CORE
Learn. Treat. Eat. Repeat. That’s how you become a Crufts star
Sit. Stay. Everyone wants a well-trained pup that sits on command and walks well on the lead. They’re a pleasure to be around and you can take them to more places. And since Crufts is around the corner, there’s no time like the present to create a plan for a better-behaved dog.
Dog training starts with time and patience. And treats. Lots of treats.
But…What makes a treat healthy for dogs?
- Low calorie and low fat: Keeping your dog’s waistline top of mind is key to not only prevent unwanted weight gain but choosing a healthier treat will also mean each treat will deliver fewer calories. Today it is estimated that 56% of dogs are overweight or obese (Association for Pet Obesity Prevention) and in many cases too many treats or feeding the wrong types of treats can be a primary way of giving our dogs unnecessary and unwanted calories that directly lead to weight gain.
- Higher Quality Ingredients: A better treat always starts with better ingredients. Things to look for include named meat proteins like fresh chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, or salmon as well as ingredients you recognise like apples, carrots, and oats. Now whilst it is important to check what ingredients are listed in the treat you pick; it is equally important to scan for the ingredients that you want to avoid and make sure they are not in that treat. A higher quality treat will avoid un-named generic cereals, meat-by-products, sugars, artificial flavours, artificial preservatives and artificial colours.
- A Functional Benefit: When talking with pet parents, we know giving our dogs a snack makes them happy and makes us happy at the same time but in addition to a tasty reward, giving a treat that delivers a health benefit to improve a dog’s wellbeing is an opportunity that truly makes a treat a healthy snack. Examples include:
- With 80% of adult dogs and 96% of senior dogs suffering dental disease, a great snack to consider is one that delivers a dental health benefit. This could be a tailored dental chew, such as WHIMZEES by Wellness, that delivers a scientifically proven improvement to dental health such as reduced plaque and tartar and fresher breath.
- Mobility support: It is estimated one in five dogs suffer from joint pain or osteoarthritis which is especially concerning for senior and large breed dogs. Feeding a snack rich in protein can support muscle health and added glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate and omega-3 fatty acids can help support mobility and activity.
- Brain and cognitive function: When it comes to puppy health, a great treat is one that also helps build their training and brain function. With added scientifically proven functional ingredients like DHA, puppy treats can help make pups smarter and more trainable, and what pet parent doesn’t want that!