What about dog training treats is bad?
Most people today are aware of the fact that obesity is becoming an epidemic worldwide.
The problems that this condition bring about have nothing to do with how one looks, but rather the fact that obesity is associated with diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, and a myriad of other very serious health problems.
No doubt the type and amount of dog training treats that you indulge your pets with has a lot to do with this problem. Many owners, especially those with a new dog or new puppy, are far too eager to reward their dog with an edible treat or with table scraps, most have very little knowledge of how dangerous this can be to a dog’s health.
If you’re an owner that may be guilty of overindulging your dog with dog training treats, here are some things you need to consider when it comes to the type and amount of treats, and your other options for rewarding your dog!
For one, remember that dog training treats are not your only option when it comes to rewarding your dog.
Dogs respond to positive attention from their owners just as much as anything else, and perhaps even more so. Playing with your dog, and tapping into your dog’s prey drive can easily be as rewarding, if not more than just using treats!
Choose some favorite toys that you and the dog can play with for a few minutes. This varies from dog to dog; some might just enjoy chasing, tugging or rough housing, so use the toys best for your dogs play of choice. This can be a ball you can toss around or a tug toy that she can tussle with while you hold it.
This means that you can play with your dog for a few minutes instead of giving her those dog training treats, all while not having having to spend hours at the dog park.
Positive attention and rewarding your dog can also mean using his own food to train instead of adding extra dog training treats as rewards.
Instead, you can reward your dog with the food he was going to be fed anyway. This can keep your dog a healthy size, as opposed to making her fat!
This doesn’t mean that you need to stop using dog training treats altogether; they simply need to be used more sparingly.
You also have to consider the ingredients of the treats you choose. Some of the treats on shelves are nothing but fat and sugar, but if you do some shopping and research, you’ll find brands that are leaner with protein, very little fat and grain free! Dogs enjoy the taste of protein & higher quality treats as much as they do anything else, so finding dog training treats that are made with lean meats such as chicken and turkey are just as enjoyable to your dog as any other.
If you find that your dog is becoming overweight, then it’s time to rethink how, what and when you use dog training treats. Remember, the same way humans are affected by what we eat, your dog is too. There are many different rewards you can use to suite your dog best!
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