Treats for dogs: types, best producers and features of choice

Every dog ​​owner has a secret recipe for taming or rewarding a naughty pet. As a rule, the favorite food of the animal becomes the decisive argument. Treats for dogs today are widely presented on the market ready-made - in biscuits, sticks, sausages, sliced. But how do you choose treats that won't harm your pet? Should they be taken into account when calculating the total calorie content of the diet?

The range of products in pet stores is amazing. It's easy to find natural puppy gummies, canine beef lung treats and other delicacies that can make your dog's heart flutter. But not all of the suggested feeding options are equally useful and safe. Moreover, it is also necessary to give a tasty treat to the dog according to the rules. How to avoid mistakes and make the right choice?

How can you tell the difference between safe and harmful dog treats? Most of the factory delicacies on sale do not pose a threat to health. The pet cannot be poisoned by them, even after eating a significant amount. But with a regular intake of extra calories, the dog will be at risk of obesity.

The main benefit of dog treats is associated with taming the obstinate disposition of the pet. With the right treats, you can encourage your dog to master the most challenging skills. For small breeds, it is recommended to store dried fruits or vegetables as a tasty addition. They are easy to prepare at home, serve an additional source of vitamins and fiber.

Large dogs can receive additional cartilage - a source of collagen useful for joints, offal, dried and cut into portioned pieces (heart, liver). It is permissible to give as a toy cancellous bones that have not undergone heat treatment. Raw meat is useful as a treat, but it needs in thorough freezing.

Among the useful treats for dogs, special ones stand out. sticks and veins to help relieve itching in the gums during change of teeth in puppies... Adult dogs are given them to get rid of bacterial plaque. There are special medicinal delicacies that improve digestion or relieve inflammation, vitamin and mineral enriched delicacies.

There are treats that are sold quite officially, but can seriously harm the dog. You should know what applies to them.

1. The intestines of cows, goats, and other ruminants. Both in industrial and in private production, they are dried, but if the rules for cleaning are neglected, pathogenic microflora remains inside. Through such treats, the dog can become infected with hepatitis, get an upset stomach, and other unpleasant concomitant diseases.
2. Rawhide and ears. Manufacturers rarely indicate that formalin is used as a preservative, and deadly chemical reagents are used when cleaning hides from traces of organic matter. It is very difficult to say how the purchase of such a "tasty treat" will end.
3. Any delicacies made in China. In this country, there is no strict regulation, control over the quality of products for animals. The low cost of goods suggests that sellers are not averse to saving money on the safety of raw materials.

Among the arguments not in favor of ready-made delicacies, one can also include the uncontrolled content of fats, sugar, and salt in them. Such feeding will not bring benefits, but the metabolism may well disrupt.

There are many types of delicacies that differ in the form of release, appearance, and product composition. Among the most popular options are the following.

1. Natural Dog Treats... These include beef lung, bovine root, dried liver and meat strips, and bones. The products are safe and tasty, and are of high quality. With proper processing, careful selection of raw materials, such delicacies are safe for the dog's health.
2. Freeze-dried products. It is sold in cans or spiders, produced by low-temperature processing of meat or fish. There is only one danger - if the technology is violated, the pet can get an intestinal disorder.
3. Chewing sticks and sausages. They contain about 20% meat and filler additives, can serve exclusively as a delicacy or act as a means for cleaning teeth, mouth freshener. They are usually hypoallergenic and may contain calcium and vitamins.
4. Baked snacks... Usually these are healthy products, similar in composition to dry food. Additionally, amino acids may be included to improve the performance of the dog. One of the most high-calorie options.
5. Biscuits... Dog biscuits are as high in calories as those made for humans. But here the sugar and fat content is lower. It is worth choosing small biscuits so as not to exceed the calorie content of the diet.
6. Useful gelatinous. Produced in the form of seeds, they have a beneficial effect on the condition of bones and teeth. Suitable for teething juniors and teenagers.

Separately, it is worth mentioning product options when a tasty treat is hidden inside a toy. They are focused on service dogs, sports animals, and are used during training.

Who makes the nicest dog treats? In most cases, the production of delicious delicacies is located in Russia, but there are also products of foreign brands. It is worth considering all the brands in more detail.

German brand that produces super premium products, standardized according to EU regulations. The undisputed leader in product safety and quality. On sale you can find branded meat-containing "bones", sausages from natural raw materials, cookies and crackers of various sizes.

Canadian company specializing in the production of freeze-dried holistic treats. The composition does not contain preservatives, hazardous ingredients. The range of flavors is quite diverse.

International concern with branches all over the world. Treats for dogs comply with super-premium standards, GOST, European safety standards, do not contain dyes or preservatives, and are hypoallergenic. The assortment of the brand includes 14 types of products - penne sausages and salami, snacks (slices, balls, weights, rings), bones with a high calcium content. Both traditional types of meat - turkey, chicken, lamb, and exotic (quail, venison) are used.

A domestic company offering unique delicacies. Reindeer antlers are supplied to the market.

A Russian brand of dog treats that does not use high-temperature processing - improper storage of raw materials or the finished product may reveal cases of spoilage of treats. Products available for purchase include snacks, sausages, dried meat fibers, dried delicacies, bones and baked biscuits.

Brand with production facilities in the Netherlands, Austria, Germany. The products do not contain GMOs and hazardous additives.

Russian brand offering products from fresh meat and offal. The choice is quite varied, there are straws from lung, beef, rabbit and other types of meat. You can find more interesting options for treats - from meatballs to kebabs. In production, a gentle sublimation technology is used, which preserves the natural composition of the product, but heat treatment at low temperatures does not kill pathogens.

The products of the Mars concern are produced for the Russian Federation at the domestic factories of the company. Among the delicacies on offer you can find dog biscuits, dental sticks, bones. By the quality level of the brand's products much inferior to analogs of premium lines.

Chinese brand, co-production with Canada. The company positions itself as a manufacturer of delicacies; natural dried pieces of shrimp, squid, salmon, rabbit and other rare types of meat are packaged in individual cans. The delicacy is not cheap at all. But quality issues periodically arise.

French company with a representative office in the Russian Federation. Produces treats for training. A treat for active dogs is also available.

The main criterion for choosing a treat is the age of the dog. For puppies 2 months old, the best solution would be to refuse any new dishes, except for the recommended diet. A three-month-old pet will appreciate small pieces of dried and not very salty cheese, finely chopped fresh vegetables and fruits.

Ready-made dog treats worth offering from 5-6 months. Dried straws are great for relieving itchy teething. Before buying a treat, you should consult with your veterinarian.

The specifics of the breed, the presence of allergies, individual tendencies to poor digestion of certain foods - all these points are also worth remembering. For obese animals, dietary rewards should be considered. Small breeds need a treat "to the teeth" - the size of the pieces should allow the dog to chew them freely.

The presence of preservatives is acceptable if it is glycerin or other safe ingredients. Don't buy treats flavored with BHT, BHA, propylene glycol.

Volumes of one serving of treats should not exceed 10% of the daily diet. You should not buy large packages - after opening, they cannot be stored for a long time. In addition, the dog can get bored with repetitive rewards. Better to periodically offer your pet new tastes.

What is the right way to give a treat to a pet? It is worth following a number of specific rules.

1. Carry out training using a treat before evening feeding, on an empty stomach, not exceeding the recommended portion.
2. Use single doses of the minimum size. Top dressing should literally be enough for "one bite."
3. Choose foods with a minimum fat content. They are convenient to carry in your pocket, to hold in the palm of your hand.
4. Do not use dental treats without prior veterinarian approval. Better to choose small granules or sticks that are easy to chew. Swallowing large pieces of soft toothpicks can cause intestinal obstruction.
5. You can cook treats yourself by baking them in the oven. It is worth taking a scar, a liver, a heart. The product is cut into small pieces and heat-treated. You can also offer your pet dried apple wedges without sugar.
6. After reaching the daily calorie intake, you should not follow the dog's lead. The next portion can only be given the next day.

By following all the recommendations, you can safely please your pet and not harm its health. Correctly selected treats will diversify the dog's diet and will have a beneficial effect on his training success. The main thing is not to save money, to give preference to really high-quality and useful products.

See below for an overview of dog treats.