Giving a dog a treat is a fun way to bond with your canine companion, but it is important to teach your dog to accept treats calmly and quietly. Treats are a great training aid for dogs, and can also prevent boredom and destructive behavior. 

How To Give Your Dog Treats? 

Dogs should be given treats when they are calm and paying attention to you, but you may need to do some treat training to achieve this. Some dogs will gently take a treat from your hand, but with greedy dogs, you need to teach them not to grab the treat. Feeding treats to a dog that is overexcited or in a playful mood can cause them to choke. 

How to train your dog to take a treat: 

• Select a treat that your dog enjoys and hold it between your thumb and forefinger. 
• Show the treat to your dog but keep it out of reach – if they become overexcited, use body language and appropriate commands to ask them to calm down. This is a great way to train your dog to sit on command. 
• When your dog has calmed down and is focused on you and the treat, slowly extend your hand and allow them to take the treat. 
• If the dog attempts to greedily snatch the treat, hold the treat inside your closed fist until your dog gently tries to nuzzle it from your hand. 

Avoid giving treats alongside your dog’s regular meals as they will start to prefer your tasty snacks to their regular food. Instead, save treat time for when you are doing something special with your dog, such as grooming or training. Training dogs with treats is a great way to positively reinforce good behavior, but stick to healthier natural treats such as those containing oil for dogs. 

How Often Should Dogs Get Treats? 

Dogs can be given treats regularly, but the total amount should never exceed more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Feeding too many treats can lead to obesity and nutritional imbalances, increasing the risk of a wide range of health problems. 

Many dog treats are very nutrient-dense, giving them a higher calorie content than regular dog food. Like our favorite treats such as chocolate, treats for dogs are not always a healthy option and can contain a lot of artificial ingredients. 

If you are regularly using treats as a training aid, try to find a tasty snack that your dog enjoys but that is not too high in calories. Large treats can be broken into smaller pieces to maximize enjoyment without risking overfeeding.  

When Can You Start Giving Puppies Treats? 

New dog owners often wonder when puppies can have treats, but young puppies have a delicate digestive system that cannot cope with rich foods. Treats should not be given to puppies until they are fully weaned onto good-quality puppy food, normally at around eight weeks old. 

When you start to feed your puppy treats, opt for small treats that are soft and easy to chew. Stick to treats that are specially formulated for puppies as these will contain the ideal nutrients for your little pup. Small puppies cannot eat a lot of food at once and may vomit if fed too many treats. 

Summary 

Feeding treats is a great way to have fun with your dog and can be a useful way to encourage good behavior. However, moderation is essential when giving treats to dogs to avoid unwanted weight gain and nutritional issues. When choosing dog treats, look for products containing natural ingredients to keep your canine buddy healthy and in peak condition.