Dog Treats – Should You Make Them Yourself?

Dog Treats – Should You Make Them Yourself?

natural dog treatsDog owners now a days are more aware of their pet’s nutritional needs and they increasingly recognize the advantage of providing their pets with natural dog treats. Natural dog treats usually contain no added chemical preservatives or fillers, leaving your dog with correct nutritional value. Natural treats are also known to use the highest grade of edible products and processing techniques to ensure they’re even fit for human consumption.

Some brands of natural commercial dog treats contain pig ears which most dogs love to eat. They contain some fat which dogs love in addition to the flavor which most dogs find delicious. Treats containing pig ear are usually baked rather than processed with chemicals and usually have no added preservatives or colorings but check the package label before buying.

Another type of dog treat is Greenies, which are used to freshen the dog’s breath with the help of chlorophyll. Artificial flavors, extra colors or preservatives are not added in Greenies. Most of the pets like them and their owners feel that the pet’s breath becomes fresh in a safe manner. The dog’s teeth are cleaned by chewing these treats.

You might be surprised to know that natural dog treats exist right in your refrigerator, or in your garden. Carrots, apple slices, and celery are all wonderful natural dog treats, providing vitamins without added chemical enhancers. Just give these treats a thorough wash before giving them to your dogs. Whether commercially made or straight from the garden, natural dog treats are a great way to give your dogs a dash of extra nutrition without any artificial ingredients.

When choosing a dog food for our four legged friends you have an amazing array of dog food to choose from. Even though there are many different brands, all dog food falls into three general categories. One of these categories is grocery store dog food which may be purchased at your regular store when shopping for groceries. This type of dog food is generally mass marketed but does have the drawback of containing inferior ingredients to those found in specialty stores or at your veterinarian.

The second category of food is premhomemade dog treatsium dog food. This food is unlikely to be found in your local grocery store. The best sources for this type of dog food are your veterinarian’s office or local pet store. Usually these foods are more expensive as they are made of higher quality ingredients. However, you still need to be aware of the ingredients in the dog food as some packages will claim to be premium quality when in reality all they are is over priced “discount” grade dog food. Before buying any dog food, weather it be buying dog food online or from a physical store, always be sure to check the ingredients list. Most authentic premium dog food will also say it is human grade dog food.

The third and final category is homemade dog food. More and more people are starting to make their dog’s food at home rather than buying commercial formulas. Homemade dog food does not contain any substances that could possibly be harmful to your dog’s health like artificial coloring and artificial flavors. You can also buy dog food online. You can find the price of various dog foods through the internet.

These days, animal owners are more cognizant of their pets’ dietary requirements and they see the benefit of giving them natural dog treats. They also consist of a very high level of ingredients and are packaged so carefully that they could even be eaten safely by people. Homemade dog food is what the final category is called. There are growing numbers of people who are now making their pet’s food at home. You are also able to purchase dog food online, which can provide you with the prices for various dog foods.

– Melinda Smith

 
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4 thoughts on “Dog Treats – Should You Make Them Yourself?

  1. Laura Cornwell

    This is not a well written or even very informative article. Most people know there are differences in dog foods, but an explanation of what is a ‘good’ ingredient and what is ‘bad’ would be more helpful. We may know we don’t want artificial ingredients and preservatives in our dog food, but what, specifically, should we look for on the label?
    More information is needed.

  2. Brigitte Smith

    Hi Laura,

    Sorry you didn’t like it. I do put a lot of work into this site, and I suppose with the volume of material that is here now, not each and every article contains every piece of information there is.

    I really do appreciate constructive criticism, and I’m not sure your comment does that. But in case I’m being too sensitive, I’m going to answer it as if it is constructive …

    As you can see, I have a number of people writing for my site, as well as hand picking individual articles that I find elsewhere. And I also write some of it myself. So I can’t take credit for how well written everything is, although I can’t really see where the above article is not well written.

    About a quarter of Melinda’s above article is about natural treats you can find in your refrigerator – so you don’t really need to look on any label! About a quarter of the article is about making your own dog treats. So no need to look on any label there either.

    So I guess you’re mainly taking issue with the part of the article that refers to pre-made treats.

    Ingredients to look for in any dog food, including dog treats, are chicken, meat or even fish as the first listed ingredient, or some other protein source. Next you should ensure that there is only a small proportion of grain – look out for a product that has a meat as the first ingredient but then lists 3 or 4 grains next – the total content of the grains in such a product is likely to far outweigh the meat content.

    I do have lots of information about good dog food ingredients if you look around my sites – see e.g. http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/DogFood and the links from that page.

    See e.g. also https://healthierdogs.com/dog_food/best-dog-foods-ranked – and look at the ingredients of the foods I recommend in that article.

    Hope this provides the information you were looking for.

    Regards,
    Brigitte

  3. John Miller

    Hi Brigitte,
    I read the Oct. 5 article about dog treats and dog food. Then I read the comment from Laura Cornwell. OUCH!!! I agree it was offensive.

    As animal lovers, we are always looking for practical information to learn and put to use. We also love to share it so others can benefit. Your follow-up message definitely filled what void the first note left. Kudos to you for defining the food specifically as Chicken, meat, fish and some grain. I’ve tried apples, celery and broccoli with my 2 Shih Tzus and your advice is right on! They love it!

    Please remember that people like Laura Cornwell serve a valuable roll to folks like you and I. They give us feedback so that we can improve what we do. It is hard for us to pick the gems of the lesson out of the stinging criticism. You managed to do it this and I’m proud of you.

    Cheers,
    …John.

  4. Brigitte Smith

    Hi John,

    Thanks so much for your kind comments.

    I really appreciate it!

    Yes, many dogs love some fruit and vegetables in their diet, and some dogs love to crunch on them as treats. And the best part – it’s good for them, too.

    Regards,
    Brigitte

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