Changing with the times: Dog treats were originally meant for spoiling your pooch, now they are used in a variety of training techniques, and to help maintain a healthy, happy dog.
Training your dog can be such a hard task, especially in those puppy years, but praise alone can only get you so far with them. One of the easiest ways to successfully train your dog is to have some dog treats handy in order to give your dog a little extra praise for a job well done. Most of the time it is handy to buy bite-sized treats that will fit in your pocket, that way you have them handy for any training situation, including when you take your dog for a walk. Dogs respond much better to training when their good behaviour is rewarded with praise, and a tasty dog treat, instead of a mere pat on the head. This method is a much faster way to successfully train your dog.
As the pet industry has evolved with the changing times, the type and function of dog treats has also changed remarkably. Once just a small snack given to praise your dog, these dog treats now come in many shapes and sizes, and can actually help with your dog’s well-being. Dog treats are available to aid in the dental hygiene of your dog, by combining a tasty treat with healthy ingredients, they help strengthen your dog’s teeth and gums and freshen bad breath. Because we all know that dogs do not always like to have their teeth brushed, these make keeping your dog healthy a walk in the park!
When you leave your dog alone for a period of time, because they have no mental or physical stimulation, your dog becomes easily bored, and can get up to mischief like chewing your things, or digging holes in the garden. There are products available that incorporate games with dog treats, so your dog can be kept occupied and interested while you are out of the house. These products usually involve a toy, with a hollow space inside, where dog treats of a certain size are placed inside. As your dog plays with the toy over the course of the day, these dog treats will come out of the hollow centre one by one. This keeps your dog active throughout the day, and also keeps them from getting hungry and chewing on sprinklers, or even your favourite pair of shoes! This is an easy way to keep your dog active, and deter bad behaviour from boredom. It is always best to use good quality dog treats that do not have a high fat content, that way your dog will be kept healthy inside and out. However, be aware that dogs can get quite crafty and once they get used to how a dog toy filled with dog treats works, they will work out the fastest way to get those yummy treats out of the toy! It helps to buy a few different types of toys and treats, and change it up each day, so your dog has a harder time getting used to each toy.