dog treat recipes you may want to try are:
BONGO’S BISCUITS
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp powdered garlic
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Rind of 1 orange
12 tsp butter (do not use margarine as it’s mostly water).
1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
METHOD
Combine all the components. Knead till well blended. Split into 6 parts. Roll each part into a log. Wrap loosely in wax paper. Freeze.
When needed, thaw and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices (across roll).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the cookies on an ungreased cookie pan. Cook about 12 mins. Makes 6-8 cookies from each roll.
BEANIE’S BIKKIES.
INGREDIENTS:
3 1/2 cups simple flour.
2 cups Quaker oats.
1-cup milk.
1/2 cup warm water.
2 beef or poultry bouillon cubes.
1/2 cup meat drippings (beef, turkey, poultry or lamb).
1/2 tsp garlic powder.
Pinch ginger.
METHOD:
Before you begin making this dish, ensure you examine there is no onion in the bouillon cubes. Best to be safe and sure even if it is only a small amount.
Liquify the cubes in hot water. Add the milk and the meat drippings and beat well.
Mix the flour and oat meal thoroughly in a different bowl. Then, pour the liquid ingredients slowly into the dry mixture, with constant mixing as you go. Mix well.until thoroughly blended.
Press onto an ungreased cookie sheet and cut into your desired shapes.
Bake at 300 degrees F for 1 hr. Switch off the heat and leave in the stove to solidify. Refrigerate after baking.
TABLE SCRAPS.
There are certainly many individuals who will declare that table scraps are harmful to your dog and thus should not be offered as snacks. These individuals are only partly correct.
While many commercial dog treats and snacks are formulated to meet the dietary requirements of your animal, there is no harm in permitting your dog to consume some table scraps as long as they are safe for the dog and are not given in excess quantities..
There are human foods that are dangerous and hazardous to your pet. However, most human food is perfectly acceptable for canines to eat. You need to study what foods are acceptable and what ones are harmful.
Things to be careful of:
Easily digestible foods such as prepared rice or chicken, and also turkey (boneless), will certainly be fine to feed your canine. Many fruits and vegetables are well tolerated by dogs. However there are some kinds to avoid such as grapes and onions.
Table scraps should only be used as small treats here and there for your dog. They should not be the major source of nutritional consumption. Unsafe table scraps like chocolate, and also some types of bones, can cause substantial harm or even be fatal to your pet.
You should also be careful not to feed your dog scraps which are too rich or are not well tolerated by their stomachs, as they can cause serious digestive troubles. Thus you need to be wary of exactly what table scraps you feed to your dog, and make sure it is not excessive quantities.
Always speak with your vet if you have any kind of concerns or questions about what snacks and treats to feed them. When using store bought brands, always read the labels to ensure you are getting good quality products, and make sure to follow the instructions.
It is important to remember that these are treats, and as such, are not meant to function as a stand along meal. Only use snacks and treats sparingly to ensure you avoid over feeding your dog.,
Sharda.