Your Dog Deserves the Best Snacks and Dog Food
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011No one greets you more enthusiastically when you walk through the door than your favorite canine buddy. They love us unconditionally and we want to please them with special snacks for dogs and care for them by providing good quality dog food. But we have to be very careful of what we allow them to have in their digestive tract just as we do for ourselves. A dog can become overweight very easily and it’s the owner’s responsibility to make sure they don’t overeat and get plenty of exercise.
Obviously we can’t allow snacks for dogs to be a major part of their everyday life, but they definitely play a part in the relationship as a reward and special treat. Without snacks the dog training process would be next to impossible. Most dogs are food motivated and receiving a treat for a job well done or trick done correctly is the greatest way to reinforce positive behavior. Our job in choosing the snack is to make sure we choose a healthy variety. Check the label for fat and sugar content as well as preservatives. Many dogs have allergies just as humans do. Never allow any type of treat to be a replacement for their daily dog food. This would totally put their system off balance.
There are a few ingredients that can be very harmful to your dog. Make sure your snacks for dogs do not include chocolate, onions, alcohol, nuts, raisins or grapes. Fruits and vegetables are good for your dog but you need to watch out for those that contain any type of seeds or pits. It may be a surprise to you but these seemingly innocent seeds and pits contain a substance that can trigger cyanide poisoning. That can be fatal to you precious pet. They love apples, just make sure you take the core out and you can feel good about giving him a healthy snack.
Many pet owners like to make their own snacks for dogs as well as their own dog food. This is wonderful if your schedule allows. But most people lead very busy lives and don’t have the time to make homemade recipes. The desire to care for their dog and make sure they are as healthy as possible is just as strong as the people who have the ability to create their own. For those it is very important to feel good about the quality of food they buy. There are many brands of dog foods and treats available made with the healthy dog and owner in mind.